Duel in the Sky

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The next day dawned bright, clear, and early. We marched to the mess hall and enjoyed a hearty breakfast. I just had toast, fruit and some coffee. Carrie nibbled at a veggie omelet while Thomas chowed down on a huge stack of blueberry pancakes. Carrie and I looked at each other and giggled.

"What?" Thomas said with his mouth full of food.

"Don't you think you should take it easy, Tom?" I said.

"Yes, be careful. You don't want to be sluggish when you compete in the Etheric Knife Competition," Carrie said and took a bite of her omelet.

"Bollocks to that. I need every single calorie available if I'm going to beat that bloke," Thomas said and looked over at Bravo Company's table where the handsome Rodrigo Mendoza ate.

I stole a glance at the Bravo Company table. Rodrigo was handsome, fit, and confident. He chatted politely with the other members of his company while he ate. I turned back to Carrie and Thomas.

"He doesn't look that tough," I said.

"Although he is quite handsome," Carrie said.

"I'll say. Too bad he's Bravo Company," I said.

Thomas waved his hand and snapped his fingers. "Hello. Can we concentrate for just a moment on more important matters. Like how I'm going to beat him. Carrie, can you put like a Hex on him or something like that."

"I'm sorry, Thomas. I'm afraid that would be cheating. Don't worry, I'm sure you will do well," Carrie said.

"I hope so," Thomas said.

"You will," I said and patted Thomas on the shoulder. Just then I felt someone staring at me. I turned around and sure enough there was Alexis Van Leer smirking at me. Besides her were the Miller twins. Brad Miller saw me looking and took his fork and held it out in front of him. Alexis put her hand out and the fork floated in the air. She waved with her hand and the fork flew through the air. All of Bravo company stopped eating and watched. Alexis raised her other hand and another fork flew up in pursuit. The two forks flew through the air, diving and soaring in a mock dogfight. Suddenly, the lead fork twitched, shuddered and fell to the ground. Alexis raised her hand and the remaining fork flew into her hand. All of Bravo Company cheered and applauded.

I waved to Alexis and turned back to my food. My face burned with resentment. It was obvious that Alexis thought she was going to win.

"Bloody Hell, was that necessary? A waste of time and energy if you ask me," Thomas huffed.

"Her overconfidence is her weakness," Carrie said.

I didn't say anything. I was seething inside. I could feel the eyes of everyone at the Alpha Company Table watching me. Everyone was wondering what I was going to do next. I couldn't let this challenge go unanswered.

I pushed back my chair from the table.

Carrie's eyes widened. "What are going to do, Eliza?"

"Just watch," I said quietly. I calmly walked out to where the fork had landed and picked it up. Clenching the fork in my right hand, I strolled over to the Bravo Company table and stood over Alexis.

"Is there a problem, Grant?" Alexis said sweetly.

"You think you're going to win this afternoon, don't you?" I said.

"I always win. At everything." Alexis said and took a sip of coffee.

"You'd better get used to second place, Grant. Bravo Company is going to rock your world in the Battalion Finals," one of the Miller twins, I think it was Brad said loudly and accepted a high five from his twin.

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