Forty five.

Iris's POV.

I splashed water on my face and took in a shaky breath.

Orion valley.

That's where the war is taking place. I had just a week till the war.

1 week.

7 days.

168 hours.

I had that amount of time till the war.

I kept my gaze trained on the floor as I walked to the library. Curious looks were thrown my way as I navigated through the sections till I stopped at the Colossal Library section. I flopped onto the floor and sighed.

I need to be alone yet I need someone to talk to. Rose was still mad at me for what I had done, she was still trying to reveal the secret but instead she ended up spilling her most embarrassing secrets. Cole, I was feeling too guilty to speak with him. Malika, the Elders, Mr T and Emily already have their hands full with the war. My parents, well, they're another story entirely.

I was not alone, but I felt slightly lonely.

The first tear dropped onto my palm and another followed until they began falling rhythmically.

" Iris?" I looked up to see Ara.

" Ara, what are you…what are you doing here?, This section is out of bounds and shouldn't you be training?" I asked wiping my face.

" Malika gave me access, and everyone's training with their powers. Nobody knows what to do with me."

" Okay." I replied taking in a shaky breath.

" Iris, are you…are you okay?"

" Ye-" I sighed.

" No, I'm not." I replied quietly.

She sat down beside me then spoke,

" I'm not going to force you to talk or anything but, I've been told that I'm a good listener, incase you wanna…uhm, talk."

" I don't know what to do Ara."

" I have no idea. Everything's moving really really fast. I'm scared, I'm scared because I am responsible for over a million lives and yet I don't know what I'm doing.

What if I'm not strong enough?, What if we lose?, What's gonna happen Ara?"

" We're not gonna lose Iris. I'm sure of it-"

I chuckled bitterly.

" You don't know that. The magicians, they're have a higher probability of winning than we do."

" No they don't."

" Ara our army is headed by a teenager."

" A very powerful teenager who has unspeakable power."

" If we do win like you think-"

" When." She corrected and I smiled.

" What do we do with the magicians?, Do we avenge or we just let them go?"

" I don't know Iris. We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

" If we get there."

She glared.

" When we get there."

" I wish I was normal. I-I wish I was a human. I wish I only had to worry about my family, my friends, my boyfriend, finals, getting into a good college, I wish I didn't have to worry about a war. Does that, does that make me a bad leader? Does the fact that I wish I wasn't the Elysian make me a bad leader?"

" It doesn't Iris."

Silence filled the air around us again.

" Thank you."

" You don't have to thank me Iris. This is nothing compared to half of what you've done for me."

***

" Iris what's wrong?" Cole asked.

I just shook my head and hugged him.

" I'm fine." I mumbled into his shirt.

" Iris, you're not."

" I'm fine." I sniffled.

" You know you can talk to me right?"

" I know."

I hugged him tighter and he just held me as I cried into his shirt.

" Iris-"

" I want you to promise me something Cole."

" Sweetheart, what is it?"

" Promise me that whatever happens, you'll move on. That you won't make your life decisions based on me."

" Iris-"

" Dammit! Cole just promise me!"

" I-I promise." He whispered.

***

" I figured you'd be here." Rose said from behind me.

She sat next to me and sighed.

" You're really going to do it aren't you?"

" I am."

" And there's nothing I can say or do to change your mind?"

" Absolutely nothing."

" Iris why are you doing this?, Is…is it because of A-"

" It's not. Rose this is a war. Have you even thought about what's gonna happen? Thousands of people are going to die! You don't expect me to sit back and let them die when there's something I can do about it."

" It's not fair! Iris it isn't." Rose cried.

" I know, but life isn't fair."

" What if there's another way! A better way. If-"

" There isn't. Trust me Rose, I've checked."

" I can't do it Iris. I can't."

" You'll do great."

" I can't be like you. I can't lead like you."

" I know. You'll be than me. You'll be the kind of leader that I strive to be. I have faith in you Rose."

" I don't like this Iris. I've told you since day one that I hate this idea. What if the others find out…after? That I knew all along?"

" That will be on me. You tried to tell them, but I prevented you from doing so."

" I'm going to miss you Iris."

" I know you will."

She let out a watery laugh and muttered,

" Idiot."

" I love you Rose."

" I love you too Iris."

***

Salama!🤗,

It's my first update this year💃.

I hope you liked it.

Cole or Bryan?

Stay safe 😷.

Bye!!