The newly created True Aether Soul Clone sat cross-legged on the polished floor of the cultivation hall, the Fortune Telling Art manual resting on his lap.
The faint glow of the lanterns reflected off the clone's face. His expression was calm, almost thoughtful, as his eyes scanned the old characters etched into the manual's pages.
From a distance, Aksai's true self leaned back against the tall pillar of the hall, arms crossed over his chest. His breathing had steadied after the soul-splitting ordeal, and now his sharp eyes never left the clone.
Through the bond of their shared soul, he could feel the flickers of thought inside the clone's mind—like ripples across a pond. If he wished, he could nudge the ripples, push them toward a decision, or even override them completely.
But for the time being, he chose restraint. This experiment was about discovery, not control.
