Let's have an entertaining duel!

The man stopped, lifting up his gaze from the smartphone it was embedded in. His eyes wander to the events currently happening before him, in front of the small horseman statue, where a dozen or so people had gathered, forming a crowd. He pushed his way through, curiosity knowing no bounds, and got a good look at the person causing all this attention to themselves.

''Ladies and Gentlemen! Prepare for the greatest sight of your lives! ''

The youngster yelling cheerfully was wearing home-made clown’s clothing, tattered rags painted colorfully, a vivid expression to bring smiles to the faces of onlookers. Upon his own face clung a theater mask, with half a smile and half a frown, the eye above the frown keeping a painted-on blue tear. The frills of the outfit shuffled around carelessly as the boy threw his arms up in the air, waving them around as if parading an orchestra, but he was merely guiding the people to himself. Understandingly, a fantastic trick was about to be performed, so as many watchers as possible were necessary.

‘’Come one, come all, watch as the amazing Entertainer Sakaki will perform magic!’’

The tophat which lay upon his head fell to the side, caught mid-air by the boy’s deft hands, and presented to the audience, showing the empty insides. A few onlookers noticed the hair that sprung underneath there the hat used to be, the kids laughing at its vivid red and green colours. The masked boy made a great effort to show he was not hiding anything in his palms, hat, or anywhere on his body, before making a further announcement.

‘’Here comes the fun part! I will now pull a dragon out of this hat! Are you ready? 3, 2, 1, voila!’’

The hand emerged slowly from the inside of the tophat, lugging a massive horn alongside, the head of a metallic-looking creature showing up and looking around in confusion. It emitted a piercing screech, which sounded remarkably friendly for something that just came out of a dragon’s maw. The magician proceeded to make a show out of stuffing back the creature, it resisting and pushing back, before it disappeared into the now empty hat, as the clown clearly showed the audience. People cheered at this simple trick, several children pulling on their moms’ hands, begging to get closer to the street sorcerer, but being denying that simple pleasure. A few others dropped some money in the empty cardboard box lying on the ground in front of the magician, and the crowd scattered as quickly as it had gathered.

‘’And now to get myself a snack for a job well done. Huh? Who are you? A fan? Did you enjoy the performance?’’