"Arghhhh!" Cassian roared in frustration. He was trapped in a truly hopeless situation, unsure how to move forward. One option was to stick with the group, wandering aimlessly and fighting off whatever came their way until they inevitably met their end. The other was to do nothing—accept their fate and let whoever was hunting them finish the job.
Larick and Amina seemed to be on the same page. Larick let out a heavy sigh, watching Cassian fume. "Why don't they just send those damn instructors and get it over with? What's the point of throwing these doppelgangers and those ugly fairies at us?"
Amina had an idea but was too drained to care much. Still, with nothing else to do, she said, "Maybe they're trying to figure us out or something?"
"For what?" Larick shot back, just as frustrated and confused.
"To make those doppelgangers more like us..." Amina said, her expression dark. Her words made both boys' faces twist with concern.
The silence that followed hung heavy for a few seconds before another voice cut through it. "She's right," a girl said as she joined the conversation. She had black hair, warm brown skin that seemed to glow, and striking blue moon-like eyes. Sliding into the spot between Cassian and Amina, she added, "But it's not just that. Have you noticed we're only running into doppelgangers of people who are either dead or not that strong? Like, we haven't seen yours yet..." She glanced at Cassian before turning to the other two. "Or yours either."
The girl's name was Selene, and she came from a kingdom bordering the Great Sea, much like Amina. However, unlike Amina's lush, green homeland, Selene's kingdom was a vast desert. Her sun-kissed brown complexion was a testament to the endless golden sands and scorching heat she had grown up in.
Her words sank in, filling all three with even more unease. She was right, and it hit them like a brick—they were only alive because they still had some use. Cassian's eyes lit up with sudden realization. "To make doppelgangers of us, they need to know the real us—our powers, our abilities, right?"
"Yeah, Mr. Detective," Larick shot back with a sarcastic smirk and tone to match.
Cassian ignored him and pressed on. "Which means they need information from us. And if that's the case... doesn't that mean we can control what they get?"
The other three weren't slow to catch on; they immediately understood what Cassian was implying. He wasn't just talking about withholding information—he was suggesting they could manipulate it. The ones creating their doppelgangers needed accurate details to make perfect copies, from their mannerisms and speech patterns to their abilities.
And somehow, these doppelgangers could even replicate Domains—the very essence of their powers. That realization sent a chill through the group. It wasn't just their physical traits being mirrored; their unique strengths, honed through blood, sweat, and pain, were being stolen and used against them.
Amina's expression hardened as she leaned forward, her voice low but sharp. "If they're copying Domains too, it means they're studying us more closely than we thought. They're not just making doppelgangers—they're trying to perfect them."
Larick clenched his fists, his usual sarcasm replaced by a grim determination. "So, what are you saying? We start acting like idiots, fighting like we don't know how to use our Domains? They'll catch on."
Cassian shook his head, his tone steady. "Not exactly. We don't have to be obvious. We just need to give them enough to think they're getting what they want while keeping the most important parts hidden—or even faked. If they need us alive for this, then we've got leverage."
Selene nodded, her gaze flickering between them. "Leverage only works if they don't realize we're using it. We'll need to be careful. Any slip, and they'll know we're onto them."
The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, but Cassian's determination didn't falter. "Then we don't slip. We give them what they want—just keeping some things hidden."
"And what exactly are those 'hidden things' supposed to be?" Larick asked, looking a bit confused.
"I don't know..." Cassian shrugged. "Maybe the stuff that could give us an edge if we ever have to fight our doppelgangers—assuming they actually make them."
The group fell silent again, but this time it wasn't the oppressive, hopeless quiet of before. Instead, a flicker of hope sparked in their eyes as they began to think. Each of them mentally sifted through their abilities, skills, and habits, trying to pinpoint what needed to be hidden—what could give them an edge if their doppelgangers ever appeared.
Amina broke the silence first, her voice calm but resolute. "We need to make sure everyone in the group knows what to do. If we're going to hold back certain things, we can't afford slip-ups."
Larick nodded, though his expression remained cautious. "Yeah, but how do we even do that? It's not like anyone trusts each other here. Hell, I don't even know if you guys are real."
Cassian exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "That's the problem. We don't know. None of us do. But if we start working together—really working together—it's the only way we'll survive. We have to focus on the big picture: the doppelgangers aren't us, and we can't let them win."
Selen tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "Easier said than done. You think the others will listen to us? Most of them are too busy watching their own backs to care about anyone else."
Amina crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line. "We don't need everyone to believe us. Just enough to make a difference. We share the plan with those we trust the most—if we can trust anyone—and take it from there."
Cassian nodded, his determination hardening. "Exactly. We keep it simple: hold back anything that could give the doppelgangers an edge. Our strongest techniques, our real combat patterns, even the way we think in a fight. If they're copying Domains, we need to make sure they're incomplete—flawed. Anything less than perfect gives us a chance."