13 Losing at chess & A new Home
The days in the mining camp were dull for Vlad as he had to stay put in a single place.
He stayed with the old man for seven days waiting for his wounds to heal up. In this process of waiting, he learned all sorts of things from the old man. Some obscure information about the Kaysang Kingdom and how it was outside, but nothing profound.
'Heh, should I teach the old man to play chess? I kind of miss Mathias in this kind of situation."
"Hey old man, do you want to learn to play a game called chess?"
"Chess? It's that game something similar to gambling?"
"No old man, you have to use your brain in order to beat your opponent. Both sides receive the same pieces."
Then Vlad started explaining a bit about the chess game (early versions of this - but for you guys to understand, I will have it as a modern one / Who cares?)
"Hoh, interesting game. Let's do this. Let's use some rice grains for pieces. the biggest one is the queen, the one cracked is the king, the smallest ones are the pawns while the rooks are those pointy grains, bishops are the tall ones, and the knights are those weirdly shaped ones. How does it sound? Good enough for some chess pieces?"
"It works. Do you want me to repeat the rules of the game before playing?"
"No need, I kind of understand them. Let's get started."
Vlad nodded his head and began placing the rice grains according to how he and Nius settled. Standing a bit uncomfortable around a table since he was bandaged, he still found a way to entertain himself in this place.
(A/N: This is a match of chess I took from my account)
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Then their first match began with a standard pawn movement of English opening (obviously they had no clue about great tactics as we do nowadays - but it's a play more on instincts and piece eat a piece)
Slowly the pawns began moving on Vlad's side, who was whites with a c4 followed by the old man's movement of pawn e5.
Vlad stared at the old's man eyes and just moved his knight to c3, followed by Nius knight c6. The whites went with g3, followed by blacks b6. W-Bishop g2 to B-Bishop to b7.
Moves flowed on the board since that, the game went back and forth between Vlad and Nius, who started opening their rice grain chessboard.
The match seemed to look bad in Vlad's favor when he moved his knight to d6 in doing so, opening the square open for Nius's queen to eat his unprotected queen. The old man obviously saw this opening and directly moved for Vlad's queen while Vlad took his opened rook with his own.
"Heh, you fucked up kiddo. Your rook isn't protected."
As he said that, he took his rook, but Vlad looked a bit annoyed before calming himself and taking the black rook that eats his own using his knight from the d6.
And so they played around in the light of a candle. The old man seemed frustrated that all his moves were countered bit by bit by Vlad. He even made a stupid mistake, placing his Pawn on f-3. Followed by Vlad with a simple move of his Pawn on e-5. Not thinking much about what could happen, the old man moved his next Pawn towards g-4.
Vlad stopped and turned to look at the old man's face in a confused manner. Even Nius picked up the weird manner the kid was looking at him and turned back to the made-up chess table and the different grains of rice. As he observed the table and looked closer to Vlad's side, he later saw as Vlad moved his Queen on h-4.
'Fuck, I didn't see that. Let's move the horse to b7.'
Vlad moved his horse to c7, then Nius with a5, who looked to be trying to eat Vlad's pawn, but they were protected by a Sicilian defense. Knight a7 eating Nius Bishop.
"Fuck. You ate my bishop. Then let's go with this b3."
Vlad stared at the old man as if to ask if he eats something rotten. While he eats his pawn with the knight, it was protected. Eating the knight, it left the old facepalm himself.
"Right, damned pawns. They can do that. I forgot."
As he said that, he moved his queen b3, eating the pawn that eats the knight, as revenge.
"Hehe, take that little piece of shit. You dare eat my horse?"
Vlad chuckled a bit and moved rook a7, eating a pawn. Nius moved his queen to c4, eating another pawn. He seemed happy, thinking that he held the advantage over the game with only his queen and the remaining 6 pawns.
The young man advanced with his pawn to d6 while Nius moved to g6 with his pawn. Vlad's turn, he advanced once again, appearing a step closer to promotion. Nius moved the queen d4.
In only some minutes, the match entered its final moments, and it had Vlad winning, making a comeback from the shaking losing board.
Using his rook, he first did a check on Nius. The old man moved his king to e7, then with rook e8, he checked the old man again.
"Fuck I can't eat that rook because it is protected by the pawn, while the pawn is protected by the horse.
Nius moved the king to f6, while Vlad advanced his pawn into a queen.
"In this part, you resign old man. I can beat you easily. You are in check, and you can only move to f5 or eat my queen with your own. But then I hold the advantage of stronger pieces that can pick you apart."
"Damn it you are right. Fine I resign, this game sure is nice. I almost had you there in the middle part of the game, but it went down to shit."
"Well, this is where the game is fun, I'm not really a perfect player of this game, I sometimes make my moves on impulses and sometimes even mess up."
"Indeed I could feel it. One more match kiddo."
"Sure. I'll let you play whites this time."
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The old man seemed to turn serious all of a sudden when they began their second match. With a cigar in his mouth, he began moving his chess pieces while also blowing smoke around Vlad.
"Hey old man, stop blowing this smoke in my face, you're annoying. Also, come on let me try one already. I even taught you how to play this game."
"Cigars are not for kids like you. It would be best if you were older to have a good taste. I'll give you something better for you to taste later and get used to the smoke sensation.
Hmm, if you want to give it a shot, you're more than welcome." said the old man while gently passing his cigar to Vlad's little hands while he turned his attention on the improvised chessboard.
Still, as he passed his cigar to Vlad, he asked him.
"The real chess game is played with wooden pieces right?"
"Yes, but we can even play with rice grains." laughed Vlad before planting the cigar in his mouth.
Nius looked as Vlad was placing his lit cigar in his mouth and gave a smile. He just watched while pondering about how he should carve the wooden pieces. When Vlad was getting close to putting the cigar on his mouth, he could barely hold his laughter and not distract Vlad.
'I finally managed to get hold of one of old Nius cigars. Ohh, this cigar body up close sure is impressive or is my little body perspective of objects that keeps bothering me.
The rolled body sure feels pleasant to touch. Also, it seems to be quite delicate to touch. Well, I shouldn't be so tense while doing this.
'So how do I do what old Nius did, he held this cigar in his mouth and puffed. Isn't the smoke coming up like seeing cannons shoots? Maybe that's why the old man enjoys this so much.'
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Old Nius was observing the hesitant kid who was watching the cigar closely to his mouth level. And could only laugh at him.
"Just go ahead, lad, my old friend doesn't bite. Go with all your faith."
Awakened from his stupor, he placed the cigar in his mouth and started puffing on it. Smoke began to rush in his small mouth.
Taken by surprise, he inhaled some of the smoke from his mouth. A terrible choice, not long after his first take, he started to choke and exhale all the smoke he puffed.
All of this act was music to the old Nius ears, not even bothering pretending he began to laugh out loud at the unfortunate kid. His laugh was resounding in the entire zone of shacks.
Finally, after seeing enough of the kid suffering, Nius told Vlad while smiling at him.
"That's not how you smoke a cigar, lad. You are taking more than your mouth can handle. That's what's made you inhale the smoke, which is terrible for your body.
It would help if you puffed the smoke and then keep it in your mouth to let the taste buds get a feel and hold the smoke, and later you will feel entirely different. The smoke is exhaled only after that you got a taste on your tongue."
Taking his cigar back, he showed again to Vlad how he smokes. Taking a small puff just to let the kid know how he should smoke. Nius kept the smoke in his mouth then exhaled first using his nose than the mouth. He handed back the cigar to Vlad to let him give it another shot. Looking at the cigar, Vlad started to think.
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'Fuck this cigar and you old man for not explaining first how one does that thing. Such a bad experience, the smoke took out my entire breath as I liked on some ash trails.'
'Now I think I got the hang of things. Following the example of the old man, while he explained in detail, I should be able to do it.'
This time Vlad took a small puff, and as he did that, a new sensation punched him in the face. Learning from his failure, he kept the smoke in his mouth for some seconds. Feeling and tasting the smoke gave Vlad a fresh look at this cigar that Nius held so dear to him.
He started to feel the taste the smoke gave him, similar to the coffee he drank while being held hostage at the Ottoman Court.
'So this is what the old man is so obsessed about? Well, this taste is not bad. It is quite hard for my taste buds. However, I would never change my wine for these cigars or coffee. Wine is my old partner since I know myself. I would never change partners in need for this evil thing which gives out smoke while burned.'
'I'd rather play chess than smoke this shit as a pass time.'
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Giving back the cigar, Vlad could only say.
"Old man, this smocking thing doesn't hold a candle over me. I'm still not possessed like you. Smoking that damn thing all night and later going to sleep. How are you even getting your stash?
"Little Zagreus, do you think I give a damn about what you think? I'm already an old man. Could I change my tastes now after getting used to this cigar? Definitely not.
As for how I get them, I have my boys at the administrative house bringing them for me." replied Nius while taking some smoke from the cigar while thinking to himself.
'I'll teach you a lesson sooner or later, kid. I'll beat the shit out of you at your own game. Just wait until I figure some moves to take you down.'
"Let's go kid, another match."
They spent their night playing around, and to Nius happiness, he managed to beat Vlad, who had an angry face, as if he did a shit play on that turn.
"Fuck yea! Finally, after 24 matches I beat you little shit I can now go to sleep without feeling embarrassed that I lost to a child."
'Stupid old man, do you think I can think straight after playing so many matches of chess? At one point even I get bored.'
Vlad and Nius took the same bed and began snoring loudly.
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The sun raised, and it had Vlad get out of his bed, seeming to prepare to go outside and leave Nius's shack.
As he prepared everything, someone knocked on the door a bit harder.
Walking to answer, Vlad saw a well-kept guy who didn't look much of a miner and a guard. The guard was like the usual guards, almost the same stature and body frame and expressing nothing with his face.
The well-maintained guy was not tall, around 1,76 meters with brown hair, having a pair of glasses between his blue eyes. He looked as professional as one would be. When he noticed Vlad, he smiled a little to show his amiable side and said.
"Young man, are you the one called Zagreus? The administrator has heard of you and is willing to assign you to an easier job while starting." ended while handing him a badge of sorts.
"Here, take this badge. It will be your identification, with that you can move freely around the encampment of the mine. With this, you will be able to get your rights, such as food and other materials such as wood and nails.
You will need it a lot so keep your badge safe if you don't want to get killed by the guards or other slaves here."
Saying this, the office guy with the guard started to take off, but the office guy stopped again and looked at Vlad with an arrogant expression and attitude.
"Oh, to not forget, the administrator also reassigned your shack. You will live with other mine slaves. Good luck, young man since you will need it a lot after what you have done."
Vlad frowned at the later part of the office guy's message but didn't overreact or stepped out of his boundaries. He was prepared for all sorts of treatments after what he did to Mayer.
'Interesting so that fat retard, could actually use his brain for once and not dirty his hands with me personally?'
'The guard also had a faked expression. I can feel it around him, that atmosphere one would give when looking at prey. His eyes were thinking of ways to kill me.'
When Vlad thought of that, he began chuckling around by himself, feeling the situation a bit funny, but quickly regained his calm.
As he thought that, he checked the badge he received, and it seemed that it had some marks around his name. 'Those marks, were they prepared by that fatty, or is something normal around here? Meh, I will find it out from those new roommates. Why bother.'
'Now I should go to this new home of mine. Ahh, old Nius, I will miss your snores and poor chess moves. Right, after getting to this new home I need to get myself assigned to a job.'
Sorting out his thoughts, he began looking for his new home. Staring at the badge, he was handed the number 115 was highlighted in his eyes. Keeping that in mind, he began wandering around the camp.
Doing this, he could also see for himself how the guard's patrols were.
Walking at a slow pace, also adding to his small frame, it was quite the spectacle. With a turtle pace, he walked and looked around.
Sometimes he would spot guards at the intersecting points of the shacks row. The guards were grouped in pairs of two and seemed to walk in a specific route.
They patrolled around different alleys of the encampment at a specific time. As Vlad watched the guards patrol the alleys, his first thought was.
'Those guys know what they are doing. It will be hard to break out for now. It's not like I can even break out right now in this weak form.'
Noticing the little kid who was moving around at a slow pace. One of the guards asked him if he wanted directions.
"Hey kid, you seem to be new here. Are you looking for your designated shack? I will help you out, just hand me your badge, and I will tell you exactly where your shack is."
Vlad could only comply and not act suspicious, handing him his badge with his name and his shack number.
When the guard got the badge in his hand, he looked around for a bit. But slowly, his eyes focused on a small part of the badge. It had the kid's name, Zagreus, followed by the number of his room, 115.
Still, what took the guard's attention was the fact that Vlad's badge had imbued on it four dots closer to his name. The guard's eyes made a visible change from the usual neutral or friendly way the guard looked at him. Instead, his eyes now turned hostile.
"Look at what I got my hands on. The kid is marked. What should we do with him? Spare him or let him go by telling him where his shack is." said that guard to his partner
His partner could only nod his head. "Just let him go, I heard this kid got along with the old man. I better not make an enemy out of that crazy old man. However, in the future, we will be able to deal with him, especially if he messes something in the mines."
The first guard agreed with his partner and turned to tell Vlad with an annoyed tone.
"Little shit, the shack you're looking for is at the periphery of the camp. You just have to walk straight ahead until you get closer to the different directions of the mines."
"Kid, you should be careful for now. The shack zone you'll live in the future is the worst of the bunch. All kinds of degenerates are gathered there, and almost everyone goes there to shit themselves and leave their trash, criminals of all sorts, heck even prostitutes."
"Now that you know everything that should be known piss off before we beat you."
After saying that, the guard sent Vlad a kick, which sent him straight to the path towards the chaotic zone.
For Vlad, that was a cheap blow, especially when taken by surprise. Slowly pushing himself up and feeling the pain of the kick, he gritted his teeth and turned to look at the guard, who was looking at his face with an evil grin. Vlad's scleras started turning red a bit, but after taking a deep breath and pushing his hurting body from the ground, he began walking on his way to the new home.
"Was that necessary? That kick? Don't you fear this act will haunt you in the future?"
"Extremely necessary. Also, who would haunt me, I can kill that with a straight slap. Don't worry, sir Belpel has received orders from Mayer to entertain that boy a bit."
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'Motherfucker, I'll remember you. Is there a need to kick a child's body like this? Just because your boss told you? Argh, so frustrating that I can't just go kill all those bastards.' said Vlad angrily inside his mind while moving deeper in this Chaotic zone.
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A/N: Sorry for the crappy chess match, I'm not high elo, barely managed to get 1400, however I hope it wasn't so bad, trying to depict a chess match inside a novel sure can be a bit annoying but I tried making it fun and amusing. (Nius the trash talked old man hustler vs the quiet boy who is good at chess)
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