2 years later...
Lilith awoke with a groan. Today was the day. She had been postponing it for weeks, but it was finally going to happen. She was going to join the Blood Guard. Of course no one in their right mind would join them. It is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. But Lilith didn't mind. She was already rejected from everything else. From a palace servant to a assistant at an alchemy lab. No one would hire her. Was it because she was from the slums? Or was It because she had magic?
She truly wondered why the order of the cosmos, or the magic association if your looking for simpler ways to put it, was not after her already. They were in need of new magic blood after Kull and Asaat attacked their headquarters. The demons made sure there were little survivors. Having magic was a danger to her. Many people would be looking for someone like her. Come on. A young, hot girl who could use magic? She would sell for a lot on the black market. But she would have protection if she joined the army.
Lilith threw off her covers, and started to get dressed. The dim candle light in her room hardly showed the colors of the clothes. She couldn't open a window because then someone could see her undressed, and she had no more candles to light. Her small, dusty one room shack was all that she had. It had her bed in one corner, with tattered blankets on it. She was standing by her drawer and mirror. All caked in a layer of dust. Her mirror was cracked along the top, and rusted from age. Luckily for her, she would be moving out of this shaggy soon, if the army accepted her. Lilith finished dressing, choosing a black skirt with a black dress top. Her most fancy clothes, she wanted to appear more wealthy than she was, which was a stretch since she had 2 gold coins to her name.
After combing her long black hair straight, Lilith gathered what little things she had and put them into a duffel bag. With a snap of her fingers the candle blew out and she calmly departed, hoping she would never have to see this place again.
While walking down the market place to the recruitment center, she noticed a young girl, about 9 years of age, and her older brother, about the same age as Lilith, embracing each other. The girl was crying, and the boy was saying something along the lines of 'it will be ok'. Lilith grimaces as she recognizes them. The girl's name is Aria, and boy's is Opren. Their father, Kane, was a well admired captain in the blood guard, with many kills and victory's under his belt. He even had the honor of dining with the royal family once. 2 years ago he was killed by Gorloth. His wife, Marissa, passed a few days ago, leaving the kids to their own. Opren would join the guard for sure, 16 was the prime age for that. Aria was being left at an orphanage, as Opren could not care for her alone.
"Stay strong for me, ok?" Opren said
Little Aria could not hold her tears any longer. She erupted into a fit of sobbing. It pierced my heart to see her alone with no family. Unfortunately that was common. Many parents were killed by monsters or died "valiantly" in the purge crusades. Rumor has it that some went and joined a cult. Parents were a luxury in the slums, most learned to survive on their own.
Lilith was about to move on before a piercing cry rang out nearby. Followed by a large explosion.