I staggered back at the blow, shaking my left hand in the air. “I think we’re at about negative fifty or so at this point.”
“I’ll call it five.” Teft beckoned to me with his cane. “Unless you can’t continue, of course.”
I shook my head. “I was really only worrying on your behalf. After all, it must be difficult to retain your concentration when you have so many things to distract you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And what do you mean by that, Cadence?”
“Defend yourself; I’ll explain while our weapons talk.”
I stepped forward, making a low swipe at his knees. He hopped over the slash, and then swung at my arm again. I parried this time, pressing against his cane, watching the vines of ice spread from my blade onto his weapon. I wasn’t certain if it was actually damaging his cane, but it certainly seemed to disturb my opponent, and that was enough.
As I expected, he stepped away hastily, once again bathing his cane in flame.
I struck again just as the flames dissipated. “I saw a second ‘invisible’ figure in the stands while you were talking earlier. You told Roland he was wrong, but his instincts were close to the mark.”
“Four. You believe I have an accomplice of some kind? Or that I’m not Lord Teft, perhaps?” He deflected my strike, but again, I was able to step forward and kick him before he could react. The attack didn’t connect very hard, but he frowned and stepped back nonetheless. “Three.”
“Not at all. The Teft I saw on the stage was easily able to dodge Sera’s spell and deflect Roland’s blasts — those were much faster than the kicks I’m landing right now. Or,” I said, “the trap you just stepped into.”
I jabbed at him. He stepped back, as expected, and stumbled as he stepped right on top of the still-energized blade of my dueling cane. I saw his barrier crackle as the mana charged in the weapon lashed against it.
He stepped to the side and kicked the cane’s hilt, sending it flying at me, but I was able to easily step out of the way. “You’re slower here because you’re dividing your attention. One of you is a projection. A simulacrum. And that,” I concluded, sidestepping and making a vicious lunge at his chest, “is why you’re too slow to win.”
He caught my blade in his hand.
“Two. You’re right and wrong, Corin.” He slammed his cane into my chest, knocking me back, and I lost my grip on my weapon as I fell backward. Dropping my blade, he followed me as I recoiled, putting his cane on my neck. “I am a simulacrum, but I’m not slower than the real Teft. I’m autonomous.” His eyes gleamed. “I was letting you hit me.”
I grabbed his cane with my left hand, but my grip was still weak from his earlier strike, and he quickly pulled it out of my grasp.
“Do you have any other insights to share before we end this?” He raised his cane, a crimson glow forming around the weapon.
I gave him the most serious look I could muster. “Just one. No, zero, actually.”
He rolled his eyes, pulling the cane away and lowering it to the ground. “Yes, yes, you’ve lasted your ten seconds. Very well, Corin Cadence. I suppose you can stay.”
“Thanks, magical construct.”
Teft shook his head. “Don’t get too snide, boy. You’re the one who just got beaten by a fake.”
And with that, the duplicate Teft vanished, and I picked up my weapons to rejoin the class.
The real Teft was wearing a cocky expression, leaning against his cane, when I made it back to where I’d been sitting. Which was, of course, still ruined.
I chose to stand rather than sit in the crater.
Sera and Roland were still standing, too. Roland had returned to where he’d originally been seated.
Lord Teft made a dismissive wave with his left hand. “You can be seated now, children.”
I folded my arms, glanced at the destroyed spot, and then back to him. Sera and Roland sat down, though.
“Close enough. Interesting tactic, Master Cadence, and admittedly not one I would have anticipated. Obviously, calling in outside help would be illegal in a duel, but I didn’t say it was a duel, so I won’t penalize you for it. Your performance was adequate.” He glanced at Sera and Roland. “And the loyalty of your friends somewhat surprising. I could have them expelled for attacking a teacher without permission.”
Roland bristled at that comment, but Teft continued talking. “This is, in fact, why they will be rewarded. In a battle, that sort of unflinching loyalty is a rare and valuable resource. Of course, you’ll need to ensure that you’re being loyal to the right people. Ten points to the two students who responded to Master Cadence’s call. Fifteen for the other gentleman,” he looked at Patrick, “who assisted them without Master Cadence’s prompting.”
Patrick joined the fight? I hadn’t seen that happen; it must have been while I was outside of the class area fighting the double.
I felt a moment of guilt for not including Patrick when I’d called for help. Still, I hadn’t known what his capabilities were, or that he would have helped. It seemed I’d underestimated him.
I looked at Patrick and sent him a gesture of thanks. He nodded in reply.
Teft continued speaking, beginning to pace around the stage. “I suppose most of you were focusing on the show on the stage. I’d like a student who wasn’t involved in that little contest to summarize for the other students what happened to Master Cadence after he fled the stands. Anyone?”
Kent stood up.
“My, volunteering again, Master Kent? Very well, explain.”
Kent stood, gesturing to the area where I’d been fighting. “He was fightin’ a copy of you over there. A simulacrum, I think… one of the Shaper spells?”
The teacher nodded. “Close enough. Simulacra will be the subject of today’s lesson.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. Given Teft’s behavior, I wasn’t aware this “class” was going to have lessons.
Teft paused his pacing, coming to the center of the stage. “A simulacrum is a copy of a living being that is constructed from mana. As Master Kent pointed out, creating a simulacrum is one of the most advanced abilities of the Shaper Attunement. While Shapers are typically associated with creating and controlling spectral weapons, armor, and other objects, the simulacrum spell is far more versatile. It will be many years before any of you is capable of constructing one, of course, but you should be aware of their existence for three main reasons. Would anyone like to speculate on these reasons? Not you, Master Kent.”
I was already standing, so I simply raised a hand.
“Oh, sure, let’s have you give it a try, Master Cadence.”
I lowered my hand. “They’re legal in virtually all forms of duels, and the flexibility they provide makes Shapers the most dominant attunement in most of these scenarios.”
“Close enough. What about the other two reasons?”
I scratched my chin. “You said earlier that perception was important. You were deliberately misleading us so that we didn’t notice the simulacrum.”
“An accurate assessment, but not related to the question I’m asking. We’ll call that one out of three. Anyone else?”
A student I didn’t recognize stood up. He was dark skinned, heavyset, and wore thick spectacles.
“You,” Lord Teft gestured at the student. “Ah, an actual Shaper wants to answer a question about Shapers. Miracle of miracles. I don’t recognize you. Give me your name and answer.”