“It's not possible for you to win so easily, I couldn't react! Your data didn't show that you were a pro or some kind of prodigy.”

“I'm not, I just play online daily and train on my own. The data you found is correct, I promise!”

Abigail watched me, again and again, she doubted my word. She even asked her protector, analyzed the game, watched me again. Nothing convinced her.

“Did you cheat?”

“How could I? I'm not lying, I played as usual.”

“You never played like that on Earth. You smothered my position, you locked up my pieces, you were calm and you practically saw the future!”

She was right, although my playing style and combinations were no big deal, my ability to calculate had been impressive. During the game I knew exactly what Abigail would play each turn, I even knew what she would play several turns later. I couldn't explain it, I just didn't know how I had done it.

Abigail looked at me again, calmed down and hesitated a couple of times “What did you think as you played?”

“Well, I saw some weaknesses that didn't seem so important to me, although I attacked them anyway after calculating a bit...”

“No! Gabriel, what thoughts did you have, other than chess? Did you think about Valentina? About your life on Earth? About your desire to win? About your opponent? Did you see something? Did you smell something? Did you hear something?”

The question seemed silly, until I tried to remember what I thought during the game. No image came to my mind. During the game I had no thoughts; I knew who I was playing against and the place we were in, but I never thought anything special about anyone, I didn't imagine anything outside the chessboard, I didn't remember my life, I didn't worry about Valentina, I didn't think about Abigail. My mind was empty!

“I think... no. In my mind there was nothing. I can't remember, I only remember the pieces and the board, how strange!”

“Did you concentrate so hard on the game?”

“I don't know, I think so. Sometimes I had excellent games on the land, but it wasn't easy for me to concentrate there.”

Abigail sat back down, she was hesitant, thoughtful, then restless, and finally only calmed down as she fiddled with a chess pawn. “Gabriel, now we really should read the library books.”

Minutes later my companion fell asleep, while Valentina was still moaning in her sleep from the pain she felt as she moved slightly in her bed. I pondered what had happened, the departures in the library, Valentina's suffering, Henry's resignation, my departure with Abigail. But I could not draw a positive conclusion, or at least a hopeful one.

The night was running smoothly. I couldn't sleep, although I tried. I read for a couple of hours, my protector took me several books and notes from the library, until I got tired. Furthermore, I walked cautiously to the bed and gently combed Valentina's long hair that invaded her forehead to rest on her eyelids. Likewise, I went to the entrance, the caregiver was still there awake and silent. She didn't turn to look at me, but I knew she saw me.

Despite the cold air I felt as I peeked out of the infirmary entrance and into the corridors of the infirmary, I felt a very pleasant warmth in the girls' room. I stood watching Abigail for a few seconds, or maybe it was minutes, until an idea crossed my mind.

The caregiver would not leave the room or let other people in there, so I left the infirmary and walked, with cautious steps, down the hallways to the bathrooms. After leaving one, with my hands washed and my face wet to wake myself up, I went straight to a training room.

When I got there, I found a common door, just like the ones in the classrooms. On one side, in gold letters and a black background, a sign described the place. “A place to train, no chaos in the mortal world, but with the same risks for the chess fighter.”

“I guess I'm going to get hurt anyway.” I stammered.

I pushed my way in the silent door, there was no person there, it looked like a plain white room. Stepping forward I found a golden table with a scroll and quill; I felt like I was lost in Ancient Egypt. As I looked closely I noticed designs and patterns on the table, they looked like drawings of a game similar to chess.

“An ancestor of chess, they say it was played in Persia or India. Although I prefer to believe that the first grandfather of chess was born in Egypt. Good night or good morning.”

“What?” I said as I turned my body and noticed the presence of a stranger. That was an old man with a profiled white beard.

“The set that's carved on the table, he's a chess grandfather.”

“Ah ya, sorry, good evening. I still don't know how this parchment and quill thing works.”

“It's a roll of papyrus. Write on it whatever you want to train, look, on the wall are the instructions.”

Looking at the place the old man's hand was pointing I discovered a metal plate with detailed instructions. From what little I read, a fighter could describe on the papyrus a place and the type of training he wanted to do.

“So, by a place what do you mean?”

“You're Gabriel from the sixteenth. You have no idea. The first day is hard. I'm Mateo from two.”

“On two?” I stammered. In my brain the neurons connected and I remembered who this man was. The only player left from piece two.

“So, will it take you long? I don't have much time, if you want I'll show you how to use the papyrus, but you'll have to let me train first.”

I stepped back, nodded my head and let the man make his move. Instantly, like a healthy young man, the old man approached the table, wrote quickly on the papyrus and it dissolved. As he did this he threw out some phrase by way of instruction and finished by saying “It's easy, boy!”

After he showed me how I was to use the pen and papyrus, the place shook heavily from an earthquake that would have topped the Richter scale. I lost my balance and fell on my butt, the man gave me a hand to get up and I shook the leaves that had stuck to my pants.

“Leaves?” I exclaimed as I realized what I was doing.

“Yes, I like the fall. Now we're at my grandchildren's favorite park. Well, there, you know how to use the room for training. Now, if you'll excuse me...”

“Wait, would you like to play against me?”

“Boy do I have to train. I guess you already know this, but I'm the last one in my piece. I don't have time to teach you the basics of chess.”

“Don't worry. You don't have to hold back or teach me things. I'll be like your sparring partner.”

The man hesitated, looked at me furrowing his brow and arching his eyebrows. “There will be no mercy.”

“I'm not scared of the injuries, I'm scared of...” I paused as in the middle of that orange park a chessboard stood on a table and a couple of concrete chairs. “Watching others suffer.” I finished saying, in my mind.

“The chairs are uncomfortable, but we didn't come here to enjoy some tea. Get going!” Said the old man, shaking my hand and handing me the white pieces.

The game was proving to be torture, the old man was giving me the beating of my life on the board and his protector was tearing my skin off. That one had the shape of a hawk, with huge sharp claws whose smell was surely already impregnated in my flesh.

The man did not let me reach the endgame, his middle game made my head hurt and every idea I had was quickly refuted by him. He ended up checkmating before his ninety-minute timer reached eighty.

“You won't survive boy.”

“I have to.”

“Obsessed with returning to a world where no one wants your existence?”

I mentally asked myself the same question. After a while I spat out a mouthful of blood and stood up, the sting of my wounds being caressed by the rushing air in that park.

“No, it's not for me... and the people I care about are not on The Earth.”

Suddenly my legs faltered, I began to see the man getting fuzzier and taller. The old man looked at me, cocking his head to one side and raising his right hand. The hawk swooped over me as a final sentence faded in my ears. “It's not personal boy. But I must train.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The next morning Abigail awoke and helped Valentina eat her breakfast. Izan appeared in the nurse's room and reminded Abigail that she and I could not miss class with teacher Susana. Reluctantly, my partner left Valentina in the caretaker's hands while she went to get me from Henry's room. Of course, she did not find me there.

The song of birds whose names I did not know reached my ear. A delicate, warm hand touched my cheeks, while an icy wet cloth wandered across my forehead as my body rested on a soft bed.

“At last, look, she's opened them!” said Valentina's fine, tender voice.

In front of me, like a beautiful nurse who didn't need a magic gown to illuminate the room, was Abigail holding my head with one hand while with the other she dipped the cloth into a cup of water. Examining my eyes and letting my head lay back on the pillow, Abigail rose from the bed where she rested her knee.

“What happened? You worried us so much.” Abigail manifested with her hands and gestures.

“Did someone do that to you?” said Valentina, who was in a wheelchair next to my bed.

“How do they leave you in a chair, you should be in bed.” I said.

“Don't worry, I feel great. It's weird, I think it's because of the magic of the infirmary... this morning I woke up with fewer injuries and almost no pain.”

“That's right, I helped her to breakfast, and she's already moving without discomfort. But you answer, in less than half an hour I'll have to be in class! Where did you get to?”

“That's right, I'm going to get dressed.” I said as I straightened up, racked with inconceivable pain. I thought my ribs were broken. A horrible sensation prickled my arms and legs. I forced myself to sit up in bed as I noticed that I had on shiny white pajamas. I searched for my clothes with my eyes.

“Stop!” shouted Valentina as suddenly Abigail pounced on me, put her hand on my chest and laid me down in one fell swoop. If my ribs weren't broken before now I did feel like they had cracked.

Abigail's gaze wouldn't leave me. Not only was her hand holding me back, little Valentina gripped one of my hands tightly and looked at me as if begging.

“I'm sorry.” I said after exhaling loudly. I relaxed and told them what happened.

It was a couple of minutes before the class started, I managed to get there in a wheelchair pushed by Abigail, enduring the pain of my injuries and the tiredness that made me drowsy. Shortly before, after recounting my experience in the training room to the girls, I convinced them to let me go to class. Valentina, still weak, but much better now, gained confidence and accompanied us.

“The weirdos are here!” Olivia, one of Gabriela's minions, exclaimed.

“Leave us alone.” I replied.

“You didn't even play yesterday, why did you come in such a pathetic state?”

“Because I wanted to prove what it felt like to be as much of an asshole as you and your little friend. Leave us alone!”

“Look you fucking idiot, don't look for me to turn you to pieces this afternoon at practice. After what your witch of a friend did to Gabriela I'll be sure to turn you into rotten meat... Ouch, but what am I saying! You're already rotten meat and you won't even be around this afternoon.”

For some reason I was in a very bad mood. I felt a mixture of frustration and anger, mixed with self-contempt, ever since I woke up in the infirmary. “I'll be in this afternoon and I assure you that you won't have to summon me, because I'll declare myself first and I'll be happy to have you at my table.”

The instant I spoke, Valentina's small hand slapped my shoulder hard as Olivia entered the classroom with a swaggering smile. Almost immediately, Abigail shot me a look of terror.

“Are you an idiot or do you still have a fever?” Abigail said in sign language. Taking advantage of the fact that the little girl couldn't understand her, she threw another couple of insults at me.

“Don't worry, after class we'll go to the library. I have a plan.”

The two girls looked at me, Abigail still looking accusing and fearful at the same time. The little girl settled her stuffed cat on my lap and walked timidly to my side as the beautiful mute pushed my chair into the room.

The class lasted no more than ten minutes, such would be all classes according to teacher Susana's word. Her lesson for the day, surely taking advantage of the fact that already four of the sixteen piece had been sent to the infirmary, was “You must either destroy each other or take care of each other.”

“I don't like these classes,” little Valentina whispered in my ear, as we were leaving the classroom.

“Me neither, believe me.”

I know the teacher was giving us lessons in every lesson, which actually told us how we could survive in that place, but they weren't nice, and they weren't very specific either. Her lessons were like threatening epitaphs.

We went to the library. Thanks to the protectors, we found tips on endurance and strength, other books gave procedures on how to think during a game, a few explained every rule of engagement, a couple of booklets detailed the rules of that world, and a few more talked about how to increase damage against an opponent, among many other topics.

“What do you think I should do about Gabriela? I stopped by her room in the infirmary this morning, she's still not awake.” Abigail said after tenderly tapping her pen on the book in my hands.

“What do you mean?”

“I want to apologize to her, maybe help her. I haven't been feeling well after what I did to her.”

I was already cooler and calmer, after what I said to Olivia. However, I didn't want to help Gabriela, I was still wary of her and her gang.

“Take her a funeral wreath.” I replied nonchalantly and read on.

Abigail snatched the book from my hands. She stood up and waving her hands in exasperation she insulted me again “Really what's wrong with you? You woke up rude and aggressive today. You only acted like that before when you stood up for me in the bathroom on the first day.”

“That was yesterday. You don't know me yet.” I said.

“So I see.” Abigail said before walking away.

“What happened?” asked Valentina who had been reading chess books with pictures and exercises.

My chest felt tight, like the time I asked Valentina about her parents. I didn't want to lose the only friends I had in that place. The night before I told the old man Mateo that the people I cared about were not on Earth, I meant I was feeling appreciation for the only ones I trusted in that strange place.

“I've been here for a day why do I feel so attached to them?”

After rearranging the books with the help of our protectors, Valentina and I headed for the room in room sixteen. We thought we might find Abigail there; however, she was not there. We walked down a few corridors again, trying not to get lost in the huge school whose facilities we did not know very well.

Exhausted, we stopped next to a beautiful water fountain where several colorful fishes were standing out when they touched the light. Seeing the peace of those animals, my mind calmed down and the tide of negative thoughts subsided. Then, finding myself surprised to be smiling at the tender chatter Valentina was making to the fish and their protector, it occurred to me to ask my wolf about Abigail's whereabouts.

“Hi.” Valentina and I said in chorus as we approached the room. From the doorway, Abigail was watching Gabriela who was still unconscious.

“Am I bad for what I did to her?” Abigail said leaning against a wall and hiding her eyes from us.

“There's nothing wrong with crying.” I told her.

Suddenly Abigail dropped sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. At that, Valentina tenderly laid her hand on the grieving young girl's head.

“I'm sorry Abigail, for what I said in the library and this morning, I don't know what came over me. I've just felt confusion since last night and a lot of anger since I woke up this morning.” I sighed in the midst of Valentina's touching caresses of Abigail's straight hair, “Don't be afraid, I promise I'll take care of them.”

Suddenly, Abigail lifted her face and wiped away her tears, as Valentina hugged my arm.

“Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Forget it.”

“It's not bad... and you're cute.” Valentina said before giving me a kiss on the cheek. I looked up at Abigail and she nodded.

We went to the room in room sixteen to change clothes after lunch. Teacher Susana had warned us that we had to be clean and well-dressed when it was time for the daily games. The bloody challenges would take place again in a couple of hours.

Already prepared, in our smart attire, we sat on Valentina's bed waiting for the time to return to the library for the challenges. However, despite feeling a little better, my condition was still critical and my wounds were still open. The pain was consuming me.

“You shouldn't play today. Go back to the infirmary and you'll be excused from playing.” Abigail said.

“Your forehead is so hot!” Said the little girl after running her hand over my face.

Instantly Abigail said to wait and left. Without delay, she brought with her a towel and a cup of water to cool me down.

“You're burning with fever!” Said Abigail. “Don't play, I beg you.”

I bowed my head and looked at my hands. They were shaking, my back felt shivery and the pain kept pricking my ribs and wounds.

“Let's go to the library, I want to show you something.” I said.

Arriving at the place, I showed my friends a special book. In it were described the skills that a chess fighter might have. They were not easy to master and many of them were completely forgotten.

“The healing skill?” Valentina said when I explained what I had found.

“That's right Valentina and there's more. I know how we can survive here. Here's the plan.”

After explaining what I learned in the book we took Valentina to the infirmary. She didn't want to stay there, but we agreed that she would need time to fully heal and improve her ability to play. If she stayed with us in the library at the time of the challenges, she would be summoned by some rival and hurt even worse.

When we returned to the library, most of the chess fighters of the pieces were already there. Abigail, nervous and very uneasy, kept pointing out the potential opponents of other pieces and warning me how powerful they were.

“Any one of them could beat you. They know you're hurt, they'll want to summon you.”

“Don't worry, there's a plan.”

“That plan will help us in the long run, but today they could send you to the infirmary for months!”.

“Not that plan, Abigail. I'm talking about mine for today. Did you forget what I said to Olivia this morning?”

“Are you serious, Olivia was a pro, champion of her country!”

“You still don't know how I play.”

“I found out about almost everyone in this place, thanks to my protector. I'm sure she did the same to find out about you.” He said, as the platforms formed and rose. The place widened, and the lighting became gloomy but sufficient.

“I don't mean the game itself. Remember what happened last night.”

“Are you talking about our departure? In the end all we know is that you managed to concentrate better, that woman plays much better than me!”

“Don't underestimate yourself. I promise I'll concentrate, I'll put everything out of my mind.” I said to Abigail in sign language, then she came over and hugged me.

The time for statements had begun. I was the first to declare, almost without letting the teacher in charge of the challenges that day finish giving the instructions. When I did, Abigail took my hand as if to stop me, but I vanished into the wheelchair to appear in the playing area.

The warm feeling Abigail's hand left in mine lingered as a flock of gazes fixed on me from above. Murmurs and laughter began to manifest. I stood up out of sheer will and pride, I really needed the wheelchair.

Abigail stood on our dais, both hands holding my wheelchair, watching me. I watched her for a few seconds, ignoring the other players' statements and judging stares at me.

“No more statements, now summon a rival!” the teacher shouted.

Abigail threw me a gesture with her hand, indicating for me to focus on the board. I concurred shaking my head but, before lowering my gaze to the table, I closed my eyes listening to the invocations of the others. I did not hear Elder Matthew's voice to declare, nor did they invoke him. Suddenly determined, I cleared my throat and spoke with the depleted strength my injured abdomen would allow.

“I summon Olivia from piece sixteen!”

I opened my eyes, before me, with her swaggering smile, appeared my rival.

“You'll wish you were dead today, you damned rookie.”

The books were right; in this world people soon showed their true identity and the desire for superiority always rose among any ambition.