After Chris had finished telling them about Apex Forge, they dispersed and returned to their rooms. Leo wanted to have a shower and headed into the bathroom after changing out of his clothes.
The day's events still lingered in his mind. The mention of Apex Forge had stirred a mixture of excitement and unease among the group. Chris had spoken confidently, but there had been something in his tone that suggested there was more to the story than he had revealed.
Warm water cascaded over Leo's shoulders as he stood beneath the shower, letting the tension slowly drain away. He replayed every detail of the conversation.
{You know you don't really have to think much about it} Primo chided, {It's not like it's their intention to harm you guys or anything}.
Leo sighed and replied "Yeah, I agree with that but then I still feel it's not right sending fresh recruits to face beasts we know nothing about. It's too risky."
{Oh, what a genius. You think they didn't think of that??} Primo said with a sarcastic tone. The question left Leo in silence, stunned as what Primo said actually held weight.
{The leaders of your country are treating the current situation with every level of seriousness they have to. They are not doing this because they want to, they are doing this because they have to} Primo's voice broke the silence.
---
The warm water continued to pour down, steam fogging the small bathroom mirror as Leo stood quietly, letting Primo's words settle.
{The leaders of your country are treating the current situation with every level of seriousness they have to. They are not doing this because they want to, they are doing this because they have to,} Primo's voice broke the silence, more controlled now, less sarcastic.
Leo frowned slightly, running a hand over his face as the water streamed down his hair.
"That still doesn't make it any safer," he muttered under his breath. "If anything, it makes it worse. They're rushing young lives into danger because they're under pressure."
Primo spoke again, quieter this time.
{I didn't say it was safe. I said it was necessary. There's a difference.}
Leo paused.
The words lingered longer than expected.
He turned slightly under the water, as if trying to physically shake off the thought. "Necessary for who?" he asked. "For them in the headquarters? Or for us who have to actually go out there?"
A brief silence followed.
{…For everyone,} Primo finally said. {If Apex Forge falls or fails to do what it's meant to, there won't be a 'safe' anywhere left to argue about.}
That made Leo stop completely.
The water kept falling, but his thoughts no longer matched its rhythm.
He walked out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
He stood staring out of the window warm water still dripping from his damp hair and for the first time since the name Apex Forge had been mentioned, Leo began to wonder whether they were being prepared for a mission… or were being handed the hope of their entire world
---
Leo woke up early the next morning as usual and went to the training center to accomplish his daily task. He was fitted in black sweatpants, a black singlet, and a pair of joggers. He thought it was good that he no longer needed to go out running and could use the treadmill instead.
After completing the tasks, he sat on a workbench, a towel draped around his neck, gulping down a bottle of water. Sweat clung to his skin as his chest rose and fell with each heavy breath. The morning session had been exhausting, but there was a certain satisfaction that came with pushing himself to his limits.
Leo wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel and took another long drink from his bottle. Despite the fatigue weighing down his muscles, his thoughts drifted back to Apex Forge. The conversation from the previous night still lingered in his mind.
'I need to grow stronger, ' Leo thought to himself, 'and fast too at that. '
'I have to protect my family, and Avril. With how things are moving, if I don't get stronger...'
He clenched his fists, crushing the empty bottle in his grip.
'...my loved ones might be in danger.'
A deep grunt escaped his lips as he leaned back against the bench, tilting his head toward the sky and closing his eyes. The cool morning breeze brushed against his skin, offering a brief respite from the heat of training. Yet even with his eyes shut, his mind refused to rest.
The faces of those he cared about flashed through his thoughts one after another.
His family.
Avril.
The people he could not afford to lose.
The realization settled heavily in his chest. Strength was no longer something he desired—it was something he needed. Every day he remained weak was another day he risked being unable to protect the people who mattered most to him.
And that was a risk he wasn't willing to take.