Chapter 198: Clones also have human rights
Moonlight streamed through the window onto the hospital bed, and Aaron sat up, feeling a little tormented.
Although bandages protect and immobilize the injured area, they also somewhat restrict one's movements.
Abby thoughtfully placed a pillow behind Aaron, then obediently lay on his lap and took out a few candies from his pocket for him.
"After we go back this time, I'll definitely get you a piece of clothing with a larger capacity," Aaron said with relief. "But right now, getting down to business is more important. I'll be relying on you for lookout."
Abby immediately straightened his back, a pair of clear dragon eyes looking towards the door, patting his chest and promising to signal his master as soon as anyone came.
Aaron eagerly opened his mission panel, the joy on his face almost impossible to suppress.
Logically, such a secret matter should be done in the dormitory, but he really couldn't hold back, especially after a particularly thrilling battle.
"Find the legendary Chamber of Secrets; Reward 800 magicpoints."
"Kill the monster in the Chamber of Secrets; Reward 1000 magic points."
"Destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcrux; Reward 1200 magicpoints."
With three thousand magic points in his account, Aaron suddenly felt that all the hard work of this school year was worth it. Then he opened his personal panel.
"Host: Aaron Gaius"
"magic Power: 5000 (Junior Archmage, you are considered a qualified Wizard)"
"Talent: Rare in a Century (Can be upgraded, magic Power increases by 2 points daily)"
"Items: Drop of the Moon (can dispel any negative spell), Resurrection Potion (can resurrect any creature that died within an hour)"
"magic Points: 4744"
Reading the evaluation after magic Power, Aaron pouted. What did "qualified" mean?
Archmages were a solid backbone in the magic world, and many people were stuck at this bottleneck their entire lives.
Although he had only barely reached the junior level and was among the weakest Archmages, as long as he had enough time, his strength would eventually increase.
Reading the number after magic Points, Aaron's heart surged. This was all the wealth he had worked hard to earn!
Although he knew this number would soon decrease, it still looked very pleasing to the eye right now.
Whew!
Aaron took a deep breath, excitedly rubbing his hands.
He decisively opened the system store and unhesitatingly placed an order for the Thought-Form, which cost two thousand magic points.
The next moment, complex magic knowledge flooded Aaron's mind. The Thought-Form Clone spell felt as natural as if he had used it countless times.
"Let's give it a try!" Aaron muttered to himself, experimenting with the spell.
He looked straight ahead, clearly feeling his internal magicpower rapidly draining, and his strength plummeting, but he himself didn't feel any weakness.
This power left his body, but he could use and retrieve it at any time.
At the same time, a blurry figure gradually solidified in front of the hospital bed, identical to Aaron in appearance, but its clothes were ordinary Wizard robes, not wrapped in bandages like the original body.
Abby flew up in surprise, carefully examining the two Aarons, as if trying to find some difference.
"Don't forget to keep watch," Aaron said, rolling his eyes helplessly.
Abby shrugged and continued to stare at the door, but his occasional glances back at the two Aarons made them both feel amused and helpless.
"This is the first time I've seen myself this way. It feels unusually strange.
Still quite handsome. It's no exaggeration to say that at this age, my looks could get a perfect score."
"I have a different opinion," the Thought-Form said with a strange expression. "So, I was this disheveled.
Also, meeting me for the first time in a place like this is somewhat disrespectful."
Hearing this, Aaron scratched his head awkwardly. His current appearance indeed formed a stark contrast with the elegant Thought-Form.
And next to them were five petrified individuals: humans, animals, and ghosts, all present.
Although they had lost all their senses and couldn't move, they were still alive.
This meeting place seemed even stranger than a hospital morgue.
"This fully demonstrates how much I value you."
"Give it a rest!
The one who understands himself best is himself. I know exactly what you're thinking."
Aaron pursed his lips, trying his best to sit up straighter. "I think I've figured out the principle of this magic, but it's my first time using it after all.
You have an independent consciousness, and you'll have your own memories and emotions..."
"And will completely obey the commands of the original body," the Thought-Form interjected meaningfully. "We have completely identical personalities, so you don't need to worry about anything.
Although I have absolute autonomy before returning to the original body, it doesn't mean our connection is broken. You can know what I'm thinking with a single thought."
"I know. My point is, what help do you need?
After all, you've just been born, and besides my knowledge, memories, and half my power, you're truly starting from scratch."
"Hahahaha..." The Thought-Form couldn't help but cover his face and laugh, but then, remembering he was in the school hospital, he quickly composed himself. "I didn't expect my original body to be so humorous. Aaron Gaius can access all of Aaron Gaius's resources. If there's anything needed, I can easily handle it.
But since you brought it up, could you get me two wands?"
Aaron's mouth twitched involuntarily. After a moment of hesitation, he took out his white wand. "Here, make do with this!
You know my grand-uncle's temper. It was already an exception for him to give me two wands. If I asked for two more, he'd definitely kick me out of the wand shop.
Besides, you know how to cast wandless magic, so don't be so picky."
"Alright, but can I have the black wand instead?"
"No, you can't," Aaron refused without thinking. "Many people at Hogwarts know what my wand looks like. Suddenly changing styles will affect my image.
And I don't need you to show your face. Just develop slowly in the shadows.
For example, practice magic in the dormitory, or read in the library, striving to master the carving of the ultimate magicarray as soon as possible.
As long as you can cast spells instantly and your magicpower increases by one or two more levels, we might just be able to contend with Grand Archmages. Then Gaines won't be able to control me."
The Thought-Form covered his forehead and shook his head, saying with a wry smile, "Although your commands are absolute to me, I still want to say: a clone also has human rights; it's not your cheating machine."
"But that's the whole point of this magic; otherwise, why would I learn it?" Aaron retorted. "Besides, I won't get lazy just because you exist.
Learning can't stop no matter what. You'll just be a little more hardworking than me."
"Just a little more hardworking?" The Thought-Form looked directly at his original body. "You're planning to work me like a mule in the production team, aren't you?"
"Ahem... don't be so blunt!
I apologize to you, alright?"
Aaron smiled awkwardly, feeling rather embarrassed by his own words.
If it were an emotionless clone, he would just use it casually, but the Thought-Form was too advanced; it could not only exist for a long time but also possessed its own emotions and memories.
If he really treated the Thought-Form like a beast of burden, it would be no different from treating himself as a slave. He didn't want to feel resentment towards himself when he recalled the Thought-Form; that would be too ridiculous.
"For now, I won't recall you unless it's an emergency," Aaron said to the Thought-Form earnestly. "How about this: you can do whatever you want, but be careful not to appear at the same place at the same time as me."
"Don't worry, I know my limits. I know what to do and what not to do.
If there's an emergency, I'll notify you immediately." The Thought-Form smiled and pointed to his head. "Use this."
"That's good."
At this moment, Abby suddenly gave a warning: someone was coming.
"I'll excuse myself for now. See you tomorrow." The Thought-Form waved at Aaron, then cast a Disillusionment Charmon himself.
Not long after the Thought-Form disappeared, two figures appeared outside the door.
Aaron quickly adjusted his expression, but when he saw Dobby behind Harry, his face tightened a little.
"You two... isn't it a bit inappropriate to walk around so openly together?"
"Don't worry, Dobby is no longer Malfoy's servant," Harryimmediately explained. "I secretly used Lucius Malfoy's hand to give Dobby my sock. He's free now."
"Is that so?" Aaron glanced at Dobby with some surprise. Seeing a black sock on his left foot, he no longer doubted the truth of the matter.
"That's truly remarkable, but you've really offended the Malfoy family badly."
"That doesn't matter," Harry said casually. He and the Malfoy family had never seen eye to eye, and it was unlikely they would ever reconcile.
"So what do you two want with me?" Aaron looked at Harryand Dobby meaningfully. "Don't tell me you came specifically to see me.
It's almost curfew now. Even though the Chamber of Secretsincident was perfectly resolved, most students should be celebrating in their common rooms.
Also, when visiting an injured person, you should at least bring some gifts!
I don't expect you to bring me a fruit basket or a flower basket, but at least bring a bunch of grapes like Colin did!
But you two came empty-handed, bringing nothing at all. Do you look down on me?"
"We absolutely didn't mean that," Harry said eagerly. "It's Dobby. He's homeless, and I wanted to ask if your family could take him in?"
Aaron paused, looking at Harry with utter astonishment.
In his opinion, Dobby was indeed pitiful, but he had also put Harry through a lot during the summer.
Although his original intention was to protect Harry, blocking him at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters and causing him to miss the train was a bit much.
"Do you know, you practically glow!"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.
"It means you're too benevolent, so benevolent that I feel a bit ashamed of myself.
If I were you, helping him gain freedom would be enough. But you actually want to help him arrange his future life."
Hearing this, Dobby sobbed and tugged at Harry's sleeve. "Mr. Gaius is right. Dobby truly isn't worthy of receiving Harry Potter's help anymore."
"Don't say that, Dobby," Harry said comfortingly, then looked at Aaron and asked, "The Gaius family should be able to give Dobby a job, right?
The requirements aren't high, just enough for him to support himself, eat well, and stay warm."