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 made it through training that morning.

Her legs felt like lead, her lungs burned, and her body screamed for rest. Yet, she had finished the run—barely.

Unfortunately, her suffering wasn't over.

"Up, recruits! We have an important duty today," one of the senior knights barked as the trainees collapsed onto the ground, exhausted.

Elara groaned. Did these people even know what rest was?

"Today, we serve as the honor guard for the royal procession," the knight continued. "The crown prince has returned from the western borders, and the kingdom is celebrating his arrival. You'll all be stationed in the city to keep order."

This was not what they expected.

Chaos in the Marketplace

Hours later, Elara stood stiffly in her assigned position near the bustling marketplace, watching the crowds gather. Banners were strung across the streets, and merchants had set up colorful stalls, selling everything from roasted meat skewers to shimmering fabrics.

The air buzzed with excitement—the prince was a war hero, and his return was a big deal.

Elara adjusted her stance, trying not to look as awkward as she felt. She was here to keep order, not enjoy the festival.

Elara barely had time to react before a small figure darted past her, clutching a loaf of bread.

Without thinking, she lunged after him.

A Chase Through the Streets

The thief was fast.

Elara dodged between startled townsfolk, nearly tripping over a cart of apples. "Sorry—excuse me—move!"

The boy ducked under a wooden stall, and Elara slid after him—only to crash straight into a pile of cabbages.

Elara groaned, rolling onto her feet just in time to see Rhys sprinting past her, laughing.

"You're too slow, Eli!" he called back.

"Oh, shut up," she muttered, pushing herself up and joining the chase.

A Surprising Catch

The thief finally made a mistake—he turned into a dead-end alley.

Rhys skidded to a stop, grinning. "Nowhere to run, kid."

The boy, no older than ten, glared at them defiantly, clutching his stolen bread.

Elara, still panting, studied him. His clothes were ragged, and he was thin—too thin.

She sighed and stepped forward, taking a small pouch of coins from her belt.

"Here," she said, tossing it to him. "Buy food properly next time."

The boy blinked, his expression shifting from defiance to confusion. He hesitated, then snatched the pouch and ran off.

Rhys raised an eyebrow. "Soft-hearted, aren't you?"

Elara scowled. "He was just a kid."

Rhys smirked. "Careful, Eli. If Damien hears about this, he'll probably lecture you on 'discipline' and 'the knight's code.'"

Little did she know—someone had been watching.

Eyes in the Shadows

From the balcony above the alley, Damien leaned against the railing, arms crossed.

For a recruit, Elijah was reckless. Sloppy. Too soft.

He had finished the run that morning. He had chased the thief without hesitation. He had handled the situation without cruelty.

Maybe he isn't completely useless after all.

A royal distraction