novelraw Chapter 32 : The Path She Must Walk
Chapter 32 : The Path She Must Walk
The morning air was heavy. Not from storm clouds, but from silence.
Elara stood in the yard, her training blade strapped to her back, a small satchel slung over her shoulder. She wore the uniform of the Imperial Academy—a cruel reminder that even in exile, the Empire still owned a piece of her.
Mother adjusted her cloak with trembling hands. “Are you sure about this? You don’t have to—”
“I do.” Elara’s voice was firm, though her fists were clenched at her sides. “If I refuse, it’ll bring even more shame to us. And Edmond… he’ll need me there.”
Father stood leaning on his sword, his face unreadable. “The Empire banished us, yet they still drag you back into their world.” He shook his head, sighing. “Remember this, Elara—no matter what they say, you are a Valemont before you are their pawn.”
She nodded, eyes glimmering with fierce pride.
I stood a few steps away, too small to understand everything, but big enough to know I didn’t want her to go.
“Elara…” I mumbled, clutching her sleeve. “Don’t… go?”
Her hand froze on her satchel. Then she knelt in front of me, her eyes soft.
“Rooga,” she whispered, brushing my hair back. “I don’t want to leave you either. But I have to get stronger—strong enough that no one can ever look down on us again. Strong enough to protect you, no matter what happens.”
Tears pricked my eyes, but I bit my lip hard. “You already strong…”
She laughed gently, though her voice cracked. “Not enough. Not yet.”
Then she leaned closer, pressing her forehead to mine. “Wait for me, Rooga. I’ll come back. And when I do, I’ll be even stronger. I’ll be the sword that cuts down anyone who dares touch you.”
When the carriage finally arrived to take her away, I stood in the doorway with Mama, holding the baby in her arms. Father gave only a nod as Elara climbed aboard, his pride silent but unshaken.
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The wheels creaked, the horses trotted, and the carriage carried her farther and farther until only dust remained.
The HUD blinked faintly in my vision:
[Bond Update: Elara Valemont – Distance Increased]
[New Effect: Determination Amplified]
I clenched my fists.
If she was going to get stronger for me, then I had to do the same for her.
The road to the academy had never felt so long.
Before, when the Valemonts still held their place in the Empire, Elara had been able to return home on short breaks, riding just half a day to the capital. She would spar with her father in the yard, share bread with her mother, and ruffle Rooga’s hair before rushing back for lessons.
But now, her home was far beyond the capital. Past the frontier. Past the roads nobles dared not tread. The carriage ride alone took days.
Which meant she could only return once a year. One month in the summer—that was all she’d have with her family.
The rest of the year, she was alone.
Elara Perspective
When she stepped into the academy courtyard, whispers spread instantly.
“That’s her.”
“The Valemont girl.”
“Didn’t her father lose the title of Sword of the Empire?”
“I heard they were banished to the borderlands. Must be miserable, living like peasants.”
Their voices followed her like shadows. No longer did they call her a prodigy, a rival, or even a fellow noble. To them, she was a relic of a broken house.
Her jaw clenched, but she kept walking.
“Fallen noble or not,” she muttered under her breath, “I’ll cut you all down.”
It was Edmond who found her first.
“ELARA!” His cry echoed across the courtyard as he ran, cloak flapping, eyes already wet. He barreled into her with the force of a storm, clutching her arm.
“You came back!” His voice shook, but his smile was radiant. “I was so scared you wouldn’t return after… after everything!”
She blinked, then sighed, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the stares. “Of course I came back. I still have a fiancé to babysit, don’t I?”
His cheeks flushed pink, but his grip didn’t loosen.
The whispers grew sharper, mocking.
“Look, the crybaby prince and the fallen noble.”
“What a pair.”
“Pathetic.”
Edmond trembled. His eyes brimmed again—but this time, he didn’t hide. He lifted his chin, his voice ringing out across the courtyard.
“She is Elara Valemont! The strongest sword in this academy. Call her fallen if you want, but you’ll fall before her blade!”
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Elara stared at him for a long moment—then smirked. “Well said, Edmond. Looks like you don’t need me to protect you quite as much anymore.”
Still, she rested her hand on her sword hilt, eyes glinting. “But I’ll cut down anyone who forgets it.”
That day, the academy learned two things:
The Valemont name might have fallen.
But Elara had not.
And Edmond, the crybaby prince, would not leave her side.