- An explosion? says Leas as he stops hitting the sword that he is making

Leas rushes toward the door and stops. He turns around and looks at Virdis Endeleas, the sword he made three years ago. He stares at the sword for a little bit then turns around, opens the door, and rushes outside. What he sees when he looks at where the explosion sound came from, he sees smoke rising. Leas squints his eyes to look into the distance, he focuses on his hearing, sight, and smell

- We're getting attacked. he says

- LEAS!? someone yells 

Leas turns around and sees his brother, Enzo, and his fellow disciple, Malick

- Enzo, they are here. says Leas with seriousness. The war is starting

Enzo looks at Malick and both nod. Malick starts running in the direction the smoke is coming from 

- Leas, you should help bring the kids and elderly to safety. says Enzo with seriousness. We'll go see what's going on over there and if the enemy is here, then Malick and I will support the adults

- Go ahead. Leas says with a slight tone of anger. I'll help evacuate the kids and elderly

Leas turns around ready to leave, however, just as he is about to, Enzo calls him out

- LEAS! yells Enzo

Leas turns around and faces his brother

- What? he asks

- When you're done helping with the evacuation, stay with them. says Enzo firmly. Do not come to the battlefield. It might not even be the enemy

- It is. says Leas

- It doesnt matter whether it is or not. Enzo quickly replies. Do not come

Leas turns around and starts running. Enzo sighs as he looks at his brother running toward the center of the village where they moved the house of the elderly and of those with young children

[With Malick who just arrived at the place the explosion and smoke come from]

Malick stops when he sees what's in front of him

- You've got to be kidding me. says Malick softly with a smile of disbelief

Malick frowns and starts running 

- Enzo, Master. says Malick while running. You two better hurry up, otherwise, this village... Ragseem will be destroyed today

[With Leas]

- What was that noise I heard? mumbles Leas. It was too far so I couldn't see it but the noise I heard... It's almost like... Damn it! There's no point in thinking about it! After all, I can't do anything about it

Leas looks down with frustration

{Leas}

" It's ok. I already knew that I wouldn't be able to help on the battlefield. I already know that Enzo only said all of that to protect me... I already know.... but I just can't accept it... Why is this happening to me? Why did that have to happen to me!? GODDAMNIT, WHY ME!?"

[Flashback to a year earlier]

Malick, Enzo, and Leas are meditating with their eyes closed while Roderick is walking around them 

- Good, Good. says Roderick with a satisfied smile. You're are now, all. doing the Breathing Method properly. Now, the three of you should be able to feel Lethe

Enzo, Malick, and Leas smile

- I can feel it. says Leas with a smile. It's really weird but at the same time... it feels good

- Right. says Enzo with a giant smile. This is weird!

- It's weird but... I like this. says Malick with a smile

- You can stop meditating now. says Roderick with seriousness

- Just a little more? asks Leas

- No. Roderick says firmly

The three of them open their eyes and look at Roderick

- I have never seen kids as talented as the three of you. says Roderick seriously. It usually takes a year for people to feel Lethe and some people never manage to do it

Enzo giggles proudly, Malick smirks, and Leas smiles

- I think you three are ready for the next step. says Roderick with a worried expression

- What's the next step? asks Enzo

Roderick sighs with his eyes closed then looks at the kids for a moment

- The next step. he says after taking a deep breath. Is the absorption of Lehte into one's body

- Are you ok, Dad? asks Leas

- Listen. says Roderick seriously. This is gonna be hard and extremely painful

The three kids gulp loudly

- No matter what. says Roderick. No matter what you must stay conscious during the whole process. You need to stay conscious and direct all of the Lethe you'll absorb close to your heart. The Lethe will then continuously collide and merge to form your Excel heart

- What happens if we pass out? asks Enzo with a worried expression

- The Lethe inside your body will travel and go on a rampage within your body. says Roderick

- Wh... What does that mean? asks Malick with a smile of worry

- The Lethe will destroy your body from the inside out and you'll die. finishes Roderick

-...

-...

-...

The three kids are staring at Roderick with their eyes and mouths wide open in shock

- I'll help you control and direct the Lethe near your heart but I won't be able to help you form the Excel heart or control the Lethe if you pass out. says Roderick. So, if you want to back down, it's ok

Leas gets up, walks up to Roderick

- I'll go first. he says while staring at his father

- Are you sure? asks Roderick with a worried face

{Leas}

" I can tell from the look that Dad has. He isn't trying to scare us and there really isn't much he can do to help us.... We might actually die from this."

- I... I am scared. admits Leas with his head down

- Leas... says Roderick

- But I don't want to back down and regret it when something happens to you, Mom, Enzo, or anyone else in the village. says Leas while shaking in fear. I am scared of this but I am even more scared that I might regret backing down one day

Enzo and Malick smile and get up while also shaking

- If Leas can do it, then as his older brother there is no way I can't! says Enzo while shaking

- I am the oldest out of the three of us. says Malick. That means that I should be the one to set the example. I'll go first!

- WHAT! yells Enzo. I am the one going first! 

- I guess you two forgot that we are only training thanks to me. says Leas with a nervous smile. It's obvious that I should be the one to go first.

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? yells Enzo. You are my little brother! You shouldn't go before me! 

- If we use that logic, then that means I should be the one to go first. says Malick with a smirk

{Roderick}

" They are all scared. They are arguing like this but their bodies are shaking so much. These kids are so brave."

- I need to be the one to go first. says Leas firmly

{Roderick}

" Just like I thought, Leas blames himself. He blames himself because none of this would have happened if he hadn't addressed what he heard."

{Leas}

" I need to take responsibility! Enzo and Malick are going to have to risk their lives because of me!"

{Roderick}

" As his father, there is only one thing I can do to take that burden off his shoulder."

- Leas, sit down in front of me. says Roderick as he sits down

Leas does as his father tells him to do and sits down before him. Roderick extends his arm to the front until his palms are on Leas's back

- When you are ready, start absorbing Lethe. says Roderick. I will inject some Excel within you at the same time so that you can get a grasp on what Excel is

- After that I only need to bring all the Lethe near my heart, right? says Leas with a nervous smile

-... Yeah. answers Roderick

Leas closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and focuses on his five senses until he feels Lethe.

- Let's do it. says Leas with a nervous smile with sweat coming down his face. It's do or die