The thought of someone innocent getting hurt because of Cassandra made her gut twist. She was on the verge of rushing out of the room when the sound of something falling caught her attention. Her eyes were drawn to a small table draped in a red cloth, upon which sat a black top hat adorned with a white band. Simultaneously, a magician's black wand with a white tip rolled across the floor and came to a stop near her.
As Cassandra picked up the wand, a surge of energy coursed through her. It brought to mind the teachings about wands and their ability to amplify a caster's power. She carefully tucked the wand into her waist belt and then reached out, seizing the hat and spinning it playfully before placing it on her head.
A smile of familiarity graced her face as she adjusted the hat, appreciating its presence. However, curiosity got the better of her, compelling Cassandra to remove the hat and inspect it more closely, searching for any concealed compartments. Her astonishment grew as her arm delved deep into the hat, reaching up to her elbow. Retrieving her arm, she discovered a large black cape with a red lining hidden within. Unfolding the cape, a small scroll slipped out and landed at her feet.
Picking up the scroll and unraveling its contents, she discovered it was the "Cape of Transportation." This magical cape could be utilized three times a day. By raising the cape while uttering the phrase, "Now you see me, now you don't," she could toss it into the air, causing herself and others behind the cloth to vanish and reappear within a hundred feet of her, at a location she had previously observed. The cape's enchantment allowed for unhindered movement through walls. However, Cassandra couldn't help but snort at the thought of the three-times-a-day limitation, pondering how useful it would have been during her magic tricks.
Cassandra had dedicated two months to mastering the disappearing act on stage, which involved descending through a trapdoor beneath the stage floor. Her intense fear of falling had nearly paralyzed her, despite the presence of a safety net to break her descent. Overcoming this fear and mastering the art of concealing her passage through the trapdoor had been a long and challenging process. Escaping from the net and reaching a nearby ladder presented additional obstacles. Afterward, she had to skillfully blend into the crowd within the dimly lit stadium before the spotlight illuminated her, signaling the end of the act. Now, with her newly acquired cape, which elegantly extended almost to her ankles, she possessed a formidable tool. The cape boasted a black exterior with a striking red lining and concealed pockets that added to its allure.
"All I have to do is say, 'Now you see me, now you don't,'" she murmured, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
Her eyes widened in astonishment as the cape leaped from her grasp, hanging in the air as if it possessed a life of its own. She observed the room in her mind's eye, and a surreal transformation occurred. The world around her shimmered with hues of vibrant green and deep red. The area beneath the chairs and desk radiated a fiery red, while the space above them exuded a soothing green glow. Peering through the wall and the door, she glimpsed the foyer and the Sitting Room beyond, each adorned with its own regions of green and red. It dawned on her that the red zones were off-limits, while the green areas beckoned her exploration. Redirecting her focus to the chair behind the desk, she fixated her gaze on its seat and whispered, "There." In the blink of an eye, she materialized, comfortably seated in the chosen spot, witnessing her cape gracefully descending to the floor before vanishing and reappearing on her back.
With a renewed sense of purpose, she rose from the chair and strode purposefully back to the table. A glimmer caught her eye, drawing her attention to the scroll resting on the floor, the very one she had inadvertently dropped during her previous vanishing act. Gingerly picking up the scroll, she gently unfurled it, eager to unveil the secrets it held within. The words on the parchment illuminated her mind as she continued reading. "By adorning the top hat and cape, you shall fortify your magical defenses, transforming your garments into the resilience of hard leather. The top hat possesses the extraordinary ability to intercept arrows and projectiles, with the capacity to be utilized up to five times a day. Additionally, it conceals a limited storage space, able to accommodate items that fit its width. For larger objects, the cape shall serve as a vessel, obscuring them within its folds.
To cause an item to vanish from sight, simply utter the phrase, 'Now you see it, now you don't,' guiding it into the depths of the hat. To retrieve the lost item, place the cape upon a table or the floor, and with conviction declare, 'That which is lost is now found!'"
As she removed the top hat and delved into its depths, a captivating array of images flooded her mind. Doves of communication gracefully fluttered, butterflies of distraction whimsically danced, a rope of climbing coiled with promise, cards of chance shuffled with anticipation, and a ring bearing the name King Leo materialized, accompanied by a dangling scroll.
Withdrawing her hand from the hat, the ephemeral imagery dissipated into thin air. Undeterred, she reached back into the hat, her focus fixed on the wooden ring adorned with the name King Leo. As her hand closed around it, the ring materialized in her grasp, the scroll delicately swaying from its intricately carved surface.
The wooden ring exuded an unmistakable aura of craftsmanship, its polished surface elevating its appearance and setting it apart from softer woods like pine. Etched onto its circumference were the elegant words "King Leo." Unfastening the ring from the scroll, she slid it onto her finger, simultaneously unfurling the contents of the parchment.
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"You have discovered the Ring of Puppetry, bestowing upon its wearer the ability to control a puppet, whether of their own creation or another's. By donning the ring and speaking the puppet's name, it shall be summoned, and the ring shall act as the puppeteer's control stick. Simply envision the actions you desire the puppet to perform. When it is time for the puppet to return, speak its name and command, 'Go home,' and it shall obediently comply.
Summoning and manipulating a puppet can be physically demanding, but with practice and experience, a puppeteer's strength shall grow, enabling them to command more than one puppet in the future. Embrace this newfound power, and should you have further inquiries, consult the Magic House Grimoire."
Placing the scroll gently on the table, she found herself transfixed by the ring, slowly turning it upon her finger, her eyes drawn to the elegantly inscribed name of King Leo.
"King Leo," she muttered in surprise, blissfully unaware of the consequences her words were about to unleash. Panic surged through her as the ring began to emit a radiant glow. Desperate to remove it, she discovered the ring stubbornly clinging to her finger. In an instant, a beam of light erupted from the ring, giving shape to a resplendent form before her very eyes. King Leo emerged from the ethereal glow, his gaze sweeping from right to left before finally fixing upon the woman. Gracefully kneeling on one knee, he bowed his head in a gesture of reverence.
"King Leo?" she uttered, taken aback by the unexpected manifestation. King Leo had been one of her most beloved puppet acts, a cherished gift from an aged carver. While not her first puppet, he held a special place in her heart. Inspired by the renowned Punch and Judy puppet shows, King Leo stood at approximately two feet in height, his intricately carved wooden form encompassing his entire being. Adorned in regal attire meticulously crafted by her own hands, his red and gold garments bestowed upon him an air of majesty. The golden scepter, adorned with faux gems, added a touch of authenticity to his ensemble. However, as she scrutinized the crown and scepter more closely, a glimmer of astonishment crossed her face. It appeared that the gold embellishments might not be mere imitations but genuine precious metals.
"King Leo?" it echoed back to her, tilting its head to one side. A rush of information flooded her mind, imparting knowledge on how to use and command the puppet with the ring. She understood that King Leo could be called upon to aid her in combat and protect her from future threats.
The chimes of a grandfather clock in the building resonated, signaling that it was fifteen minutes past the hour. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she left the room, pausing only to command the puppet to follow. As she glanced at the sitting room, she shook her head, deciding against involving Clare in another battle. She didn't want to bear the weight of causing further suffering to someone else.
Inserting the key into the lock and turning it until she heard a faint click, she cautiously opened the door a crack to check for anyone outside. Standing before her, his back turned, was a restless young man, bouncing on the balls of his feet while gripping a crossbow. A foot-long blade glinted from his belt. Biting her lip, she debated whether to unleash her magic arrow to attack him from behind, potentially ending his life.
Memories of the same boy shooting a bolt into Clare's back fueled her anger. Before she could make a decision, she was pushed aside as the door swung open a foot wider, and King Leo leaped through the opening, taking two steps forward before leaping into the air, his scepter raised.
The sound of King Leo's wooden feet must have alerted the young man to the presence behind him. He swiftly turned around, only to be met with a child leaping toward him. The force of the impact pushed him back a few paces into the alley, where the child landed and thrust his stick between the young man's legs.
The boy cried out in pain, doubled over, and fell to his knees, his forehead hitting the ground as tears streamed down his face. Amidst the pain and the swirling stars in his vision, he glimpsed a child approaching with a wicked grin. The last thought before darkness consumed him was, 'Since when does a kid have a mustache?'
Cassandra gasped in shock at how swiftly her puppet incapacitated the young man. Rushing forward, she checked to ensure he was breathing, relieved to find him alive but unconscious. King Leo handed her the dagger and a pouch from his waist, both of which she tossed into the hat. Assessing the crossbow, she realized it wouldn't fit through the opening. She covered it and the six bolts with her cape, speaking a few words that caused them to vanish. Glancing into her hat, she confirmed that both items had disappeared, breathing a sigh of relief at the success of her spell.
Turning her attention back to the door, she realized she could no longer see her door but instead faced the back entrance of Jill's Rug. A quick check confirmed that the key to her door still dangled from her chain. Hurrying back to the unconscious man, she used his cloth belt to hogtie him.
Having escaped ropes and chains for the past fifteen years, Cassandra was well-versed in the art of binding. Knowing that escaping them was a different challenge altogether, she estimated it would be a while before the boy could free himself unless he possessed remarkable escape skills. Moving toward the back door, she summoned King Leo to her side. Opening the door, she silently slipped into the shop's backroom. Pausing upon hearing a man's booming voice from the adjacent room and the sound of a resounding slap.
"Where is that girl? The one who came in through your back door a while ago. I don't care if I have to carve your core out or hers! But one of you will pay!" A large man gripped a young girl's face, his hand lifting to strike her once again. Bruises and swelling marred the girl's face, evidence of the abuse she had endured. Cassandra's view of the scene was partially obstructed by a hideous rug.
The blow to the girl's face triggered a surge of memories of her ex-husband's abuse. Anger boiled within her as her hand instinctively reached for her wand, it's power gathering as her soul sought solace from the injustices she had endured. She had vowed never to stand by while a woman or child, even a man, was subjected to the cruelty of small-minded bullies. The power in her hand continued to rise. Suddenly, a figure rushed past her, King Leo raising his scepter high. The sound of a clank and a thud echoed as King Leo's feet met the ground, his face twisted with anger.
Cassandra aimed her wand at the man and invoked the spell.