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

The air in the barracks was thick with tension. The recruits were exhausted, bruised, and sore after an intense sparring session, yet one person looked angrier than the rest.

Elara barely had time to wipe the sweat from her forehead before Celeste stormed toward her, arms crossed and eyes flashing with something between irritation and disbelief.

Elara sighed. Here we go again. "Yes, Lady Celeste?"

Celeste's sharp gaze flickered over her. "I don't understand how someone so—" she waved a hand vaguely, as if searching for the right word, "—average manages to get so much attention."

Celeste scoffed, planting her hands on her hips. "That wasn't a compliment."

Kai, sitting nearby, was already eating up the drama like a feast. "Ooh, this is getting good," he whispered to Rhys, who was just as entertained.

Elara sighed, sitting on the edge of her bunk. "Look, if you're mad that I exist, I really don't know what to tell you."

Celeste's expression darkened. "You're weak. You barely hold your own in training, yet somehow, you're noticed. By the recruits. By Rhys. Even by…"

Elara followed her line of sight—straight to Damien.

Elara tilted her head. Ah. There it is.

Celeste quickly masked her expression, turning back with an air of practiced indifference. "It's annoying," she said flatly.

Elara leaned back against the wall. "I mean, I'm not doing it on purpose."

Kai leaned in toward Rhys. "Should we stop this?"

Celeste huffed, flicking a stray strand of blonde hair from her face. "You're pathetic. If you plan on staying, I suggest you start acting like a real knight instead of just existing."

With that, she turned on her heel and strode away, her frustration practically crackling in the air.

Elara exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "That was… something."

Kai grinned. "She totally has it out for you."

Rhys chuckled. "Jealousy's an ugly thing."

Elara sighed, staring at the ceiling. Celeste was impossible.

But deep down, she wasn't wrong.

Rivals and resentment