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 barely had time to catch her breath before the next challenge was announced—one-on-one duels.

Her stomach twisted. She was already exhausted from the morning drills, and now she had to fight again? Just great.

The recruits gathered around as Commander Damien and Rhys stood before them.

"This exercise will test your reaction time, endurance, and skill," Damien said, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. "Some of you will prove yourselves. Others will show why you don't belong here."

Elara stiffened. She knew exactly which group Damien thought Eli belonged to.

Rhys smirked, stepping forward. "We'll pair you up randomly. If you're lucky, you'll get someone easy. If not… well, try not to embarrass yourself too much."

A few recruits chuckled, but Elara just gripped her wooden sword tighter.

She watched as names were called, each pair stepping forward to fight. When her name—Eli—was finally announced, she felt her heart drop.

Celeste stood tall, her blonde hair tied back in a sleek braid, eyes sharp with confidence. Unlike the other recruits, she came from nobility—trained, polished, and with a chip on her shoulder.

"Elijah, is it?" Celeste said, sizing her up. "I hope you last longer than the others."

Elara forced a small smirk, trying to hide her nerves. "I'll do my best."

Celeste just rolled her eyes and took her stance.

Rhys stepped between them. "Alright, standard sparring rules. No real injuries, but don't hold back. Begin when I step away."

He moved back, and before Elara could even process it—

Elara barely managed to block, the force of the blow sending a shock up her arms. The impact nearly knocked the sword from her hands.

Celeste didn't let up. She moved like a dancer—fluid, precise, and way too fast.

Elara scrambled to dodge, but she was too slow. Another strike came at her side. Then another. She blocked what she could, but Celeste was overpowering her with ease.

The watching recruits started murmuring.

Elara gritted her teeth. No. She wouldn't give up.

She adjusted her grip, steadied her feet, and prepared for Celeste's next move.

She was losing, but she wasn't done yet.

Training in the dark