After mulling it over while sitting at the lounge's counter, Allen decided to accept Glenn's wager since he didn't have anything to hide about how he got to Atelier City. Meanwhile, Nera took a while longer to make up her mind but accepted the wager too.

“Okay, my magic tricks work by having participants try to guess which Craft type I’m using. You do know what those are, right?"

"...Not the foggiest idea," Allen admitted awkwardly.

“I see, I’ll let you in on the info in a way you’ll be able to understand since you’ll need to know it to be even able to participate. You think you can catch on quickly?”

Allen nodded while Nera was also paying close attention beside him. The young woman was curious to find out more about Craft herself.

“I think so.”

“First off, I’m a Magician Crafter as you could’ve guessed and my Craft allows me to manipulate cards in various ways by using each of the Four Craft types: Formation, Augmentation, Pressure, and Transference.”

“And that means?”

“Allow me to show you.”

Glenn pulled a card out from his deck and displayed it to them. He then placed it on the table and a purple glow began emitting from it. It changed to the brown color of the table and became nearly invisible with Allen being sure that the only reason he knew it was there was because he had seen it put there with his own eyes just a moment before.

“Formation Craft, it allows the reshaping of matter and this is a skill for altering the ink of a card to make it appear as I want.”

Another glow of violet light shimmered over the card and it returned back to its original appearance. Next, he picked the card up and it glowed again. He gave it to Allen, gesturing for him to bend it which he attempted to do to no avail.

“It’s not budging, it’s like it's made out of stone,” he stated and handed the card back to Glenn.

“That’s because I used Augmentation Craft on it this time to strengthen the rigidity of the card. Augmentation Craft is for altering the physical properties of objects.”

“Alright, what about the other two then?” Nera chimed in.

“Here’s Pressure Craft…” Glenn released the card and it began spinning in the air.

“This type allows for the movement of physical objects as you can see. And here’s the last one.” Glenn said as grabbed the card and swung it in an arc.

“Transference Craft, it lets a Crafter store and emit different forms of energy. My skill in particular lets me absorb the energy from the movement of these cards and emit that force outwards as so." This statement was followed by a light breeze of air expelling from the card.

“Okay, so Craft is separated into those four different types. I think I have a solid grasp on them now but how does that apply to your trick?” Allen asked.

“My “tricks” work by having my spectators try to guess if I’m using any of the four craft types.” Glenn elaborated. "Each Skill can only use one type and we can use this Slate to display which one I'm using."

He held a device similar to a phone and explained the symbols for each type: a red hammer for Formation Craft, a green spear for Augmentation Craft, a blue horn for Pressure Craft, and a yellow shovel for Transference Craft.

“So..now are you ready? Be sure to pay attention to the fine details from the shine of mana to the etching of Sigils.” Glenn illuminated a card with his aura and flipped it to its front to show the mystical sign on it, a pair of violet antlers entangled together. Allen felt like he had heard the word “Sigil” mentioned before and now understood that it meant the arcane symbols that would appear every time Craft was used.

"How about a side bet between the both of us," Nera glanced at Allen. "Whoever gets the most correct guesses first wins and the loser has to set up the fliers by themselves."

"You're on."

“Get ready to put up those fliers.” Nera taunted.

“Not sure why I would since I’m going to win.” Allen retorted smugly.

“Magnifique, it’s showtime!” The Magician Crafter announced this and threw his entire deck in the air similarly to how he did before. Allen’s eyes darted around trying to analyze each card as they fluttered above their hands. He was watching out for any hint of a magical glow since he noticed that it always appeared along with any magic along with Sigils.

Sure enough, Glenn began outstretching his hand under a card and it would move right into his hand with a violet shine and a Sigil appearing on the front of them.

‘The cards are moving into his hand so...that’s Pressure Craft, right? But that seems like it would be a little too obvious if he's trying to trick us, but how could he pull this off if it wasn’t that?’

As he continued doing this, Allen noticed something was a little strange. Glenn made sure to place his hand directly under each card before moving it into his hand even walking a little bit sometimes.

‘If he’s just moving the cards with his power he wouldn't need to do all that if he can just telekinetically control them. It’s as if he’s instead propelling them with something...like a gust of wind.’

He came to this realization just as the last card landed in Glenn’s hand to reform the full deck of fifty-two cards.

“I got it. You almost fooled me there for a moment, but I’m sure it’s-”

“Pressure Craft, that’s the one!” Nera blurted out before he could voice his answer with her fist on the table with a loud thud.

“That’s incorrect.” Glenn promptly answered.

“Of course, you used Transference to blow the cards into your hand with the wind., Allen explained confidently.

“That’s right. Seems one of you isn’t as unperceptive as they appear. ” Glenn stated as he flipped the Slate and proved Allen was correct.

“That’s one for Allen and zero for Nera so far,” the magician declared much to Nera’s chagrin and Luka’s amusement who began laughing hysterically. He promptly stopped and shielded his face with his hands when Nera motioned throwing her cup right in his face only for him to realize it was already empty.

“What? You didn’t think I was actually gonna pour hot tea on you did you?” Nera questioned with dubious innocence.

“Yeah, I kind of did, to be honest. I’m used to running into gals with hot tempers and wasn’t going to take the chance.” Luka admitted while Evelyn looked a little annoyed beside him.

“Smart, that may keep you safe from my wrath." Nera laughed out loud herself this time.

“That’s a rather maniacal laugh. If you do end up throwing something for real, stay away from my smoothie.” Allen stated as he moved his beverage closer to him and then took a generous sip.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Hmph, don’t worry. Anyway, go ahead with your next trick, Card guy. I’ll guess the next one right for sure.”

"Very well."

Glenn Bridge shuffled the deck. He followed up by flourishing the deck into a fan and pulling out one card, a ten of clubs, making sure they all got a good look at it. He then placed it back in the deck and shuffled it once more before spreading the cards along the counter in a straight line. However, one thing was off about it as Allen observed all the cards. This was because the ten of clubs was missing.

‘The card disappeared so that probably means he used Formation Craft and changed the appearance to blend into the tabletop like he did before, but I didn’t see a glow. Did I miss it somehow?’

Allen went over Glenn’s performance from his shuffling the deck to spreading the cards out on the table but could not recall any glow or shimmer of magical energy at all. He started to wonder if Glenn was able to block them from seeing it somehow with his hands, but Allen doubted this would be enough to hide it completely. Not knowing when he used his magic, meant there was a chance he did not use Formation Craft to conceal the card on the table and used some other type to hide it prior to that.

As Allen muzzled over this in frustration, Nera spoke up, “You didn’t use any of the types.”

“What do you mean? What did he do then? Allen asked in bewilderment.

“He said that we were supposed to guess if he used any of the four Craft types, so that means that his using none of them was also an option as he did just now. You didn’t see any glow did you?”

Allen nodded. “Misdirection, so you’re saying he wanted us to think that he would be pulling off all his tricks with actual magic to throw us off.”

“Yeah, he just used sleight of hand to hide the card. Isn’t that right?” Nera asked Glenn directly.

“Correct, hard to get anything past the both of you. I might be in for a surprise.” With a flick of his wrist, the ten of clubs appeared in his hand without a trace of magic at all.

“Most Crafters are too fixated on magic to consider that something extraordinary can happen without it, even when there’s no sign of anything supernatural. Here, most people are willing to believe in a vague illusion over a clear truth.” Glenn’s words sounded foreboding even though he kept his same light-hearted tone. To Allen, he seemed to be alluding to a murkier aspect of magical society that he had not yet witnessed for himself.

“In a place where magic is real. Anything seems possible.”

“That’s right, although that doesn’t appear to be the case for the two of you.”

“Well, I’m not that gullible either. I only believe in really credible stuff like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.” Evelyn declared with her chest puffed out. Allen had a confused look on his face wondering if those two cryptids were real or if it was just the young woman’s misgivings. It was hard for him to tell.

“Yeah, you’re pretty keen Ev, most of the time it’s you who’s fooling people and not the other way around. Like the time when Glenn was about to get jumped by a mob and you scared them off with your giant wolf monster impression.” Luka recounted.

“Do you have to remind me of that? That was my most unflattering moment so far. A songstress should inspire people to gather around them, not run away from them in fear.”’

“Hey, it was still a fantastic performance to watch that saved our buddy here from getting a major beating." Luka drew a pair of hands in the air and made them clap for her and she eventually accepted the praise bashfully.

“I guess you are right sometimes. That was a breathtaking performance.” Evelyn admitted with a self-pleased expression.

‘Wow, she’s rather easy to make mad or happy.’, Allen noted for future reference.

“Seems like you’re not the most popular guy around,” Nera said to Glenn once the illustrated clapping stopped.

“Well, a lot of people take pride in their knowledge of the different types and their ability to distinguish between them, so it’s little wonder my performances are not received well by some. That aside, are you two ready for the final trick? We’re currently tied with you and Allen both having one correct answer each.”

“Yeah, bring it on.”

“Sure, let’s get this over with.”

“Great.” Glenn gathered all the cards in his hand with magic into a stack and then turned the Slate over facedown.

“Then, let’s begin the final performance,” Glenn announced and then placed the entire deck on the countertop aside from one card, the two of clubs.

Abruptly, he deftly flipped the card to its edge and brought it down swiftly on the deck with one strike cleaving it in two. Glenn then pulled the two halves apart to show them that they indeed were cut cleanly apart before putting them back together and picking them up like they had not been damaged at all.

‘No way, he augmented the card’s sharpness to cut the deck in two and then reformed it whole again afterward. That was Augmentation and Formation Craft but I didn’t see that light from the Slate go off, so it had to be one or the other, right?’, Allen grunted in puzzlement and looked over to Nera who seemed also to be stumped. He sighed and decided to just throw out an answer even if he wasn’t sure.

“Formation Craft.”

“No,” Glenn responded.

“Augmentation Craft,” Nera answered next.

“Also no. Looks like neither of you gets this one.” He stated as he revealed the other side of the Slate to both of their confusion. On the screen, was the symbol for Pressure Craft.

“But how? That didn’t seem anything like Pressure from what you’ve told us.”

“Definitely, how did you do that by moving the cards around?’

Glenn chuckled, “There’s a saying I always have fun repeating: a magician never reveals his secrets.”

He placed a finger over his mouth humorously leaving them both in the dark about his last trick. Allen knew he was going to be trying to figure it out for a while.

“Well, since both of you are still tied. Let’s wrap this up with a more simple game. A contest of speed. First one to get a card wins.” He pulled out two cards with their backs to them. Just Allen voiced his agreement and reached out for a card, Nera had done the same and snatched a card out of Glenn’s hand in a blur. By the time Allen grabbed one she was already looking hers over.

“That game wasn’t fair at all,” Allen mumbled as he observed the card he got, a joker. He looked at Nera’s and saw she had gotten the ace of spades which reminded him of the tattoo she possessed on her shoulder.

“Wow, those are some pretty amazing reflexes. Wait a sec, that speed and that hair…are you a-never mind. Forget it!.” Luka stopped mid-sentence when he saw a soul-piercing glare from Nera as she looked up from the card.

“You’re not looking that happy for someone who just won.” Allen pointed out as he placed a bandaged hand on her shoulder trying to change the subject innocuously. He could feel she was troubled by something.

"It's nothing," Nera quickly dismissed.

"Not to be a sore winner but I think it's time for me to hear why you both came to Atelier City," Glenn chimed in with a sly smile.

"Oh, right. There's not much to say though. I moved here to become an artist for the Hieronymus Conglomerate like a lot of other people." Allen casually admitted.

"My story's nothing special either. I've lived in this city for as long as I can remember."

Glenn's smile deflated at the rather mundane answers. "How am I supposed to interesting rumors to tell in between my shows out of that? I feel like I'm the one who lost."

"Hey, you were going to spread rumors about us?!" Nera started but Luka assured he was only joking.

"Anyway, I might as well as tell you about the other Virtuoso everyone's been talking about lately." Glenn began while using Craft to float his cards around his body before picking out one in particular, the King of Diamonds. "Specter activity has been increasing in the Luminaire District and outside of it because an extremely powerful one is awakening from a years-long slumber."

The thought of a Wraith several times more dangerous than the one Allen faced caused his fingers to tense up. "What does that have to do with that Virtuoso you mention?"

Glenn chuckled. "That's the best part. To Crafters, a Virtuoso is a champion who represents a new age of magic and is capable of vanquishing threats that no other could. Historically, there have been many dubbed as Virtuosos such as King Arthur, King Charlemagne, and the Norse hero, Sigurd, and many more that common people never learned about."

"How is this champion decided?" Allen asked while remembering his dream with the spirit that presided over a halberd embedded into the ground. He wondered if there was a connection between this legend and that situation.

"They've all been decided the same way. A fitting hero passes some sort of trial and is given a magical weapon by a powerful Crafter. In the Netherworld, the fortunes of people can be passed down just like Crafts are. With that in mind, the last Virtuoso was chosen over fifty years ago."

"...Wouldn't that make this guy an old geezer are already six feet under?" Nera brought up.

"True, that's the source of this legend. The last Virtuoso was spotted in this city a short time before he was declared dead." Glenn lowly retold. "His body is rumored to be entombed here in the Luminaire District and the next Virtuoso will return here to destroy whatever killed the last one or dying trying to."

The tension in the air became uncomfortably dense.

“I didn't realize the name had so much baggage attached to it," Allen said with a bead of sweat on his brow.

'That place I saw in my dream...that couldn't have been the Virtuoso's tomb, right?'

"Well, that's a fun story but it has nothing to do with us." Nera asserted while blowing away that heavy fog at the same time. "Lackey, go ahead and start putting up those fliers already."

Glenn grinned and retracted his cards back into his hand.

At the same time, Allen got up from his seat with an exaggerated sigh to disguise his uneasiness and grabbed the fliers. "...Fine, I'll put up the fliers but I'm not making it snappy."