Not Right

Hours had passed since Ino and Sorin parted ways. He had the seal in hand; its massive size had to be folded up. A simple magic area would burst, similar to magic sense, and it would be able to cover the entire main street from the gate to the bridge hub, allowing every person to use the bridges.

“That was a hard seal even for me. Ino kept demanding it bigger and stronger and better!” Chikaru was lying on her back next to Sorin, sitting on the edge of the bed

This is killing me; just sitting here is killing me. How much more am I supposed to wait?

“Chikaru,” Sorin shifted his head back, looking down at her ash eyes and short red hair staring at the ceiling, deadpan. There wasn't a single bit of interest in her currently. “Once this is over, I will get you a room, and you will get all you need to study seals, and one day you might break the soul barrier, right?”

She just sighed back, “I won't let that limit stop me. I am the only seal fanatic left in this world, and I will not stop until I spread seals everywhere to everyone.”

She is really starting to sound like a mini wulmar… Don't let the mages turn on you, Chikaru; otherwise, I won't be able to save you!

Sorin's mind twitched. Sorin! Get to the main street and cast it. I have prepared everything, and everyone is waiting for you to show up.

He stood up and got his staff; his eyes darted over to Chikaru, giving her a final word, “I'm going to be back soon.” He slammed his staff onto the seal as magic came from the bottom, enveloping him in an orange-hued light.

He found himself in a normal cottage with no one inside; it was the closest network towards the main street. He ran, ignoring their plates on the table and the mess in general. His legs burst out with wind as he jumped onto the roof of the cottage, seeing just a couple of cottages away at least a thousand people gathered with a stage set. It was more of a podium, but it would do

Carrying both the staff and the seal, he dashed around the rooftops until people started seeing him. “It's him!” They all turned their attention to him until Sorin reached the podium overlooking a thousand commoners all bundled in the main street. It was less than the original two thousand, but this was a call to arms; children and the elderly were missing.

Seeing a thousand people right in front of me, all their eyes. Of different colours, all their clothing is the same yet different colours too. They are different heights or weights, but all of them are looking at me. It's intimidating, but I will have to face worse. If I stop now, then it's all over. Our hope to change will die.

He landed on the podium at the front of the entire crowd. He felt a slight magic tingle; it was definitely Ino’s doing. “Everyone!” Sorin shouted. He then dropped the seal onto the floor, letting it unfold. “I am Sorin, the so-called traitor. The so-called hero. I am here to deny both these claims!”

The crowd stayed silent; not a single mouth uttered, but the confusion, however, spread as his words sank into their mind.

“I have lived as a common person in Farmouth, where not a single mage lives. I have lived in the sewage city of the Center, and I lived in the mage towers. I have seen all sides of each end. What is happening up here is not correct!”

The crowd chanted, putting their fists up, “Exactly! We're starved!” A man spoke up. Then another woman chimed in, “They are using us for their own gains!” Every time someone spoke up, they all chanted together, “Yeah!”

Sorin let them settle down, the strange feeling of somebody around him, rather above him. People were looking down, be it the council and Boyle or just mages in general. They knew he would appear; stopping this was impossible. They can't lay a finger on a single commoner otherwise; it would already be chaotic. They have to wait for the first move.

“I am here! To spread my gift to everyone. I am here for you all to believe in me. I want to be a true hero not by the name I have been given. But by taking down a system that has punished you all for not being born with a talent!” He then spun around, pointing towards the top layer that stretched over a hundred meters above the main street, his gaze sharp. “Those people up there who have no idea how it is to be a common person. They don't deserve this. It should be given to those like us who know what it is to suffer!”

“Yeah!” The crowd chanted.

Sorin pointed his staff towards the seal. “Now all of you, with me, will ascend to the top! We will take control, and we will bring back a way of life where nobody starves!” His magic poured into the seal as it began to light up bright orange, before a huge wave of magic burst out in a huge sphere shape.

Each person began to have glowing shoes; each step they took emitted a small orange footprint the same as their shoes. The ability to walk on the bridges was now granted, but Sorin did not afford to look down. Multiple hooded people were on rooftops the moment it erupted. Red robe colour.

Who are those? I never even heard of red.

Before Sorin got an answer, their bodies sent out a pulse around everyone. Making them turn their attention on them, then a seal planted on their chest glowed brightly.

“Boo.” The word sent a jolt as Ino made her appearance in total silence. “They are my new mages. They will show their use to you now.” The seals grew brighter, but just the moment before they activated, Ino said one final sentence. Use their magic as points to connect and make a barrier around every person. Otherwise the crowd might suffer.”

“What did you—” Sorin didn't finish his sentence; he listened as he focused on the magic emitting from each of her mages before quickly putting a barrier around every person. His magic capacity was being shredded, but he continued.

The hooded figures on the rooftops began to grow bright before the symbol on their chest erupted from them outwards; a raging fire started to cover the entire crowd, hitting Sorin's barriers, but he noticed the fire magic was super weak. Ino couldn't really do all of this since Sorin would run out of magic; he, in turn, lowered his barrier to the minimum too.

I have to keep it up even if it won't hurt anyone. She planned to make the illusion of mages' attack to turn them against the council. This isn't right, risking all of their lives even if just a single percentage! I never wanted this,

Sorin's magic was blocking the fire spells; the fire blanketed the entire street. It was almost like a show; even the mages on top were confused by what was happening, but some veterans caught on and could only grumble in annoyance.

The crowd screamed out a single word: “They are trying to kill us!”

Ino smirked widely. “Use this well. They will all fight for you. I'm so glad you have such a massive capacity, even if Boyle still is bigger,” she then moved back.

Am I supposed to use this as a means to get them to fight? This is just straight manipulation. I can't use something like this; this isn't the symbol that I'm trying to become. To put even a single threat on my own people. That's wrong.