Golden Festival Day 25
A tall, lanky man with a perfectly waxed mustache, sparkly suit jacket, and a top hat two inches too tall. He walked up to the counter and bowed gracefully: "Good morning! I am Mr. Shewstring, the greatest magician in District 4!"
Kagura gasped like she had just seen Elvis reincarnated: "NO WAY! THE Mr. Shewstring?!"
Shinatsu and Diego exchanged a glance.
Diego whispered: "Uh… who'?"
Chifuyu shrugged: "No idea."
Mr. Shewstring flicked his wrist and produced a bouquet of flowers, then a deck of cards, then a live dove, then another dove which the first dove pecked angrily.
Kagura clapped: "Marvelous!"
Iris flinched backward: "Th-they're real birds…"
Nicholas: "He's a real magician."
Yuji: "There's no such thing as magic, just tricks."
Mr. Shewstring placed the birds on the counter, where one immediately began pecking at Caesar's sleeve: "Ahem! I come with a request—no, a mission!"
Everyone leaned in.
Mr. Shewstring: "I run a children's club about 23 miles north of here. Every month we hold a special event. This month, the children asked for… Odd Jobs."
Caesar: "Oh, can I volunteer? I love children Mr. Shewstring. I love children!!"
Chifuyu: "You might wanna word that differently."
Mr. Shewstring clapped his hands dramatically. The doves squeaked: "I want to hire five of you to perform a magic show tonight at seven! I will teach you tricks you can learn within the day!"
Everyone stared at each other.
Diego: "A magic show sounds cool. I'm in."
Kagura pointed dramatically: "Alright! That's two! Now for the remaining three…"
Shinatsu immediately tried to leave.
Kagura stopped her by grabbing her sleeve: "Not so fast, Shinatsu! You're perfect for this!"
Shinatsu: "How do you figure?"
Kagura: "You're good with kids aren't you?"
Shinatsu sighs: "Sure…"
Iris sank lower into her chair: "I… guess I don't mind…"
Kagura: "And last but not least…" She scanned the group like a lion selecting prey.
Yuji already looked annoyed: "No."
Kagura: "Yes."
Yuji: "No."
Kagura: "It'll be your first Odd Job! You have no choice!"
Yuji clicked his tongue: "Damn it."
Kagura: "Great! You five are our magicians!"
Mr. Shewstring: "Well then! We will begin your training immediately!"
Mr. Shewstring drove them to his club in his minivan, he converted the backyard into a makeshift magician camp. Props. Ropes. Cards. Boxes. A comically large hat. He pointed at the group with theatrical flair: "You shall learn ten tricks today!"
Diego cracked his knuckles: "Bring it on."
The first trick was the rising card.
The magician slid the deck back into its box and turned it upright, tapping it once on the table: "This one isn't about speed," he said. "It's about misdirection and trust." Iris leaned in, eyes locked on his hands. "A card is chosen. Lost in the middle. Everyone knows where it is, somewhere inside. So you give them something else to focus on. Your breathing. Your posture. Your calm."
He let Iris choose a card for him to pull a few times: "Most people think the magic is here, but it's your confidence."
Iris swallowed, then nodded. She followed his example and tried. It was a simple trick, even with an injured arm she could do it.
Iris: "I did it!"
Mr. Shewstring: "That you did."
Next was the disappearing coin.
Diego made the coin vanish.
Caesar screamed: "Witchcraft!"
Shinatsu: "Even a bozo could do this one."
Diego winked: "Magic is all about presentation."
Yuji: "Magic is all about deceptionzl
Mr. Shewstring beamed: "Yes indeed!"
Next, rope cut restoration.
The magician laid a length of rope across the table.
Mr. Shewstring: "This one's about conviction. The cut must look real." Yuji took his blade and readied himself. "Cut it clean," the magician instructed.
Yuji didn't hesitate.
The rope fell into two convincing halves.
Shinatsu's turn. She lifted the rope calmly, fingers already finding the doubled section hidden within the fibers. Her expression didn't change, focused and unreadable. She wound the rope slowly around her hand, just enough to mask the loop.
"People don't watch what they think they understand," the magician murmured. "They watch your face."
Shinatsu brought the rope briefly to her mouth, lips brushing the fibers as she shifted the hidden loop away with a subtle motion. It disappeared into her palm as naturally as a breath.
She lowered the rope.
One piece.
A beat passed.
Mr. Shewstring: "…Do it again," he said flatly.
Shinatsu handed it back without a word.
The magician smiled.
Mr. Shewstring: "The audience will surely ask to see it a second time. Remain calm, and blast their doubts away.
Shinatsu: "Yes sir."
Trick number 4 is the wand bending illusion.
Caesar snapped the wand in half.
Mr. Shewstring: "Interesting, try again."
Next, disappearing silk.
Iris stood behind the table clutching a bright red silk scarf, her fingers trembling like it might bite her: "Okay… um… vanish," she whispered to herself. She pushed the silk slowly into her fist, inch by inch, just like she'd been taught. Her knuckles turned white from gripping too tightly.
Mr. Shewstring: "No, no. Gently."
She closed her hand, took a breath—and opened it. The silk was gone. Her eyes widened. She stared at her empty palm, then frantically checked her sleeves, her pockets, even under the table: "…It worked."
A quiet, stunned smile spread across her face.
She tried again, slower this time, focusing on the feel of the fabric slipping into the hidden thumb tip, trusting the motion instead of panicking. When she opened her hand, the silk had vanished just as cleanly.
Mr. Shewstring: "Looks like we have a true magician among us
Iris lifted the silk again, determination replacing fear: "Okay. One more time."
For the 6th trick, cup and balls.
Mr. Shewstring placed three battered metal cups on the table with a weighty clink, then set a small red sponge ball beside them: "This," he said, tapping the cups, "is the backbone of stage magic. Older than kingdoms. Simple enough to learn. Hard enough to master that it humbles professionals."
Yuji: "How hard could it be."
Mr. Shewstring: "Keep that up young lad. That arrogance will keep you honest."
Diego leaned forward, elbows on the table: "So, do the balls teleport or something?"
Mr. Shewstring: "No. They lie. You lie. And the audience thanks you for it."
Shinatsu: "Sounds phony."
Mr. Shewstring: "It's elegant deception," the magician corrected, then turned to Iris. "You'll like this one."
Iris: "M-me?"
Mr. Shewstring: "You already understand misdirection. You just don't realize it yet." He placed one cup upside down, then another, then the third, forming a neat row. The sponge ball rested on top of the middle cup: "Rule one," he continued. "The audience believes what they see, not what you do."
He lifted the middle cup. The ball was gone. Iris gasped. Diego's jaw dropped. Caesar tilted his head slightly, intrigued. Yuji narrowed his eyes. Shinatsu wasn't impressed. The magician tapped the left cup. A ball rolled out from underneath it.
Diego: "Impossible."
Mr. Shewstring: "Expected," he corrected. "Now, watch closely." He demonstrated slowly this time, letting them see his hands. He pretended to place the ball into his left palm, fingers closing convincingly, then casually reached for a cup.
Yuji: "You never let go of it."
The magician smiled: "Good. Convincing lies are built on true movements." He guided Yuji's hands next: "You. Try."
Yuji mimicked the motion. His movements were sharp, precise—almost too honest. When he lifted the cup, the ball wasn't there: "…It vanished," he said flatly.
Shinatsu: "No," her eyes flickered to Yuji's hand. "It's in your palm."
Yuji opened his hand. The ball dropped onto the table. Diego went next, enthusiastic, theatrical, completely wrong. He pretended to place the ball, winked at an imaginary audience, and dramatically lifted the cup. Nothing.
Diego checked under all three cups: "…Did I lose it?"
Caesar calmly reached out and flipped over Diego's sleeve cuff. The ball tumbled out. He stuck his tongue out and looked away with his hands up like he'd been caught red-handed, because he had been. Caesar stepped forward. His movements were smooth and composed, like he was fencing with the air. When he lifted the cup, the ball appeared exactly where it should.
Mr. Shewstring: "You're a natural."
Then he turned to Shinatsu. She approached the table without a word. Her hands were steady. Her expression unreadable. She pretended to place the ball. Lifted the cup which revealed nothing. She tapped another cup. The ball rolled out cleanly.
Iris: "W-when did you—?"
Mr. Shewstring: "While you were watching her face. The hands deceive, but the eyes misdirect."
Shinatsu exhaled softly. "This is… manageable."
Finally, Iris stepped forward. She hesitated, then copied the magician's movements carefully. Her hands trembled, but her eyes stayed focused. When she lifted the cup, the ball appeared.
Iris: "Yes!"
Mr. Shewstring: "Now you all are starting to understand magic."
Trick number 7, the card fan spread. Mr. Shewstring demonstrated the perfect fan. Everyone got it except for Yuji. Cards exploded everywhere like confetti in a tragic wedding. The other then did a money spread on him, but with cards.
The 8th is trick is the good old pulling a rabbit from a hat. Caesar proudly lifted the hat. The rabbit was missing. In the background, Mr. Shewstring was chasing after it.
Next, the gravity-defying levitation. Yuji and Diego pull up an extremely thin wire as Shinatsu rises on it. She makes a menacing pose as she levitates, one that would make Dio Brando very proud.
Diego tried and instantly face-planted.
Last but now least, the saw trick.
Mr. Shewstring brought out a long wooden box: "The grand finale, Sawing the Lady in Half!"
The group collectively exhaled.
Diego: "Now that's a thrilling finale," he said as his nose began to bleed again.
Caesar raised his hand: "Who is the lady?"
Everyone looked at Shinatsu.
Mr. Shewstring: "Shinatsu has the smallest frame, so it'll be easier for her."
Shinatsu: "Yippee."
Mr. Shewstring pointed at the saw: "Now then… who here is the most precise with a blade?"
Diego slowly turned toward Iris.
Iris immediately panicked: "N-NO! NOT ME—WHAT IF I MESS UP?! PLUS, I ONLY HAVE ONE ARM!"
Diego's "You're the most precise," be encouraged.
Caesar: "You'll do great."
Yuji: "Are you sure?"
Diego: "Oh, yeah. When it comes to the blade, always bet on Iris."
Iris took a deep breath, gripping the handle of the saw.
Shinatsu climbed into the box, tucked herself awkwardly into one end, and glared through the small divider window.
Mr. Shewstring: "Slow and steady."
Shinatsu: "If you mess this up…"
Iris: "I-I won't!! I really won't!!"
Diego whispered to Yuji: "She's absolutely going to mess it up."
Iris practiced the saw movement, sweating bullets. Shinatsu watched her wondering if today was her last day in earth.
3 hours passed as they continued to practice their magic tricks, and the time for the show arrived.
The children's club was packed. Kids sat cross-legged on colorful mats. Parents sat in rows behind them. The curtains shook as the Odd Jobs magicians prepped backstage.
Diego: "Everyone ready?"
Iris: "No."
Shinatsu: "Read to embarrass myself."
Caesar: "I was born ready!"
Yuji: "Let's just get this over with."
Mr. Shewstring peeked out dramatically: "The audience is ready for your debut!"
Diego pumped his fists: "Let's gooooo!!"
The lights dimmed. The music began. The curtain rose. The magic show commenced.
For the first trick, Diego let a few kids pick a card. He spread the deck, flicked his wrist, and their chosen card appeared. The crowd cheered. Yuji did the coin vanish flawlessly. Caesar clapped aggressively and the kids copied him.
As practiced, Shinatsu floated gracefully during the levitation trick.
The kids: "WOOOOOOAH!!!"
For the disappearing silk, Iris had perfected it. She did it with full confidence. Everyone applauded. She nearly cried from relief.
Yuji cut the rope for the next trick. Shinatsu restored it. A kid asked to see it again. As anticipated, they did it one more time.
One kid yelled: "The purple ranger lady is so cool!"
Shinatsu blushed: "…Thanks."
They nailed the rest of the trick well. Diego did dramatic commentary which the kids loved. Mr. Shewstring smiled backstage.
Diego announced with booming theatrics: "Ladies and gentlemen… for our grand finale… we will SAW A LADY… IN HALF!!!"
Kids screamed in hype. Parents leaned forward. The curtains opened. Shinatsu lay inside the long wooden box, arms crossed, face calm but eyes screaming. Iris stood beside her, saw in trembling hands. Diego hyped them up.
Shinatsu whispered sharply: "Calm down."
Iris: "I-I'm trying."
Shinatsu: "Try harder, it's my life on the line!"
Iris lifted the saw. Kids leaned forward. Shinatsu shut her eyes accepting her fate.
The saw came down—
Directly toward Shinatsu's neck.
The audience gasped.
Iris froze: "…I—IT WAS PART OF THE ACT!" she shouted suddenly.
The audience sighed with relief.
Shinatsu whispered murderously: "Iris…"
Iris: "I-I'm sorry!!"
Iris tried again, slowly this time. The saw touched the surface, and she began cutting. Shinatsu tried her best to hide her absolute peril. The kids and even the adults clutched their seats. The saw sliced through the divider perfectly. The box separated. The illusion was flawless.
The audience was filled with gasps, shouts, and shock.
Diego: "BEHOLD!! THE LADY… CUT IN HALF!!!"
The kids lost their minds.
Caesar slid the halves back together and opened the top. Shinatsu hopped out, perfectly intact. The room exploded in applause. Children jumped to their feet. The parents' claps echoed in the room. Mr. Shewstring wiped a proud tear. The five took center stage to bow. Shinatsu was still glaring at Iris who was trying to pretend she didn't see her.
They came backstage, exhausted but victorious.
Mr. Shewstring bowed deeply: "You all were wonderful! The children absolutely adored you."
Diego: "We killed it."
Caesar: "Naturally."
Shinatsu: "Wasn't bad at all, for the most part.."
Iris: "…."
Yuji: "Like I said, there's no such thing as magic."
Mr. Shewstring shook their hands.
The kids were yelling: "THANK YOU, ODD JOBS!"
The five smiled.
Mr. Shewstring: "One last thing before I take you all back." The magician reached into Yuji's pocket and produced a plain silver coin.
Yuji: "Wha—?!"
Mr. Shewstring placed the coin on Yuji's open palm: "Close your hand."
Yuji did, slowly.
The magician didn't touch him. Didn't gesture. Didn't even look at Yuji's hand: "Open it."
Yuji opened his palm. The coin was gone. Before anyone could react, the magician snapped his fingers behind Iris's ear. Iris hesitated, then reached up. She pulled the coin from behind her ear.
Diego: "No way."
Caesar: "How in the world did he do that?"
The magician smiled, already stepping toward the door: "It wasn't a trick, it was magic."
***
They returned to Odd Jobs and Kagura came to greet them at the door, which is where Caesar stopped.
Caesar: "I'm going to visit my family. I'll be back tomorrow."
Kagura: "Oh, okay. I can drive you."
Caesar smiled, polite and practiced: "It's fine. I wanna take those new self-driving cars."
Iris: "Those scare me…"
Yuji: "I'd never let one of those things drive me."
Shinatsu: "Don't get kidnapped."
Caesar: "Haha. I'll try not to."
They said their goodbyes. The door closed. Laughter sparked faintly inside the house resuming its usual rhythm.
Caesar turned away.
He walked until the houses around Odd Jobs thinned. Until the lamps grew farther apart, their light stretched thin and weak. The night deepened.
Caesar stopped. His fake smile disappeared: "What do you want?"
The darkness beneath a cluster of trees rippled, folding inward like a curtain being drawn aside. From it stepped Shiori Boreas with her wicked smile. Her hair caught the moonlight, pale and cold. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. She moved with an effortless grace that made everything around her feel how heavy her presence was.
Shiori: "You're awfully tense. Did the magician scare you?"
Caesar didn't turn to face her fully: "How long have you been watching me?"
Shiori: "I wasn't watching you as much as I was watching my sister."
Caesar: "I've been telling you everything you asked for. Their routines and habits."
Shiori: "I know. You've been very helpful."
The shadows behind her shifted. Shapes lingered just beyond the reach of light, watching, waiting.
Caesar's voice lowered: "Then why are you here?"
Shiori stepped closer. Too close. The air grew colder, heavier: "Because it's time to have some fun." Her smile widened, predatory and delighted. "You and me, Caesar."
Caesar: "I'm not sure I follow."
Shiori: "It's time you stop going for weak prey and set your sights on someone stronger." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper that scraped against his spine. "I'm going to teach you..."
His breath hitched despite himself.
Shiori: "…How to kill a Special-Rank Hunter."