ibiangoyike

In the kingdom of Valderin, where strength defines one's worth, Elara dreams of becoming a knight—an honor forbidden to women. Determined to defy the odds, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the kingdom’s elite knight training.

But her path is anything but easy. Standing between her and her dream is Commander Damien, the kingdom’s strongest warrior and the leader of the knights. Ruthless, disciplined, and unyielding, he sees her as nothing more than a weakling unworthy of his approval. If she wants to survive the brutal trials and earn her place among the knights, she must prove him wrong.

As Elara rises through the ranks, pushing past limits she never imagined, Damien begins to notice something unsettling about this new recruit—an unwavering determination that sets "him" apart. The more they clash, the more the tension between them grows, sparking emotions neither of them can afford to feel.

But war is brewing, and secrets can only stay hidden for so long. When the truth comes to light, will Elara’s strength be enough to protect her dream—or will the betrayal cost her everything, including the man she never meant to fall for?

A Warrior's secret

Elara's chest heaved as she tried to steady her breath. Celeste barely looked winded. This wasn't a fair match, and they both knew it.

The recruits whispered among themselves, surprised that Celeste had stepped into the fight. She wasn't a knight, wasn't supposed to be training with them, but her skill was undeniable.

From the sidelines, Rhys raised an eyebrow. "You sure about this, Celeste? Thought noble ladies preferred ballroom dances over battlefield duels."

Celeste shot him a sharp glare. "A real warrior takes every chance to prove themselves. Unlike some people, I don't need a title to be strong."

Her eyes flickered back to Elara—still standing, still gripping her sword, but clearly struggling.

"Elijah," Celeste said, her voice dripping with amusement. "You're still here? I expected you to drop that sword and run by now."

Elara clenched her jaw. She was tired, sore, and completely outmatched, but she wouldn't quit.

Damien, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Enough talk. Either finish the fight or step away."

She lunged again, but this time, Elara was ready.

A Desperate Strike

Celeste struck high, and Elara ducked. She wasn't fast enough to counterattack properly, but she used her smaller size to dodge and stay in the fight.

The watching recruits murmured—Eli wasn't giving up.

Celeste twisted her wrist and, in one smooth motion, disarmed Elara completely.

The wooden sword clattered to the ground. Elara's breath caught as Celeste's blade hovered near her throat.

Then, Celeste scoffed and lowered her weapon. "Pathetic."

Elara swallowed her pride, bending down to pick up her sword. She wanted to say something, but what was there to say? Celeste had won. Easily.

"Maybe next time, you'll give me a real challenge," Celeste said, brushing past her without another glance.

The crowd dispersed, some laughing, some shaking their heads. Elara felt her face burn—not just from exhaustion, but from humiliation.

As Elara turned to leave, a deep voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You'll never survive with skill like that."

Damien's words cut sharper than Celeste's blade. She turned to face him, her hands tightening into fists.

"Train harder," he said simply, then walked away.

Elara stood frozen, watching as the strongest knight disappeared into the barracks.

Her loss didn't just hurt.

She would get stronger. She had to.

And one day? Celeste and Damien would see her as more than just a weak recruit.

A battle of pride