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 woke up with aching muscles and bruises in places she didn't even know could bruise.

Training with Rhys had been brutal. He was fast, unpredictable, and had a habit of talking too much while fighting.

"Why so tense, Eli?" he had teased mid-swing. "Loosen up! Unless you enjoy getting knocked down?"

She had not enjoyed getting knocked down.

But even with her frustration, she could already feel herself improving.

Now, as she stood with the rest of the recruits for morning drills, she felt… different. Tired, yes. Sore, absolutely. But weaker? No.

"Form two lines!" Damien's voice cut through the early morning air.

The recruits scrambled into place, standing at attention. Elara took her usual spot, careful not to draw attention to herself.

"This morning, we run," Damien continued, his sharp gaze scanning the group. "A full lap around the kingdom's outer walls. Those who fall behind? Consider yourselves unfit for battle."

Murmurs rippled through the recruits. The outer walls? That was a long run, even for the strongest among them.

Rhys groaned beside Damien, stretching lazily. "You do know it's morning, right? Some of us prefer to ease into the day."

Damien didn't even look at him. "Then quit."

Rhys smirked. "Nah, I'd miss watching these poor souls suffer."

Elara swallowed hard. She wasn't the worst runner, but she wasn't the best either. And with her sore muscles? This was going to be hell.

A Struggle to Keep Up

The run started, and Elara forced herself forward, pushing past the burn in her legs.

At first, she kept a steady pace, staying with the middle of the group. She focused on her breathing, her steps—one foot in front of the other.

But soon, the faster recruits pulled ahead.

Her legs screamed. Her lungs burned. She was falling behind.

A voice snapped at her from ahead. "Move faster, Eli! Or do you need a horse to carry you?"

Elara clenched her jaw but didn't respond. She had no energy to waste on words.

Celeste ran with ease, barely breaking a sweat. She wasn't even an official knight, yet she was still better than most of the recruits.

And Elara? She was struggling to keep up.

Damien's voice rang out. "If you can't handle a run, you'll never survive a battlefield."

His words stung, but Elara refused to let them break her.

She wouldn't quit. She couldn't quit.

As she gasped for breath, a voice beside her chuckled. "You look like you might drop dead."

Elara turned her head slightly—Rhys was running beside her.

"What… do you… want?" she panted.

"Just checking if you're still alive." He grinned before glancing at Celeste, who was still far ahead. "She's really got it out for you, huh?"

Elara didn't answer. She just focused on running.

Rhys sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. Since I'm feeling generous, I'll give you a tip."

She gave him a tired glare. "I don't… need your help."

"Uh-huh." He smirked. "Just try breathing in for three steps, out for three. And relax your shoulders—unless you want to run like a stiff plank of wood."

Elara hesitated but adjusted her breathing.

In—one, two, three. Out—one, two, three.

To her surprise, it actually helped.

Her chest still burned, but the rhythm made the pain manageable.

She shot Rhys a quick glance, and he winked. "Told you. Now, try not to pass out before the finish line."

Elara pushed forward, determined to finish the run—no matter what.

A struggle to keep up