LOVE IN THE SHADOWS OF TIME l LINGORM

CHAPTER 12

LingLing awoke early, the first hints of dawn barely peeking through the sky as she gathered her things and steeled herself for the new day.

Memories of her conversations with Orm at the lake and with Aon and Pohn lingered in her mind, a bittersweet mix of encouragement and unease.

The warmth of their support contrasted sharply with the weight of Orm’s hidden identity, which still left her unsettled.

But today, she had to put those feelings aside. Today marked the start of her training at the palace, her first step toward becoming a royal guard.

As she arrived at the grand palace gates, two guards gave her a skeptical once-over before letting her pass.

LingLing squared her shoulders, channeling every ounce of calm she’d gained from her martial arts training.

Her heart pounded as she entered the training grounds, where rows of young men—tough, seasoned, and every bit the soldiers they were raised to be—were already gathering for morning drills.

LingLing had barely taken her place among them when the whispers began.

“A woman? Training to be a guard?” one soldier murmured, not bothering to hide his bemused grin.

“She must be joking,” another said, nudging his friend.

LingLing kept her face expressionless, determined not to react.

She reminded herself of her purpose—her promise to Aon, Pohn, and even to herself.

She had the skills to be here, and she would show them.

The instructor, a gruff, battle-worn man named Sir Thanom, called the new recruits to attention.

“Welcome to your first day,” he barked, his voice echoing across the training yard.

His eyes scanned the group, pausing slightly when he saw LingLing.

For a moment, she thought he might call her out, but he only grunted and continued.

“You’re all here to prove yourselves worthy of serving the royal family.

This training will not be easy. Some of you won’t make it through the first month.”

He paused, his gaze sharp. “But if you do, you’ll be part of the most elite force in Aveloria.”

The drills began immediately. From sparring sessions to physical endurance tests, LingLing moved through each task, her focus unwavering.

Her past training in martial arts gave her an edge in agility and balance, though the armor and weaponry were far heavier than what she was used to.

With each swing of the practice sword and each run across the training field, she felt her muscles straining and the sweat pouring down her back, yet she held firm, refusing to falter.

Around her, the soldiers watched in a mix of surprise and begrudging respect.

Some seemed impressed, others still unconvinced.

After the morning session, LingLing was summoned by Sir Thanom.

She followed him to a quieter part of the training yard, where he studied her carefully.

“You’ve got skills,” he admitted, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

“But this isn’t just about technique. You’re going to face resistance, especially as a woman in these ranks.”

LingLing met his gaze, her expression steady. “I understand, Sir.”

Thanom raised an eyebrow.

“Do you? This path will demand every bit of strength and resilience you have.