Inheritor Of Magic: The Magi King

As popular as the trade opportunities, and all the witch charm vendors, were during the day, the real party started once the sun went down and the shows started.

It was hard to see the lights and fireworks in the daytime, so the party ramped up when the sun went down. The vendors mostly packed up for the night, closing their stalls, but the food vendors were as busy as ever, and all the stages were packed.

"What is all this?" King Petros asked as the stages were being prepared for the first round of overnight shows.

"Oh, you're in for a treat. The first show of the night is a troupe of feline beastkin musical trapeze artists. They do their show in time with music and a light show, it's hugely popular." Wolfe explained.

Wolfe picked them both up on a platform of Gravity Magic to take a seat on the balcony of the spire restaurant, overlooking the show. Petros ordered wine, and laughed as the musicians put on an impromptu song and dance routine while the stage was being prepared.

"They're quite lively. We have shows and theatre in the auditorium, but this looks like something different." Petros noted.

Once the hanging strips of cloth, swings, chains and ladders were all set up, the music changed, and the crowd began to scream and cheer as the first of the catgirls went flying across the stage, having jumped from the edge of the rigging to grab a rope and swing across to her starting platform. f𝗿𝐞ewebno𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝐨m

"They're insane." Petros gasped as he watched the agile dancers hurling themselves through the air in time with the music.

Wolfe smiled as he watched the carefully choreographed light show illuminate the fog that had been created on the stage.

"It's not as dangerous as it looks. We enchanted the stage to prevent hard falls. If they approach the ground too quickly, magic will slow them before they hit the ground." He explained.

King Petros looked impressed. "So, there's no magic assisting them?"

Wolfe shook his head. "Some of the shows use magic, but using magic for trapeze artists takes most of the fun out of the show. The audience can see that it's not natural, so unless you're just enhancing your own strength and agility, magic doesn't improve these shows. The one coming after is a Fae band, and there is a lot of magic, both in their music and the show itself."

Petros wasn't very familiar with the Fae, outside some conflicts between them and his people in the past, so when the Fae Rock band started, his eyes went wide at the pure insanity in front of him.

Much of the crowd backed away, while others rushed forward to create a mosh pit as the wailing of an actual banshee opened the chorus.

"This city is insane." Petros informed Wolfe in a dry voice.

"We have air magic dampening the sound before it reaches the residences, so people can sleep. The Nobles who aren't underground will want to close their shutters, though. It can be fairly bright, and flashy all night long.

With so many species here, there are numerous nocturnal residents, and that means this is actually after breakfast entertainment for them." Wolfe agreed.

Petros smiled down at the Nobles who had come with him. They looked confused, but they were dancing along with the song, in time with the magic that was shaking the air in a rhythmic counterpoint to the bass line.

"Well, at least everyone is enjoying themselves. Does your market always run at every hour of the day?" Petros asked.

"Most of the time it's fairly empty at night. The food stalls are always open, except for a few hours a day when they close for cleaning. The rest of the vendors are usually open during the day, but certain ones are only open at night, or switch products at night.

If you look over there, you will see a lingerie shop. That is a gentlemen's tailor during the day. It's more effective to work with someone else, as the space is limited. There just aren't as many people awake at night, except for the long weekend every month when the festival is on. If you're here around the solstices, you will get to enjoy a whole week-long festival.

It's a dating tradition for the locals, so the shows are different, as all the youngsters who came of age do their best to impress their potential mates."

Petros chuckled at Wolfe calling anyone a youngster. "You don't count yourself among that?"

Wolfe laughed and pointed down below, where hanging out with the bodyguards and the Demon Princesses near a candy vendor.

"I'm already a married man, with a number of concubines, and multiple Pentacles worth of bonded witches and magical creatures." He explained.

"Pentacles?" Petros asked.

"Ah, I forgot that those aren't a thing in your world. Witches can bond in small groups of specifically five members. But a Magi can bond to those groups, and then they all share power. My power feeds their growth, their growth feeds mine. They can also call on each other's power in times of need, and with a close enough bond, they can even mentally communicate."

"And your brides and bodyguards are in a Pentacle, bonded to you? No wonder you have grown so quickly." King Petros realized.

"There are actually three Pentacles. One with my wives and close advisors, one with loyal supporters, and one with the Bodyguards and Princesses, other than the Succubi, who don't gain power that way."

King Petros blinked slowly. "So, you're saying that any of those fifteen anonymous women in this crowd could call on the power of a Saint at any moment?"

Wolfe made a noncommittal gesture. "To an extent. They can still only use so much power on their own, but if they work together, they can do spectacular things."

Petros sighed with relief. "The thought of a female Demon suddenly having the power and mana storage of a Saint was quite concerning, but it seems it's not that serious."

Wolfe laughed. "Oh, that part is real. All the bodyguards are already well into Rank Six, and with the benefits of the Pentacle and the mana they can draw from me, they can definitely reach Saint Rank power, and will have nearly unlimited mana."