Time had passed. The Storm’s ultimatum was heavy over the entire town.

Blackstone stood once again with the council. Sabuk was under protection by the makeshift guard of town.

The warrior spoke to the town, to Manning its leader and to the cowardly speaker Devant. “I have seen enough to know what you face. This being is an elemental, their kind is rare, often keeps to themselves and powerful beyond measure. She is trapped here, driven mad and, fortunately for you, at a fraction of her power. Sabuk is a boy. Send him to it and he will die. Painfully.”

There was much discussion amongst the town. Normal people who were typically good and kind now, when faced with immediate extinction, ran on fear and were prepared to send a boy to his death.

Blackstone debated the idea of slaying half the town and leaving with Sabuk but he knew the boy would protest.

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He exhaled in irritation.

Robed and decorated, Devant snarled. “Well then, you go and fuck it!”

Blackstone inhaled deeply. He turned and began to leave the hall.

“Where are you going?!?”

“To ride the storm.”

The room paused.

“To fuck it.”

Fort’s denizens talked amongst themselves. They spoke in whispers of disbelief, in conversations of terror.

Prior to his exit, the armored man stopped. “Before I forget,” and with his words still in the air, Blackstone swiftly pulled his devil-red weapon “Trial” from its holster and fired point blank at Speaker Devant.

From the waist up, the speaker had been vaporized. His torso, shoulders, neck and head were gone, the edges burning orange from the hellacious blast.

The town’s people backed away in a collective gasp.

“It would serve you appropriately to meet a similar end. Cowards. Weaklings. Murderers. However, Sabuk asked me to be understanding with you all so …thank him soon. It turned out he truly was your savior.”

Manning stepped to the side of the armored man as he exited the town.

“The boy asked you to show mercy!!!”

Blackstone stopped. He looked gently on the boy with simmering eyes. “I did.”

Blackstone headed towards the opening gates which led him to the path towards the clearing.