Chapter XXXIV (34)

  Mitsuko flicked her wrist, and, just as the blade appeared in her hand, she threw it with full force. Someone not familiar with her style might assume an amputated leg meant little when throwing swords. But the pegleg absolutely ruined her usual footing and had required hours of practice to adjust her usual stances and techniques. Her entire body went into the action, every alteration of herself affected the accuracy and strength of her attack. Now, under the spotlight those hours of practice paid off in dividends.

  The sword flipped through the air, hilt over blade, until the tip embedded itself in the target ten meters away. The black cat sitting on the stool in front of the target licked its paws, unconcerned by the quivering sword barely more than a centimeter from its scalp.

  The crowd erupted in applause as Mitsuko next formed a new blade, tossed it in the air, created another and tossed it up, only to catch the first and spin on her pegleg and throw it. The second and third blades struck Sterling’s left and right respectively.

  Mitsuko thought she caught a comment on how well trained Sterling was amidst all the exclamations about her sword throwing skills. She smiled. This felt good. She bowed before readying herself for the last bit of her short act.

  Her colorful uniform was a tight fit. It was the same stretchy material used for the trapezists' outfits. It thankfully lacked the frills of the baggy clown clothing, but she felt just a bit exposed as she turned her back to the audience.

  Well, let them look. She could dance around naked and it wouldn’t matter. They’d all forget her in a couple of days regardless. And even if one of them did somehow remember, she had her hair up in an elaborate bun and her face covered in makeup that masked her identity. Not to mention, Ophelia had decided a few hours ago that Mitsuko’s black hair was too drab. Mitsuko hadn’t bothered protesting as the woman sliced off more than half of her hair and dyed the remaining bit bright pink.

  Honestly, Mitsuko didn’t hate the new shoulder length pink look. And she was willing to bet her purple-haired gnome friend was somewhere in the crowd ecstatic about the makeover.

  And it was attention-grabbing too. She hoped it might yet another little bit to stand out and draw out the guardian.

  “Okay,” Mitsuko said quietly. “One last trick.”

  Sterling didn’t look at her, instead examining the crowd carefully, scanning for anyone who might be the potential guardian.

  Mitsuko took a few steps forward, then she cast Mend on her most recently thrown swords. The aura of the spell stretched across the circus ring to focus on the blades.

  The two swords unsheathed themselves from the straw target and zipped toward her. She had to quickly retrace her steps to position herself properly while keeping the blades within her aura’s range. They passed her and flew up into the air. As they dropped back down, Mitsuko caught them and released the spell. First the left sword, then the right. She flourished her swords to either side as she bowed deeply to the crowd.

  The light on her dimmed away and illuminated Blok, who stood on the other side of the circus ring. Mitsuko quietly slipped back out of sight with Sterling on her heels.

  “Well done, Mitsuko!” Hugh clapped her on the shoulder and beamed at her.

  “You were amazing! First performance and you already know how to work the crowd,” Sara said.

  “Hardly,” a gravelly voice grumbled off to the side. “Got some pity claps. Most of them were just grateful your stupidity didn’t kill the innocent cat.”

  Mitsuko closed her eyes and sighed.

  Sam the clown had his makeup redone so it smiled brightly at her. But this close up, she could see his actual mouth scowling, as per usual.

  “Sam, go prepare for your performance somewhere else,” Sara said.

  “I am offering constructive criticism to the new member of the circus. You all seem content with mediocrity but the audience won’t be. And I would rather not lose my job because a newbie gets a big head and refuses to improve.”

  “All you did was say she was shit,” Hugh said. “How can you possibly see that as constructive?”

  “It will either get her to quit or get better. Constructive. Three of my clowns were laughing at you backstage.”

  Mitsuko glanced at the trapezists. They didn’t meet her eyes. Okay, ouch. Maybe she could improve on her routine a bit.

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  “They stopped when she cast that spell though,” Sara pointed out.

  Sam bore his teeth. “The circus is about skill! Pure, raw talent. Not magic tricks. We showcase what people can accomplish despite the odds. Spells are exactly the opposite of what we want showcased. One spell, and then suddenly the audience is left questioning the entire circus’ talent.”

  Hugh and Sara continued to defend her, insisting that it wasn’t any different from the enchanted props they all used or the illusionary confetti. A minute later, Sam left for his performance. Mitsuko sighed and sat down on a barrel. Her joint performance with the trapezists wouldn’t be until the second to last act. So at least she now had a moment to breathe.

  “Did you see anyone suspicious?” Mitsuko asked Sterling quietly once the others nearby were distracted.

  “Perhaps I did. However, you’ll need to level first before I answer that,” he said smugly.

  “Are you serious?” she hissed. “You agreed to watch for me! We even reviewed the plan before the performance!”

  “Correct. Very astute of you to recall a direct conversation we had less than two hours ago. Your memory truly is remarkable. However, perchance, did you also recall hearing me agree to the plan and commit to telling you what I witnessed during my examination? Or was that just an assumption on your part? You must learn that silence after a remark is an answer.”

  “Tomorrow, I’m taking your tail off in my performance.”

  Sterling bristled. “I am being helpful. You will appreciate this all in due time.”

  Mitsuko glowered at the cat, her good mood now completely soured.

  At least she had dinner to look forward to after the show. Alberto had promised them all imported vintage whiskey from Edgeland. The kind that watered eyes and smoldered eyebrows.

  To pass the time between acts, Mitsuko practiced her Mend spell. She snapped a twig, tossed it to the ground, recalled it back to her hand and fixed it before repeating the process. Each time she tossed the ends of the twig further and further apart from one another. While both were still comfortably within her aura’s ratios, she felt more stain as they separated further.

  “Ready?”

  Mitsuko jumped, startled by the noise. She’d been so focused on her spell that she’d completely zoned out. Sara stood beside her, performing stretches.

  “Yes. I’m good. All I need to do is get thrown around like a sack of turnips and throw a sword. Nothing difficult on my end.”

  “Good, just remember what I taught you. Keep your hands out and we’ll catch you.”

  Mitsuko didn’t love that they hadn’t actually practiced the act yet. Whenever the trapezists had the time, Blok wandered off. And practicing it without him would be tricky, since he was the one meant to keep her from dying at the end.

  “You’re not worried about slipping? I am extra weight.”

  “Nah. Hugh and I have passed tons of stuff between us before. And one of the clowns has been tasked with chalking the bars of our swings right now just as a bonus precaution.”

  The twig sealed together one final time with her Mend spell.

  “Fine then,” Mitsuko said. “I’m trusting you.”

  Instead of walking out the normal flap to the circus ring. Mitsuko and the trapezists went up a ladder at the side of the room.

  From their vantage point, Mitsuko watched down below as Blok heaved a massive door over his head with six audience members clutching the edge. All of the volunteers looked to be regretting their decision as he circled the edge of the circus ring, spinning the door on one hand.

  Mitsuko tried to spot purple hair among the crowd, but it was too dark with the enchanted lighting pointing solely at Blok and the terrified volunteers so she couldn’t make out Holly. The audience was simply a dark blob of people. Sterling was also down there somewhere. Supposedly, he would be scouting the crowd for anyone suspicious.

  Blok finished his act and Hugh started theirs off. He zipped across on a line pulley system over to the other side of the circus ring where his swing was set up.

  “Ready?” Sara asked. For once, a bit of nerves touched her tone as she looked Mitsuko up and down. Her eyes lingered on Mitsuko’s pegleg. “We can hold off one act and perform tomorrow if you want to wait.”

  “Ophelia would murder me and Sam would dance on my grave,” Mitsuko said with a smile.

  “Don’t worry about them. Hugh and I can talk them down with no issue. You’re sure you’re comfortable?”

  “I have you and Hugh here to keep me safe. It will be fine.”

  Sara smiled back and grabbed ahold of her swing. On Alberto’s cue, she swung off. Mitsuko was left there alone on the edge for their first swing. But as Sara returned, now upside down with her legs folded over the swing’s bar. Mitsuko reached her arms out and felt the trapezist grab her wrists.

  Heights had never been an issue for Mitsuko. But this was something else. There was a thrill as she swung through the air, suspended by her new friend’s strength. The air rushed past her face and her breath caught.

  Only, they didn’t swing back up to meet Hugh like planned. Instead, one of the cords snapped. Startled, Sara’s grip loosened on Mitsuko’s wrist.

  And then they dropped.

  Mitsuko’s eyes darted up to meet Sara’s panicked gaze. The hands that had been grasping Mitsuko’s wrist only moments earlier, now instinctually drew back to clutch at the broken swing. The image of Sara shrank as the distance between them grew.

  And the moment finished. Mitsuko felt a burst of pain as her spine slammed into Alberto’s pedestal below and her head whipped forward with a crack.

  Then nothing.

  *Ding!

  *Mend Level 4

  Mend, Strengthened

  Mend’s Aura, Radius Enhanced

  Mend Self, Strengthened

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