Supreme Magus novel Chapter 170

The members of the Queen’s corps tasked to protect Tista were pissed off beyond reason. Most of them had a family back home, with one or more kids around Tista’s age. In their files, they had classified Garth Renkin as an insufferable pompous a*s, but a harmless one.

This time, by acting as a troll in heat, he had crossed the line. The only reason why he was still alive instead of chopped to pieces, was that unless in case of a deadly threat, their utmost priority was to remain undercover.

They had to wait either for him to push his luck or to go away from prying eyes before intervening.

To make things worse, the passive attitude of the bystanders, that aside from whispering and commenting were doing nothing, made more than one officer ponder setting the village ablaze after the situation was resolved.

In their eyes Tista was basically a saint. The only things she did were helping her family and providing magical care, sometimes even for free, behind Nana’s back, to those who couldn’t afford it or were going through a rough patch.

Seeing such a person harassed by a pig-brained man amid public indifference was too much to bear.

"Gods, as soon that idiot goes back home, I’m going to rip his b*lls off." Said a member of the unit in her communication earpiece.

"Get in line, Toman." Replied her Captain. "I called dibs on the left one since he grabbed her arm."

"And I on the right one." Added a second voice.

"Fine! Then I’ll cut his d*ck and have him choke on it." No one laughed, it wasn’t a joke. The problem with long term detail assignments was that once you knew your target better than your own family, it was natural to get attached.

Being professionals, they were able to keep their emotions in check, but that didn’t make them one bit less ruthless or dangerous, only worse. So, when they recognized the environmental signs of a powerful mage being royally pissed, they moved away to better enjoy the show.

Snacks and bets were the natural follow up.

"Okay, guys. Garth getting killed is 1.1-1, maimed 3-1, crippled 2-1, going home unscathed is 100-1."

When overwhelmed by emotions, it was natural for even fake mages to affect their surrounding by subconsciously connecting to the world energy. Lowering the temperature, summoning strong gales, it was all mistaken for an involuntary use of first magic.

The stronger the mage, the stronger the effects, that was the rule.

Lith’s situation was quite different though. Being an Awakened one, his thoughts were naturally connected to the world energy so his inner turmoil would have a bigger impact than normal.

Unbeknownst to him, after being accepted through a world’s tribulation, the surge of his violent emotions would trigger the planet’s attention making the resonance even worse. That was the reason why clouds were gathering, a thunderstorm brewing.

Nana and the corps’ members thought it was a spell, but it was merely a reflection of Lith’s fury.

- "Lith, I know you are angry, but you must hold back." Solus warned him.

"Not this time, Solus! I get you love unicorns and rainbows, but the f*cker went too far. There is no place for mercy."

"Mercy? By my maker, he can die in a fire for all I care. I meant that there are several witnesses, including some powerful magicians, maybe from the corps. They are supposed to watch your family after all. So do your worst, but do not blow your cover.

That pig is not worth it." –

Having doubted Solus’ loyalty only made Lith angrier, making Garth’s tab even more nasty. Yet she was right, he had to be careful.

Maybe.

Lith descended quietly instead of making a crater on the ground like he would have loved to. His eyes were closed shut, perceiving his surroundings only through earth magic and Solus. Lith knew that if he looked at the b*stard’s face, he would lose his self-control.

Yet the temperature kept plummeting and despite it had been a sunny spring day until a few seconds ago, Garth could see his breath steam. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and his skin was covered with goose bumps from the terror.

And he wasn’t the only one. Lith’s killing intent was aimed at all those present but Tista, Nana and his mother. Its intensity was similar to what Garith Senti and Kilian experienced, but with two big differences.

Here there was no Small World smothering Lith’s magic and while Garith and Kilian had been battle hardened veterans, Lutia’s residents were farmers and merchants. The worst thing they had ever experienced was being mugged.

Garth’s natural reaction was letting Tista’s arm go like it was frenzied snake and wet himself, a warm puddle drove away the cold from his nether regions and feet. Most of the bystanders fell to their knees, some started to puke in panic, a few even fainted.

"Lil’ brother!" Tista didn’t seem to notice anything, there was only Lith in her eyes now. Her warm smile and adorable voice made him all soft inside, turning the seething rage into a full blown inferno.

"Tista!" His right arm pulled her close in an embrace, while his right fist struck Garth behind her back with the strength of a sledgehammer. Lith held back, so instead of pulverizing his jaw, he just dislocated it, making Garth spat a mouthful of blood.

"I missed you so much." She was crying. "Where have you been? I worried every day, fearing the worst."

She was crying.

"I’m so sorry." Lith replied holding her even tighter.

"I was on a mission for the Mage Association, but there was nothing for you to worry about." His arms held her close, but his hands and mouth kept moving, conjuring wind pillars that pinned those present to the ground.

Lith mentioning the Mage Association turned fear into terror, but for Garth there was only horror. He hadn’t seen Lith in years, almost forgetting how monstrous he was. Garth was the only one not pinned, Lith was taunting him to run away.

She was crying.

Lith brought Tista back to Nana’s house.

"I’ll be back soon. Whatever happens, do not watch." Lith wiped her tears while caressing her face before closing the door and casting the Hush spell all around the house. Then he opened his eyes causing another bolt of lightning to come down, closer than the previous one.

The flash drew everyone’s attention away. When they looked back, Lith was straight in front of Garth having crossed dozens of meters in less than a second.

"How did..." Garth managed to ask despite the maddening terror.

"You blinked." Lith replied like it explained everything.

After that, he grabbed Garth’s right dominant arm, twisting it like it was just a twig.