As the sky gradually darkened, the first act to take the stage and warm up the crowd was an acrobatic circus performance.
This was no ordinary circus. It was called the Beastman Circus.
The animals performing onstage were actually Wizards.
They were all Blood-Cursed Beastfolk, afflicted with a hereditary curse—the Blood Demon Curse.
Wizards afflicted by the Blood Demon Curse could transform into certain animals, much like an Animagus.
But the Blood Demon Curse was, in the end, a vicious curse.
Once Blood-Cursed Beastfolk reached a certain age, the curse within them would permanently transform into animal form.
And it was irreversible.
The Wizarding World had yet to find a way to lift the Blood Demon Curse.
Perhaps in a few more years, they would even lose their right to remain human.
Still, even if they would become animals someday, they were human now and had to make a living. Circus performances were how they earned money.
The stage curtains pulled open, and the first to enter was an exceptionally short, fat man with a rather comical handlebar mustache.
He wore an oversized, puffy coat and a bowler magician's hat that made him look even more ridiculous. He carried a suitcase in his hand.
He reached into the suitcase, struggling as though he were trying to grab something.
Suddenly, he flung his hand forward, and a white-feathered dove flew toward the audience.
As the dove flew past, it scattered a shower of glittering powder.
The glowing powder immediately transformed into countless flower petals, drifting down over the crowd.
"Wow, so beautiful!"
The mustached man onstage immediately put on an exasperated expression, scratching his head as if he had taken out the wrong thing.
He reached into the suitcase again, struggling as though he were trying to grab something.
This time,