Chronicles of Espiria Season 3
Episode 22 – The Shark Troupe
Written by Stormrider
The central square of Ranhorn was overrun with a mass of humanity. Unimaginable numbers of people had squeezed into a space never designed to contain them. Every window and rooftop overlooking the square was occupied by at least one onlooker, all trying to get a better view of what was going on.
Seemingly overnight, a large, elaborate stage had been constructed dead in the center of the square, draped in purple curtains and bearing odd attachments. It was low enough that the people on the ground could see what was going on, but high enough that no one could easily climb up to interrupt the events on the stage. Most had never seen such a thing, but the elderly in the crowd recognized it: the hastily but expertly set up stage of the Kuilin City Megamouth Shark Circus Troupe.
The King was familiar with the theatrical ways of the Megamouth Troupe, and had asked Lord Lanward to ensure the safety of the people during the circus' stay in the city. Lord Lanward decided that "running security" was beneath him, and decided to pass the duty off to Commander Hogan and his men. Hogan did not mind as much; at least his men would get a good rest and see a good show, so long as they kept an eye open for trouble.
As the soldiers went about their rounds, a slight-looking man in his late thirties with a slicked back mop of nut brown hair strode forward onto the stage, greeting the crowds with a voice much louder and more booming than his appearance would suggest.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, to a performance unlike anything you could possibly imagine! I am Chester Silversmith, ringmaster of The Megamouth Shark Troupe, and we would like to treat you all to the magic of Kuilin City, a place not unlike your own! We shall remain until we leave, and we will leave as we came! Until then, ladies and gentlemen, let the show begin!"
He turned on his heel, fanning out the coattails of his fine ringmaster's coat, and retreated behind the curtains as the crowd erupted into cheers.
The people were not disappointed. First was Miss Evaline Falcon and Mr Connor Nightshade, the trapeze artists who, to the audience, seemed to dance above the stage. Next, Mister Harold Knobbs; while not a pyromancer, he was able to do some impressive feats with fire, including "accidentally" singeing the hats of those in the front row as he spewed fire from his mouth. Sir Patrick Flynn was a master with knives, and proved to be a favorite of Oscar, who watched from a balcony with Lady Oakenfell and Rosaline, critiquing his technique with every trick he performed. Watching Flynn juggle his knives and throw them effortlessly into targets, Oscar made a mental note to attempt these feats himself once he and his employer were allowed to return to the manor. All throughout the performance, Rowan could be seen winding his way through the crowds, advertising popcorn and drinks to the eager onlookers.
While Flynn set up his final stunt, in which he would hit a target with a knife while blindfolded, Chester Silversmith stood behind the curtain with the magician, who was set to perform next.
"Are you all right to perform? Sally is more than ready to go on if you're not ready."
"I'll be all right, Chester." the magician replied. "I need to do this."
"All right. I'll announce you in a moment. Break a leg out there."
The magician smiled a grateful smile, showing teeth that seemed to have been filed to points like shark's teeth. Chester emerged onto the stage as the crowds erupted into cheers at the success of Flynn's finale.
"Sir Patrick Flynn, ladies and gentlemen!"
Chester waited until the cheering had died down before he continued.
"We have one final performance today, but I would like to remind you all that no two performances will be the same, so do not forget to come out tomorrow! So, to wrap up our first day, I would like to present to you Mr Wake, and the famous magic hat trick!"
As the applause swelled, Mr Wake, the magician, emerged from the curtain wearing a rusty purple cloak, suit and top hat. He bowed when he reached the edge of the stage, sweeping his hat off his head with one hand and twirling a coin in his other as he straightened back up.
"I've been looking forward to this one, sir!" Ulric whispered as he watched.
"With all the magic we see on a daily basis, you're still excited about a slight-of-hand trick?" Hogan asked.
"This trick has baffled real magicians the world over, sir, ever since it was invented by Master Gaston almost..."
Ulric was interrupted as devilish lightning began striking the stage. Mr Wake's smile vanished as he dodged the lightning that came uncomfortably close to him. As he backed off to the side of the stage, an unsettling chuckle seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The wheezy voice, which sounded much like three laughs working as one to form a dissonant chord, was almost painful to the crowd.
"We need to evacuate this crowd, Ulric, before the source of that voice starts causing a panic."
"Evacuation Plan C, sir?"
"Plan C."
As the soldiers began to evacuate the crowd, a figure materialized right behind Mr Wake, the same grotesque mage that had declared a siege on Maldan. Many in the crowd paused to stare at the bizarre nature of the Mage's head, a practice which the soldiers discouraged as much as they could.
"Afraid?" the Mage taunted as Mr Wake struggled to compose himself. "One as meek as you does not deserve to stand on this stage, where so many legends stood before you. Where I once stood."
Noting the disheveled nature of the Mage's costume and the gangrenous appearance of his skin, Mr Wake presumed the Mage to be a Graveborn. "You are a mere husk of a being!" he shouted in an attempt to encourage himself. "A shriveled shell of whatever you were in life! I fear no such creature; I pity you!"
The Mage laughed. "On the contrary, I possess more power than your pitiful mortal existence could hope to wield. In my former life, I was a mere performer. Now, I am a god."
Mr Wake looked more closely at the Mage's costume. It was an older design, but still in use today; but it had certain embellishments that Mr Wake recognized immediately when he noticed them.
"Master Gaston?!"
"Finally, you remember me!" the Mage said as he pulled out a wand of yellow crystal from beneath his cloak. "Famed beyond anything you could hope for, and still I transcended my fame as I embraced a new and greater power! But these childish games have gone on too long. Your childish tricks are nothing compared to what I accomplished, and so I shall remove you from my place."
More of the demonic lightning burst forth from the wand at Mr Wake. He dodged the lightning, but only just. By now, most of the audience had been evacuated; those who were left picked up their pace as the lightning began flying again. Hogan left the rest of the evacuation to his men and jumped onto the stage between the Mage and Mr Wake.
"Cease your black magic, Graveborn!" he shouted with authority as his hand went to his sword. "Or you will not leave this stage!"
The Mage ignored Hogan, continuing his attack on Mr Wake as if Hogan wasn't even there. Hogan nodded to Ulric, who had just climbed onto the stage; Ulric took brief aim and threw his spear at the Mage. Rather than seem affected at all, the Mage lazily waved his hand at the spear, opening a small portal that redirected the spear back at Ulric. The spear glanced off his back armor and stuck in the wood of the stage behind him. Never once did the Mage take his eyes off of Mr Wake.
"Luther, take him!" Hogan shouted.
A large man wielding a double bladed axe charged at the Mage. The Mage raised his wand straight up and fired two lightning bolts, one at Mr Wake and the other at Luther. Luther took the full brunt, knocking him back and singeing his armor where it struck. He seemed drained of energy, passing out in the arms of two of his fellow soldiers.
"Get him to a doctor!" Hogan ordered as he turned his attention back to the Mage.
By now, more of Hogan's men were ready to fight; Hogan spread them out and surrounded the Mage so they could not all be struck down in a single blow. Mr Wake seemed to notice this; with a showy swish of his cape, he seemed to vanish into thin air.
"You hide from me, boy?!" the Mage shouted as he scanned his surroundings. "Face me, if you do not fear me as you claim!"
While the Mage was thus distracted, Hogan motioned to Ulric to throw his spear again. Ulric was uncertain of the plan, but did as he was told. Again, the spear was returned to him, but while the portals were open, Hogan leapt at the Mage and severed his arm before he could react. The Mage turned to face Hogan in shock, finding him drained of energy just like Luther. While he stared in shock at his severed arm on the ground, Mr Wake stood from behind the cover he had vanished into and threw a single card he had pulled from his hat, lodging it between the Mage's Graveborn neck and his bizarre headpieces. The Mage twitched in panic, his voice splitting up and popping in and out like a broken phone connection. Before he could be attacked again, he opened a portal behind himself and escaped through it, leaving the defenders mightily confused.
Moments later, the Mage reappeared at Mortas' side, holding the stump that was once his arm.
"Did your sojourn in Ranhorn play out as you had hoped?" Mortas asked without looking up. "Did you accomplish what you set out to do?"
"I was injured." the Mage replied.
This piqued Mortas' attention. He turned from his musings and inspected the wound.
"Interesting. And it appears your crystals have been misaligned as well. How did this happen?"
"I could not tell." the Mage responded, slowly so that nothing would be missed by his damaged speech. "One of the humans seemed to appear from nowhere and sever my arm. It was probably Wake that disrupted my head with his parlor tricks!"
"Our enemies are more clever than we give them credit for. For now, we will use this to our advantage; Commander Kane asked us to lure Lightbearer warriors away from Ranhorn, and you have provided the perfect bait to do so. Leave a trail for the humans to follow from Ranhorn to here, then begin your assault on Castle Maldan. I want King Asgan's corpse to drape our war chariot as we wash across this land."
Mortas' wings enveloped the Mage for a moment, transferring power into him. When he was uncovered, his arm had returned, his head crystals were restored, and he bristled with raw power.
"As you command, Lord Mortas."
Later that day, the people had nothing but praise for Commander Hogan and his efforts in getting the audience to safety, much to the chagrin of Lord Lanward. Still, there was a way for Lord Lanward to benefit from this, if he could play it right.
"Well done, Hogan."
"Thank you, sir." Hogan spat out the honorific, even as he continued to rest from the life drain he experienced.
"Do we know who or what this attacker was?"
"Not yet, but my men will be ready to meet him."
"I am glad you said that." Lord Lanward said with a smirk. "I have decided to send you to hunt this Mage down and finish him off. Better to take him in a remote place than here in the central square of Ranhorn, would you agree?"
"Of course, sir." Hogan said as he stumbled to his feet.
"Then I want you to leave as soon as you have your strength back. Find his trail, hunt him down, and end the threat he poses."