Chapter one
Alina stood gazing intently on an older man,her red hair packed in a low bun. She held her wooden sword firmly focussing on her opponent.
"Now!" they both shouted as they ran to get closer to each other,the clanks of their wooden sword filled the air,as they both blocked themselves at a time. Alina using all her strength pushed her opponent and kicked him swiftly making him lose his balance.
Alina seeing her opportunity lock her opponent raised her wooden sword and brought it down but it hit the barefoot as her opponent rolled away.
She tried turning to her opponent but it was too late already as he kicked her legs making her to lose balance,swiftly he stood up and pointed the tip of his wooden sword to her neck
"Yield now" he said standing above her.
She gave no response as she stealthily moves her hand through the sand,gathering much sand.
"I refuse to accept defeat" She said ,then quickly threw the sand, she had gathered on his face.
Her opponent who seemed not to have expected it,he dropped his sword on the ground.She stood up immediately wanting to seize her opportunity,grabbed the wooden sword from the floor and was about locking him when he sidestepped.
She stood surprised,knowing she had a thrown a lot of sand at him and if it were her it would be so hard to clean it away,her opponent stood afront her,eyes closed but seemed to know his next step.She tried using the sword on him again but he sidestepped getting hold of her sword firmly hitting her hard with his elbow making her flinch.
The sword fell to the ground ,she was about to pick it when he kicked her as she lost her balance and fell on the floor .Her opponent held her hands then locked her with his legs,making her feel uncomfortable.She tried to release herself but he was stronger than her.
"Yield now" he said,his grip still tight.
"Fine"
"Fine...Fine,i accept" She replied exhaustively.
He loosed his grip on her and she laid flat on the floor,facing the sky panting .
* * * * *
Alina laid on the floor weakly to regain her strength.
"Here" a masculine voice said, she looked up and saw her opponent offering her a cup of water.
"Thanks" She said sitting up and collecting the cup of water, as she drank the water in one gulp,she felt hydrated and could feel her energy restoring back.
"You did great back then"
"Thanks master Axin…"
"Besides you taught me well...you're the best teacher" she replied
"And you're the best scholar" Axjn replied.
Axin had been Alina's master for a long time since she was old enough to walk.He had been teaching her since then and their bond had grown stronger as she grew up.
"Alina you do need to work on your intuition and speed"
"If you improve more on those two for now you'll make a good fighter" he continued
Alina nodded.
She had wanted to ask Axin something that has been bothering her since the fight.She had no idea on how to ask him but knew she had to.
It kept bothering her and she finally decided to ask him,since she really wanted to learn.
"Focus" Axin said smiling
"uh…what master?"
"Focus"
"Focusing on your target enables you to predict your opponent next move"
Alina swallowed hard.
Axin had read her thought she had forgotten how mysterious Axin was even if they had been together she still finds strange.
"Fighting isn't always about your strength,fighting consist of many things and strength is the least among them" he continued facing Alina.
Alina closed her eyes wondering what he was up to.
"Remember stay focused" she heard him say and decided to focus
"I've always known you were special" he continued
"Summon anything that comes to your mind " he continued
Alina thought harder and decided to choose the elements as she began to summon,her head felt heavy and sensed somehow the atmosphere had change.
"Open your eyes" she heard Axin say.
"okay" she said,opening her eyes slowly.
Alina gasped.
She saw a small sandstorm afront her.She got frightened making her lose focus,the sandstorm died down.
"you're special Alina,what you've just done already proved it"
"what do you mean?"Alina asked frightened at what she had done.
"You still do have a long way to go before the actual truth will be revealed" he continued ignoring her question
"We ought to go now "he said dusting his wears
" I don't want your father to come looking for you" he continued
Alina still surprised walked along with Axin towards her father's palace.
She had no idea how she had made a sand storm,maybe it just wasn't her.
Maybe her mind was playing tricks with her.