I now believe that Kelsier’s stories, legends, and prophecies about the “Eleventh Metal” were fabricated by Ruin. Kelsier was looking for a way to kill the Lord Ruler, and Ruin—ever subtle—provided a way. That secret was indeed crucial. Kelsier’s Eleventh Metal provided the clue we needed to defeat the Lord Ruler. However, even in this we were manipulated. The Lord Ruler knew Ruin’s goals, and would never have released him from the Well of Ascension. So Ruin needed other pawns—and for that to happen, the Lord Ruler needed to die. Our greatest victory was shaped by Ruin’s subtle fingers.
