Thunderstorm's Eye: Tier 1 | Rank 5

Spellweaver: Tier 1 | Rank 9

Shadow Clone: Tier 3 | Rank 0

Shade's Mantle

Shadow Steel

Steel Weave

Altered Metal Mass: Tier 2 | Rank 4

Miscellaneous:

Arcane Smithing: Tier 1 | Rank 4

Biomancy: Tier 1 | Rank 6

Ability breakdowns hadn't changed much except for that of Shadow Clone. Lukas appreciated the breakdown, not for keeping track, but it gave him a better understanding of Fracture's magic system. It seemed intricately designed, unlike in the Realm of Greater Beings. Something, someone, or a group of powerful individuals had assembled it, probably unifying all the different kinds of arcane energy brought together by the creation of Fracture. He imagined the fragments of all the different worlds and realms that created the world had brought traces of their individual arcane energies. It had all mixed and melded together, likely causing chaos, then the Pillars' creators had brought unity and order.

Shadow Clone: Tier 3 | Rank 0 Mid-Tier Ability: Empowered Clone II Tier 2 Ability: Shade's Mantle II | Domineering Darkness Body-conjunction ability: Shadow Steel

Altered Metal Mass: Tier 2 | Rank 4 Mid-Tier Ability: Cover Weaknesses Tier 2 Ability: Steel Weave Soul-conjunction ability: Shadow Steel

Spellweaver: Tier 1 | Rank 9 Mid-Tier Ability: Mage's Instinct

Biomancy: Tier 1 | Rank 6 Mid-Tier Ability: Mimicry

From what Lukas understood, the world had several different intelligent species. Not all of them enjoyed the benefits of the Pillars, but all of them had some method of utilizing Fracture's magic. The Wyrmkin and Elder Wyrmkin seemed to tap into their draconic heritage for the bulk of their power. It seemed the males focused on enhancing their physiologies while the females wove the fire in their hearts and chests into their magic. Both appeared to have the ability to use magic, but culturally, only the 'grey feathers' enjoyed the privilege of formal training.

Apparently, Fracture also housed 'tree people' who weren't so much half plant but descended directly from Yggdrasil's children and had a close connection to nature. They frequently displayed arboreal and life attunements and had a strange way with beasts. They were a totemic people and apparently had the natural ability to commune with the world's spirits. The records claimed that they and their descendants didn't have access to the Pillars, but much like the Wyrmkin, still had the means to take advantage of essences.

Then, there were anomalous existences that followed inconsistent patterns. Penelope was one such individual. Not all dragon-blooded humans had access to the Pillars of Self. It seemed the deeper one's connection to their dragonfire, the weaker the connection to the system. Apparently, there were similar individuals of mixed heritage. It wasn't unusual for them to end up walking the path of sorcery.

When Lukas woke from his ascension, Zwei and Morph had returned from their individual jobs. He dispelled them both and created a new lot of clones, all enjoying the benefits of a tier-three Soul Pillar and related abilities. First, there were Eins and Zwei, both mages with Arcane Smithing and Thunderstorm's Eye, respectively. He had initially considered giving the latter of the pair the Spellweaver ability, but The Calm Before had proven more beneficial for crafting.

Morph came next. He received Alter Metal Mass as usual. A mage with Spellweaver followed. Lukas wore his furs before creating both, so they received copies of the cold-weather outfits. "I want both of you to report to the Frozen Phoenix and check on the status of the expedition. If they're not ready to leave yet, find minor jobs or weapons trainers to fill your time."

"Yes, boss!" The pair saluted before rushing for the exit. Morph started changing his face and body shape as they approached the door. "What do we do if they're ready?"

"You." Lukas pointed at the clone that was meant to fill in for him. "Excuse yourself, hide, and dispel yourself. I'll rush over."

"Can I have a name? I feel left out. Fake-Prime maybe?"

"How about Flukas?" Lukas asked.

The clone's face lit up with a bright smile. "I like Flukas."

"Look for every opportunity to train Spellweaver. We need that upgraded as soon as possible." He threw Flukas the original Shadow Seekers badge. "Trade that in for the tier-three badge and thank Ogden for the scroll. Tell him it was the final piece of the puzzle."

"Aye, aye, boss!"

Once the pair departed, Lukas looked to create more clones. First, he created a mage and a stalker, both with Spellweaver. Upgrading the ability was one of his top priorities. "Get out of the city," Lukas instructed. "I want you to practise our usual spells, but then try to modify them with Spellweaver as you move."

"Do you want us to do anything specific?" One of the Spellweaver duo asked. "Or just wander around playing with Shadowfire and Stormfire?"

Lukas shrugged. "Maybe circle the mountains and look for entrances into the tunnel system? Knowing how the Wyrmkin got to the Draco Lily would be great. They might even have a hidden settlement nearby. Keep at it until I have to dispel you or someone tries to stop you and ask questions."

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Then, Eins received a much-requested assistant. For the first time in a long time, he created one with the rogue specialization. They benefited from agility and dexterity. The Shock Troopers and now Stormtroopers had made them obsolete. Lukas hoped to find the means to upgrade the specialization. Enhanced haste more than made up for the shortcomings. He looked forward to a rogue with the benefits of the spell, and eventually more. He gave it Thunderstorm's Eye.

"I want you to practise the Stormfire spheres while assisting Eins with whatever he needs. Understood?"

"Got it, boss. Are you sure you can upgrade rogue?"

"I have no idea," Lukas answered honestly. "But we can figure it out. If we did it with mage, it should be possible with rogue too, right?"

Finally, Lukas created a second rogue and bestowed upon it Alter Metal Mass. It received instructions to find a weapons trainer. It had been far too long since he dedicated resources to training his sword and spearmanship. Now that Eins was working hard at creating powerful enchanted weapons, the clones needed to improve their skill and reduce the chances of losing them. However, Hidden Compartment II reduced the chances of such a thing happening anytime soon.

Should I have kept a backup clone for emergencies? The assistant and the Spellweavers can be dispelled in a pinch.

Lukas set off on his own. He wove his way away from the city's subterranean districts toward the river. He didn't make it all the way out of the foothills before reaching his destination. The fabric-man stood by the stables, tending to a pair of woolly goats. He smiled, waving at Lukas. It was likely rude, but the golem became the subject of an Arcane Scan. Lukas wanted to be sure if Weaver's creations were sentient or puppets.

The fabric man returned to his duties, remaining nonchalant. It wasn't clear whether he detected Lukas's probing. Because of the lack of divination magic, he didn't get what he desired. It was clear that magic coursed through titanic anatomy. Veins pumping pure, unattuned arcane energy spiderwebbed through the fabric that covered the body and also wrapped around each of the fibers, forming complex musculature.

The skeletal structure within had magic-infused threads connecting the muscle clusters to the metal bones, but they carried no signs of magic. Lukas couldn't help but wonder whether he was looking at a cross of complex artisanry and sorcery or shard abilities.

Even though the Soul Pillar's ascension hadn't come with any tangible changes, Lukas felt more powerful than before. He wasn't sure of what it was yet. It wasn't just his soul that had changed. There was something more. His head was clearer. Lukas felt more awake. Perception, senses, and his mind had nothing to do with it. Arcane Scan and the passive magical sense improvements from Spellweaver felt significantly more powerful. Lukas was better. He was more.

"You ascended!" Penelope exclaimed the second he entered the tavern. She had made the corner booth her personal workspace. Shae sat in it, nose buried in a book. The sorcerer danced over and threw her arms around him. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you," Lukas replied, failing to conceal his pride. "It was a bit of a struggle toward the end. I upgraded the mage clone, and that turned out to be the key."

"Good job!" She beamed, pulling away.

"Congratulations," Shae said, looking up from his textbook. He had grown bulkier since their last meeting. The scales on his shoulders, back of his arms, and spines appeared rougher and larger. In fact, his back appeared especially ridged and spiky. "We need to spar sometime. Are you stronger than me? No clones. Just you and me."

"What's next for you?" Penelope asked. "Still investigating the Frozen Phoenixes?"

Lukas nodded. "I'm getting paid by them and the Shadowseekers while doing only one set of quests. Well, Morph is also doing his own and climbing the ranks, but I'm not counting those."

"Do the Shadow Seekers have a reason to be concerned? From what I hear, the Frozen Phoenix are on the straight and narrow."

Lukas shrugged. "Doesn't seem like it. But the guild is worth investigating. The organization I'm more concerned about would be the Aquila guild." He pulled a book on dragons and wyrmkinn out of his robe. Lukas had borrowed it from her library after returning from the last quest. "It's the Aquila guild we need to be worried about." He opened the text to a section on black dragons and handed it to Penelope. Lukas checked their surroundings before continuing. The other guests of the inn were nowhere in sight. "I wasn't sure about what I saw or felt at first. Hence, I borrowed this. The Aquila Mage used a spell that worked suspiciously like the Great Black Dragon's flames."

The sorcerer's eyes widened. She snatched the book from Lukas and checked the page he had bookmarked. "Are you sure about this?"

"I'm no expert, but I know what I—more specifically Zwei—felt. There was no draconic energy at first. Just the Twilight Roc, its loot, and the magic radiating from the walls. Then, the mage used her spell, and it was unmistakable. At first, I thought it was gravity magic. She was sucking in air, gravel, and all else. But then, when the spell carved through the Roc's head, consuming it, I knew it was different."

"This is worth investigating," she stated after some thought. "Give me a chance to look into it and have Weaver commune with the Conclave before making a move. I understand you might be getting antsy, but—"

"I'm not," Lukas stated. "If anything, I've been trying to stay out of all of this. Between the guild jobs, artisanry, and getting Spellweaver to the threshold, my hands are full. Irma also offered to introduce me to her colleagues. They're a private coalition or some sort of miniature union of powerful and famous artisans around the Gray. Impressing them might get me access to buyers besides the Shadow Seekers."

"They're paying peanuts, aren't they?" Penelope asked.

Lukas nodded. "I'm wary but intrigued. Irma and her friends designed and built the inter-district rail system. Apparently, they have their fingers in several future projects. Getting involved might help me establish my name as an artisan."

"Is that something you want?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I want money. Growing my reputation as an artisan is vital for profit." Lukas smiled. "They have a meeting tomorrow. Unless the Frozen Phoenixes are ready to embark before schedule, I'm half-minded to attend."

"Your priorities make no sense to me." Penelope sighed.

"Greed clouds the mind," Shae commented, shaking his head.

"Greed keeps us alive and breathing. Greed keeps us purposeful. What are we without greed? Empty husks with no purpose, that's what." Lukas laughed, catching himself. "Or is that ambition?"

"I think they're one and the same with you, Lukas," Penelope stated, before waving over the barmaid.

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