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

Lilian adjusted the strap of her bag as she strolled through the outskirts of the training grounds, taking in the sight of knights practicing, stable boys running errands, and the occasional sound of clashing swords. She had only arrived a few days ago, and already, the atmosphere of the capital was overwhelming. But what intrigued her most was her best friend, Elara—or rather, "Eli."

"You do realize how absurd this is, right?" she whispered as she leaned closer to Elara, who was sharpening her sword in a secluded spot behind the armory.

Elara shot her a warning glance. "Lower your voice."

Lilian smirked. "Oh, my apologies, Eli." She exaggerated the name, earning a sharp nudge from her friend. "I still can't believe you pulled this off. But tell me, how exactly do you plan to survive this madness?"

Elara sighed. "By training. By working harder than all of them."

Lilian raised an eyebrow. "And by avoiding that brooding, dangerous knight you're clearly obsessed with?"

"I am not obsessed with Damien," Elara snapped, a little too quickly.

Lilian chuckled. "You should see your face."

Before Elara could retort, Lilian caught sight of a figure standing a few feet away—watching. Silent. Intense.

The man had an unnerving presence, one that felt both distant and calculating. He was like a shadow—always there but never drawing attention to himself. His sharp eyes flickered toward Elara briefly before settling on Lilian, who squared her shoulders instinctively.

"Something I can help you with?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Keshav tilted his head slightly, as if analyzing her, before speaking in a calm, quiet tone. "You talk too much."

Elara quickly stepped in. "Keshav, she's just visiting—"

But Keshav was already walking away, his cloak billowing slightly behind him.

Lilian huffed. "I don't like him."

Elara fought the urge to smile. "That's funny. He usually doesn't care enough to speak to people he doesn't like."

Lilian narrowed her eyes. "Well, then he better stay far away."

Damien sat in a dimly lit room, flanked by Valen and Keshav. The air was thick with tension as they studied reports laid out on the wooden table before them. The topic at hand was not the recruits—but a growing disturbance beyond the capital.

"Bandits have been pushing into border villages," Valen muttered, tracing a finger over the map. "Not just isolated attacks. Coordinated movements."

Damien's jaw tensed. "And the kingdom still refuses to send more forces?"

Keshav, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "They underestimate the threat. But we shouldn't." His voice was low, steady. "We should send scouts. See what we're dealing with."

Valen smirked. "And who exactly do you suggest? We're already stretched thin as it is."

Damien exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. His thoughts flickering briefly to the recruits

Unseen threads