The second problem was that even after disconnecting from The Seventh Guile and reverting his soul structure, his clone had still returned, seeking to be reunited with him. But since Caen no longer had the shadeling’s ability, the clone was unable to reintegrate into him. This was the cause of the excruciating pain he'd felt.
The second problem was intriguing, but he couldn't explain it.
However, he had a few ideas on how to tackle the first problem.
Caen formed another clone.
“I’ll start maintaining my soul structure the moment you revert yours,” his clone said.
“Alright. Begin.” Caen reverted his soul structure, prepared to Mimic The Seventh Guile in an instant.
The clone’s own soul had already begun fraying and growing less cohesive. But that slowed down after a second. Slowly, the clone’s soul structure stabilized. The cord of connection between them had diminished slightly, but it was still strong.
“I don’t believe my soul is in danger of unraveling anymore,” said the clone.
“Well done,” Caen said as he examined his counterpart’s soul structure.
“Thank you. That was very taxing on my willpower,” the clone said.
“And you’re still actively maintaining it?” Caen inquired.
“Yes, but not with as much effort as it took to prevent my soul from unraveling in the first place,” the clone replied. “It doesn’t feel too strenuous right now. Not nearly as difficult as connecting to a Percipient. And I feel like I can keep this up for a long time. Days. Maybe even weeks. Maybe.”
Caen began casting diagnostic spells on the clone just to properly examine his condition. He was fascinated to note that the clone possessed his own spirit, with mana reserves that were only a fraction of what Caen had lost in the cloning process.
Caen was almost out of mana, and he was aware of how tired he felt right now. He’d been at this for hours. The time construct in the corner of his vision told him that it was about 3 in the morning.
“I need to get some rest,” he said.
“I feel exhausted as well,” the clone replied. “I wonder if sleeping will cause my soul to unravel.”
Maintaining workings while asleep was possible, but it was very mana-inefficient. Then again, that related to spells. Keeping his soul from fraying was a more direct and perhaps unrefined application of his will.
“Hmm… let’s try that,” Caen said. “Why don’t you go to sleep first?”
The clone rose and moved over to the bed. A Dream-guarding affinity cluster flared in his soul as he unfurled the folded blanket and covered himself with it. In moments, he was sleeping.
Caen turned to The Seventh Guile, who was sitting quietly. “Thank you for your help. You can return to my shadow whenever you want.”
He was connected to the shadeling anyway, and could Mimic him even when he was out of sight.
“I do not always need to hide in your shadow,” The Seventh Guile replied. “I know when I am being pursued or hunted down.”
“Alright.”
Caen stayed up for the next eight hours, patiently observing his clone’s soul structure; it did not unravel. The clone’s Dream-guarding affinity cluster did not grow prominent in all that time.
At some point, The Seventh Guile slipped into Caen’s shadow. Caen checked in on Chasma through their bond, and the fragment seemed very content; it was still feeding on the shadeling corpses.
As the sun rose, he felt someone approach his door. He connected to them. Zeris. She knocked softly.
She opened the door and walked in.
He filled her in on everything he had done so far.
They were leaving for the Imperial Citadel of Magic tomorrow. Caen still found this hard to believe. Zeris left a few minutes later. Caen hadn’t stopped observing the clone all the while.
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At about 11 in the morning, the clone finally woke up.
“How do you feel?” Caen asked, as he began constructing a magical contract.
“Refreshed,” the clone said, stretching. “I’ll handle our tasks of the day while you get some rest yourself.”
“Thank you,” Caen said, then paused.
Regular Caen would be fine imposing magical constraints on himself under these circumstances, and from the memories he’d reintegrated from previous clones, he understood that they were exact imitations of him, right down to their thought processes. But perhaps it was wiser not to assume.
“You realize,” Caen began carefully, “that we’ll have to bind you.”
The clone nodded. “You know I won’t have a problem with that; it’s perfectly reasonable. We don’t know how deviation affects clones. Safety measures are in our best interest.”
The geas prevented the clone from doing anything that Caen wouldn’t. They both trusted the clone’s inherited memories to act as a guide. Also, they went over the tasks just to make sure they were on the same page.
“I agree to these terms,” the clone said, and Caen could feel the magical agreement binding them.
The clone threw on some clothes and left the room.
Caen lay down on his bed. A quick spell put him to sleep in moments.
***
He wasn’t quite sure what to go by: Caen’s clone, or Caen’s copy, or Caen the clone, or just Caen. He walked downstairs. Ergen, Vensha, and Zeris were at the dining table.
“Hey there, sleepy head,” his father greeted. “Come have some breakfast. We were waiting for you to wake up. Everyone else has gone into town.”
“Thanks, Dad,” the clone said, sitting at the table and pulling a plate of eggs and diced beef.
“So, how did it go?” Vensha asked. “Orissa said you scared her shitless last night, and Zeris said that last she saw, the clone was asleep.”
“It went quite well, actually,” Caen said, cutting into his food. “I’m the clone.”
“Ha!” Vensha barked in amusement, but her smile turned uncertain when he didn’t smile back. “You’re serious.”
“I am. Caen is asleep, so I’ll be helping him out with errands.”
Ergen looked alarmed. “I couldn’t even tell the difference.”
“That’s because I’m a perfect physical, mental, and spiritual replica.”
His father’s alarmed expression didn’t change. “I… see.”
“Very lifelike,” Zeris muttered, tugging at the clone’s face.
Caen’s clone leaned away. “What are you doing?”
“Checking if you’re real,” she said simply.
Aunt Vensha tugged on his ear. “It does feel real. Huh.”
The clone sighed.
***
Caen’s clone took a train to Drenlin and headed down to the Phrontistery. He wanted to say his goodbyes to the few people he was friendly with. He greeted a few teaching assistants and librarians before going into Preceptor Wijin’s office.
“The Citadel in Pectos?” Preceptor Wijin exclaimed. “What kind of strings did your uncle—Ahem.” The elderly man seemed to get a hold of himself. He adjusted his scarf. “Ah. I apologize for that. Trellam’s grace. This is… hmm. It’s spectacular news indeed. I’m very happy for you, Caen. You certainly deserve this. I know few young men as diligent as you.”
“Thank you, Preceptor Wijin.”
“The Citadel is a magnificent opportunity. If I may advise you, Surfeitism will get you nowhere in an institution like that. You might be better off streamlining your academic work to healing, which I know you’re quite invested in.”
“I appreciate the advice, Preceptor.”
***
Caen’s clone shared the news with a few Edict acolytes and the local priestesses. They congratulated him and gave him words of encouragement.
“Brother Caen, always remember to embody the Entity’s lights,” Brother Nabik urged with a hand on the clone’s arm.
“I will do my best, Brother Nabik,” the clone said with a respectful bow.
“I know you will. I hope you enjoy your time at the academy. Priestess Marlsa is leading morning meditations tomorrow morning. Will you be joining us?”
“I leave at first light,” Caen’s clone said regretfully. “But I’ll stay for evening meditations with High Priest Sh’kteiro.”
***
“That’s okay, Healer Dodri. I’m sure I can spare an hour,” the clone said.
“Great! We need some help with triage. When you get to the academy, don’t waste your time on all that messy Blood-healing or mystical Dream-guarding. Spirit-healing is always the best option!”
“I’ll… keep that in mind, Healer Dodri.”
“Now, go make Drenlin proud! After triage, that is.”
Healer naMoon was not in Drenlin at the moment. After speaking with a few more healers, Caen’s clone helped out a bit with triage and some other other administrative tasks.
By evening, he went over to the temple and sat among the acolytes as Uncle Teiro led them through a meditation session.
It was quite calming.
***
“Thank you so much for all your help, Uncle Vai,” Caen said. “I would never have been able to do any of this without you.”
“Aw, don’t get all sentimental on me,” Uncle Vai laughed as he rocked back and forth on his chair.
They were on the roof of his mansion in his Astral domain. Petals of winter blossoms fell from the sky and fluttered all over the place.
“I’ll see you very often,” Vai continued. “It’s not like I can go anywhere. Also, you’re still officially my primary aide. You, me, and Hshnol will be working together for a very long time.”
“That makes me glad,” Caen said, smiling.
“Hshnol is going to make a significant amount of funds available to Vensha and Sh’leinu.”
Caen nodded in understanding. It was easier to mask a large windfall because of their professions. “Thank you, Uncle Vai.”
“So, where’s this clone then?”
“Running errands for me. I need to do some range testing to see if I can recall the clone from long distances. So I’ll be leaving him behind in Drenlin, for now.”
“Well, those are not words you hear every day,” Vai chuckled. “Have fun in school, runt. I’m sure you don’t need me to say it, but I’m very proud of you, and I look forward to all the great things you’ll achieve.”