Alisme, Nathan, and Harry arrived at the Rosewell residence in haste.
They dashed inside, leaving the guards bewildered, and burst into the hall where Seraphine, Daisy, and Alisha were gathered.
"What happened?" Alisha asked.
"They are definitely here to start the riots; they performed the story of David's life while mixing some lies into it. In the end, they even mentioned that he is alive." Nathan quickly explained while panting heavily.
"What do you mean alive? He clearly died that day; they are spouting lies and nothing else.
"Let's go see what they're up to," Alisha said.
As Alisha rushed out of the hall, the others followed close behind.
Hazel shot a quick glance at Seraphine, but the group's leader remained unmoved, her face expressionless as she trailed the rest of the group.
As they approached the town center, the group noticed the mages excitedly shouting in the crowd, enticing them to believe in the coming of a messiah.
People appeared to be swayed by their words, and the atmosphere had become infused with intensity and enthusiasm.
"Look! There they are. The ones who are against our messiah and our wishes," one of the mages quickly shouted while pointing his finger toward the Alisha group.
All eyes were drawn to them.
The crowd's expressions shifted to disgust, and some even glared at them with hatred, as if ready to attack at any moment.
The sound of footsteps boomed through the town center as the Rosewell family's hunters and guards arrived, capturing the attention of the onlookers. They marched ahead, standing strong and ready to defend their own, and joined Alisha and her group.
"Where is your head, hiding behind the castles…
"My son worked his ass off for you guys, but when he needed a rare healing potion to fix his daughter's disease, you guys didn't even bat an eye.
"So many people have died for your family without receiving anything in return…
Angry voices rose one by one, filling the town square with yells and slurs. The air became thick with tension. People's fury and frustration filled the air, making it difficult to think or speak.
"I understand, but this is not the way. Wait for my lady to come here and we will hold a discussion regarding the current situation.
"Nothing good will come from revolting," Alisha spoke.
"Yes, she is right…
"Fighting against nobles is utter madness…
"But they won't agree to a single plea of ours…
"I have a family. I don't want to get involved in these stupid things…
As the crowd's attitude began to shift, some turned against the group, while others attempted to avoid the worsening scenario.
As tensions rose, a few guards from Alisha's side stepped forward and began arguing with the hostile crowd.
"Stand aside," Alisha ordered.
Suddenly a guard from Alisha's side drew his sword and attacked two people in the crowd. Gasps filled the air as the onlookers watched in horror. Alisha sprang into action, swiftly tackling the guard to the ground.
"You! Why the hell did you kill them for no reason," Alisha screamed in rage.
"For… the common man," the man replied.
"Did you see? That's what I am talking about. The nobles don't care about any of us. They will simply get rid of those who get in their way.
"Let's teach them a lesson, Let's show them we have our messiah to save us…"
As the mages approached Alisha's group, other onlookers participated in the fight, causing mayhem to spread quickly.
Sword strikes and painful screams filled the air. The guards on Alisha's side formed a defensive formation, but they were massively outnumbered by the frantic mob.
The situation was bad, and it appeared they would all be consumed by the ensuing madness.
"What should we do, Seraphine?" Hazel asked.
For the time being, Seraphine and Hazel stood in the rear, away from the turmoil. Seraphine noticed the mages approaching, casting spells to add to the commotion.
They didn't seem to mind if their spells harmed the Rosewell guards or the spectators as long as they got to Alisha's group.
"Let's lure those mages away for the time being," she replied.
Seraphine's spear gleamed in the sunlight as she ran towards the oncoming mages, determined to confront them alone. Hazel trailed closely behind, her saber at the ready.
As the chaos continued to unfold with people dying and getting injured, a lone man sat calmly in the driver's seat of the mages' carriage, observing the mayhem without any apparent concern.
He glanced down at his hands, noticing how they were trembling slightly and covered in the blood of others.
"What do you want to become?" A man with golden hair asked as he clashed his sword with a young kid.
The child turned to face the man and flashed him a bright smile before answering, "When I grow up, I want to be someone who loves and protects their family and friends.
"I want to be dependable for those in need and be a warrior who defends and cares for their people."
"But you can't use mana, do you think people will listen to you?"
The kid's demeanor took a sudden shift upon hearing his own words. Sensing this change, the man approached him and knelt down, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, David, A good heart is what makes people believe in him. Be kind and work hard. You will even become a better person than me." The man smiled.
The kid's face lit up with a smile upon hearing the man's words, but another person standing behind the kid remained stone-faced. He glared at the man and the child before turning on his heel and walking away.
The dazzling light from the staff briefly illuminated David's face as the memories faded. He rose from his seat as the carriage's coachman and gripped the staff firmly.
With his newfound understanding and expertise, he could now handle the crystal power with ease, erecting barriers and banishing mana from his surroundings with a thought.
"I am sorry, Father, but having a good heart is not enough in the world of Xelgar."
