Chatters of conversations could be heard from outside the circus tent. Sneaking a view of the noise, I saw a lot of people actually coming from all parts of town towards the circus. Heck, there were even travellers and foreigners from outside of out here! It seems that the circus I was helping with is kind of a big deal.

"Hey! Come here and let us measure your costume later." A voice broke through my reverie.

It was Ciel, the one the Circus was named after. She beckoned me with her hand on her hips, wearing an exotic attire, her fire dancing uniform I presume.

Acquiescing the order, I went towards her, saying, "I'm here," in a bright voice.

"This is the guy, Robert." she nudged an old man with a sewing tape measure hanging on his neck.

The old tailor looked at me, as if I were prey, murmuring to himself, "Tall, with quite a bit of muscle. Hair is ash blonde, with deep-set purple eyes. Because of that, his brows seem prominent, looking quite mysterious."

He then added, snapping his fingers, "Alright young man, I've got the perfect attire just for you!"

At that point, I just surrendered myself and let nature take its course.

=======

Robert thought to himself, the lad young lady Ciel brought back was phenomenal. His looks are handsome, and he radiates confidence as if charisma was within his bones. The attire he was using before, although of high quality, didn't really accentuate his charm. It only made him look like an innocent young noble on his first debut in high society. What the lad needed was not the impression of nobility, but one of simplicity, so that his personal charm become the focus instead of the tacky fashion he wears.

That's why he gave the lad a subdued wine-coloured suit, with less adornment than usual. The plain white shirt the lad already had, was used as the base. After he added the suit along with the black-gold waistcoat, black trousers, and finally black riding boots, the lad was ready to go.

"What do you think, miss?" He asked the young lady.

The young lady squinted her eyes, seemingly rating the lad from head to toe, before finally saying, "Not bad."

Although the lad was far better than just not bad, Robert knew that his young lady had little sense in fashion, so he knew better than to argue.

"Alright then, you're good to go, young man," He gave the lad the greenlit.

The lad nodded to him, saying his thanks, before sternly gazing at the audience seat from afar.

=======

I really didn't know performing in front of these many people was this nerve-racking. I have all the skills and knowledge as a legendary bard, but it seems I'm also just a young man, only reaching his eighteenth years of life today.

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Deep breath… forget everything else but the show, the stage, and the performance. I know I can do it, and even though it's scary, this first step is necessary.

Let's go then, time to step forward, from the bleak darkness into the blinding lights outside. The moment comes.

Pounding my cane into the ground, giving birth to a resounding thud and pounding hearts, I said, "Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for,"

Pointing it towards a hidden part of the Circus, I added, "Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer," As beasts of all kinds started lurking around the audience's seats.

Walking towards the centre of the tent, I continued, "Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya," As the beastmaster led the beasts towards me, running freely.

Finally, in the last of the prologue when fire and sparks floated into the air, I said, "It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open!" Before bowing, and saying in an inviting tone, "Welcome to Cirque du Ciel."

=======

The night has ended.

Robert, the strongman Dorian, and the beastmaster Doe-Ritter, along with circus' members who witnessed firsthand the astounding performance of the hastily-added ringmaster, were sitting around a bonfire outside the tent.

"What do you think?" Doe-Ritter asked, not really addressing anyone.

"The best I've ever seen." His brother Dorian, replied.

The tailor, Robert, scoffed at Dorian, "You're still young… I still have to agree though. I could rate his performance up there with the greats."

They mused, thinking young lady Ciel's luck with talented individuals was really good, since they were all brought here because of her whims.

Dorian chuckled, "It's a shame the young lady was bad with money. If only money didn't vanish the moment her hands touched it." He lamented, taking a swig of the ale in his tankard.

"Hush, don't let lady Ciel hear you say that, you might provoke what shouldn't be provoked." Doe-Ritter hastily chided his brother.

Suddenly, a voice that chilled their spines asked, "Don't let me hear you say what?"

Robert, Dorian, and Doe-Ritter straightened their sitting posture, all saying, "Nothing young lady, we're just joking amongst ourselves," As if they'd rehearsed it beforehand.

Ciel sighed, appalled by the circus members' antics. She finally added, "Come to the tent, grandfa-, I mean the ringmaster has gotten out of his room.

=======

Inside the tent, in front of me was Mr Ashur whom I'd met before.

"Ciel was right, you're quite something boy," He said, stroking his long silver beard.

Adding on, he continued, "How about you work here as an assistant ringmaster?" His eyes glinted with slyness.

I mulled over the scenario where I took the job and where I don't. On one hand, if I took the job, I would be able to travel far and wide with the Circus, but on the other, I'm not really free am I?

As if capable of hearing my inner thoughts, the old man before me suddenly said, "You won't be tasked with anything apart from travelling with the circus when the time comes and the occasional routine as a ringmaster, since I'll still be active. You will receive your full salary, approximately ten percent of the Circus' earnings, your skills deserve at least that much. Finally, you can go anywhere, as long as you tell us where and when you're going, so that we could keep in contact, and if you're not fine with that, you could leave us a way to contact you, that will suffice. How about that?" He asked.

Tempted by the offer, the freedom it had, and the connection it provides, I relented, "Alright then, where's the contract?" I asked.

"Patience young man," The old gentleman softly said.

He then loudly said, towards the opening of the tent, "Layne Karlott, the ringmaster of today's show, the greatest showman there will ever be, has joined our Circus!"

Resounding applause, happy shouts and cheers, answered the old ringmaster's yell. Looks like I will have a fun time here, I thought.