CHAPTER 56: MIDNIGHT MISCHIEF AND... THE CLONE

Late at night, when even the moon seemed to be holding its breath, I was rudely awakened by a creak at my door.

My eyes barely open, I spotted Ayame slipping inside like some stealthy assassin who had clearly lost her sense of subtlety.

Not here to flirt or confess any deep feelings, she assured me with an almost guilty look.

"No romance, Ren. I swear. I need your help... with a spell."

I blinked, rubbing sleep from my eyes. "A spell? At midnight?"

"Yes, especially at midnight. The perfect time for testing combat magic."

Combat magic at midnight? This was either going to be brilliant or a complete disaster. Given the state of our lives lately, my bet was on disaster.

Despite the late hour, I found myself intrigued enough to follow her to the backyard.

The night air was cool and crisp, a gentle breeze playing through the grass and rustling the leaves. Perfect conditions for magic, she said.

Ayame produced a scroll glowing faintly with ancient runes and began the ritual.

I stood in the center of the circle she had drawn, heart thudding a little faster with a mix of anticipation and mild terror.

"Just stand still and don’t move," she instructed.

I tried not to imagine what could go wrong.

Then, she muttered the incantation.

"Arcanum duplicare, animae liberare,

Imago viva, sensus revelare!

Spiritus dualis, corpus replicare,

Ex hoc momento, duos fiant Ren!"

The air shimmered.

I waited.

And waited.

Nothing.

I glanced at Ayame. She was staring at the scroll, brow furrowed.

"I think I missed a word. Or a syllable," she murmured.

I tried to joke, "Maybe it only works when you’re really passionate?"

Ayame didn’t laugh.

We tried again. And again.

Each time, the spell fizzled, a few sparks flying, the runes on the scroll flickering weakly.

Finally, she sighed, collapsing onto the grass. "Maybe combat magic isn’t meant to be tested at midnight."

"Or maybe we’re just not magical enough," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

Ayame looked up, eyes tired but amused. "Let’s call it a night. Tomorrow’s another day."

We trudged back inside, tired but oddly satisfied.

I slipped into bed and drifted off like a baby.

---

Morning came with a jolt.

I woke up—or at least I thought I did—to darkness and an eerie silence.

I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, unresponsive.

Panic fluttered in my chest.

Was I trapped? Injured? Had some magic backfired?

Then, slowly, my eyes opened.

But I wasn’t in my own body.

I was... watching.

Watching through a pair of eyes that were mine, but not.

A voice echoed in my head.

Ayame’s spell backfired spectacularly.

I realized, with mounting horror and fascination, that a clone of me was roaming free in the mansion.

A clone with all my shameless thoughts but none of my usual restraint.

I watched as the clone stretched, cracked his knuckles, and smirked wickedly.

"Alright, ladies," the voice muttered, "Time to have some fun."

---

Back in my own body, I was locked in the dark, unable to move.

Ayame must have cast some containment spell to keep me safe — or at least, to keep me out of trouble. The cold, velvet-black darkness pressed around me like a coffin, and my limbs felt as if they were weighed down by invisible chains. Panic bubbled up, but no matter how hard I willed it, I couldn’t move or shout. My voice was trapped inside me, muffled and useless.

And then I heard it: the unmistakable sound of my own voice — only it wasn’t me. It was a brash, cocky version of me, loose-lipped and shameless, free from all the filters I usually tried to maintain.

The clone had broken free.

I listened in helpless horror as he sauntered through the mansion, every step dripping with dangerous charm.

First, the clone found Mei in the kitchen. "Well, if it isn’t the queen of sass," he purred, leaning casually against the counter. "Care to share a dagger... and maybe a dance?"

Mei’s eyes narrowed, but she smirked. "Flattery won’t get you out of chopping my dinner prep into mince."

"Oh, but it might get me into your good graces," the clone grinned, tossing a perfectly twirled knife up and catching it behind his back.

I tried to shout, to warn her, but my voice was just a whisper trapped in the dark.

Next, he drifted toward Rin, who was engrossed in some book in the library.

"Rin," he whispered suavely, "You do know that all those stories about tragic heroes could use a dash of real-life charm, right?"

Rin blinked, closed her book, and shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass.

"Flatterer," she said, but I could hear a slight twitch of amusement under her stern words.

The clone didn’t stop.

He found Elira next, who was sitting quietly by the window, nursing a cup of tea.

"Well, if it isn’t the lady with the steely gaze and a heart of gold," he cooed. "How about I rewrite your story with a little less brooding and a little more fun?"

Elira raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, but she remained composed, sipping her tea with a graceful tilt of her head.

He didn’t miss a beat.

Ayame was next, pacing through the hallway, her sharp eyes scanning plans and notes.

"Ah, Ayame," the clone drawled, sidling up behind her and lowering his voice to a seductive whisper. "You wield magic and discipline like a goddess—but what about a little chaos?"

Ayame spun around, hand already glowing with fire magic, ready to roast him where he stood. But instead of anger, her eyes twinkled with a mix of exasperation and reluctant amusement.

"Stop trying to distract me," she said. "You’re going to get us both in trouble."

The clone laughed softly. "Trouble’s my middle name."

Finally, the clone found Sora, who was busy sharpening her crossbow in the armory.

Yeah. Armory.

He leaned casually against the doorframe. "Sora, guardian of the fortress, how about you let your guard down... just for a minute?"

Sora’s eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought she might unleash a bolt of magic. Instead, she folded her arms, eyes locked on him.

"You’re testing my patience. Hard."

He winked. "Only because you’re worth it."

Throughout the mansion, the girls’ laughter, groans, and playful protests echoed faintly through the walls, punctuated by the occasional "Ren! Stop it!" or "Seriously, cut it out!"

I tried to shout back — to warn, to plead, to reclaim control — but my voice was swallowed by the darkness.

I was trapped, an unwilling spectator to my own mischief, helpless as my reckless clone ran wild with every shameless thought I’d ever suppressed.

And the worst part?

He was good at it.

And the chaos was just beginning.

---

The moment I slipped completely free from Ren. I knew exactly where to start.

Rin.

She’s the one who’s always so serious, so unyielding—a challenge wrapped in midnight-black hair and sharp eyes. Perfect.

I found her tucked away in the library, nose buried in a book as usual. But tonight? Tonight was different.

I sauntered over with a grin that could melt ice.

"Rin," I murmured, voice low and teasing, "you’ve been working too hard. How about a little distraction?"

She looked up, startled, eyes narrowing. "Ren... what are you doing?"

I closed the distance in a heartbeat, sliding my hands gently around her waist.

"Just giving you a taste," I whispered, leaning in close.

Before she could protest, I pressed my lips to hers—a quick, daring kiss that lingered just enough to send a spark through both of us.

I let my fingers trail lightly down her spine, feeling the subtle tension in her muscles beneath my touch. Rin was the type who always kept her guard up, a fortress of discipline and duty. But tonight, that fortress was wobbling just a bit, and I intended to be the cause.

She blinked, eyes flickering with something unspoken — maybe confusion, maybe amusement, maybe a spark of something deeper. I could almost see the gears turning behind those sharp eyes. Was she trying to remind herself this wasn’t me? Or was a part of her daring to lean into this unexpected warmth?

"Ren," she said quietly, voice barely above a whisper, "you’re messing with my head."

I grinned wider, daring to lean closer again, so close I could feel the heat of her breath on my lips.

"Good," I breathed. "Maybe it’s time you let someone mess with it."

Her hands tensed on my arms, but didn’t push me away. Instead, she hesitated, then slowly—tentatively—rested her hands on my chest.

That small gesture was a victory.

The world outside faded, the quiet rustle of pages and flicker of candlelight the only witnesses to this moment of fragile truce between seriousness and reckless charm.

I kissed her again — softer this time, slower — letting the words unspoken in the hush between us speak louder than any spell ever could.

After a beat, I pulled back just enough to smile.

"Tonight, Rin, is yours. And I’m not letting you forget it."

Her eyes met mine, shimmering with a mix of surprise and something like hope.

"Don’t make me regret it," she whispered.

I pressed my forehead to hers.

"I wouldn’t dream of it."

---

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What do you think of Ren’s clone causing mayhem?

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And if you’re new here, welcome to the chaos. Stick around. It only gets better.