Volume 02 - Chapter 08: A Game of Chess

~1234 words

// Arthur Leywin (Kiyotaka Ayanokouji) //

The night fell cold and gloomy as the whole city was drenched in darkness and despodency. A distant campfire at the outskirts of the city interrupted the seamless murkiness of the witching hour as another gust of wind propelled me forward.

Motes of green mana clung to me as I became one with wind. Wind was the element that allowed the most opportunities for a person to be close to nature. I closed my eyes—-becoming one with the wind.

I could feel it. The subtle sussaration of tree leaves in the distance due to the windy night. The putrid smell of blood and grime in a shady alley. Rancid stench of people throwing up, subtle screams as crime of the night continued in all its glory.

Landing on the roof of a tall building I stopped, looking everywhere. Finding the reincarnate was a hard task in itself. She mentioned the date and time but not the exact place. It meant one thing—-she was trying to test me. However, I wasn't here to take part in someone's games. She was a threat. Unless she didn't posed any threat to my life or my family, she could live. In any other case—she needs to die.

A deep breath escaped my mouth as I closed my eyes once again. My secondary core trembled. The rune over it burned—a tangible warmth permeating from it. The runes branched as I felt the otherworldly power flare to life.

Shimmering golden tunes burned to life on my body. My skin seemed to scald as runes stretched and extended. The whole world turned achromatic; dyed in a lighter shade of grey as motes of every element including the fifth mysterious element became visible.

I took out the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. Focusing deeply on the paper I saw it...or rather felt it.

Her mana signature.

Then like an animal hunting the smell of its prey I expanded my senses. Wind mana trembled and followed my heed. I could feel the minute twitch in everyone's muscles. However, this overload of information was unnecessary. So, I skimmed it. Skimmed it down to one specific individual.

The particular mana signature. The one I was looking for. With Realmheart still scorching on my skin, my features crunched as I focused at the location with the heaviest exposure to her mana signature.

And then...

I took a step.

The whole world bent and twisted like a wormhole—-reality of the fabric of space distorted and with a loud plop I arrived inside a huge room. The purple motes frizzante as I arrived.

My gaze fell on the girl who was reading a book with a smug expression on her face. However, the smug expression wiped off as soon as she saw me. Her eyes flashed with an incomprehensible disbelief as she continued to stare at me.

She was wearing a white collared shirt with a top over it. Its straps were brown as it extended from her shoulders to bottom. In simple terms it was a dress one would wear when they visit the countryside.

Her long white hair fell on her face as her effulgent golden eyes blazed as her brain racked for multiple conclusions. Her confusion was understandable. My appearance in Realmheart was different.

(A/n Credits to MaiFurumi)

My eyes flickered between Amethyst and Sapphire before returning to the original azure colour. My hair shortened as I felt Sylvia's presence nourishing me disappear—taking away the warmth that provided a temporary solace in this form.

We looked at each other for a while before she stood up and walked towards me. Her steps looked confident yet awkward.

"As expected of the false genius. You found me without the need of a single hint", she said as I looked at her, my eyes widening a fraction of a second, "you're definitely the one made for me",she continued as she stood right next to me. She was a head shorter than me, "made for me to crush and destroy."

"You think you have that ability, Sakayanagi?" I said as my eyes burned in an azure shade, subtly brightening up the room.

"Arisu... my name here is Arisu, Arthur", she said and giggled, "unlike you I was fortunate enough that my parents named me the same. Arisu Watsken. A weird combination but not an un-welcomed one", she said.

"I'll say this once. Stay away from me and my life. I have no interest in partaking in your folly", I said and turned around. However, I stopped as mana built up around me. I looked back over my shoulder, "Do you think this is enough to hold me here?"

"I do not intend to fight. I'm just here to propose a deal", she said as the veil of mana around me vanished.

"What deal?" I asked. I didn't have any plan in agreeing to anything. However, there was no harm in listening to her.

"I'll provide you with everything you need. Information, intel...anything you want", she paused as she walked away from me and stood by a rack full of files and books.

"And how do I know you have what I want?"

"I am quite famous. Although not by my real name. I know how you killed a royal mage and a member of bandits in Helstea Auction house and then framed it all as a mutual squirmish", she replied.

"The 8-legged-spider. It's you", I said. It all made sense now.

"You're the second one to figure it out and stay alive, Fufufu~. Nothing less expected from you. You figured everything out by yourself", she said.

"And what do you want in return?" I asked.

"It's simple. This world was too mundane and boring for me except for the prospect of mana. All I need is entertainment... so, entertain me... with games of chess", she said as I looked at her, unflinching.

"Believe me. That's all I want", she said, raising her hands in a placating manner. I took a step forward...and then another. With a simple step I arrived in front of her. She stumbled and fell on the table behind her. Placing my knee between her legs and my hands on either side of her head, I bent over her.

"Break the deal and I'll break you...thoroughly", I said. Her smug expression didn't waver as a coy smile formed on her face, "This is the secondth time, Ayanokouji-kun. It's not good to give so much hope to a maiden's heart", she said as I remained like that.

I remained like that for a brief moment, not moving even a slightest fraction of an inch. Extending her hand, she held her hand between the space left between us, "Deal."

Removing my hands, I took a step back. Extending a hand to her I helped her sit. She sat and corrected her dress. Dusting off the dust from my own clothes I looked at her, "So... when do we start?" I asked.

"Right this way", she said, pointing at a particular point in the moonlit room.

Gain of information over a game of chess...it wasn't a very profitable deal. However, everything is still under my control.

Everything will play out EXACTLY as I want it to be.

That's how it always has been.

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(A/n Here is the second part.)