Not sure if you'll get around to responding to this since this is pretty far after the whole story has been posted, but I have a question regarding the clone spell.

Since each clone seems to have the same personality of the caster, but their own mindset and ability to think and act... wouldn't they be constantly afraid of disappearing and thus 'dying' once the spell wears off?

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yeah, that reminds me of a short story where Twilight was messing with a clone spell, which had a warning message: "will give you a severe existential experience." she didn't understand what that meant until the clones DIED.
fortunately Celestia was there to give her emotional support.