Chapter 0111

Unbeknownst to Tempest, Cardis remain outside the Weapon Pavilion, anxiously waiting for his little Successor to come out.

“Relax, your Successor isn’t as foolish as she acts.” Under Cardis baleful stare, the man amended, “Her spirit wouldn’t allow her to be as foolish as you think she is.” Glare. “Okay, you have a valid reason to worry.”

“Hmph. The child is very ignorant of the dangers around her. She does things without thinking. If she had better sense, she wouldn’t have approached me. Her naivete astounds me. Even a five-year-old child has better sense than she does.” Cardis complained to himself, or more precisely, complained to his clone, which is a part of him so it is safe to say he is complaining to himself.

“She is only thirteen years old.” another of Cardis clone came during Cardis ranting. Being the sensible one, he pointed out the obvious reason why Tempest is as she is.

“Thirteen, old enough to know better.” another clone of Cardis rebutted.

Cardis eyed his three clones with contempt.

It is safe to say mortals are merely tools to the spirits. Cardis had learned of this the hard way, being used by his spirits to achieve their own agenda.

Once a mage steps into the Mastery stage of their cultivation, they began to connect the body refined by their spirits with their soul. The process is a bitter one since the spirit refined the body according to their own desires.

Cardis tried to describe the process before and could only come up with, “It’s like living in a home under constant renovations done by your siblings. Only after the home is completed did you realize your ‘siblings’ expanded the original house into a mansion complete with separate courtyards reserved for their own use and they demand payment for the ‘work’ that they did even though they are living in said mansion. The beauty of their renovation - they never created your courtyard, so you have to live in the main hall, or as the American Tempest calls it, the living room.”

Cardis had three clones, one for each of his spirits. Even though they are a part of him, they are also under control of the spirits they represent. He has the memories and the knowledge his clones gained, but they act independently unless he actively tries to control them.

Each clone look exactly like him, except for the hair. His earth clone had brown hair; his wind clone had green hair; his fire clone had red hair. Cardis hair is a combination of all three colors. He has brown hair closer to the base of his skull with the red covering it to the point where most won’t notice it unless they actively try to look for it or if they are washing his hair and green highlight interwoven with the red.

Each clone has distinct personality as well. His earth clone has a steady personality while his fire clone has a tempered passionate personality. The wind clone’s personality resembles the current him the most. He roams the world with concern for his responsibility.

For a long time Cardis was very hostile to his clones, believing his spirits were using him to create a clone, so they can manifest in this plane.

He already lived with a constant sense of betrayal that when the spirits manifest in the clones. He was not surprised. It was almost expected.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

It took three days of traveling with a powerful body cultivator and his annoying clones to realize his clones are no different from any other clones created. It took awhile for him to settle down and become his current self.

He still partially blames the spirits for the unusual change in himself. Time matured him. He realized fate dealt him and his spirits an unfair hand and they did what they thought was best for him. It wasn’t what he wanted, but it was done for his sake.

Cardis hoped Tempest didn’t have to go through what he had.

“Thirteen is not old enough to know better. I’m over ten thousand years old and I don’t even know better. That’s why I’m worried. Even I, with all the wisdom gained through years of experiences don’t even know better, then how can I expect it from a child like her?”

“She’s only choosing her weapon. How hard can it be?” the green hair clone who eschewed all responsibility he didn’t like asked.

Cardis fire clone open his mouth to add in his thoughts but after a quick glance from the earth clone, he shut his mouth.

“Don’t forget, one of us evolved from a weapon spirit.” the earth spirit pointed out.

“But she is a True Daughter of Storm. She doesn’t need a weapon spirit.”

“It isn’t about the weapon spirit.” Cardis expressed his concern about his little Successor, “The weapon Tempest choose will determine her cultivation path. I didn’t regret honing my skills with Eternal Blight. It will always have a place in my heart.” Cardis directed the last sentence to his earth clone. “However, a broadsword didn’t fit my style of fighting. I don’t want Tempest to be saddled with ‘what if’ should she choose the wrong weapon.”

“I don’t think she’s as stupid as you.” the wind clone spoke without regard. The others knew he was trying to wash his hand of the responsibility the original body took on.

“Don’t you mean as stupid as us back then?” Cardis asked pointedly.

“Nope, you. We haven’t come into being yet. It was all you.” The wind clone added when he saw the dangerous look in Cardis eyes, “She got to the root of your dilemma right away. You could have gone into a weapon shop and tried all the different types of weapon they had. Instead of doing that, you persisted with the wrong weapon because of sentimental value.”

“I’m not confident she would pick the right weapon. She seems determined to pick a heavy type sword. You’ve seen her persistence with Eternal Blight.”

The three clones tried to hold in their laughter. The silly wind clone broke after five seconds and the other two soon followed.

Cardis wanted to berate them. This was his Successor he was speaking about...until he thought back to the weird poses Tempest used trying to pull his sword, then he, too, burst into laughter.

The worry plaguing Cardis seen inconsequential after recalling Tempest’s bout of comedy gold.