Recruiting

Surprisingly, most if not all of the party followed me through the halls to the gym. There were a few slackers in the back of the group that may or may not have been having a small crisis over going to the cafe instead and many who wanted to scratch the itch of curiosity. But either way, they were a welcome addition.

The gym, on the other hand, was more packed than I would've liked. With it being just after class, however, I couldn't have expected anything different. And with the courtyard off-limits for this type of training, it was the only feasible place.

Unless I wanted to pool what little points I had with the rest of the party.

Looking around, I saw twenty or so students scattered in the stands but paid them little mind while I led everyone to the center and lifted them through the hatch in the ceiling. Giving us a better environment than the plain tiles stretching across the first floor.

With almost no words, we moved to the outskirts of the mock city to gather in an open field. Where I took a moment to scan the platoon of expectant faces before he knelt down to reach into my shadow.

"Alright." I sighed. "Those of you who can manipulate the elements, come forward one at a time. The rest of you come in behind them."

Half-knowing what was going on, my team stood to the side and watched me give the humans a copy of the Elemental Tomes and the Manipulation Theories. Minus Winston, who only got the latter.

"Study these in your free time and share them with no one." I sternly demanded. "Not the teachers. Not your friends. Not even the headmaster. That's all I ask."

Many of them were reluctant, but they all more or less agreed after flipping through a couple of pages and coming to understand the wealth of knowledge they've just been given.

"What our dear teachers haven't told you is that what we've learned about molding mana is just the beginning. Concentrating mana into your eyes, ears, or any other body part will yield different effects. That, elemental manipulation, or martial combat is what we'll be training today. Now then. Get ready to meet your training partners.

While Zakira let out a giddy laugh, Peter and everyone else braced themselves. Prompting a wave of subtle panic to spread through the crowd as I gathered shadow mana into my lungs and shouted. "Doppelgangers, rise!"

Preceded by a choir of shrill yelps and a roll of clamors, the fifteen umbral clones rose from the ground to stand before their originals. Smiling and waving in the face of their shaken owners.

"These clones are undying," I declared with a lightning-fueled strike at my clone's neck. Then waited for it to reform before continuing. "Not only that, but they're as strong as you- the originals are. Use them to train. And come to me, Peter or Winston for any questions regarding manipulation or molding."

Hearing the words, Peter turned to me with bulging eyes and took a few steps back while Winston held a mute expression. First looking to me, then to Peter, and then down to the ground as if he were in deep in thought.

I gave Peter a smile and a reassuring nod before stepping away with my clone to retrieve my weapon from the console and begin sparring.

***

'Unbelievable.'

Staring wide-mouthed, I reached forward to grab the face- my face and wrenched it to the side. 'It's actually me.' I dejectedly laughed. Looked around and saw the other dozen pair of twins scattered across the mock city. Fighting and slinging spells around without remorse. 'And there are so many. Just from… our shadows.'

"Winston, can you help me?"

I didn't even need to turn to know it was Rebecca. And without thinking, I spat without so much as budging. "Ask Peter."

It wasn't that I was angry or even bothered by her or the situation. I was simply entranced at what had happened so effortlessly before our eyes. At the sight of something as innocuous as a shadow taking on an amorphous form and rising into a clone to match every punch, kick, or maneuver its counterpart made.

From the time I first saw it up until now, I've been lost in a trance. Staring at my clone- my Doppelganger. Helpless as my mind drifted and came back to form a single question with the passing of each passing moment.

'Could my barrier or my scales produce such a clone?'

Nearly ten minutes had passed, yet the answer still eluded me. And this distraction of a job pulling at my mind only furthered me from trying.

But looking back, my actions were nothing short of rude. And for no other reason than my interest in something else.

But still, the answer to whatever problem she was having was written in the very books she carried. Our ability to manipulate the elements was solely dependent on our understanding of the element in question. According to Amun, the density of our Mana Wells was irrelevant when concerning the power output of manipulation. In that regard, it was more a physical ability than a magical one.

Which meant that Rebecca was thinking about these things in the wrong way.

And… so was I.

Barriers. Scales. Both served defensive purposes. But one was a solid form while the others were a flexible mesh.

One blocked. The other blocked with retribution.

Since the beginning, I've been content with that answer. But, there had to be more to it.

There just had to be.

"Hey-" I turned back, stopped, and habitually sneered upon seeing Scarlett in mid-consultation with Peter.

He had it easy. Learning these practices would take his magical abilities to greater heights all on their own. I, however, had to grind on my own to figure out the secrets to a magic that's been untrained by my progenitors for generations.

And Amun. Well… even I couldn't deny he was a genius. Not only that, he was a half-elf. So he wasn't really comparable to any of us. But still, he was unlike anyone I've ever met. Charismatic and introverted. Selfish, but reliable. Intelligent but open-minded. Wise and free-spirited. Powerful and humble. Greedy but fair.

He was all of those things and much more. That, I learned by observing his actions over the past weeks.

But no matter how much as I observed- no matter how much I learned, the more questions I had about him.

Questions that I found myself struggling to ask.

"You seem to be the only one, not training."

I turned to the source of the amiable voice and saw the devil himself smirking just behind me.

"You told me to teach, not train." I turned to face him.

"To teach is the highest form of training." He simply; cryptically said before turning to those nearest to us. "Instead of working on your strengths, focus on the techniques you struggle with the most."

Many of them nodded their acknowledgments to Amun before resuming their drills. In a way, watching their change in attitude from the sidelines was surreal. Due in no small part to our duel, I was sure. But it hadn't even been a week and they talked to him in much the same way they did Mr. Wolfgang. Only to a much friendlier, more open extent.

As if to prove my point, Rebecca came running up to Amun, claiming she had trouble manipulating water.

And frustratingly, he turned to me his brows raised expectantly.

"You struggle with because of your affinities." I sighed. "Just pull water from the air, nearby plant life, or even the blood of another creature if you really have to." I sighed, then laughed inside in the face of Scarlett's mortified expression.

Amun, on the other hand, was grinning wide like an old professor. "Good answer."

Eliciting a short but contemptuous groan to myself in response. 'Who exactly does he think he is?"

Still, Amun invited her to try again and after sweeping her hand through the air, a thin film of water could be seen covering her fingers. Though not much, only enough to make it seem as if she were sweating profusely.

"That's a start." Amun stepped closer with a nod. "Water has a unique property in that it loves itself. The molecules stick to each other like a clingy lover. So as you continue sweeping your arm around, more water will latch onto the film you have now."

He was clearly moving too fast. Even for me. It was obvious that both she and I were hung up on a single word that nearly rendered all his other words moot. The point was understood, sure. But it was also placed at the furthest recesses of our minds to accommodate the budding curiosity that'd festered in its place.

"What's a molecule?" Rebecca finally asked, causing me to unconsciously step forward in anticipation of the answer and for Amun to impatiently pinch the bridge of his nose and groan.

"It's in the book I gave you." He turned a disapproving eye to me. "Did you not read it.?"

I looked away and mumbled. "A few pages. I skimmed through most of it though."

"Yeah. I bet." Amun chuckled, clearly unamused. "Let me guess, you think I'm trying to bribe you?"

"N- not exactly." I stammered. Suddenly taken aback by the abrupt change in behavior.

"But I'm sure some do. So now's the perfect time to lay everything on the table." Turning, he waved to have the clones corral the rest of the party around him and wasted no time to address them. "Listen! As some of you suspected, it's true that in giving you these tomes, I was acting through self-interest, and self-interest alone. Not to bribe you, but to train you into the best party in our class. That said, I and I alone discovered and developed the theories before I arrived at the Bodhi Tree. And while the staff has an understanding of Mana Molding, I still wish to share my manipulation theories with the world. Starting with this party. And then the others parties come year's end. And finally, with the Bodhi Tree itself after we graduate. If you see it was a bribe, that's fine with me. But I want you all to realize that these tomes benefit yourselves just as much as they benefit me."

"I admire your honesty." Duke's songful voice came from above just after his doppelganger slammed into the ground a few meters away from the crowd. Causing the sea of heads to swivel up just in time to see him sweeping down on a magnificent pair of wings to look down into Amun's eyes.

He was a towering mass of feathers, beak, and still-eyes that were surely imposing; yet, his intimidation factor was all but driven out by his gentle aura and demeanor.

Plus, he was annoying.

"I am curious as to why you are so driven. What are your ambitions? With us, and for both your time at this institute and your travels abroad?"

Amun sighed before he looked away as if he needed to think. Only to turn back to Duke and the rest of the party after a surprisingly short amount of time. His eyes brimming with confidence and resolve like that of a seasoned royal.

"As some of you may have heard before, I intend to become an Artificer and a Monk next year. After that, I aim to graduate at the top of the class and become a Guild Master. Once the guild is established, we'll have five primary objectives. The first is to return to Maru, breach the barrier, and reclaim the land on which the portals sit."

'You what?' I spat in disbelief.

"What comes after?" Duke calmly asked as if I'd said nothing. "That should take, at most, decades. But you are of the Fey. You will live for centuries."

"Our second goal will be to seek out knowledge of the old world." He declared with a palm to his chest. "I was born a necromancer. With my power, I aim to commune with the dead and use their knowledge to restore ancient ruins and cultures to their former glory and learn the true history of the Mortal Plane. Not just fifteen hundred years, but everything. Aside from that, we will do as all guilds do and search for lost societies to uplift while we explore each and every realm in the Mortal Plane.

"The last objective is more a personal task of mine." He humbly chuckled. "I aim to help my followers realize their dreams. That's the least I can do to repay them helping me realize mine. Beyond that. Well… we'll cross that bridge after we build it."

"I do not understand." Duke shook his beak. "There was no mention of bridges."

"It's a way with words." Amun chuckled in pain. "It means I'll deal with it when the time comes. Kind of."

"A way with words." Duke slowly repeated to himself. "Interesting."

"Yeah." Amun chuckled. "Regardless, the first step to achieving my goals starts with graduating at the top of the class. And that starts here. With all of you." He paused to look around before continuing. "I need your help to dominate the other parties in everything- academics, combat, and points. I'll teach you everything I know to make that happen."

"Referring to your guild. Why should we join?" Urshure finally chimed in with a crowd-turning growl. "You attempt to gain our allegiance in exchange for power?"

"I'll be honest with you all and tell you upfront that I may be ambitious and powerful, but I'm also lazy and self-centered." Amun boldly declared. "I'm possibly a bit arrogant as well. But I'm smart enough to make my words more than just lip service. If you don't want to follow my lead, that's fine. I'll just consider that into my plans too.

"And if any of you don't want to join my guild, that's fine as well." He smirked. "If you do, then that's fine too. But I'm not gonna force anyone to do anything they don't want to. I'm training you because I feel that anyone who calls themselves my 'teammate' should be as strong as their potential allows. Noting more. Nothing less."

"Very well." Urshure grunted. Though it was clear he was still skeptical.

I, however, couldn't tell if he was bluffing or outright crazy. If he was bluffing, he was a phenomenal liar. But if he truly wanted to cross the barrier and enter Ulai, I wasn't sure even he would survive.