A cloud lifted from Syna, casting brightness on the cards that lay before her. The light streamed down, but illusions seemed to shift and then there was a tree above her, casting shade on the cards once more. There were three, and she shuffled them around slowly, trying to mimic the actions once taught to her. But she was slower than she expected, and it was hard to confuse the audience. The one who was playing with her seemed to watch the Empress carefully, tracking the movements even when Nephti herself wasn’t certain where the card had been placed.
Today hadn’t gone too well. She had decided to try the three card trick - but as a challenge for onlookers, not a trick, with no money involved except for the few coins dropped by those impressed. Unfortunately, it was much harder than the other trick, requiring much more skill in her manipulation of the cards. She could shuffle, she could spread the cards and run them through her fingers easily, but not this sly little trickery. And it was annoying her, a lot. She determined to master it, even if it meant struggle in front of people. That was the best way to practice, after all. That was what she tried to remind herself of, anyway.
She picked the Empress and whatever the other card was (she had confused herself too much, and she wasn’t even entirely certain whether she was holding the Empress at all) and tried the little trick Mr Illusion had taught her, flicking the top card down first. It caught on her finger, flipping over and landing face up, staring at the woman before her. The Empress looked at her with her commanding face, and the woman with disgust.
“Surely it works better if you don’t show me where the card is,” she sighed, bored, and rose, joined by a small group, halving the gathering that had been watching, “That took too long.” And with that, she left, people scattering in all directions. The rest looked at Nephti with apologetic eyes, but all had things to do other than watch a girl failing with her card tricks. She understood them, but watched them go with hopeful eyes anyway, waiting for one to stay, or offer a few coins, or ask for a go of their own.
Of course, no one did stay, and she was left alone, bobbing in the crowd that flowed around her. In that moment, she lost the wonder and magic behind the illusions she conjured, and became part of the background, a floating figure. A river rolled around, Nephti becoming a rock that stood firmly between it, then slowly shifted with the current. She let the cards fall into a rough pile in one of hands, before being stuffed deep in a pocket, Nephti giving up and walking instead, walking slowly around.
Finally, she came to a stop, deciding that this was useless. She was never going to learn if she didn’t try. Where had that determination gone from seconds ago? It couldn’t have all drained from her. Turning into a small courtyard, where a group of children played hopscotch or some other such game and gaggle of women hung washing from a line, Nephti determined that she would try once more, and succeed this time. Or practice some more, anyway.
Today hadn’t gone too well. She had decided to try the three card trick - but as a challenge for onlookers, not a trick, with no money involved except for the few coins dropped by those impressed. Unfortunately, it was much harder than the other trick, requiring much more skill in her manipulation of the cards. She could shuffle, she could spread the cards and run them through her fingers easily, but not this sly little trickery. And it was annoying her, a lot. She determined to master it, even if it meant struggle in front of people. That was the best way to practice, after all. That was what she tried to remind herself of, anyway.
She picked the Empress and whatever the other card was (she had confused herself too much, and she wasn’t even entirely certain whether she was holding the Empress at all) and tried the little trick Mr Illusion had taught her, flicking the top card down first. It caught on her finger, flipping over and landing face up, staring at the woman before her. The Empress looked at her with her commanding face, and the woman with disgust.
“Surely it works better if you don’t show me where the card is,” she sighed, bored, and rose, joined by a small group, halving the gathering that had been watching, “That took too long.” And with that, she left, people scattering in all directions. The rest looked at Nephti with apologetic eyes, but all had things to do other than watch a girl failing with her card tricks. She understood them, but watched them go with hopeful eyes anyway, waiting for one to stay, or offer a few coins, or ask for a go of their own.
Of course, no one did stay, and she was left alone, bobbing in the crowd that flowed around her. In that moment, she lost the wonder and magic behind the illusions she conjured, and became part of the background, a floating figure. A river rolled around, Nephti becoming a rock that stood firmly between it, then slowly shifted with the current. She let the cards fall into a rough pile in one of hands, before being stuffed deep in a pocket, Nephti giving up and walking instead, walking slowly around.
Finally, she came to a stop, deciding that this was useless. She was never going to learn if she didn’t try. Where had that determination gone from seconds ago? It couldn’t have all drained from her. Turning into a small courtyard, where a group of children played hopscotch or some other such game and gaggle of women hung washing from a line, Nephti determined that she would try once more, and succeed this time. Or practice some more, anyway.
