Leras

Leras is a fictional character from Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe, primarily appearing in the Mistborn series. Leras is one of the two Shards of Adonalsium, the original divine entity shattered into sixteen pieces at the time of the Ascension. He is the Shard of Preservation. Along with Ati, the Shard of Ruin, he was present at the moment of the Shattering.

Preservation's intent is focused on stability, protection, and the continuation of existence. This intent heavily influences the world and the magic system of Scadrial, the planet where the first Mistborn trilogy takes place. Leras himself is a conscious entity, though his power is immense and his perspective vastly different from that of mortals. He played a significant role in the history of the Final Empire, subtly guiding events and interacting with key individuals. His motivations were largely driven by the need to contain and counteract the influence of Ruin.

In the narrative, Leras invested much of his power into a specific vessel, eventually becoming the Lord Ruler. This vessel was intended to embody and enact Preservation's will over millennia. However, the Shard's power is not absolute, and Leras faced significant challenges in maintaining balance against Ruin's destructive urges. His ultimate fate is a crucial element in the resolution of the first Mistborn era.