image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
50) THAT'S... JUST LIKE CHESS!
The bell chimed softly as Ophelia, Nyra, and Ronald entered the cake shop where Sophia was just finishing her shift. Though surprised to see them, Sophia greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good evening, Sophia," Ophelia said, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"What brings you here so late?" Sophia asked, pausing her cleanup.
Ophelia hesitated before replying, "We need to talk. Can you spare a moment?"
The shop owner, overhearing, smiled warmly. "Why don’t you use the room upstairs? Sophia, you’re almost done, right?"
Touched by the offer, Sophia nodded. "Thank you!"
---
Upstairs, the four sat around a small table with cake and tea. Ophelia took a deep breath before speaking seriously.
"We want to meet like this every day. What do you think?"
Sophia thought for a moment, then replied, "Meeting is fine, but we can’t always use the shop. We’ll need another place. Any suggestions?"
Ronald, who had been quiet, shook his head at each suggestion.
"We have one place in mind," Ophelia said, her eyes sharp.
"Where?" Sophia asked.
"The Chess Club's clubhouse," Nyra added quietly.
"The clubhouse?" Sophia looked puzzled. "Why there?"
---
Later that night, back at her lodgings, Sophia relaxed on her bed, talking to Reinhart. The Chihuahua rested his head on her lap, his tail wagging gently.
"You know, Reinhart, I understand what Gustav said, but I feel like we're missing something," Sophia mused, absentmindedly stroking Reinhart's ears.
"That’s why we need allies," Reinhart replied, looking up at her. "Gathering different perspectives helps, like solving math problems from different angles."
"You’re right," Sophia sighed. "I just hope I’m not dragging everyone into something dangerous."
"Don’t worry," Reinhart reassured her. "Besides, baking cookies for tomorrow might lighten the mood."
Sophia smiled. "Great idea. Let’s bake tonight."
"But first, let’s go for a run," Reinhart suggested with a playful grin. "We can’t just eat sweets without some exercise!"
Laughing, Sophia got up, ready for their evening jog.
---
The next morning, Sophia arrived at the Chess Club’s clubhouse to find Alex and the North College trio waiting. Alex greeted her briefly, his usual calm demeanor notably absent.
Nyra was the first to speak. "When the Doberman first talked to me, I didn’t believe it. But now... we have to accept it."
Ophelia added, "We need this space, Sophia. We can’t rescue Ardelbert alone."
Ronald, typically silent, growled softly in agreement.
Confused, Sophia blinked. "Rescue Ardelbert?"
Ophelia nodded firmly. "Yes. We need your help to save him, and we need this space to make our plans."
Nyra added gravely, "The burden is too heavy for just one of us. We need you, Sophia."
Alex finally broke his silence. "This is like chess," he said, his voice more excited. "A game of strategy. We can’t let this opportunity pass!"
Sophia raised an eyebrow, surprised by Alex’s enthusiasm. "What do you mean?"
"How did you enter that misty forest?" Alex asked, his eyes serious.
Sophia hesitated before answering. "I was flying my autogyro, and the fog just thickened around me. Before I knew it, I was in the forest."
"Interesting... led by the Mist Witch," Alex muttered, crossing his arms. "But how did Ardelbert enter?"
Sophia turned to Gustav, who had just entered. The Doberman began explaining, "Master Ardelbert was drawn to the forest by its mystery. He discovered ancient structures laid out like a chessboard and seven pyramids emitting steam. But the mist trapped him."
"Ardelbert can’t leave?" Sophia’s concern deepened.
Gustav nodded. "He can send me out, but he’s stuck. He believes that only you, Lady Sophia, with your witch’s blood, can break the seal and help him escape."
Sophia's mind raced. "So I have to go back into the forest?"
"Yes," Gustav confirmed. "But there’s more. The mist and its power are tied to the lunar cycle. The entrance to the forest will open again on the night of the full moon, one week from now."
Alex, his eyes gleaming with excitement, muttered, "This really is chess. Strategy, timing... it’s all coming together."
Ophelia added, "Sophia, everything leads back to you. Chess, the mist, Ardelbert’s research—it’s all connected."
Sophia took a deep breath, realizing the gravity of the situation. "You’re right. Everything comes back to chess... and fate."
As the group planned their next steps, a sense of determination filled the room. The pieces were in place, and the game was about to begin.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
51) WE NEED SEVEN FELLOWS
Ophelia raised her hand, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "Actually, we have more companions. They should be arriving soon..."
At her words, the atmosphere shifted subtly, and Reinhart’s tail perked up as if he had suddenly remembered something. "Ah, that makes sense!" he exclaimed, wagging his tail. "Everyone here has been exposed to the mist from the witch’s forest... that’s why they seem human, but not entirely. Could it be... her?"
Just then, the door flew open, and a familiar, lively voice filled the room. "Yes, it's me!"
There stood Luna, beaming with energy, and behind her appeared Bone and his friend Leo. With a bright smile, Luna introduced them, "And I’ve brought my boyfriend Bone, and his friend Leo!"
"I see, so that makes six," Alex muttered, arms crossed in thought.
But suddenly, Nyra’s face clouded over. "Wait... I can’t enter the forest. I’m useless."
"Why not?" Ophelia asked, taken aback.
Nyra sighed and explained slowly, "Gustav told me that I react too strongly to the witch’s mist. My body can’t handle it, and I realized it during yesterday’s chess tournament."
"I see..." Sophia nodded, her expression serious.
"So," Ophelia continued, "that means we’re short on warriors."
Sophia quickly flipped through her notebook. "Ardy’s notebook mentioned the number of people we need... there are seven pyramid-shaped ruins, so maybe we need seven people?"
Luna’s eyes brightened. "Oh, I get it! If mist is leaking from those pyramids, we need to seal them, right?"
"That’s probably it..." Sophia responded, deep in thought.
Luna then added, "I thought of inviting Alex to join this mission. That’s why I suggested a double date, but..."
"He flatly refused, saying ‘I’m not interested in you outside of chess,’" Sophia recalled, smiling wryly.
Luna nodded. "Exactly. But this time, he agreed instantly, saying, ‘This is just like chess!’"
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Ophelia chimed in, "If Alex is right, we should choose people based on how they react to the mist."
"But isn’t that dangerous?" Sophia asked, worried. "Gustav said people with weak hearts can’t withstand the mist."
Nyra shrugged. "Yeah, it would be trouble if they all ended up like me."
Luna paused, thinking deeply, and then her face lit up. "It has to be Elena!"
"Elena?" Sophia echoed in surprise.
"Yes, the polo player! She’s graceful and tall—177cm!" Luna said excitedly.
Alex looked intrigued. "Elena... she might have the strength to resist the mist."
"Alright, I’ll go get her!" Luna declared, and dashed out of the room.
As the door closed, Sophia took a deep breath. "Let’s start planning our strategy."
---
With Luna gone, the room settled into a new tension, a mix of anticipation and hope. Sophia, Ophelia, Nyra, Alex, Bone, Leo, and Reinhart sat together, their minds racing with the adventure ahead.
"First, let’s confirm the situation," Ophelia began. "We need to seal seven pyramid-shaped ruins, and we’ll need seven people. Right now, we have Sophia, me, Bone, Leo, Reinhart, and—if we add Elena—that makes six."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "What about me?"
"Of course, you too," Ophelia smiled. "But we have a special role in mind for you."
Alex’s curiosity piqued. "What kind of role?"
Ophelia gave him a mysterious smile. "I’ll explain later."
Sophia, sensing the tension, smiled gently. "While we wait for Luna to return, let’s focus on the details of our plan."
After a moment of quiet, Alex broke the silence with a grin. "This is... just like chess! How can we pass up such an intriguing game?"
Everyone in the room smiled slowly, feeling the gravity of the situation but also the excitement. Together, they were about to embark on a game of strategy, tension, and courage—just like chess.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
52) THE FIRST ARDY RESCUE MEETING
The tension in the room was palpable as Ophelia stood up, her eyes scanning the group before she began. "Let's summarize what we know so far." Her calm but focused voice cut through the stillness, and all attention immediately shifted to her.
"According to Gustav, in order to revive the ancient witch's seal, we need to decipher a specific code. That code is hidden somewhere within the notebook Sophia has. And the only one who can execute it is our Highness—Sophia."
Sophia blinked. "Highness? Why do you keep calling me that?"
Bone raised his hand slightly, drawing attention. "I can explain. Ardelbert believes that, in ancient times, we all belonged to the same clan. A clan whose members had the ability to hear others' inner thoughts when exposed to the mist from the witch's forest. Our glowing eyes... that’s part of the connection."
Sophia furrowed her brow. "But why me? And why the term 'Highness'?"
Ophelia took a step forward, her expression apologetic. "We should be honest. The three of us—Bone, Nyra, and I—have been using that ability to read just a fraction of our opponents' minds during chess. It's not much, just enough to anticipate their next move. But it didn’t work on you."
Sophia’s lips parted in disbelief. "So that's why... you could win so easily."
Nyra, who had been silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke up, his voice oozing with self-satisfaction. "Well, of course! But you, Sophia, you’re something else. You defeated me—so naturally, you’re special. I should’ve known the moment I faced you... 'She’s the one!' I thought. She’s the only one who could beat me."
Sophia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Right... thanks, Nyra."
Ophelia quickly interjected before Nyra could continue boasting. "But we only caught glimpses, Sophia. We could never get a clear picture of your next move, even though we could sense others'. That's why Ardelbert called you 'Highness'—he believed your name holds power connected to the forest. You're immune to its magic."
Sophia looked down, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the spine of the notebook on her lap. "But 'Highness'... it doesn’t feel right. I’m just Sophia."
The door creaked open, and Luna burst into the room, bringing a wave of energy with her. "Then how about we call you 'The Mist Witch'?" she said with a playful grin.
Elena, who had entered behind her, laughed. "I was expecting something like 'The Glutton Witch,' given your love for sweets!"
Sophia shot Luna a mock-glare. "What exactly did you tell her?"
Luna shrugged, her smile still wide. "Only that you’re Ardy’s lover and that you need help to go save him. That’s why I thought she should come."
Sophia sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "That’s not even remotely true... But we need to focus. Ophelia, continue."
Ophelia’s face grew serious once more. "To revive the ancient witch’s seal, we need to solve this code. The answer lies in your experience, Sophia. Can you walk us through what happened in the forest?"
Sophia nodded and began to recount her encounter with the mist. "In the forest, animals transformed into runic chess pieces, moving as if they were controlled by someone else..."
Alex, listening intently, suddenly leaned forward. "So, it’s like playing out a game? The moves you saw... could they correspond to specific chess strategies?"
"Exactly," Sophia replied. "The moves were precise, like they were following a plan. But it wasn’t just chess—it felt like something bigger."
Nyra, ever ready to insert his ego, smiled smugly. "Of course. Only a grand strategy would suit someone of your caliber, Sophia. I could see it when you played me. She’s on another level, I thought. Truly, the one who defeated me is meant for greater things."
Sophia glanced sideways at Nyra, trying not to laugh. "Thanks... I guess."
Ophelia nodded, ignoring Nyra’s ongoing admiration of himself. "Sophia, the notebook must contain more clues. What else do you remember?"
Sophia thought for a moment, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I remember the animals on the Ruthwell Cross... there were twenty-three in total. Maybe the number is significant?"
Nyra's eyes lit up at the mention. "Ah, of course! Only someone who bested me could spot such a crucial detail! That’s it! That’s the missing piece."
Ophelia pressed on, "Sophia, we need to solve this code together. It seems like this chess game and your experiences are tied closely to the ancient seal. Can you continue training with Alex?"
Nyra straightened up, throwing his hand in the air. "I’ll join in the training too! I can’t let this happen without me, the one who recognized your brilliance first."
Ronald, who had been silent for most of the discussion, cleared his throat softly. "M-me too... I'll help as well." His quiet voice was almost lost in the noise of the room, but it was full of sincerity.
Sophia looked around the room, feeling a sense of determination swelling within her. "This won’t be easy. But we don’t have a choice. We have to see this through."
Ophelia smiled slightly. "There’s one more thing—we need to see if the autogyro can be used to escape the forest. That will be our only way out."
Sophia sighed, her shoulders sagging. "The autogyro... My grandfather always said it’s tied to my grandmother’s power. But I don’t know how it will affect our plan."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the challenge ahead pressing down on them. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, there was also a sense of unity. They were all in this together, bound by a common goal.
Finally, Alex broke the silence. "This is no different from chess. It’s all about strategy, understanding the moves, and predicting the endgame."
Nyra, ever the performer, couldn’t help but add, "Indeed. But with Sophia—the one who defeated me—leading us, we’re bound to win. After all, only the best can conquer the mist."
Sophia smiled despite herself.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
53)CHESS PRACTICE
"Alright, let’s kick off Sophia’s intensive training!" Alex’s voice cut through the room, shifting the energy inside the clubhouse. Tension grew thicker as Sophia sat down in the center seat, surrounded by the others.
“We’ll start with speed chess,” Alex explained. “Sophia will play all four of us—me, Ophelia, Nyra, and Ronald—in rotation. The opening will be the standard Ruy Lopez: 1. e4 e5, 2. f4 exf4, 3. Bc4 Qh4+, 4. Kf1 b5.”
"The goal is to win against all of us. Show us what the Mist Witch can do!" Alex said with a confident grin.
"Yes, give it your best, Mist Witch!" Ophelia teased with a playful smile.
Sophia sighed, bracing herself. "Alright, let’s do this."
At Alex’s signal, the training began. The room filled with a tense quiet as Sophia faced her first opponent: Alex. Her fingers hovered above the pieces, her mind ticking through the possibilities.
After several exchanges, Sophia paused before making her move.
“Ng6+”
“Kg8”
“Bxe6+”
“Qxe6”
“Qg7”
“Checkmate.”
In 25 moves, Sophia claimed victory. Alex leaned back, clearly impressed. “Sophia, you’re as sharp as ever.”
Next, Ophelia took her place. Sophia’s focus sharpened as she elegantly maneuvered her pieces, countering Ophelia’s every move.
“Nf7”
“Bg1”
“Qa8#”
Thirty-four moves later, Ophelia’s mouth hung open. “No way…” she whispered, disbelief clear on her face.
Then came Nyra, who was still brimming with confidence, despite knowing Sophia's skill. As the game progressed, his grin faded.
“e5”
“fxg5”
“Qb7#”
Nyra blinked, stunned by the 22-move checkmate. But he forced a smile and said with admiration, “As expected of the woman who defeated me!”
Finally, Ronald, typically quiet, was last to face Sophia. She barely broke a sweat.
“Rxe1”
“Re8”
“Rxe8#”
Sophia stood victorious after 24 moves. Ronald, like the others, silently admired her ability.
“Alright, that was just the warm-up,” Alex said, though there was a trace of awe in his voice. “Now, we’re moving on to something harder. This time, the moment you see our move, you’ll declare how many moves it’ll take you to checkmate.”
Sophia took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the next round. Once again, Alex stepped forward.
He played “Bb7,” and without hesitation, Sophia declared, “26 moves.” Sure enough, she delivered checkmate on the 26th move with “Qxa7#.”
Ophelia’s turn came next. She played “Nf6,” and Sophia responded quickly, “28 moves.” She checkmated with “Rxb7+” on the 28th move.
Nyra, still trying to crack her, played “b5.” Sophia thought for a moment and said, “24 moves,” executing the checkmate on schedule with “Qxg4#.”
Finally, Ronald played “Bb7.” Sophia calculated effortlessly, “25 moves.” And, as predicted, she checkmated him on the 25th move with “Ng5+.”
The room fell silent, filled with awe. Ophelia sighed dramatically. “We just can’t beat the Mist Witch, can we?”
Nyra nodded with an exaggerated shrug, “Exactly. She’s in a league of her own.”
Sophia let out a tired breath, a hint of pride creeping into her expression. She had earned these victories.
Alex wasn’t done, though. “Okay, let’s up the ante. We’ll keep practicing until you can calculate the moves faster. This is about speed, precision, and intuition.”
The training resumed, each match testing Sophia’s speed and mental endurance. Her brain worked tirelessly, calculating every possibility on the board, considering every piece’s placement, and predicting her opponents’ strategies in real-time. The others pushed her harder and harder, but she refused to falter.
By the time night crept in, the clubhouse was cloaked in quiet, broken only by the sounds of their final moves.
Sophia finally leaned back, her exhaustion catching up to her. “I’m getting tired, but... this was good practice. By assessing the center control and using calculations, I’m starting to see the clear path to victory,” she mused aloud, sharing her thoughts with the group. “Each move alters the value of the position. If you can grasp that instinctively, you can figure out the optimal strategy.”
Alex nodded, his expression serious but approving. “Exactly. You’re analyzing the board like a pro. This is why you’re the Mist Witch. We’ll keep refining this until you can do it in your sleep.”
Ophelia clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with the day’s progress. “Don’t get too comfortable, though. Tomorrow is another training day. The real challenge is in a week!”
Nyra and Ronald nodded in agreement, clearly determined to keep up the intensity.
Sophia stood, feeling a surge of resolve. “I’ll be ready. Let’s keep going tomorrow.”
And so, their rigorous training continued, each day bringing them closer to the inevitable final challenge that lay ahead.