In the following moments, the magician performed a variety of tricks using all sorts of props, ranging from grand stage illusions to close-up magic that involved inviting audience members on stage...
The magician was clever. Only after mesmerizing the crowd with a series of spectacular feats did he invite volunteers onto the stage for interactive segments.
Indeed, a seasoned magician is a master of atmosphere... creating, directing, and controlling it. Under his subtle direction, the small audience found themselves swept up in one miracle after another, time slipping away unnoticed amidst the rapid-fire performances.
One advantage of having fewer participants in the magic show was that even Florent got the chance to join in on a close-up trick.
What was truly impressive was the magician's skillful manipulation of attention, which allowed Florent to seamlessly cooperate in the performance. It wasn't until he returned to his seat that Florent realized the magician's techniques...
He couldn't help but marvel inwardly...
'A skilled magician not only needs technical proficiency, but also the ability to grasp human psychology. Only by capturing the audience's attention can the sleight of hand truly work its magic...'
Most of the magician's tricks were immediately apparent to Florent, while a few required some thought before he could figure them out.
As for the remaining ones, Florent estimated that only by using his 'Trickmaster' abilities could he hope to replicate them. However, he didn't dwell on it too much. At that moment, enjoying the magic show was the most important thing.
Before he even realized it, the magic performance came to an end.
After completing a small stage illusion, the magician removed his tall hat and began rummaging inside it. From time to time, a dove would fly out, or he would pull out some bizarre object that elicited laughter from the audience.
Finally, the magician pulled out a pocket watch, glanced at it, and chuckled, "Ladies and gentlemen, time is always fleeting, like a rushing river that never flows backward. With that, today's magic show has come to an end. Farewell, everyone!"
With those words, sparks erupted from the magician's body, and in an instant, he transformed into a figure engulfed in flames.
The audience gasped in shock as the stage was suddenly enveloped in fire. Moments later, the flames vanished, and both the magician and his props disappeared without a trace...
Light returned to the grand hall, and Florent smacked his lips, feeling as though he hadn't gotten enough. But as he came to his senses, he realized that he was actually quite tired from watching the show. When the mind is focused, fatigue goes unnoticed, but once it relaxes, exhaustion sets in. That was precisely the case here.
Florent felt as though he had just enjoyed a sumptuous feast, and was filled with satisfaction, but also weighed down by fatigue...
As he dragged his feet toward the exit, he couldn't help but reflect on the magic show, finding it endlessly replay-worthy.
Despite being a bit dazed, he still remembered the two purposes of his visit... First, to learn from the magician, and second, to volunteer himself as a magician for the circus. Therefore, he didn't plan to leave immediately, but instead headed to the lobby to speak with Darlene.
The magic show by the Sohir Circus was indeed memorable, but it wasn't so incomprehensible that Florent, who had ingested a Beyonder potion, couldn't grasp it. He was confident that with the right equipment, he could replicate most of the tricks.
Luckily, when he arrived at the lobby, Darlene was standing in front of two gentlemen. One was the magician in his tailcoat, and the other was a man dressed in a white suit, wearing a gold-rimmed monocle.
To Florent's relief, this man didn't have black hair, but instead sported a head of smooth, golden locks. His features were distinctly European, with a high nose and broad eyes. If the man had looked like the typical Asian, Florent would have been terrified out of his wits.
'Thank the gods,' Florent thought, 'that aside from the Spectator Pathway, even true deities can't manifest from mere mental whispers...'
Well, except the Outer Ones. Otherwise, Florent have been dead long ago...
The magician's trained sensitivity to attention alerted him to Florent's approach, and he stopped the conversation. His intuition told him that the young man had something to discuss with them, so he paused accordingly.
This allowed Floren to get a good look at the magician, whom he hadn't had the chance to observe closely during the performance.
The man had an Asian appearance, with black hair and eyes, and a warm, gentle smile. Just like his confident demeanor on stage, he seemed like a wise, strategic thinker in real life.
However, the gentleman in Florent's eyes wasn't a young man, but a middle-aged one. His jade-like face was already marked with wrinkles, and although his hair didn't show it at first glance, upon closer inspection, Florent noticed a few silver strands mixed in.
Given that Asians tend to age more slowly than Europeans, the magician was likely older than he appeared.
The young man beside him wasn't as striking, but the gold-rimmed monocle near his eye left a deep impression on Florent. Although such monocles were favored by intellectuals and nobles, Florent couldn't be sure about their exact style. Still, the sight of it made him somewhat uneasy...
The young man asked with a serious and earnest expression, "Sir, is there something you need?"
The stark contrast in their expressions made Florent inwardly curious, but he decided to cut straight to the point, "Hello, I'd like to apply to be a magician for your circus."
The young man glanced at Florent, then at the older man beside him, hesitating uncertainly.
The older man, however, stepped forward with a warm, welcoming smile and extended his hand, "Lazar Arnoll, magician of the Sohir Circus. I'd be happy to have you join us, but we'll need to conduct a test first."
Lazar's decision eased the tension slightly...
Florent, realizing belatedly that he hadn't introduced himself, quickly added, "Florent Freeman, I'm a bit of a magician myself."
He then hurriedly shook the older man's hand.
Suddenly, Lazar's hand was pulled down by Florent. The young man's expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to normal, while Darlene let out a sharp scream.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Florent hid his hand beneath his clothes at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
Then he called out, "Hey, miss, please stop screaming. Take a closer look."
He revealed his hand, which now held a rose instead of the fake hand. Florent sniffed the flower theatrically before handing it to Darlene, whose screams gradually subsided...