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| Shortly after that, Connell and Heather left together. Afterwards, Amanda and I returned to the hotel, and retired to our rooms. The next morning, Connell knocked on my door. After I let him in, he said, �I have to tell you about last night. It was very unusual. I was walking her home, and we entered the bad part of town. A few thugs tried to mug us, and I was surprised to see that she was not afraid. Fortunately, my unarmed combat skills were sufficient to defend us. After the fight, I noticed that Heather was gone. There was an alley nearby which I searched, but I could not find any sign of her. That alley was a dead end, so I don't know how she disappeared.� This suddenly began to intrigue me. It appeared that he encountered another master of deception, who could be dangerous. It would be an interesting challenge to learn who she really was. Fortunately, I had an idea, which would hopefully help me to find the truth. I needed to begin my plan at the nightclub. I went there, and asked to speak to the manager. I told him about my successful act at the museum, and suggested that he hire me for the nightclub. Then I told him, �Let me perform tonight, no charge. If you like it, you can hire me, and if you do not, then you do not have to.� He agreed to my proposal, and I supervised the bots� construction of a stage in the club. Later, I discussed that night�s performance with Amanda, and after our museum show, we rehearsed the nightclub act at the museum. Finally, our show began at the nightclub. I stood on the stage, and assured everyone that my show would not use any holographic, or other technological devices. Then I announced, �Now, I would like to give a demonstration of the power of the human mind. To demonstrate this, I will need a volunteer from the audience.� Amanda then escorted a man onstage, and exited stage left. Then I announced, "I will now introduce you to my assistant, and would like you to know that she will be naked.� Amanda carried a white rabbit onto the stage. I pointed to the rabbit and said, �I would like you to meet my assistant, Bonnie the Bunny.� The audience laughed. Then Amanda brought a list of five professions: police officer, doctor, engineer, bartender, and waitress. Then she placed a cloth bag in front of the volunteer. I reached inside, and pulled out a few pieces of paper, to show him that each piece had a different profession written on it. I placed the papers back in the bag, and told him to pull a piece out. He took out a piece of paper, and I placed the rabbit into a small box. Then I said, �Now please read what you have picked.� He replied, �Waittress.� Immediately, I lifted the top of the box, and the sides fell, revealing a white rabbit, wearing the red, short-skirted uniforms that the waitresses of this nightclub wore. Then I proceeded to perform more tricks. I made predictions, made objects disappear, changed colors on cards, and created many other seemingly psychic events. Finally, I presented my finale. I announced, �Now, I would like to show all of you one of the greatest feats of psychic power. It is called levitation. First, I would like to remind all of you that I am not using holographic, force field, anti-gravity, or any other use of technology.� Amanda then walked to the center of the stage, and I announced, �And now, I would like to present for you, levitation.� Amanda then lay on a long platform on the stage, and I made hypnotic gestures over her. I made upward motions with my hands, and Amanda�s body began to rise. I saw looks of awe on the audience�s faces, as I placed the hoop around her body. Her body then descended back down to the platform, and she stood, as we took our bows. After that, I began performing close up magic at people�s tables. They were bewildered as coins appeared and changed places, names and numbers were predicted, and small objects levitated. After a while, I noticed Heather entering the employee break room. I followed, and sat with her, as I performed a few small tricks. Then I handed her an old fashioned pen and paper, and asked her to write a person's name. Then I took the paper, crumbled it up, and used an old fashioned lighter to set it on fire. I took the ashes, and rubbed them on my arm as the name �Yanrei� appeared. As she saw the name on my arm, a look of sadness appeared in her eyes. I sympathetically placed my hand on her shoulder, and said, �Don�t worry, everything will be all right. Your secret is a big burden, but it is safe with me.� Her head dropped in shame. I told her, �I know that your pride has been hurt, but it will be regained in the future.� Then she replied, �I had thought that there would be a way to regain my honor, but now I know that it is not possible. Now that you know my secret, I must leave and find another place.� She rose from her seat, and began to leave, but I grabbed her arm, and said, �No, you must not run from your problems. You must face them. There is always a solution, even for the toughest problems. I have proven that.� She retorted, �That is easy for you to say. You are a man.� I responded, �Yes, and you are a woman of many talents. You remained calm and unafraid when you were attacked, and because of that, you were able to escape. Most people would become too scared to know what to do in that situation. You are an exceptional person.� She replied, �Not exceptional enough. I thought that I was not accepted because I was a woman, but now that you have read my mind, I am not sure if that was the only reason. I am not worthy.� I told her, �I have penetrated the minds of many people, including some of the best. Believe me, it is nothing to be ashamed of.� She replied, �That may be true, but I was supposed to be one of the best. A knight�s mind is supposed to be impenetrable.� Now I had a major clue. I have only heard of one knighthood from this time period; the Tartonian Knights. I have never seen a knight before, but I have heard that most of them are members of their own race, which appears to be mostly human, with a pink skin tone, and dark hair, with green highlights. A few rare knights are of different races, usually (but not always) human. In addition to that, I have always heard of knights being male, which would probably explain her feministic attitude. She was probably turned down for knighthood because of her gender. Her training would also explain why she was unafraid of the thugs. Then I asked, �There is one thing that I do not understand. If you were trained at the Tartonian abbey, why didn�t you fight the thugs?� She replied, �I knew that Connell was a skilled fighter, and could defeat them. I waited nearby, in order to help if he needed it. Besides that, it was a perfect opportunity to get away from him.� Then I asked her, �Have you ever thought of using your skills for the cause of good? You could help many people.� She exclaimed, �I told you that I can not become a knight. The knights are the force of good, justice and protection. I am not worthy of them.� |
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