"This is close-up magic." Surprise flashed in Shali's eyes. Close-up magic was not easy to perform, because it placed the audience too near, making it all too easy to be exposed. It required the magician to possess exceptionally deft hands and an exquisite grasp of every detail.
Shali herself actually liked close-up magic best, because it was a type of magic with an extremely high degree of audience interaction. She enjoyed the thrill of deceiving all living beings from such close range.
Therefore, Shali watched even more closely.
The magician remained perfectly composed as he said to the most distinguished person present, "Next, please draw a card. You needn't tell me what it is. After looking at it, you may insert it anywhere you like into the deck before you."
The man followed the magician's instructions. Under everyone's watchful eyes, it would have been difficult for the magician to cheat. He simply took the cards in his hands and began shuffling and cutting them.
Not long afterward, the magician drew a card. "Was this the card you drew just now?"
The room burst into laughter. "No."
With a disappointed look, the magician shuffled the cards once more and drew another. "Is it this card?"
"Not that one either." Everyone began to mock him, while an anxious look seemed to appear on the magician's face.
Although everyone was laughing at him, Shali could see that while the magician appeared anxious, there was a sort of calmness deep in his eyes.
The third card was still not the right one, but this time, no one mocked the magician anymore, because he had drawn the Eight of Spades.
The magician had drawn twice before: the first time was the Eight of Hearts, and the second was the Eight of Diamonds. They had not