Hidden Talent

Chapter 4: Secrets, Answers, and Questions

"Will suddenly charged at Eleanor! He seems to glide by manipulating the air around him." Beth's voice is echoing inside the barrier using Lara's iron-made megaphone.

I'm waiting for the right moment. He is about a meter away from me. I swiped my arm upward, spraying some sand into his eyes.

"Eleanor used sand to stop Will!"

He landed and rolled over as he approaches me. I stomped my foot on the ground. A platform made of rock rose on the ground and I jumped back. Will suddenly stood up and jumped back. We're just one meter away from each other.

"Nice skills from the daughter of the king of earth defence."

All I am doing is just defending, just the same as what I did against my sister.

"Will drops the temperature... oh, it's now freezing cold. He takes a deep breath and exhales. White smoke emits from his mouth. He is using it like a smokescreen. The smoke is gradually engulfing the whole area!"

I can't see him clearly. I'm shaking because of very low temperature. I tried to make a spear but it keeps on disintegrating.

"Please think, Eleanor. I can't concentrate hard."

Suddenly, my vision begins to distort.

"Am I collapsing? No. I'm just wobbling. It's really cold. The inside of my head starts to spin. Now, I can't move my body. What's happening?"

It seems that I'm drunk. I feel uneasy. I feel that I'm about to faint. Suddenly, Will appeared in front of me. I want to move my hands but I can't. I watch him hold the iron pendant of my necklace.

"You have still a long way to go, Miss Eleanor", Will said as he snatches the pendant.

BANG!!!

"Will wins!"

The smoke clears and I dropped down to my knees and looked down on the ground. This is another loss, in a different way though because all of my previous losses came from my sister's brute force. I understand now, he might be expert in misdirection or disguise.

Everyone was clapping and cheering for both of us. Will reached his hand on me.

"Please stand up, Miss", he said.

I held his hand and he pulled me up as I stood. We had a brief handshake.

"Actually, Miss. It's my second time in my life I used the smokescreen strategy just to defeat you", he whispered. "All of the mock battles I had, except against one of my childhood friends, they lost immediately once I lunge at them. Despite your loss, I can see your potential as... Queen of Sand."

I felt warm inside as I heard that moniker.

"Thanks Will", I thanked him. "I'll practice harder than before. I promise that we will meet in the tournament."

Will smiled for a bit, nodded, and walked back to the crowd. I went back to my company.

Ms. Lara gestured us to calm down. "That was a fine battle. What Will did towards the end is that, he caused Eleanor to lose focus as he drops the temperature, hiding his presence from her. Eleanor panicked a bit that's why she can't make a sand spear properly. Will just lunged Eleanor the same thing he did at the beginning of the battle and stole her pendant. Remember, do not lose focus so that you can use your powers properly. That's it for today. You can now go back to your rooms. Goodnight."

"That's alright", Beth said as she comforts me while Ms. Lara is talking. "Will seems to be incredibly talented. I never thought about that smokescreen strategy."