As the first rays of golden dawn broke out, Nyx stirred from his slumber. The farmhouse creaked and settled around him, its weathered wooden floors bearing witness to the staggering transformation it had undergone. Where once there had been empty spaces and dusty corners, now stood towering stacks of books, each pile at least a meter tall, threatening to topple at the slightest disturbance.
Nyx stretched, his mind already racing with the day's agenda. The mysterious chameleon pelt he'd acquired at the Gilded Gavel Auction House still bothered him, its true usefulness eluding his understanding. With a determined nod, he summoned his four clones, their sudden appearance barely causing a ripple in the sea of tomes surrounding them. Each clone had a small mark still on their hand where he had been burned, but it was almost gone.
"Alright, team," Nyx addressed his doppelgangers, "let's tackle this chameleon mystery. We need to find out everything we can about its magical uses."
The clones nodded in unison, their violet eyes mirroring Nyx's own curiosity and determination. They set to work immediately, carefully navigating the labyrinth of book stacks. Fingers traced spines, eyes scanned titles, and soon the air was filled with the soft rustling of pages.
As the morning wore on, the clones worked tirelessly, separating the books into categories and creating a special pile for those that might contain references to the elusive magical chameleon beast. Their efficiency was remarkable.
After two hours of intense research, they had amassed an impressive collection of over 50 books that held potential answers. Nyx surveyed the new stack with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The sheer volume of information was daunting, but the prospect of unraveling the pelt's secrets was too enticing to resist.
"Great work, team," Nyx said, stretching his arms above his head. "I think we've earned a break. Let's whip up some breakfast before we dive into these books."
The kitchen soon buzzed with activity as Nyx and his clones prepared a veritable feast. The aroma of sizzling eggs filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of fresh herbs. Noodle sprouts were tossed in fragrant sauces, their tendrils curling in the heat. Hard bread, leftover from yesterday's baking, was sliced and toasted to perfection.
As they gathered around the table, each clone loading their plate with a varied assortment from the impromptu buffet, the aroma of their culinary efforts filled the farmhouse kitchen. Nyx took a bite of the noodle sprouts, savoring the tangy sauce that clung to each tender strand. The eggs, perfectly cooked with runny yolks, added a rich creaminess that complemented the noodles' zesty flavor.
"Mmm," one clone mumbled, mouth full of the crusty bread. "We've really improved our baking skills. Remember when you used to burn everything?"
Nyx chuckled, reaching for a slice himself. The bread's exterior was satisfyingly crunchy, giving way to a soft, airy interior that soaked up the egg yolk beautifully. "Practice makes perfect," he replied.
Another clone nodded enthusiastically, mixing some of the spicy sauce into his eggs.
The third clone swallowed a mouthful of noodles before chiming in. "The way the pelt shimmers and changes... it's not just camouflage, is it?"
"Definitely not," Nyx agreed, taking a sip of fresh water to cleanse his palate. The cool liquid was a refreshing contrast to the warm, flavorful meal. "I have a hunch it's got some kind of illusion magic woven into its very fibers."
The fourth clone, who had been quietly enjoying his meal, finally spoke up. "You know, this reminds me of something I read in one of Aria's advanced alchemy books. There was a chapter on incorporating magical creature parts into potions..."
Nyx's eyes lit up. "That's right! Do you remember which book it was?"
The clone furrowed his brow, thinking hard. "I'm not sure, but I think it had a green cover with silver lettering."
"Well," Nyx said, polishing off the last of his eggs, "I guess we know where to start after breakfast. Let's finish up and get back to those books!"
As they continued their meal, the conversation flowed freely, bouncing from theories about the chameleon pelt to reminiscing about the past months of apprenticeships. The simple yet delicious food energized them, preparing them for the research ahead. Despite the daunting task before them, Nyx couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment.
Nyx lingered at the table, savoring the last morsels of his meal. As the flavors of breakfast faded, he rose with a contented sigh and began tidying the kitchen. The clink of dishes and the rush of water from the sink filled the air as he worked, his mind already drifting to the day's tasks ahead.
With the kitchen spotless, Nyx made his way to the living room, plucking a promising tome from one of the towering stacks. He turned towards his favorite reading chair, a weathered armchair that had seen better days but still offered unparalleled comfort. To his surprise, one of his clones was already curled up in it, deeply absorbed in a thick volume with a cracked leather spine.
Undeterred, Nyx glanced towards his bed, thinking he might settle there instead. Two more clones occupied that space, sitting back against the headboard, their noses buried in their respective books. They barely seemed to register his presence, so engrossed were they in their reading.
A flicker of movement caught Nyx's eye. In the corner of the room, his fourth clone had fashioned an impromptu reading nook. The clone sat cross-legged on the floor, using a pile of clothes as a makeshift cushion. The mysterious chameleon pelt draped over the pile of clothes as a blanket, its shimmering surface adapting to the background and giving the clothes one an oddly translucent appearance. The effect was almost comical, a floating clone holding a book, but the clone seemed perfectly at peace.
Nyx shook his head, a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation washing over him. It seemed his clones had inherited his newfound love for research along with his appearance. Setting down his book he sighed.
"I'm going to go start brewing potions," Nyx announced to the room at large.
His declaration was met with a profound lack of reaction. Not a single clone bothered to look up from their reading, each one lost in their own world of magical knowledge.
With a wry smile, Nyx turned and headed for his workshop. At least the lack of company meant he'd have all the equipment to himself. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but wonder if creating such studious clones was a blessing or a curse. Either way, he mused, at least the chameleon pelt mystery would be solved sooner rather than later.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across his workshop, Nyx wiped the sweat from his brow and corked the last potion bottle. The day's brewing had been productive, but his mind kept wandering to the research his clones were conducting. With a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, he made his way back to the study.
The scene that greeted him was one of intense concentration. His four clones were huddled around the desk, parchments strewn about, quills scratching furiously as they sketched diagrams and scribbled notes. The air buzzed with excitement, and Nyx could feel the surge of discovery even before he spoke.
"We've found it!" one clone exclaimed, looking up with eyes bright with triumph. "The Mask of Disguise!"
A wave of relief washed over Nyx, so powerful it almost made his knees buckle. His gamble had paid off. The vague memories that had prompted him to purchase the chameleon pelt, memories he'd barely trusted, had proven correct after all. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as a mixture of emotions bubbled up inside him.
"It actually worked," Nyx murmured, half to himself. "I can't believe it."
Pride swelled in his chest at having trusted his instincts, but it was tempered by a lingering sense of foolishness. He'd rushed into the purchase, after all, driven more by gut feeling than solid research. It had been a risky move, one that could have easily backfired.
"I guess sometimes you have to take a leap of faith," he mused, running a hand through his hair.
Despite the positive outcome, Nyx made a mental note to be more cautious in the future. He'd been lucky this time. As he leaned in to examine the diagrams and notes his clones had produced, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.
"Alright," he said, his voice steadier now, "show me what you've found. Let's see if we can turn this lucky break into something truly remarkable."
Nyx leaned in, examining the intricate drawings and detailed instructions. The process was complex but not beyond their capabilities. It began with creating a plaster mold of his face, followed by filling the negative space with clay. The clay would then be sculpted to create the desired new appearance.
"We'll need to cure it in the furnace," another clone explained, pointing to a list of alchemical ingredients. "This special paint will help set and preserve the features."
The most crucial step, Nyx realized, involved the magical chameleon pelt. They would need to carefully cut a piece to cover the sculpted face, but the real magic lay in the back of the pelt. There, they would etch 20 small ancient runes, connecting them with precisely drawn mana circuits.
"The final touch is another alchemical agent," the third clone added. "It'll bind the pelt to the shape of the clay and hold the facial features."
Nyx's mind raced as he mentally cataloged their supplies. To his amazement, they had everything they needed right here on the farm. A quick calculation of the 3 meter by 2 meter pelt suggested they had enough materials to craft up to 195 masks.
"We won't be making that many, of course," Nyx mused aloud, his practical nature asserting itself. "That would be wasteful. But having the ability to create multiple disguises could be incredibly useful."
As they organized their notes, one of the clones suddenly perked up. "You know, the Mask of Disguise might just be the beginning. This pelt has so much potential!"
Nyx raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on," he encouraged.
The clone's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Well, what if we applied the same principles to create Cloaks of Camouflage? We could craft garments that blend seamlessly with any background, perfect for stealth operations or exploring dangerous magical areas."
"Or gloves!" another clone chimed in. "Imagine Gloves of Mimicry that could replicate the texture and properties of anything they touch. They'd be invaluable for safely handling volatile magical substances."
The third clone nodded enthusiastically. "And what about using smaller pieces to create Chameleon Charms? Tiny, inconspicuous trinkets that could hide magical signatures or disguise the nature of enchanted items."
"We could even experiment with incorporating the pelt into alchemy," the fourth clone suggested. "What if we could brew potions that temporarily grant the drinker chameleon-like abilities? The applications for magical research would be incredible."
Nyx listened, his mind racing with the possibilities. Each idea seemed to open up new avenues for magical experimentation and practical applications.
"These are all fascinating ideas," Nyx said, his voice tinged with both excitement and caution. "But remember, we need to approach this methodically. We'll start with the Mask of Disguise and perfect that process. Then we can explore these other applications one by one."
As he helped stack the parchments, Nyx's mind was already racing with plans. Tomorrow, they would begin the process of creating their first Mask of Disguise. It would be a challenge, but one he was eager to face.