Performance In The Bar

"Artis! Wake up! You got an offer!" A loud booming voice shouted at his ear as Artis opened his eyes, his body still sore from the training. 

A week had passed since Artis started his training under the guidance of Captain Fervier. 

Since then, Artis always woke up at 5 AM and as following his schedule, he runs around the pool area 50 times and does leg and arms exercises in the gym for 45 minutes. After that, he does 30 push-ups in 3 sets and finally punches the wall a hundred times battering his arm in the process. 

Then, Artis, believing it's just Captain showing him mercy, hands a medicinal pill to him which fixes him enough to be able to walk and use his arms again for a while. 

After this, he practices how to punch properly as Captain Fervier and Alice correct his form by allowing him to punch their hands. 

Alice, in fact laughed and teased him saying Captain usually doesn't go this hard on anyone but since he let his emotions get the best of him, and that they don't have much time left, so he will do whatever it takes for Artis to develop Aerial Ace. 

After 4 days of the brutal training session, Artis's wrists began surrounding himself with a white spark that shocked both Alice and Captain Fervier, as they both tell him that creating sparks in just 4 days of his training was an impossible feat and that he could learn Aerial Ace faster than the said time. 

After the training session, Captain Fervier invited his crewmates, Alice and Artis to have lunch together where they discussed about their past and how Alice used to fit right in with the crew. 

During the lunch, Alice revealed that Artis was a performer and he was encouraged to perform for them. After a lot of convincing, he managed to get on a little stage prepared for him and did basic tricks like Vanishing coin, Card Prediction and Levitating Ring. 

When asked to perform more complex tricks, Artis complied and asked one of the crewmembers to bring out 2 apples, 2 rifles with a bullet in them each, a protective vest and a helmet to prevent any accidents. 

He stood in between the apples as the crewmates took position and aimed at the apple. 

Artis signaled them to shoot as he had his hands behind his back, making everyone curious what the trick really was. 

As the crewmates aimed their rifles at the apples, Artis took a deep breath, focusing his concentration.

With a swift motion, the crewmates fired their rifles simultaneously. The sound of gunfire echoed through the air as the bullets raced toward the apples.

But to everyone's surprise present there, the bullet never reached the apple. In fact, it never even hit anything. 

Artis chuckled loudly as if he was trying to control his laugh, a mischievous grin on his face which confused everyone present there.

And then, he raised his arms that were covered with bandages and with the flick of his wrists, the bullets fell to the ground harmlessly, leaving the apples untouched.

The crewmates and Alice looked on in astonishment, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed, as they soon send a round-of-applause as Artis removed the helmet and bowed his head signaling the end of the show. 

"How did you do that?" Alice asked, curiosity and worry stretched on her face. 

"A magician never reveals his secrets, sister!" replied Artis simply. 

"C'mon! At least one hint?" 

"Well, all I can say is....the range can be controlled." said Artis that confused Alice even more. 

Captain Fervier let out a heartfelt laugh as he clapped Artis on the back. "Well done, lad! You've got some real talent there."

"Thank you, Captain!" 

"Captain! Don't praise him this much! He will definitely let it get over his head and get injured in the process." teased Alice chuckling a bit. 

"Ha Ha Ha! Don't you worry Alice gal, Artis lad can handle himself just fine! You know, I just had a great idea, how 'bout...we let Artis perform at the bar stage? He wants to become a magician in the future right? Why don't we test it out?" 

This was the conversation Artis didn't hear as he was busy talking to other crewmates. 

Back to the present, Artis, still sore from today's training woke up and stretched his muscles as he responded to Alice. 

"Offer? What offer?" 

"Of course, the offer to perform your magic on the stage, you silly!" responded Alice with a warm smile. 

"Of course, you'll get paid for every time you perform! So, get ready! Show the world what my brother is really made of!" cheered on Alice enthusiastically. 

"Wait, Wait, Wait....Slow down! What are you even talking about? What performance?" asked Artis confused. 

Alice then, tool a deep breath and explained everything to Artis in a timely manner which caused him to turn paler and paler. 

"Why didn't you ask me about this earlier!?" Artis almost screamed as he asked Alice looking shocked. 

 Alice, a little confused counter-questioned her brother back, "Didn't you want to become a Magician in a circus during the weekends when we reach Grand Dream City? This is your chance now, I want to see you perform in a stage! If you're successful here, you can achieve your dream sooner than what you even imagined?" 

Artis, stunned to respond to his sister nodded slowly as he weighed the pros and cons of this current situation.

"Alright...Give me some time to prepare! I have to think what tricks I should use on the stage that stuns the entire crowd! I also need to buy some props, so that's another expense to be added." 

Alice, listening to him couldn't help but smile with a brightened face as she hug her brother and whispered, "Yes! That's the spirit! Tell me the line that you used to tell me, 'A magician should never prepare...' what was it again?" 

"A magician should never perform unprepared. A magician should never reveal its secrets. A magician should never reveal its tricks twice! 

"A magician, should always look on ahead with a smile on his face as he perform his tricks." 

Alice grip on him tightened for some reason as she said, "That's right. Always look on ahead no matter what happens on our journey! Just so you know, you are destined for greatness no matter what. You have my undying support for whatever path you choose!" 

"Um, Alice? Is everything alright?" Artis asked, concern for her behavior, "Why are you acting like it is the end of the world or something? Relax, it's just a show, and I already know what I have to do to surprise those rich people!" 

Alice chuckled hearing that, "Alright, you do you. Just so you know, I'm happy that you are getting such an opportunity. Good luck on the show tonight." 

"And just like she left leaving me all confused....Why did she act this way? Was she making fun of me thinking that I would never become a successful magician?" grumbled Artis as he got up to create a list of the props he will be required to perform for tonight's show. 

"Today's goal....stupefy the entire crowd!" 

...

8:00 PM, Royal Annie Bar 

Artis, wearing a tuxedo and a magician hat on top was sitting on a bench feeling nervous. 

"Artis Janes! You're up now. Get ready in 5 minutes!" called out a voice from behind the curtain. 

"Ye-Yes sir!" 

Artis took a deep breath, calming himself down as he checked the props he required and went behind the curtains where multiple performers were also seated waiting for their turn to come and some performers returning from the stage satisfied as the crew members signaled Artis to take his position. 

Artis pushed his table as he took his position as the announcer announced his presence and the curtain raised as the audience looked at him curiously what this young performer would do. 

Artis soaked in the atmosphere taking a deep breath as he looked around the crowd to see his sister, Alice looking at him recording his performance as she was seated beside the mysterious woman with a pale face, he encountered last week. 

Captain Fervier was looking from the back with a smug expression as all the people present there had eyes only for him. 

Artis began his performance with bowing his head as he raised his head with a smug expression and pulled out a stick as smoke covered his wrist. 

Artis removed his hat and started twirling the stick between his fingers, creating mesmerizing patters as the smoke surrounding his wrist rose up to form a circle and with snapping his fingers, the smoke turned into multiple flags surprising the audience. 

Artis continued to produce mesmerizing tricks as he continued to interact with the audience and made them his assistance for his magic that made the crowd cheer him even more. 

And for his final trick that he prepared, he was nervous to perform it as it would be the first time he will be doing it. 

The trick was to set his hand on fire and raising it so big that it creates a fire dragon that enveloped the entire audience as in the final trick, it would disperse showering glitter over the crowd. 

Having the outline for his trick ready, he sprayed some Butanol over his white gloves he was wearing and set his hand on fire, creating a fireball as he looked towards the crowd to see their reaction. 

As he flickered the stick making the fireball turn bigger, he used his skills to control the heat of the fire as it continued to grow. 

After the fireball grew to the size of a giant globe, making the entire hall bright, he closed his wrist as the fireball disappeared. 

Curiosity filled the crowd, as Artis opened his wrist again and with the wave of his hand, the fireball transformed itself into a snake that charged towards the audience as it continued to grow bigger and bigger and transformed itself into a dragon. 

And with a snap, the dragon exploded causing the entire hall to be filled with shining glitters as Artis bowed his head again and the curtains fall. 

The audience, mesmerized, clapped and cheered for the performance to their heart's content. 

[P.S.: Sorry for the late update. Before finishing this story, I got busy watching someone finish their story]