Forgotten princess

Previously

…Elara knelt beside her, her face streaked with dirt and sweat, but her eyes shining with admiration. “You were incredible, Anya,” she whispered. “Truly incredible.” Anya managed a weak smile. She looked down at her hands, no longer trembling, but steady. The dream of the hidden garden, the regal crest… they felt closer now, more real than ever before. She had faced her first true gauntlet, and she had not only survived, but thrived. The path ahead was still fraught with peril, but for the first time, Anya felt a profound sense of certainty. She was no longer just a sheltered princess. She was a leader, forged in the fires of rebellion, and ready to reclaim her destiny.