When Lukas returned to Esther’s, Penelope wasn’t in the clinic. Instead, the vet invited him into her house, leading him to the familiar green patch with the armchair. Penelope sat with Bass in her lap, drinking tea that smelled absolutely awful. The discoloration, burns, and cuts were all gone. However, she still appeared frail and pale, like she was a chronic patient on a bad day.

“I believe you owe me a conversation,” Penelope said, looking at him weakly.

“Did you tell her anything?” Lukas asked Esther.

The vet shook her head. “Not for me to say. The secrets are yours to share or keep. And your friendship, working relationship, or whatever this is, is between the pair of you.”

“I’ve been waiting for you,” Bass said. “Penny knows only what I know.”

“And that has left me with a whole lot of questions.” The sorcerer’s expression didn’t waver. “There is something I must know, regardless of whether you’re going to tell me the truth or not.” She hesitantly glanced at her familiar, stroking him with her free hand. “Elvis. Was he a real person?”

Lukas took a couple of steps backward, moving out of the bright green into the surrounding shadows. He created a high-mass, mage clone. “Meet Elvis.”

“Hello again,” the clone flashed a wide grin.

“So, he’s a copy of you playing a different role?”

“A fragment of my soul is in him,” Lukas explained. “He is me, but not at the same time. No inhibitions, no fear, or hesitation. The clones are me without everything that holds me back and all restraint. Maybe they’re who I am on the inside or wish to be. Maybe they’re whatever piece of me the soul fragment carries, a part of my psyche that lives in the background.”

“That’s…a long, complicated, and far deeper answer than I was expecting,” Bass commented. He hopped off Penelope’s lap. “I’m heading to the markets. The tigress should be out, and it's been a while since we’ve seen each other.”

“You know we’re leaving as soon as the investigation is done, right?” Penelope asked.

“Even more reason for me to have all the fun while I still can.”

“You’re welcome to still travel with me.” Penelope refocused her attention on Lukas after her familiar departed. “But I need to know more. Your ability. The mysterious identification powers.”

“The latter comes from a soulbound relic. I got it almost the same time as my shard ability. It wasn’t something I wanted or intended. It just happened. Unknown power is concerning, though. I picked my Mind Pillar ability in the hopes it will help me sever my connection to it.”

“Unknown relics of power are always a cause of concern. You haven’t felt any odd urges. Have you?”

Lukas shook his head. “Not yet.”

Penelope stared at him for a moment, as if trying to gauge how much of what he was saying was the truth.

“You already know what my Body and Mind Pillars do. The real Soul's ability started as Arcane Clone. Now, it's Shadow Clone and permits the summoning of the Shade’s Mantle.”

“So, you rip your soul to pieces to make loyal, suicidal copies of yourself who go about doing your bidding?” Penelope asked, brows furrowing. Her expression and tone betrayed her concern. She looked at Esther. “That can’t be good for him, can it?”

“I’ve studied his soul. It's strange. Different. Maybe coming back from the dead did something, making it more resilient than most. I imagine the damage is going to add up over time. If not his soul, his mind will suffer.” Esther looked at Lukas. “You need to look into mind healing magic in the near future. I fear what you’ll turn into given enough time.”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“I assume you didn’t want to tell me because you believe that the power of this cloning ability lies in everyone not knowing about it?”

Lukas nodded.

“Does anyone besides us know about it?”

“No. Also, I see you as my path to the conclave and powerful magic, and teachers. I want to walk forward as equals and not as an asset.”

“You’ve been treated as a tool all your life, and you’d rather not be one anymore,” Penelope stated. “I can respect that. Much of my life has been in pursuit of the same goal. When one awakens their draconic magic, everyone wants to turn them into a weapon and no longer see them as a person.” She smiled. This time, it reached her eyes. “You might be surprised how well I understand you. Thank you. I know all I want and need to know. But if there are more secrets, don’t hesitate to share.”

“Maybe given enough time,” Lukas said. “You, the conclave, your purpose is still unknown to me. I don’t quite know your or the conclave’s purpose, allegiances, or much about you. I only have what you say and rumors to go off. Give me time, and maybe I’ll tell you more. For the time being, I’m happy to remain colleagues for as long as we can tolerate each other.”

Both women rolled their eyes.

“Let’s move on to more important things,” he continued. “The clones have been at work. I’ve had them investigating the docks, Mister Grey, Stefan Santana, and the research center. Things aren’t quite how I predicted.

“The Grey Rats aren’t directly involved. Not as an organization, at least. However, members of their organization have been dropping like flies. El-Two found—”

“El-Two?” Penelope interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s the silly way he names his clones. Lukas-One, Lukas-Two. He shortens it to El and a number.”

“Understood.” The sorcerer gestured for Lukas to continue.

“El-Two managed to catch up to one rat moments before death. He had the same contract tattoo. There have been a few guards who died the same way, too.”

“So, whoever is behind all of this is tying off loose ends, trying to cover their trail,” Penelope said, eyes moving past Lukas and staring at nothing in particular. “Santana. Research Center. Docks. Any leads from those?”

“Stefan has been lying low and doing nothing but his job. He looks scared. I don’t think he was under contract; maybe he served as a middleman. It seems like that’s the kind of job he does best.”

“I bet he’s terrified that they’re going to try to silence him,” Esther said.

“The clones found nothing in the research center,” Lukas continued. “However, there was the transfer of biomass containers out of the secret docks. Unfortunately, obstacles appeared. We lost the trail and failed to find out where the vehicle carrying them went. We also found the underground network for moving slaves from the docks to the black market, but nothing tying that thread to the Elder Wyrmkin.”

“But the same could’ve been used to bring them and their things into the city?” Penelope asked, still frowning. Lukas could see the gears turning.

“Correct. I suspect the same. It’s likely Kelpie—Mister Grey’s late number two—her underlings and a bunch of guards coordinated the effort. They were paid well but had to accept the contract tattoo in exchange. I’m confident that Mister Grey didn’t know. There has been a rotating roster of clones stalking him. He is heartbroken and investigating this personally.”

“You did well.” Penelope downed the rest of her tea. “Surprisingly well. I suppose you have a clearer understanding of why you keep the clones a secret now. Such investigations would be impossible if they became common knowledge.” She paused, studying him for a moment. “The soulbound relic of yours. It concerns me. Much like your doubts with the conclave, I have doubts tied to it. Such things don’t function for free. They want something or have another agenda.”

“It could be tied to the Keeper of Knowledge,” Esther said. She looked between the pair and continued when both appeared confused and unsure. “He’s a primordial entity living in a realm outside of time and space, collecting and safekeeping knowledge, ensuring it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Many wizards strive to commune with him in the hopes of gaining an iota of his grand knowledge.”

Perhaps Silverspine stole it from him. She isn’t a creator. Invader, thief, and dominator are more her wheelhouse. Thanks, Esther. I appreciate the cover.

“Perhaps.” Lukas shrugged. “It isn’t the most forthcoming. The journal has been growing, though. I think my arcane growth or the growth of the pillars is tied to the progress. Initially, it only had Inspector’s Compendium. Now, it has a small storage space, no bigger than a lockbox.”

“I’d be careful about what I store in there,” Penelope advised. “The last thing you want is the journal or the power behind to steal anything valuable or its master's desires.”

Fuck. I didn’t think of that. Can Silverspine confiscate things I store within? Can she see the contents? The ritual leather is in danger.