The wizard's right hand | A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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Every Sunday night, the Grand Houdini Theater was filled to the last seat to witness the show of the "Great Merlin."

With his velvet cape and a smile rehearsed to exhaustion, the magician dazzled the audience, basking in deafening applause every week. However, behind the curtain, the real magic was performed by his assistant, a woman named Sabrina.

She was not just a simple assistant who passed hoops or smiled inside sawed boxes. She possessed a real magical gift. Her hands wove authentic spells that made objects levitate and disappear.

Merlin was only a charismatic actor, a mediocre illusionist who took all the credit while she remained in the shadows. For years, Sabrina tolerated this situation for months, settling for earning money to pay her apartment rent. But Merlin's arrogance, having started to treat her with contempt, exhausted her patience...

Merlin announced his boldest trick: "The Phoenix Rebirth," which involved flying over the audience engulfed in flames.

That night, as always, Sabrina was hidden under the stage, ready to channel her energy and hold him in the air.

When the drums thundered and Merlin raised his arms, expecting the usual telekinesis, Sabrina simply crossed her arms.

Instead of floating majestically, the magician jumped and fell flat on his face. The audience stifled a scream. Desperate, Merlin tried to ignite the stage flames with his remote control, but Sabrina had disconnected it.

"Technical failure!" Merlin shouted, trying to save the situation as he tripped over his own cape.

But the damage to his reputation was already done. Murmurs filled the hall. Without Sabrina’s magic, Merlin was nothing more than a clumsy man in a ridiculous suit.

Sabrina stepped out of her hiding place and peeked through the curtain: watching how Merlin’s empire of lies crumbled under the boos.