In Grand Park's Magician's Corner, mages were allowed to busk, license prominently displayed, of course. Licenses were cheap, but not easy to come by as there were a limited number given each season. Auditions were held every year, and everyone had to reapply, even the veteran performers. Sometimes they didn't get in. Competition was fierce for those spots, and some years, fights broke out in the audition lines. Magicians were known to have disappeared after not getting in, too. Sometimes they reappeared other years, and sometimes... they performed the ultimate vanishing act.
Holly loved to take her lunch breaks from Nova, the upscale clothier, in Magician's Corner. Grand Park was only a five minute walk from Nova, which was in line with the other major clothiers on Parkview Avenue. She was a relatively new salesgirl in Gloves, brought on when Messiah Blanchett wore long, elegant gloves to King's Court. Messiah was always fashion-forward. But Holly had been coming here far longer than her most recent job. Her grandfather had been Maurice and Magnificent, back in the day, and performed here in his youth, before he hit the big times, which was decades before Holly was even a glimmer in her parents' eyes. She had adored Papa Maury and followed him like a puppy. Holly learned a lot about magic, the art of performance, and magicians. She still kept in touch with most of them, and they waved or said hello or stopped by to show off their most recent creations when she sat on the steps of Benedict's Statue to eat her bagged lunch.
Today was the third day, however, that Holly came with butterflies in her stomach, hoping to catch a glimpse of a new magician.
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