Chapter 36
Elara’s POV
The clang of steel on steel echoed across the training grounds, sharp and jarring against the morning air. The sun had only just begun to climb over the battlements, painting the horizon in pale gold, yet the field was already alive with the sounds of soldiers sparring, drilling, shouting commands.
The scent of sweat, leather, and oiled steel clung to the air. Rows of men and women moved in formation, their armor catching the light, their faces stern with discipline.
I had walked these grounds before, though always at a distance—watched from balconies, escorted by guards, shielded from the raw grit of it. But today, I came not as an observer. Today, I stepped onto the dust with my head held high and my heart hammering in my chest.
Whispers followed me immediatel
