After some time had passed...
“Oh! This move seems quite good!”
"..."
“Wait… If they move the Bishop here to A2…”
"..."
“However..."
"Maybe I could just counter that with the pressure of this gambit from here and–”
Having finished with the preparations for tonight’s meal as of right now, I find myself with ample free time to do as I please until supper is ready to be served.
For now, it gives me time to work a bit on one of my passions...
Which is coming up with new and interesting Chess theories.
Taking a small glance out of my bedroom window, I fiddle with one of the chess pieces in my hand, namely the Queen.
“Hmm?"
"Why is it so dark already?”
I may have gotten a bit too absorbed in my theories…
"Pfft..."
“Hahaha!”
Laughing at myself, this sort of thing always happens.
I'm always losing track of time whenever I get overly involved in things I enjoy.
During these times of over fixation, I tend to lose awareness of my surroundings.
It reminds me of a memory from when I was about Six or Seven.
----------------------------------------
Within the library, I was reading a particular book I came across while looking for interesting Chess-related books.
Having found myself quickly overwhelmed with the jargon of some of these Chess-related titles, I started looking at other intriguing books that might not be too difficult for a young Six or Seven year old girl to comprehend at the time.
A certain book stood out to me, a hardcover leather book.
It was colored emerald-blue, like the calm sea during a sunny day.
Very similar to the color of my eyes.
Oddly enough, there wasn't a title on the front cover.
With it's mysterious allure, It seemingly felt like the book beckoned for me to open it.
“Cough! Cough! Ack!”
It was quite dusty. I remember choking on the alarming amount of dust coming off of it.
I palmed off the cover as best as I could before viewing the contents inside.
"Hmm? What a weird language."
Quizzically, I did my best to sound out the strange, foreign sounding words.
One such word stood out to me.
"What does this mean...?"
"████████..."
“Argh! Why can’t I say this stupid word?!”
"..."
Needless to say, I prided myself very much on my vocabulary and understanding of words, so I felt directly challenged to read this strange book.
As I continued my best to read, I was oblivious to one thing.
“Hey lil’ sap!"
"Yer' always here in the Library just readin’ whatever you can get yer’ paws on, eh?”
“Need some help?”
“…”
No answer.
"Mai...?”
“…”
Pacing back and forth I silently stared hard enough to burn a hole deep inside the pages while reading the contents of the strange book.
"Oh! There's some notes here!"
Inside of the book were some handwritten notes in the handwriting of my Father.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
They didn't translate everything, but hopefully they'd be good enough for me to try and read this.
████████ (Traveler) –
“Hundreds upon Hundreds of years ago, great heroes were given this title."
"The Title of "Traveler" or ████████."
"With it, came great honor and ████████–”
“…”
Many parts of the book captured my interest greatly.
Other parts, I admit, I skimmed over them quite gratuitously.
You can’t exactly blame a Six or Seven year old for doing that...
Despite merely skimming at some parts, the main takeaway from what I read in that book is something I couldn't have easily forgotten.
“Those whose hearts had burned with excitement, those who seek adventure, to discover and to uncover the mysteries of the ends of the world are worthy of the title of ████████ or Traveler.”
"It was a Title bestowed upon those who found themselves worthy, by the mightiest of Rulers themselves."
“Beings who were granted such a Title have found themselves Rulers in their own right, who com████ auth██████ and respect.”
“They have gained the ability to overcome the hardships and ███████ of this world, to seek their dreams and ██████ true freedom.”
True freedom...?
How is that any different from just... regular freedom?
I’m not sure what “true freedom” means exactly, but…
“Maybe one day… I can go anywhere and do whatever I want…”
“Discover whatever I want…”
“Maybe I’ll figure out who I am…”
“…”
“Who I really am…”
----------------------------------------
My mind starts conjuring all sorts of unanswered questions and vivid daydreams.
Excessively lost in thought for quite some time, I fail to notice a man with a rugged white beard and silver mane of hair, kneeling at eye level behind my book.
“Mai…!”
“…”
“Mai!”
"...?"
I thought I heard someone call out my name just now.
Maybe not...?
I’m probably just imagining things.
Then I feel a sudden invisible force pulling down the book inside of my hands.
My mind goes into a panic and I start yelling loudly.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
In sheer terror I close my eyes tightly and raise the book high above my head...
"Wait, Mai!"
Throwing it down as hard as I can.
“Argh!"
“…”
“Huh?”
The book spirit… said Argh...?
Something seems odd.
Can book spirits even feel pain?
Slowly, when I open my eyes, there's my Father...
Who's now sitting firmly planted on the ground below, rubbing a reddening sore on the center of his forehead.
It’s a really strange sight.
But this is much better than the thought of some scary book spirits coming to attack me...
Soon, I realize exactly what I've done.
“P-Papa?!”
He laughs heartily while rubbing his forehead.
"Gahaha!"
"Must’ve given you quite the scare there, eh?”
"Yer’ pretty strong for a lil’ sap! I’m impressed!"
"S-Sorry Papa..."
"..."
"Whatever! It doesn't really matter!”
“What matters is that ya’ weren’t exactly payin’ any attention when I was callin’ out to ya’ earlier."
"Was meanin’ to offer you my help with readin’ some of these books.”
“They’re not exactly what I’d call an easy choice for a young lass!”
Puffing my cheeks up at him in response, I begin to pout.
“Why’re you so upset, lil' sap?"
"Yer’ the one who threw that book at me, ya’ know.”
“…”
“Because it’s your fault that I’m here! I’m reading these books so I can be smarter than you and beat you in Chess!”
"You said that if I beat you, you'd give me your Chess set! But then you went and said 'But that'll never happen!' and 'Gahaha!' so what else did you expect?!"
If memory serves, I turned beet red at this moment according to what my Father told me from his perspective.
However, in this moment...
I’ve never been more upset with Father in my life.
"GAHAHAHA!"
Ever.
Father’s face was absolutely unforgettable, his amusement at my expense was so great that his face looked as if someone just consumed a large amount of unripe citrus fruit.
This was the absolute hardest I’ve ever heard him laugh.
“…”
Ever.
Constantly fuming, my hands start to shake uncontrollably as my Father continued his obnoxiously loud cackling.
To my right, a large hardcover tome rested atop a wooden stand.
It was at least three times the heft of the previous book that had hit my Father beforehand.
Picking it up with both hands, it loomed over his head.
“H-Hey… Mai…"
“You could hurt someone with that ya’ know...?”
"...!"
Father had an interesting time explaining to Mother that day about why his face looked like it had collided with the underside of a cast-iron pot.
___________________________________________________
…
I really do miss him.
But the memories I hold of him will never leave me.
Glancing outside while fiddling with the Queen piece in hand, I notice the chirping of insects and the glow of stars shining from the night sky.
Because of the time spent reminiscing, I notice that now it’s even later than it was before.
The human imagination sure is a powerful thing, huh?
“O-Oh!"
"The stars are really pretty tonight!”
They’re bright and clearly visible.
It'd be nice to look at them for just a bit.
Moving towards a lamp near my bedside, I fiddle with a switch near a brightly-lit crystal and turn the mechanism until the light fully dims.
Opening the door to my room’s balcony, I'm met with the cooling breeze of nighttime as I lean against the wooden railing outside.
Stargazing is one of my other passions.
Stars seem so majestic… so distant, yet so close.
Seemingly free, yet bound at the same time.
I’m not sure if I’m more enamored with the sight or the enigma surrounding them...
Most likely both of these aspects to be fair.
Gazing intently at the stars up above, I can’t help but feel my worries drifting away.
I can’t help but feel at peace right now.
But–
Something...
Something is bothering me...
That book...
Wasn't that the same book that Father had been reading the day he became ill?
…
Maybe I should search for that book after supper.
Wait...!
Supper!
Glancing down from the balcony, I see light shining in from the front door of the orphanage along with sounds of speech coming from multiple children.
…
I’m…
"I’m in some serious trouble…"
----------------------------------------
Hurriedly running to my wardrobe, I change into clothes that are more appropriate for the dining table.
Having never changed clothes so fast in my life it's to the point where I might pull a neck muscle...
But that’s still less painful than what Grunhilda would do to me.
My only hope is that she doesn’t have her reading glasses on her, or maybe that she didn’t notice my absence somehow.
Swiftly traveling down the hallway at breakneck speed, I almost slip multiple times on the large ornate carpet that fills the upstairs hallway.
Then, I arrive at the stairs…
"..."
"Crap..."
“Slowly now...”
I make my way cautiously down the steps…
Five…
Ten…
Creeeeeeeeak.
...
Wishful thinking could be the only form of escape imaginable from this situation.
Having reached the base of the stairs, I head over to the dining room hall.
Grasping at the wooden door-handle, an ominous feeling overcomes me.
A dark and foreboding feeling.
…
As opposed to wishful thinking...
Reality is a completely different story from my innermost fantasies and imagination.
----------------------------------------