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 tension from Elara's match with Keshav lingered in the air, though the training yard gradually returned to its usual routine. Recruits sparred, instructors barked corrections, and the clang of weapons filled the space.

Lilian was still grinning like a fool as they walked toward the weapons rack to put away their training swords. "Did you see his face? I swear, that was the closest thing to impressed Keshav has ever looked."

Elara smirked, wiping the sweat from her brow. "I'm sure he's already thinking of a way to get back at me in the next match."

"Probably. But still, that was a win, and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as possible." Lilian elbowed her playfully. "Maybe we should start keeping score."

Before Elara could respond, a voice interrupted.

She turned to find Damien standing a few feet away, his usual composed expression in place. His arms were crossed, his gaze steady as he observed her.

Elara straightened. "Thank you, Commander."

Damien studied her for a moment longer before shifting his attention to the recruits still training. "Don't let it get to your head. You're still not good enough."

Elara resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "I'd be concerned if I was."

His lips twitched—so brief she almost thought she imagined it.

Lilian, however, wasn't one to miss anything. "Did you just—was that almost a smile?" She gasped dramatically. "Saints above, what is happening today? First Keshav acknowledges someone's skill, and now you?"

Damien ignored her, his gaze flickering back to Elara. "Rest up. We're doing endurance drills this evening."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Elara standing there, a little too aware of the way her heart was still beating from her earlier match.

Lilian watched him go before giving Elara a knowing look. "So… that was interesting."

Elara huffed, shaking her head. "It was nothing."

Lilian smirked. "Sure. And I'm the Queen of Eldoria."

Elara rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny that something about the way Damien had looked at her lingered in her mind.

A moment unspoken