Lilith instinctively put a shield spell around her as a flash of fire swept around a stall nearby. A large plume of smoke followed, as well as shards of debris and dust kicked up by the blast. She quickly dispelled her shield, as getting caught using magic without a license was dangerous and could result in you getting executed. People started to scream and run from the area, shielding their children as they went. A man walked out of the blast, wearing silver robes, a black tunic and trousers and sturdy brown boots. In his right hand was a wooden staff with a piece of emerald and in his left were some notecards, which he quickly tossed aside.
"Hear me and rejoice! As you are faced with the chance for enlightenment!" He preached to the crowd, raising his arms up.
Normally Lilith would mistake this guy for a mad prophet on Black weed or Dry fruit, some of the most affordable drugs out there. But he also blew up a stall, which means he might be a terrorist.
"Do not fear! Your time will come! Join me and be free from the chains of this empire."
Lilith scoffed. This guy was asking to be executed by the Blood Guard.
"Do not obey your... 'Emperor'. listen to yourself. 'Emperor' Endal is a puppet! Your true ruler does not care about you!"
Ok. Now this guy was demanding to be shot right here. Such treason against the emperor does not go unpunished.
The man smiled as several Blood Guard shot crossbows at him. To everyone's surprise and his delight, the crossbows were deflected by magical energy.
"As you see I am protected by God from all forms of death! I am your new ruler!"
Everyone In the crowd gasped, most have never seen magic before and actually thought he was protected by God. Some people started nervously looking around, while others got on their hands and knees to this 'God'.
Lilith was about to engage in a magic duel with this guy, she knew she was never trained but If she can lower his defense the guards might be able to kill him. As she was preparing a fireball spell, the most basic, but unfortunately the most reliable and cool, a voice came ringing from the crowd.
"What God?"
The preacher turned to look at the voice, his face slowly turning into an expression of fear. "What did you say?"
"What God gives you your 'protection' El?"
El looked extremely nervous by now, he most definitely recognized this person, Lilith turned to see who he was talking to. He was a tall and strong man. With long flowing silver hair and black leather armor equipped with a half cape around his right arm, and a metal pauldron on the left. He had a sword in hand and a crossbow on his back. Lilith gasped as she recognized him, Aegis, a legendary mercenary known for killing several Forgotten Gods before. It wasn't rare to see him in the capital, but he mostly got ushered off to the rich areas when he arrived, so she hasn't seen him before.
"What God El? Answer me!"
El looked full of terror right now. His bravo gone in Aegis presence. Several guards sighed in relief, as now they had someone who can deal this situation to deal with it for them.
"Um..." El struggled to find words, he quickly turned behind him "Violet! I thought I told you to keep this guy busy!!!!"
A soft and polite female voice responded from behind the smoke. "I didn't want to."
"What do you mean you didn't want to!?!?" El spat furiously.
Violet sighed. "We already failed the mission El. We don't have time to mess with this guy. Can we just go?"
El looked like he was a volcano about to erupt. He did not want to get bested by this man, but he had to go, especially once Aegis dashed towards him with his sword raised. El quickly muttered some words, and then he shot into the air like being launched from a catapult.
Aegis growled and then charged for Violet's location, only to barge through the smoke and find no one. People started to clap and cheer for Aegis, saying that he was always a hero. Aegis smiled and waved before he went on his way.
Lilith stood amazed by what she witnessed. She knew his reputation was sharp, but she did not know it would drive away El on sight. Lilith closed her eyes, rubbed her forehead, and went on her way, ignoring all the chaos around her.