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 arms burned as she struggled to lift her sword. Training was relentless, and despite her efforts, she still lagged behind the stronger recruits.

She wasn't the worst—that honor went to Kai, who had just tripped over his own feet—but she wasn't close to the best either.

Damien's cold voice cut through the air. "Again."

Elara gritted her teeth and tried. And failed.

She lunged. This time, she lasted a few seconds before Rhys knocked her flat on her back.

"Ouch," Kai muttered from the sidelines. "You're making me look good."

Damien sighed, looking unimpressed. "Pathetic."

She forced herself up, ignoring the ache in her muscles. She would get stronger. She had to.

Strength is end