36: My favor - Part 3

Henry stumbled out of the building, his mind racing. The house was behind him, dark and cold. He was shaken but not beaten. He needed help. He pulled out his phone and dialed the police.

As he walked away from the house, something felt off. The air smelled strange. Before he could make sense of it, there was a loud explosion. Flames shot up into the sky. The house was on fire.

Henry spun around. Panic set in. He hadn't started the fire. It wasn't even connected to electrical lines. The flames spread fast, consuming the house in seconds.

He turned and ran. The fire wasn't just in the house anymore. It was spreading down the alley, moving fast. This area was packed with homes and stores. People would be trapped.

Liam stood back, watching the fire. His mind raced. He could help. He had enough magic to put out the flames. But the fire department would arrive soon. He couldn't risk being seen. But people were in danger.

Should he help?

Liam stayed still. The fire grew. People ran down the streets, screaming. He knew he had to act.

He decided. He wouldn't stop the fire, but he would help people.

Liam moved quickly toward a group of people. They were confused and scared. He used his magic subtly. With a wave, debris was pushed aside. The crowd moved.

"Follow me!" 

Liam said. 

"Stay close. The fire department is coming."

He kept his voice steady. His magic remained unnoticed. He guided people safely away from the fire.

The fire spread faster than he expected. Thick smoke filled the air. Liam continued to help. He made sure no one got hurt.

More people were guided to safety. Then, the sound of sirens filled the air. The fire trucks were here.

Liam stepped into the shadows. The firemen took control. Liam watched them spray water on the flames. The fire was no longer his problem.

He had done what he could. He had helped those who were in danger. He hadn't drawn attention.

As the fire department worked, Liam relaxed. He had made the right choice. But he knew this was just the beginning. The world he had stepped into was unpredictable.

[User is advised to not use magic openly. Chances of being found out are high]

The system advised Liam and he knew that it would be better for him to not use magic as well. But he could not let these people die either.

"It's fine. I am just using a small amount of magic to not let people burn so that they can get help. I am sure I will not be discovered."

The reason Liam felt so surely was because there was too much panic. Even if someone were to make a connection with him using magic, Liam was sure he would be able to justify it as them being hysterical and not remembering correctly.

So, he was not worried and continued to use a small amount of magic.

But no matter how much the fire department tried to control the fire, it was not calming down. It was almost as if the fire was unnatural.

"Shit! Can it be…System, hurry up and analyse the fire. Was it caused by magic?"

Liam felt like a part of what was happening was caused by him. Even if he wasn't the direct reason, it still felt like he had contributed to this fire somehow.

[Analyzing the Fire. Traces of catalyst magic found… Percentage of magic-containing fire: 40%]

"Shit! I had a feeling. Would normal water be able to put out the fire?"

It had already been twenty minutes, and the fire was surging more and more. Liam was beginning to feel worried as he watched the firefighters panic.

"W-Why did this have to happen? Will the fire burn everything off? I wish it would rain…"

The person Liam was helping moaned as he looked up at the sky. But there was no sign of clouds or rain anywhere.

'System, can I make it rain using magic at my current level?'

Liam asked the system. He knew that he could do this in theory, but he wasn't so sure about this in practice. He only had so much power to work with.

Liam clenched his fists, glancing at the roaring flames that threatened to engulf everything. The system's earlier analysis of magical interference gnawed at him. He knew he couldn't stand by anymore.

'System, guide me. Let's make it rain.'

[Affirmative. Channeling current magic reserves… Warning: Action may draw attention.]

Liam closed his eyes and raised his hands subtly, pretending to shield his face from the heat. A faint shimmer surrounded him, invisible to anyone without magical sight. 

He whispered the incantation under his breath, feeling the energy flow from his core into the skies above.

Moments later, the air grew heavy, and dark clouds began to gather. The winds picked up, and the first drops of rain splattered onto the ground. 

Gasps erupted from the crowd as a steady downpour followed, soaking the area and quelling the raging flames.

"Rain! It's raining!" 

Someone shouted in relief.

The firefighters paused in disbelief before realizing they now had the upper hand. They worked quickly, coordinating efforts to extinguish what remained of the fire. The crowd erupted into cheers as the flames diminished.

Liam let out a sigh of relief, but his system warned him again.

[Attention: Suspicion levels rising. Recommended action: Evacuate immediately.]

Liam scanned the area. A few people were already looking around, bewildered by the sudden rain. He couldn't risk anyone connecting the dots.

Pulling up his hood, Liam backed into the shadows and slipped away. He moved quickly through the narrow alleys, blending into the crowd as he made his escape.

'That was too close. I can't afford to be reckless again.' 

He thought, his heart pounding.

As the sound of cheering faded behind him, Liam disappeared into the night, vowing to uncover who was truly responsible for this disaster.