Grand Saint Alloy

A dome of silver expanded across the lake. Tristan could feel the amount of metal essence from where he was standing. The dome of silver light thinned as it traveled leaving behind reflective flames that slowly ate away at everything. No buildings were visible from this side of the lake, but Tristan doubted any were left. The cap of the giant mushroom-looking cloud still flashed with lightning in odd colors lit from below by a field of flames. If Hell was real, Tristan imagined that was what it looked like.

“Hey Vulcan, what tier would you need to be to use power like that?” Tristan asked.

“You do realize I don’t have eyes right and my senses are limited to the range of your metal sense?” Vulcan sniped.

Tristan quickly explained what he had seen. Vulcan thought for a few moments, “The most talented could do something like that at tier seven.”

“So, the elemental lord did not even struggle,” Tristan said despondently. Even with a counter how could they oppose something like that?

“Oh, no he did not do any of that, elementals are kind of weak after tier six. I would guess that he discovered why you never mess with a well-funded crafter,” Vulcan said, “From the sounds of it he won, but I bet he wishes that he hadn’t made a spectacle of it.”

“Please explain,” Tristan asked. He knew that someone like Vulcan could easily look down on the Lord of the Underworld, but the man had been a tier fifteen in life, there was not much he couldn’t look down on.

“You people have been wandering around saying it's three tier six elementals stacked. You’re right that does add up to a tier nine elemental, but only in its physique. In every other way, it is simply three tier six essences working in synchrony. Could you fight three tier threes right now,” Tristan nodded, he could. Just a few hours ago, he had fought a tier four, two tier threes, and a few tier twos. “Well then what would happen if a tier six fought the elemental lord? An even fight, all tier six’s have a force. A skilled tier seven will have two, it would be a one sided beat down.”

That was true, even with what many considered a cheap crafting force, Tristan could do some pretty insane things. While he was sure that he was not going to get to tier seven, there was an army of tier threes out there. If even one in ten survived, the remainder could destroy the elementals with no issue. Tristan shook his head, that was a fanciful thought, he needed a way to sway the odds in his favor.

He looked over at Eve, she was staring in horror at the destroyed city. It took several moments for him to realize why, her sister had been there and nobody could survive an explosion like that. As he had the thought, something breached the surface of the lake, it flew straight up before arcing over the Lake Caldera and heading toward the Forest Caldera. Almost no one could survive the explosion.

She collapsed to her knees. The portly man hugged her, saying comforting words to her. Kerri stared in shock, he was well aware of the power Hadrid possessed, he had only survived due to the sacrifice of the civil protector. In a way Kerri going after Hadrid had started all of this, Regis would not have gone crazy without the death of his brother. The war would have still happened, but the camp would not have been attacked, and even if it had Regis would have lacked both the force of combustion and the essence reservoir.

A messenger ran up. Janis seemed preoccupied with the fireworks so Tristan intercepted him. The value of Vulcan was once again shown, the display in Alchehall was terrifying, but he had put it in perspective. It had allowed him to break out of his stupor faster than anyone else.

“Halt,” Tristan said, barring the man’s way.

He scanned the man for weapons. The messenger was armed, but his axe was visible and he had no artifacts. Tristan gestured for the blade, which the man handed over immediately.

“You may have heard about the incident earlier today, while you are speaking to either Eve or Kerri my hand will be resting on your shoulder,” Tristan said in a stern but passive voice, “Pretend like I’m not there because I’m not unless you have any ill intent.”

This was not something that Janis had discussed doing, but Tristan did not want to take any risks. Especially with the healers all being disturbed and all the other guards distracted.

The man simply nodded, “As you wish.”

They walked over to Kerri first. Tristan thought the man was a weak leader, but he was better than the distraught Eve at the moment, “You have a message.” Tristan said.

Kerri jumped, looking around like a startled rodent, “What? Oh, what is the message.”

When he was not sneering at Tristan, he could see Kerri for who he was. The tier four was the same age as Tristan and was still a teenager. He had far too many issues weighing him down. Tristan had hardships, but he would argue that those made him better. Kerri had power without the tempering as his hardships were all of the emotional variety. He was isolated.

“Sir, are we still going to the Lake Caldera? The army needs to know what the plan is,” the man said.

“Well, uh,” Kerri looked around for help.

Tristan sighed, to think he would be helping Kerri of all people, “The Lake Caldera is in a more central location than the River Caldera, going there will give us more options for our next step.”

Kerri was not very appreciative of Tristan’s advice. His distaste was evident, but it only held upsides for him, so he took a deep breath, “We will continue to the Lake Caldera, regrouped with our warriors, and then crush the elemental lord.”

It was meant to sound firm, however, his voice trembled halfway through. The messenger nodded and bowed. Tristan handed back the man’s axe before he left.

They watched the messenger for a few moments, “I could have handled that myself.”

“Sure you could have,” Tristan said, “Now let's stop gawking and go meet with the other warriors.”

He ignored the glare Kerri sent his way. The other guards started refocusing on their charges. Tristan was both disappointed and amused. Their first reaction should have been to protect Eve, but on the flip side, what could they have done if that much power had fallen on them? Now that she had protection, Tristan turned towards the grieving woman.

“There’s nothing you could have done,” The portly man said.

Tristan felt bad for what he needed to do. Eve was the leader of this expedition, she needed to either pass off command to Kerri or find the inner strength to keep going. He walked up and stood before her.

The man patted her on the back. Was he an uncle or something? “It’s alright,” he muttered.

“Like Hell it's alright,” Tristan interjected.

Eve flinched and the tubby man looked up sharply, “Know your place.”

“I know my place!” Tristan almost yelled, “I just don’t think you know yours. You asked three thousand mothers and fathers, sisters, and brothers to go and die, to feel the same pain you are feeling now. You can mourn the dead with everyone else, but you have two choices, kill the bastard that did this or hand the job off to someone who can do a better job.”

Eve glared up at Tristan, “How would you know what it feels like.”

There was venom there, but Tristan did not back down, she would die, and everyone would be harvested if no one pushed her into a decision. He wished that the older man who was making everything worse would do this instead. Age had a weight in and of itself, instead of fixing the issue, he chose to validate the sorrow she felt. The worst part was, that the sorrow was valid.

Tristan shrugged, “I don’t know what it’s like to lose family or even a close friend. I do know what it feels like to die though. It's cold it's lonely and most of all it's dark, it is not a feeling that I would have you or any of the people standing behind you go through if it can be avoided.”

He did not know what caused it, maybe the steady tone, or the words themselves, but it seemed to have some effect. Eve sniffled a few times, before standing up straighter. Tristan felt like a bit of a hypocrite it was not too long ago that Conni had called him selfish for his inattentiveness and to get his act together. He had told a hurting woman to stop being selfish and to get her act together, he did not like it.

Eve pushed herself off the big man, who was still glaring at Tristan, “Let's get going. I think Commander Blacklake and Siren are in the army up ahead.”

So she had chosen to hand the responsibility off. It was not the worst choice, and Siren would do a much better job than Kerri.

Tristan gave her a false smile, “Well then let's get going.”