A slip of the tongue

Keshav was good at noticing things. Too good.

He didn't always speak, but when he did, it was after he'd gathered enough information to strike where it mattered. And lately, his mind had been occupied with one particular recruit—Elijah.

Or rather... Elara.

He'd suspected something was off before, but today sealed it.

They had just finished another sparring session, and as usual, Elara pushed herself too hard. She was fast, skilled, and determined, but there were cracks in her disguise.

The way she avoided the stream, the way she reacted when someone got too close, the subtle differences in how she carried herself when she thought no one was looking.

Then there was today.

Keshav stood by the training rack, arms crossed as he watched the recruits disperse. He was still processing what had happened during their sparring match—how she had tensed when he got too close, how her breathing had hitched just slightly, how the faint scent of something unfamiliar clung to her despite the dirt and sweat of the training ground.

But the moment that confirmed it?

Lilian.

She had come up to them after the match, laughing as she nudged "Elijah" in the ribs. "You fight like a lady today, Eli."

It was a harmless jest, something recruits often threw around. But instead of the usual scoff or smirk, Elara froze for half a second. It was barely noticeable, but to Keshav, it was everything.

She had flinched.

Not in anger. Not in irritation.

In fear.

And just like that, the pieces fell into place.

Elara wasn't just pretending to be a boy. She was hiding something much bigger.

Keshav exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.

He had no idea why she was here, what she was trying to prove, or how she had managed to fool everyone for this long.

But now he knew.

The question was—what was he going to do with that knowledge?