The Gray was already starting to feel the Revolution’s absence. An angry crowd grumbled around the inter-district rail’s departure station. A giant ‘Closed’ sign hung over the entrance, and guards blocked it. Things were already falling apart without the likes of Irma, her colleagues, or their subordinates overseeing maintenance. Fortunately for Lukas, his new home was in the same district as Weaver’s Inn. He believed it was by design. The many different councils wished to keep an eye on him, Penelope, and the establishment. Having all three close together made it easier for them.
Lukas hoped to capitalize on the current instability and make a name for himself. He had no hopes or plans to match the Revolution’s influence or reach. However, even a drop in the massive hole they had left behind was bound to generate significant profit. The Gray had a surplus of naturally growing Arcane crystals but suffered from a severe shortage of burnable wood and coal. The artisans' and foundries’ high demands drove prices of the latter far beyond the reach of the average citizen. The current enchanted options were also expensive to buy and fuel. As a result, he had the clones working on an economic alternative.
An altered version of the inexpensive Shocking Touch spell was perfect for induction heating. Lukas already had prototypes for hot plates and immersion heaters. They just needed to refine the design and reduce costs. Once Lukas had a decent blueprint in place and patented, he intended to employ lesser blacksmiths to mass-produce the individual parts. Then the clones would assemble, enchant, and then sell. The business model felt sound.
Lukas had a second idea that was likely to result in significant profit. However, he didn't see it coming to fruition any time soon. The clones and he needed significant research and practice in illusion magic first. But he believed that reproducing a digital camera using crystals, arcane stones, and illusion magic was possible. It was likely to appeal to record keepers, scouts, academics, and individuals in similar fields. Lukas didn't foresee it becoming a tool for leisure any time soon. Only the extremely rich and privileged would pursue photography as a hobby. He foresaw the issue being more time than money.
I still don’t want to make the Gray or Schwarzberg my permanent base. Make money. Get famous. Move the fuck on. The Union should ensure I get paid for my products and designs no matter where I go.
There was still a lot more to explore and discover on Fracture. Lukas’s current location was excellent for improving his artisanal skills, but there was a lot of magic he had only read about. He wanted to meet and investigate the world’s version of ‘Lesser Great Beings’ and those in pursuit of power and godhood. Lukas wished to rise to their ranks and eventually surpass them. He had learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with competition was to investigate and then befriend or eliminate. After coming to Fracture, he had resolved to avoid the latter whenever possible, but now it felt like the topic was far more nuanced.
Lukas’s initial plans also involved seeking out the mage colleges and cities, finding a teacher, or even enrolling. His body was the right age, after all. But that no longer felt like a good idea. The path of sorcery seemed a lot more focused on learn by doing. It was useful having people around willing to point him in the right direction and help cover gaps in knowledge, but nothing more. His unwillingness to enter into a master-apprentice relationship or to answer to a ‘superior’ entity or organization also played a big role.
Worst of all, aligning oneself to any arcane organization, whether it be a college, university, or the Conclave, came with swearing binding oaths. Many were apparently far more complicated than what he had encountered thus far. Penelope doubted Lukas’s clone trickery would be enough to get around them. He had come to Fracture for freedom, and he wished to avoid anything that might threaten it. Slowed growth didn’t matter.
According to Penelope, his rate of progression was beyond ridiculous, and it was all thanks to the clones. They would make up for any obstacles born of the lack of teachers or resources. Fortune and fame through artisanry were bound to make up for the latter. Lukas already had access to several high-level vendors. It wasn’t just the Shadow Seekers’ guild shop anymore. Morph had tier-three access to the Aquila Guild’s wares. His work with the city also gave him access to several exclusive vendors who served the nobility and the now-dismantled Revolution.
Stormdragon’s Eye: Tier 2 | Rank 0Draconic IntelligenceSpellweaver: Tier 2 | Rank 1Assistant SpindleShadow IllusionShadow Clone: Tier 3 | Rank 2Shade’s MantleShadow SteelSteel WeaveAltered Metal Mass: Tier 2 | Rank 8Dracosteel ScalesMiscellaneous:
Arcane Chronicling: Tier 1 | Rank 0Arcane Smithing: Tier 1 | Rank 8Biomancy: Tier 2 | Rank 3Fortune’s Favor: Tier 1 | Rank 3Joybringer: Tier 1 | Rank 0Maybe I should give the specialized clones a break. Get them working on Altered Metal Mass and developing new specializations around the clock. Tier-three body and the third rank of Empowered Copy should make life significantly easier.
Lukas couldn’t begin to imagine what the latter would offer, but had high hopes. The sub-ability had revolutionized how he used his clones. It would be a while before he reached tier four and, hopefully, doubled the number of clones. He needed to find a way to maximize their capabilities until then.
The trek to Weaver’s inn was short and uneventful. The spies followed the fabric maid, but failed to detect Lukas, or so it seemed. Shade’s Mantle and Silencing Shadows provided cover, and he stuck to the cover of buildings. It felt strange walking into the dining room without Penelope or Shae present. He had grown used to seeing them at work in a corner. Their time away was overdue. The pair were starting to feel cooped up. He hoped Mira was faring well with them. His mind wandered to the young woman more than he cared to admit, and he was glad the clones weren’t pulling his leg about it. It was clear they wanted to pursue her, and Lukas intended to revisit the situation after she returned to the city in a few months.
The fabric maid led Lukas through a hidden door behind the kitchen’s giant brick oven. She stopped halfway down the stairs beyond it and pointed down one of two branching paths. “Follow the stairs. Master is expecting you.”
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It was a short descent with several corners. Lukas took pride in his sense of direction, but he didn’t know east from west by the time he reached the bottom. When Penelope and the fabric golems spoke about the Loom, Lukas imagined some grand machine. Instead, he was surprised to find nine intricately carved pillars standing in a ring. Delicately woven webs of luminous silk connected them, and countless spiders ranging in size from a fingernail to winter melons worked and climbed.
“Welcome to the Loom.”
Lukas almost jumped out of his skin, instinctively calling forth the Shadow Mantle.
“That won’t be necessary,” the voice continued, seemingly speaking directly into his brain.
He scanned his surroundings, searching for its owner, but saw no one. “Are you the Loom?” Lukas asked, eyes returning to the spider web.
Laughter followed. It was deep and grating. Movement in the darkness above the loom drew Lukas’s attention. He activated Shadow Sight. “You’re the Weaver.”
“Just Weaver. It’s my name.” A spider the size and girth of the oversized local mountain dogs rappelled down from the ceiling. Lukas was sure his legs, straightened out, would be as long as he was tall. “I see why you’d think it's a title.”
The giant spider landed amongst the pillars, seemingly passing through the webs between the ceiling and the ground. It moved closer with a natural silence that only an ambush predator could exhibit. Lukas expected an intelligent magic beast to radiate power and magic in some variety, but he felt nothing from Weaver.
“I believe I have you to thank for restoring my power,” he continued. “The veil blocking my view left the spiders in a frenzy, and me barely capable of functioning.” Weaver paused. His eight eyes closely studied Lukas. “You have questions regarding who and what I am?”
“I wasn’t aware that Fracture had entities like you,” Lukas replied. “Is this a form you adopted, but have you always been a spider?”
“The correct term would be Arachne. A female of my species would make more sense to your kind. They have a human torso and head instead of a thorax. And no, we’re not native to Fracture, much like you. An anomaly brought me here, much like one transported you to the Realm of Greater Beings—”
“How—”
“You might have protections against divination, but I’m several thousand years old and learned to wield magic before completing my first century,” Weaver said. “The dragon you serve might as well be a child in comparison.”
“So, Penelope told you none of this?”
“That woman is fiercely loyal. She has a hunger for knowledge and secrets, but would rather avoid them if she doesn’t want the Conclave or me extracting them.” Weaver returned to the Pillars. “However, she told me that you’d rather avoid her organization. Is this because you don’t want them discovering the relic and its connection to your former master?”
Lukas’s heart raced. A part of him wanted to run. Weaver was starting to see right through him and knew far too much. However, the spider hadn’t shared all he had divined or deduced with Penelope. It meant his motives weren’t malicious.
“Why did you want to meet?” Lukas asked. “Do you want something from me?”
“It's not what about what I want from you but what we can do for each other,” Weaver replied. “But there is a greater question burning within you. Let it out.”
“Who do you serve?”
“There we go.” The giant spider’s pedipalps danced. “I serve a primordial, the Collector of Stories and the First Weaver. She goes by many names. Those who know of her on Fracture speak the name, Maka Dee.”
“And this Maka Dee, she wants something from me?”
“Not directly, no,” Weaver answered. “But we, her servants and allies, have found a grand undertaking to ensure that the stories never cease to flow and her infinite silk tapestries never cease expanding.” He moved closer, forcing Lukas to retreat. “It involves ensuring that the likes of Rakan, Greyspine, and the Abyss Engine never succeed.”
“Mortals are the best source of stories?” Lukas raised an eyebrow. “And immortals cause stagnation or destruction?”
Weaver’s pedipalps danced faster. “We need more agents on Fracture and believe you’ll be a good fit. It seems you’re already doing what we do, getting in the way of Rakan’s followers and ending the likes of the Revolution. If you align yourself with me, you’ll gain access to Fracture’s largest and best information network, get leads on other such organizations and entities, and gain access to far greater resources than all guilds.”
“I’ll be honest, Weaver.” Lukas warily glanced at the exit. Nothing blocked his way. He suspected neither Weaver nor the fabric golems would get in his way if he chose to turn around and flee. Only curiosity and hunger stood as an obstacle. “This all sounds too good to be true. All I’ve done wasn’t out of some great drive, it was to complete the journal’s tasks and—”
“It's not the only reason you did what you did,” Weaver interrupted. “You enjoyed every second of it. You get pleasure from sabotaging the Greater Beings’ plans and protecting those who call your friends. I know you seek freedom from their machinations, but for that, their plots need to be halted, and your pillars need to grow. I’m offering an alliance and guidance.”
“Guidance?” Lukas paused, shoving down all instincts that encouraged him to flee. “What kind of guidance?”
“We’re fellow Spellweavers. You’re a fledgling. I’m a master. I’m told you don’t want a master-apprentice relationship. But how about you let me show you the ropes for the remainder of your stay in the Gray. It's a path of patience and trial and error, but I can hasten your progress. You won’t be casting grand, powerful spells like Penelope anytime soon, but you don’t seem like the type.”
“I prefer control and anonymity.”
“How very spider-like.” Laughter echoed in Lukas’s brain. It no longer terrified him. “We both prefer the subtle touch.”
“You won’t send me on jobs like the Conclave does Penelope?” Lukas asked.
“That’s not how we operate. Instead, we’ll notify you when a relevant threat or entity is near, and if you continue on your current path, the information network will prove invaluable.”
“And your Spellweaving, will it assist me in disentangling me from Silverspine’s relic?”
“Set your sights higher, Lukas Zaun,” Weaver said. “If you prove a talented Spellweaver, you should have no trouble removing the foul dragon’s control over the journal or the subspaces it owns. It can return to what it used to be before Silverspine stole and took control.”
“Wait. You didn’t make this, did you?”
More laughter followed. “There is far more to existence than Fracture or the Realm of Greater Beings. If you wish to be greater than the likes of Silverspine or Rakan, you need to set your sights higher.”
“I don’t know if I wish to become them,” Lukas answered after thinking over the partnership for a moment. “I desire the power to resist their control and influence and living free of such concerns.”
“That’s not an easy path,” Weaver commented. “But I can help you take your first steps. You’re going to need allies, though. The clones won’t be enough. Neither will I. Find people you can trust. Ideally, people who can grow with you and believe in you.”
“I’m working on it.”
Lukas already had someone in mind: Mira.