Codex

10 - Division Debunked, Sort Of

"Because?"

"Because you can't jus–" she paused suddenly and screamed out, "Eric, I'm an idiot!"

Yes, you are.

"You can't just clone other people! Of course!" She ranted about something, but I had no idea what. "Okay so, there are essentially two types of cloning magic, right? One's illusions, and one's real, like, you can touch them real. And do you know what's also cloned if you make another you?"

The clock on the wall ticked a few times before I snapped out in laughter! Thankfully it was the wee hours of the morning, I think. Its goddamn consciousness! Donna, you're a genius! A really stupid genius! How could you forget that?! That was it! That was the missing piece I needed, but even with all pieces, the puzzle still needed to be done. I knew now that an actual clone was a physical copy of yourself, coming equipped with every trait the original has. All I needed to do now was learn how to clone myself, then learn how to transfer that consciousness into me as a somewhat separate mind. But, did this mean I was travelling the non-tangible route? What then, was the point of physical demands decreasing when you practised more and more magic? Why did that concept exist? I cast a Candlelight spell over my head, staring into its illuminance.

I, really don't think tangible Division exists, Donna. The reason it feels like we need less stamina is because our bodies adapt to it, we condition our bodies. Think about doing one exercise over and over. Eventually, you'll get pretty good at it and it won't feel taxing anymore, even though you can suck at other exercises. That's probably why old mages have the usual body of old people but have no issue using spells for a long duration. I was barking off my thoughts at Donna. She didn't exactly counter my hypothesis, which only reinforced the notion that I was right. Tangible Division didn't exist, it's just that my body adjusted to survive. This meant the study of consciousness was my only bet.

Donna taught me the cloning spell; it was pretty easy to master despite having to visualise the body from the main layers. First skeletal, then muscular, then skin and hair. The first few clones were a bit sloppy, but by my twenty-something try, I pulled it off. There was just one teensy little problem. The sheer magnitude of stamina and mana the spell called for was absolutely unbelievable. Seconds after I summoned another me, I collapsed, hardly able to move. Now to be clear, the library had a testing area with absolutely nothing in it for people wanting to try new spells. In that area is where Dawn found me and me that morning. One passed out, one still drowning in a book. It was amazing my own clone left me there on the cold ground to learn. No, really, I amazed me. So, do you think he has you in his mind too?

"Hmm, I'm actually not sure how that would work, since I'm a special case. But I think as long as you cloned yourself, then I wouldn't exist in his mind. Anyway, you can pull their memories and experiences whenever you want, or they can just transfer it to you if they see it fit. By the way, I must've forgotten to mention, that level of spell is something only those who have mana pools on par with the Apostles of the Crescent Moon attempt."

And you let me do it?!

"Meh, I knew you could do it," I felt her wink. What a handful this woman was!

So, could you give me like, a breakdown of the strength levels that you know of? I want to gauge myself.

"Sure, that was something master actually told me. I was her favourite after all."

Don't gloat, it's not cute.

"You must be regretting turning her down. Anyway, to go from weakest to lowest I'll start with your normal citizen. After that are the five ranks of the Order. Those spirit lords you summon, like Hydra–you pervert–are above the rank five councilmen of the Order. After those spirit lords are us, the Apostles. Believe it or not, the rumours of the witch having dragons are true, but there's only two of them. One breathes fire, one commands ice and cold. From what I knew they have some sort contract with master, but she treats them like her best friends, especially the fire one. Anyway, those dragons are a huge jump in power over the Apostles, really huge. Those two alone could end this world. Above the dragons, hmm..." She tried to recollect, "Master told me of a creature that she could summon at will, but I've never seen it. She said it was much stronger than her dragons. And above them all, is the witch herself."

And me? Where would you say I'm at?

She chuckled, "Of course, you're just a useless shrimp, far weaker than your common citizen."

Woman, when I bring you back to life, I'll beat the shit out of you.

"Nah, you love me too much. Flynn said, that at your magic power, you'd be either a rank four officer or a rank five councilman in the Order, but he was wrong. He can't see your power like I can. I'd say, you're at the spirit lord level, I mean not exactly because all the spirit lords are still more powerful than you, but you're too strong to call you a rank five councilman."

I see. I gotta get to at least dragon level. I want to be stronger than the Apostles and–

The door to the testing area opened, and Dawn had the most awestruck face I'd seen. I wiggled about to see her better.

"Right, I guess anyone would be surprised by this. Long story short, he, well I–hmm, I don't know which pronoun to use–anyway, some cloning magic was done and it was way above the level of magic we have. I'm the clone, by the way. Well," he got up and stretched, "guess I should fix this," then summoned Hydra. "Totally forgot about him," the clone muttered under his breath, as if I wouldn't know what he said.

Dawn breathed in and out slowly, but when Hydra appeared, she really calmed down. Hydra healed me a little, "Can't restore too much, it will stress your body. If you know clone magic, you should send one of you to keep me company!" the naked beast fumed, not exactly the best thing for an ignorant onlooker to see. I could at least stand up and walk around with Hydra's help, albeit like an elderly person. Hydra returned to the spirit world and Dawn took me out for breakfast whilst the clone stayed cooped up in the library studying.