Attractions and Soldiers (Hamilton Circus!AU)

The Magician from Faraway Lands

James grew up as a very sick child, always needing to take medicines and doctors used to come to his house even in the darkest hours of the night because of some crisis. He grew up always being held inside the house, being allowed to head out only in special occasions once he could easily get some kind of virus and get worst.

He was raised by his grandfather once his father was constantly having business trips and his mother died when gave birth to him. His father made sure to hire a good particular teacher to give James proper homeschooling due to his fragile health.

Whenever he wasn't reading a book or doing his math lessons, James would be bored to death. He has already wandered every inch of the house, found every hidden place, counted every window crack and how many cabinet doors the house had.

"Son, come here" His grandfather called and James looked at him from his upside-down position at the couch and rolled out from it before approaching the old man. Paul, in his early 60's, showed the boy all the cards from a pack with their faces turning down. The kid looked confused at him and he smiled at this grandson "Choose one" James touched one and Paul giggled "No, pick it up and look which card it is, but don't show me!"

The kid then took the card he chooses before and very carefully turned it to him, being sure to cover it so his grandfather couldn't see while suspiciously looked at the old man. Eight of clubs.

"Memorize it" Paul instructed and James nodded "Good, now put it back in the pack wherever you want with the face-down" The kid obligated and watched amazed as his grandfather did amazing shuffling tricks the cards before adjusting them in amount and pointing to the top "Turn this one"

James turned the card and gasped loudly as he saw the eight of clubs again. He stared with amazed eyes to the card and then to his grandfather, not being even able to formulate a sentence "Y-You how- It appeared- But- YOU'RE A WIZARD!"

Paul laughed at his grandson reaction "Unfortunately I am not, son. Some friends taught me how to do card tricks when I was a teenager and I thought you would like it"

"Can you teach me?!" James asked with sparkling eyes.

"Sure I can" The old man said smiling, truly happy his grandson actually wanted to learn it once any of his own children didn't.

...

"Aand I guess this was your card?" James asked with a mischievous glance at his grandfather as he showed him a five of diamonds.

"Sorry, but it's not, James" Paul replied feeling bad for the kid. James had been training and practicing every day for two years now, he learned all of his grandfather tricks and moves. He was ready to move farther.

"Oh, I guess you're right... But maybe this one is" The 11 years old boy said moving his fingers a couple of inches above the pack of cards and suddenly one of them started to rise to his hand. The old man widened his eyes and James showed him the card "What about now?"

Paul applauds completely amazed and proud "This was amazing James! But I didn't teach you this, who did?"

"I did!" James proudly said "I am trying to aprimorate this trick for months and now it finally worked!"

"I'm really proud of you, my boy" Paul messes his hair and James giggle.

"Thank you, grandpa"

"That's why I want to give you this" The old man said grabbing his walking stick and walking towards a cabinet, from where he pulled out a thick book with a red cover and handed it to James "Happy birthday, Jimmie"

"Thanks grandpa!" James said with sparkling eyes as he looked at the book. It had almost every magic trick ever created until that day and he would spend the next few years learning each one of them and creating his own as well.