Iris POV

Bliss and I had gone to training together seven stretches back for the shadow army. I was fourteen years old at the time and she was fifteen. She had just been separated from Ali and was for lack of a better term, an emotional brat.

She was loud, impulsive, and her grief spilled out in unpredictable ways. I wasn't much better, only focused on surviving after being ripped away from my sister. The difference between us was that I refused to waste time on what I considered unnecessary emotions and only on getting stronger than everyone.

The camp we were sent to was brutal. Instructors forced us to hone our powers through relentless drills, punishment, and competition between fellow users. They wanted us sharp, unrelenting, and devoid of any hesitation to follow their orders.

Bliss struggled more than anyone. Her abilities as a Wielder clashed with her emotions. Wielders were known for their kindness, calm, and patience, a key in having full control on both yourself and your powers. The harder Bliss tried, the more chaotic and unpredictable her powers became.

Despite her fiery temper, she had a way of drawing people in. Even me. Over time, our shared frustration turned into trust. I taught her to keep her anger from consuming her; she reminded me how to laugh, even in a place like that. By the time we left, she wielded nature with terrifying precision. Yet, I always wondered if the anger fueling her powers ever truly left.

Now, watching her from across the clearing, I wasn't so sure that it had.

Bliss stood at the center of a storm of vines and thorns, her powers devouring everything in their path. She turned her wall built of vines, thorns, and insects toward our enemies, surrounding them. Screams erupted from within the twisting mass before they were abruptly cut off, swallowed whole by the vegetation.

The Bliss I remembered, the one who made fun of my stubbornness and always cracked jokes, was gone. In her place was someone colder, sharper, and far more dangerous.

A variety of plants flared around her like a living thing, snapping and twisting in the air. Her power was growing as it became one with her body. Even from this distance, I could see the strain on her face as she struggled to keep it contained.

"Bliss," I called, taking a cautious step forward.

Her head snapped toward me, her eyes glowing with an unnatural green light—a sign her power was taking over.

"Don't come any closer, Iris," she warned, her voice low and edged with a desperation I didn't like.

"You need to reel it in," I said, keeping my tone steady. "We've handled worse than this together."

I hoped I could reach a part of her because I've been where she was before, and if you didn't pull back, your power would consume all of you. We've both seen it happen in the experiments the King conducted on us.

Her expression flickered—fear, grief, and anger warring beneath the surface. "I'm not strong enough, Iris. I never was."

"Yes, you are," I said firmly. "You've been strong enough since the day I met you. Don't let this place make you forget that."

Bliss's complexion softened for a moment, as though my words had found some small crack in her defenses. I could see the old Bliss shining through. But just as quickly, the blazing light in her eyes intensified, and the ground trembled beneath us as roots twisted their way upward, clawing at the air.

"I am handling it!" Bliss's voice cracked like a whip. "They took him from me, Iris! Ali is gone, and I won't stop until every single one of them pays!"

Behind me, Esled shifted uneasily. "Iris, we need to get back inside the tower," he said, his voice low but urgent. "She's losing control."

"Not yet," I muttered, holding my hand up to stop him. My eyes remained fixed on Bliss. I knew her well enough to understand that leaving her here could make this worse.

The air around Bliss became suffocating, thick with the scent of soil and rotting vegetation. The towering wall of vines and thorns she had summoned pulsed with a sickly green light, and the ground around her seemed to wither, drained of life to fuel her growing power.

"Bliss, listen to me," I tried again, stepping closer, careful not to provoke her further. "This isn't you. This anger. This grief, it's twisting your power. Ali wouldn't want this."

At the mention of her brother's name, something broke. Bliss's shoulders hunched, and for a moment, I thought she might crumble. But instead, she let out a scream. It was a raw, agonized sound that sent a shockwave rippling through the air. The wall of vines collapsed inward, dragging the remains of the two attackers into the Earth.

Then, as quickly as it had started, the chaos around her stilled. Bliss fell to her knees, trembling as the glow in her eyes began to fade. The plants and insects surrounding her receded, leaving behind a scorched and lifeless patch of ground.

I rushed forward, kneeling beside her. "Bliss," I said softly, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through me. "It's over. You can let go now."

Her breath hitched, and when she looked up at me, her eyes were rimmed with tears. "I—I couldn't stop it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted them to hurt, the way I—"

"You don't have to explain," I interrupted gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone in this."

Behind us, Esled approached cautiously, his sword still drawn but lowered. He exchanged a glance with me, his expression unreadable, before turning his attention to Bliss. "That was... intense," he said, his tone more measured than I expected. "But you saved us."

Bliss flinched at his words, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I didn't save anyone. I lost control. Again."

"You're still here," I said firmly, helping her to her feet and walking her back inside the watchtower. "And that's what matters."

The watchtower felt colder as we stepped inside, the adrenaline of battle giving way to exhaustion. Chance leaned heavily against the stone wall, his face pale. Blood seeped through his armor on his legs, staining the navy blue a dark red. Jalk sat slumped against the opposite wall, his left arm hanging uselessly at his side.

"You're injured," I said, crossing to them.

"Nothing fatal," Jalk replied gruffly, though his voice was tight with pain.

Chance attempted a weak smile. "Still standing... mostly."

Flare was already tending to them, her movements quick and precise. She tore strips of cloth from her cloak, pressing them against Jalk's left leg to stem the bleeding. The sharp scent of herbs filled the air as she applied a salve to Chance's wound.

"We can't stay here," Flare said without looking up. "This tower won't hold against another attack."

Jalk hummed in agreement, his face stern. "I'm not sure what's going on, but the King hasn't sent the shadow army out yet." I glanced at Esled. He looked confused at the mention of the shadow army, but didn't inquire about it.

His expression remained grim as he looked out one of the narrow windows, his jaw clenched tightly. "The city is burning," he said quietly. "If we don't act soon, there won't be anything left to save."

I nodded, now looking at Bliss. She was still unsteady, but the fire in her eyes had dulled to embers. "Then we move. The forest might give us some cover, but we'll need to stick together."

Esled sheathed his sword, his jaw tightening. "And then what? Where do we go from here?"

"The palace," Flare said decisively. "It's the only place left that might be fortified enough to stand against whatever this is."

Esled hesitated, his gaze flicking toward the ruins of the city. "What about the people still out there? We can't just leave them."

"You won't do anyone any good if you're dead," Jalk snapped, his voice cutting through the tension.

Esled's expression darkened, but unlike before, he didn't argue. Instead, he turned to me. "Iris, can you scout ahead? If the attackers are regrouping, we'll need to know before we walk into another ambush."

I hesitated, glancing at Bliss. She met my eyes and nodded faintly, as if to say she would be fine without me for now.

"On it," I said, walking outside and summoning a burst of wind to carry me upward. The air felt heavier now, thick with the residue of too much power unleashed in too small a space.

From above, the scene was even more grim. Smoke rose in thick columns from the city, and scattered groups of attackers moved with precision, their dark cloaks blending seamlessly into the shadows. They were organized. Too organized for a simple raid.

I returned to the group, landing softly on the scorched ground. "The path to the palace is clear for now, but they're regrouping in the city. We don't have much time."

Flare nodded sharply. "Then we move. Stay close and stay quiet."

As we began our journey through the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The attackers weren't just after the city, they were after something much bigger. And whatever it was, we were caught in the middle of it.

Bliss walked beside me, her steps slow but steady. Her silence was heavy, but I didn't press her. She needed time to process, just as I did. But as we moved deeper into the forest, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we could keep running before the storm caught up to us again.

We needed the king to send the shadow army and soon before the destruction of the kingdom was irreparable.