Chapter 9

The clone sputters, pinned to the icy marble beneath Shizuku’s foot. Lightning tendrils crackle across its wrists, nullifying its struggling mana.

Shizuku
Talk.
You don’t get to stab me and walk out like we’re done here.

Clone
It’s… not like I wanted to stab you. I was just told… you’d live.

Shizuku
So they knew I wouldn’t die?

Clone
Yes. That’s exactly why they sent me.

Shizuku narrows his eyes.

Shizuku
Sent you… from where?

The clone’s eyes flicker unnaturally. White, like frozen flames.

Clone
The farthest reaches of the Northern District.
The land of snowfields that never end.
Where King Givre sits on his glacier throne, atop a palace of fractured stars.

Shizuku
King Givre…?

He pulls out his phone and sends a quick broadcast message.

Shizuku
Come to the manor.
Now.
Northern threat confirmed.

The clone coughs, spitting a mist of half-solid frost.

Clone
He’s young. He doesn’t talk in white lies. He doesn’t .
He dreams, and we move. That’s all.

The doors open, and Astera walks in first, trailed by Berwick, Eris, and Asche. Alto stands beside them, arms crossed, still tense.

Astera
I got here as fast as I could.
Why is that thing wearing my face?

Shizuku
It mimicked you disturbingly well. I need you to confirm something.

He looks back to the clone.

Shizuku
Who made you?

Clone
I wasn’t born. I was… fractured. Sculpted from frost and essence.
Made to test you. See if you would bleed.

Astera (coldly)
And did he?

Shizuku
I did.
Not enough to matter.

Eris
Northern District... Why would Givre move now?

Asche
The stars up there haven’t shifted in over months.

Berwick
Because someone woke him up.

Shizuku
Or because we’re close to finishing the sigil chain.
And he doesn’t want that.

The clone smiles weakly, frost bleeding from its gums.

Clone
He’s waiting.
And if I were you…

It looks at Astera.

Clone
…I’d worry about the next one that’s wearing her face, you damn Shinzoku-

Shizuku crushes the frost clone’s core with a single motion. The body collapses into a pile of glittering snow, melting into the marble.

Shizuku
New directive.
We’re taking the fight to the North next.

Berwick
And here I thought we’d get a break after the dragons.

Shizuku
Tell that to whoever gets replaced by a clone next.

Astera
…Do I at least get a new jacket for this one?

Alto
You get gloves if you’re lucky.