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 night was silent, save for the distant rustling of leaves in the wind. Elara stood at the training grounds, gripping her sword, her muscles tense from exhaustion. The day's drills had been relentless, and yet, sleep felt like a distant luxury.

Damien stood by the entrance of the training hall, his silhouette sharp against the moonlight. His presence was commanding even in stillness. He had been watching for a while, unseen, studying her form as she pushed herself past her limits.

"Elian," his voice was quiet but firm.

Elara straightened, turning to him. "Commander?"

Damien took a step forward, his gaze sharp. "Why are you still here?"

She hesitated. "I needed more practice."

He said nothing for a moment. Then, with an exhale, he walked past her, drawing his own blade. "Pick it up."

She swallowed hard, stepping into position. A sparring session? At this hour?

Damien didn't go easy. His strikes were precise, forcing her to react quickly. Sweat dripped down her brow as she struggled to keep up. But something about the way he moved, the way he studied her reactions, made her uneasy.

A final strike sent her blade flying from her grip. Damien took a step closer, his gaze locked onto hers. His eyes, unreadable as always, flickered with something—suspicion? Curiosity?

"You fight differently than the others."

Elara stiffened. "What do you mean?"

Damien tilted his head slightly, scanning her face before shaking his head. "Nothing."

He turned away, sheathing his sword. "Rest. You'll be of no use to me dead on your feet."

Elara released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

As he walked away, she wondered—was he starting to suspect?

In the depths of the fortress, Keshav stood in the shadows, his arms crossed as he watched the figures before him.

Lilian, ever the storm, stood at the gates of the training grounds, glaring at him with fire in her eyes.

"You have a habit of staring, you know," she said. "It's unsettling."

Keshav didn't react, merely regarding her with his usual unreadable expression.

"You talk too much," he finally said.

Lilian scoffed. "And you talk too little."

He turned away, dismissing her entirely. But the moment his back was to her, Lilian narrowed her eyes.

She didn't like him. But something about him intrigued her.

A test of allegiance