image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
65) THE FINAL MATCH COUNTDOWN
“This final match feels different, doesn’t it?” “Turning it into a charity event—what a brilliant idea!”
Various voices of praise floated around the bustling courtyard in front of the cafeteria, where Sophia and her team were stationed to greet the arriving students. Sophia couldn’t help but feel a wave of joy as more and more people showed their support for the cause. The anticipation for the North vs. South College chess final was palpable, and the idea of raising funds for disaster relief through the match had gathered widespread enthusiasm.
For the first time in a long while, Sophia felt a connection to those around her. She had always preferred being on her own, finding it difficult to work in teams. Teachers often talked about the importance of collaboration, but Sophia had never been comfortable with it. Somehow, her cold, detached side would always emerge at the last minute, and she would end up pushing her friends away. She thought about Ardy—how she had left him behind. Maybe if she had flown lower with the autogyro that day, she could have saved him. The thought had weighed on her heart ever since.
Perhaps it was the witch’s blood running through her veins that made her act that way.
But now, everything felt different. She was part of a team, moving toward the same goal with her companions. She wasn’t just working alone anymore—she had seven trusted friends with her, and together, they would save Ardy and stop the earthquakes threatening everyone’s safety.
"Alex," Sophia said softly, turning toward him. "Thank you. You’re a great captain."
Alex flushed at her words. He wasn’t always so willing to lead. In the past, he had been the kind of person who would coldly say, "The only thing that interests me about you is chess." But now, after seeing what the team could accomplish, he had offered to be their captain himself. His transformation was remarkable.
"Well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "it’s not like I’m doing this alone."
Sophia turned to Luna, her warm-hearted friend who always had something kind to say. "Luna, you’re always so thoughtful. Thank you."
Luna beamed and began talking excitedly about all the small moments they’d shared over the past few months—the late-night study sessions, the endless baking experiments, and that time they snuck into the library after hours to research ancient magic.
"It’s been so much fun working with everyone," Luna said with a smile, "and I’ve got plenty of éclairs ready for after we win this thing!"
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh as she glanced around at her team.
Alex, ever the responsible leader, turned to the group and called out, "Alright, everyone, get out your wind-up pocket watches!"
Each member reached into their pocket, pulling out the pocket watches that Professor Weiss had gifted them. These weren’t ordinary watches—each one had ancient runes etched into the surface, marking them as something special. Even though none of them knew exactly what the runes meant, they knew they were linked to their individual destinies. When Professor Emeritus Weiss had handed them out, he had taken the time to personally verify each person’s name, and each watch had come with a letter of its own.
"Set them to 4:00 PM, 0 seconds exactly," Alex instructed. "Are you all ready?"
With careful hands, everyone pulled the crowns of their watches, pausing the ticking to set the time to 4:00 PM, 0 seconds. The tension built as they adjusted their watches to the precise moment.
"On my count," Alex continued, his voice steady. "When I say 'one,' we all press the crowns in and start the watches together."
"Five, four, three, two, one..."
Click.
At the exact second, the simultaneous clicks echoed as every watch sprang to life. Time had become their unifying force. They were perfectly synchronized, and as they pocketed their watches, Sophia felt the weight of their shared mission settle in.
For the first time in her life, Sophia wasn’t just living in her own world—she was moving with a team, a family. Every second they shared was a testament to their trust in one another, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The chess final was tomorrow. Sophia could feel it in her bones—during the match, something would happen. She would sense it through the witch’s blood coursing through her veins. When the time came, she would call the mist, and they would all be drawn into it. Just as Ardy’s research had foretold.
But tonight, as she stood with her friends, she didn’t feel the cold distance she had felt before. She wasn’t alone anymore.
"Let’s do this," Sophia whispered to herself, looking at her team, knowing they were all in this together.
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
66) THE GRAND ENTRANCE AND THE START OF THE FINAL MATCH
The air was electric as the team gathered, all of them wearing dark robes that concealed the impact-resistant gear they wore underneath, ready for what awaited them in the Misty Forest. The final move from their last encounter would be the signal—when it was made, they’d know it was time to act.
At the center of the room, a magnificent chessboard was set. The board, crafted from bright maple and dark rosewood, gleamed under the overhead lights, each square precisely 50x50mm. The pieces, too, were works of art—white carved from rosewood, black from ebony-stained boxwood. Additional queens for pawn promotions stood at the ready, a reminder of the intensity to come. The table had been adjusted for Ardelbert’s tall frame, but a specially prepared chair for Sophia ensured her smaller stature wouldn’t hinder her play. Around them, the cafeteria had been transformed into an arena, with the mermaid-marked drinks from the campus café, lids secured to prevent spills during the match.
"Look at this crowd," Alex murmured to Sophia as they entered the room, his eyes scanning the sea of faces. "They're all here for us."
Sophia gave him a small smile, though her mind was already focused on the game ahead. "For the match," she corrected softly, though she couldn’t help but feel the same. The energy in the room was palpable.
Then came the entrance. Ardelbert von Ritterstein was the first to step into the room, his towering presence commanding attention. Applause erupted from both sides—students from North and South College alike couldn’t help but respect the man who had brought North College so far. He walked confidently to his seat, his long coat sweeping behind him like a cape.
Sophia followed moments later, and the applause was just as thunderous. She felt a flutter in her chest, but she walked with steady steps, head high, towards her chair.
As Sophia settled into her seat, Laura, a literature student with dreams of becoming a voice actress, stepped up to the microphone. Her voice rang out clear and confident, filling the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final game of the inter-college championship. Today’s match will determine the victor between South and North College. It’s a single game. If neither player wins, the match will end in a draw—and for the first time in 65 years, the two colleges will tie.”
She paused for effect, the tension building in the crowd. “And now, we have a very special guest—Professor Emeritus Wilhelm Weiss, the legendary player from that historic match 65 years ago. Please, give him a warm welcome.”
The room erupted. Sophia’s heart swelled as she caught sight of her grandfather standing in the back, his warm, proud smile lighting up his face. He gave her a subtle nod of encouragement, and for the first time that day, she felt her nerves ease.
Sophia smiled faintly.
Laura’s voice cut through again. “Let the game begin!”
The applause quickly died down, replaced by a heavy silence as the gravity of the match settled over the room. Sophia, calm and composed, placed her first move on the board.
She moved her pawn “e4.”
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
67) THE LAST MOVE BEFORE THE MIST
Gustav was at his breaking point.
He had inhaled too much of the witch’s mist during his time in the Misty Forest. The magic had soaked into his body, giving him the ability to communicate and, later, to transform into his master, Ardelbert. But using this magic came at a terrible cost—it was slowly draining his life, piece by piece.
Now, there was barely any magic left. Gustav could only remain in his transformed state for a short time during the match. Speaking was no longer possible.
Before the match began, Sophia knelt down, wrapping her arms around Gustav’s muscular frame. She could feel the strain in him. Her loyal Doberman was giving everything for this mission, and it tore at her heart.
“It’s okay, Gustav,” she whispered, her fingers gently scratching behind his ears. “You don’t have to speak anymore. You don’t even need to think. Just follow my eyes. I’ll show you which pieces to move. You’re not alone in this.”
Sophia believed that when she released the witch's mist, the final chapter of their journey into the Misty Forest would begin—the continuation of the chess game they had started before. If she let the mist flow from her wounded finger, everyone connected to her would be transported.
The game had begun:
1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Bc4 Qh4+
4. Kf1 b5
As the familiar moves unfolded, Sophia felt her heart race. The moment of truth was drawing closer. She bit her little finger gently, creating the tiniest wound. If needed, she would release the witch’s blood to bring forth the mist.
Now, transformed into Ardelbert, Gustav obediently followed Sophia’s silent cues. Her voice, barely more than a breath, guided him.
“That’s right, Gustav... Move the pawn to e5. Here,” she whispered, locking eyes with the piece, her focus like a laser.
Sophia moved her own pawn to f4 and glanced at Gustav, who grasped the opposing pawn, his large hand shaking slightly. His time was running out.
Each of her friends—Alex, Ophelia, Ronald, Luna, Bohn, and Leo—stood at the ready. They were all linked by the same black cord tied around their robes, the same one Sophia wore. The hovercraft lay hidden behind the massive monitor showing the match. Meanwhile, Nyra, back at her command post, tapped furiously at her laptop, ready to manage the scoreboard and guide Alex via the supercomputer. She couldn’t last more than a minute or two in the mist, so she would help from this side.
With visible effort, Gustav moved Ardelbert's pawn, capturing Sophia’s pawn at f4.
Sophia shifted her bishop to c4. At that moment, her loyal Chihuahua, Linehart, hopped onto her lap, curling into a tiny, warm ball of comfort.
She gently guided Gustav’s hand toward the queen and motioned him to place it on h4. Normally, Gustav would’ve called out “check,” but his voice had gone silent. Instead, the announcer, completely unaware of the drama unfolding, made the declaration for him.
Sophia moved her king to f1, dodging the check. A wave of tension rippled through the crowd.
Alex, Ophelia, Ronald, Nyra—everyone watching the match closely—felt the gravity of the situation. They exchanged nervous glances. Alex, his voice low and steady, signaled to the team, “It’s time. We’re going into the Misty Forest. Everyone, stay sharp.”
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The air around them crackled with anticipation.
Sophia sent one last signal to Gustav.
Transformed into Ardelbert, Gustav’s body, incapable of sweating, began to pant heavily. His tongue lolled out as fatigue weighed down on him.
Sophia knew what had to be done. She needed him to move the pawn to b5, but Gustav was barely hanging on. His paws trembled as he gripped the piece, but it wouldn’t budge.
Without hesitation, Sophia reached out, her hand covering his. Together, they moved the pawn to b5.
At that precise moment, Sophia’s small wound began to pulse. The witch’s mist—thick, swirling, and alive—began to flow from her finger.
Within seconds, the entire area was engulfed in dense, magical fog, covering the chessboard, the players, and the spectators in an impenetrable shroud.
The Misty Forest had come to claim them.
----------------------------------------
The mist enveloped the forest as if it were alive, stealing away the view and spreading a cold silence. There was an eerie presence lingering in the air, making it feel as though something was hidden within. This mist wasn’t just ordinary water vapor; it was like a portal, connecting the past and future, blending reality with dreams.
“You finally came for me.”
A clear voice rang out from within the mist. When Sophia turned, she saw a beautiful girl standing there, about the same age as her. The girl’s form was ethereal, as if she were part of the mist itself, blurring the lines between reality and something beyond.
“You helped me… during the witch trial,” Sophia said. The words came from her mouth as naturally as if they had always been there, although even she wasn’t entirely sure where they had come from. Fragments of past events surfaced, weighing heavily on her chest.
“I’m so happy you came,” the girl said with a quiet smile. The warmth in her voice left Sophia momentarily speechless.
“Thank you,” Sophia whispered softly. The emotions bubbling up from the depths of her heart found their way into those simple words.
“Thank you,” the girl repeated, smiling gently as she returned Sophia’s gratitude.
“The rest of the souls have also arrived.” The girl’s gaze shifted into the mist as she spoke quietly.
At that moment, the mist thickened, and a deep silence fell between them. The mist seemed to sway, blurring the boundaries of time and space, allowing the past and present to intermingle. Sophia’s surroundings began to change, and memories rose before her eyes, unfolding as if they were right in front of her.
Suddenly, Sophia recalled the scene where she had visited the witch’s manor ruins with Luna and the others. As that memory faded, she found herself transported back in time, witnessing the horrors of a witch trial. There, a young woman was being tortured. Through tears, the woman cried out, “Run!” urging Sophia to flee. Sophia joined the woman as she and her brother raced to escape. The sound of their pursuers’ footsteps grew louder behind them, but mist began to rise from the woman’s fingertips, becoming a protective gust that shielded them. That memory now surged vividly through Sophia’s mind.
Back in the present, the girl reached out and gently touched Sophia’s forehead. In that instant, the mist thickened even further, completely obscuring her vision. The cold mist touched her memories, and fragmented images flooded into Sophia’s mind one after another.
“Pain…” Sophia groaned as she felt a sharp pain. It shot through the back of her left eye, as though something was being gouged out. Medically, it was known as a cluster headache, triggered by specific factors and causing intense pain concentrated behind the eye. Unlike migraines, cluster headaches come in short bursts of excruciating attacks, and the severity was almost unbearable.
The girl slowly released her touch from Sophia, and the headache began to subside.
Sophia understood everything now. The girl was Elisabeth, her ancestor from six generations ago, from both the Weiss and Ritterstein families. Two hundred years ago, she had performed the final sealing ritual at the epicenter of the earthquake. She was the “Mist Witch.”
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
68) THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT: MORE THAN CHESS
Alex still couldn’t believe it. The memory of that game with Sophia kept replaying in his mind. Sophia, you claimed to be a beginner, but that’s impossible. The way she moved her pieces—it was as if she had been playing for years, placing them exactly where probability favored her the most.
His thoughts spiraled back into that moment, dissecting it piece by piece. Chess isn’t just a game. It’s about spatial awareness. It trains the mind to visualize, to calculate, to see ahead. You don’t just pick that up in a year. It takes years—starting young, building neural pathways that allow you to analyze the board like a second nature.
I’ve spent my life perfecting this. Every game, every piece, every move. When Alex looked at the board, he didn’t just see a rook—he saw its entire path, the way it commanded the horizontal and vertical lines. The colors shift in my mind, he thought, marking its territory. With a bishop, the diagonal lines glowed, intersecting at critical points.
When you can visualize this with every piece simultaneously, the board comes alive. That’s when genius emerges.
But even the best players couldn’t manage it all at once. We develop strategies, specialized tactics to focus our minds, sharpen our approach.
For Alex, the queen had always been his greatest ally. I use her like a hidden weapon—the ultimate commander, or maybe… the ultimate witch.
When you can visualize this with every piece simultaneously, the board comes alive. That’s when genius emerges.
But even the best players couldn’t manage it all at once. We develop strategies, specialized tactics to focus our minds, sharpen our approach.
For Alex, the queen had always been his greatest ally. I use her like a hidden weapon—the ultimate commander, or maybe… the ultimate witch.
Using the queen as a secret weapon required patience. Hold her back until the perfect moment, unleashing her when the opponent least expects it. It was about subtlety, about long-term planning.
Delay her entrance. Keep her moves minimal early in the game. Let her lie in wait until the middle or endgame, when the opponent forgets the threat she poses. That’s when you strike.
Shield her. Hide her behind the other pieces, let them take the brunt of the fight. Let her wait safely until the moment comes to take control.
Long-range surprise attack. The queen could cross the board in an instant, catching vulnerable pieces—or even the king—off guard. Cover her moves with others, and she’ll deliver a devastating blow before they even realize what’s happening. Once you master this, you can wield the queen like a witch—lurking in the mist, waiting to strike.
Then there was the Queen’s Gambit—a famous opening that sacrifices pawns to seize control of the center. It’s a classic opening, Alex mused. But Sophia… you play differently.
Sophia had told him it was her first game. For a moment, he almost believed she was just another beginner. But then she said, “In classical defense, the initial central control score starts at 3, increasing by 0.15 per move… King safety increases by 0.1 per move… aggression grows by 0.2 per move…”
What was that?
You should be with the math club, he thought. Not playing chess. This wasn’t about numbers.
Then he heard her murmur, "It’s like nodes and edges in graph theory, with the pieces as nodes and their movement as edges."
I heard you, Sophia, he recalled, even though she had been whispering to herself.
Chess isn’t just math, he thought. But something shifted in the air when she said that. You made me feel it.
When Sophia asked him out, Alex had been suspicious. I thought it was a trap. I thought you wanted to steal my secrets—the techniques I’ve been perfecting since I was three. That’s why he told her, “I’m only interested in your chess.”
But that wasn’t the truth.
The truth is, I am interested in you.
Even though he knew she had only invited him because a friend suggested it, he couldn’t help but feel excited. The thought of spending time with her stirred something new inside him.
But then there was something else, Alex admitted to himself. The idea that he—someone who had spent nearly twenty years mastering chess—might lose to her, a first-year player… No. The idea that I, as a man, might lose to you… It unsettled him.
Then, when Sophia had consulted him about rescuing Ardy, Alex knew he had to show her something more. I had to be different. He had to be a gentleman in front of her. I had to show you I was more than just a chess player. That he was capable. Talented. That he could lead.
So I volunteered to be the captain of the mission. He wanted Sophia to see him in control. I wanted you to admire me.
“Alright, synchronize your watches to 4:00:00,” he said during the mission briefing, projecting calm confidence. Smooth, right? He thought. I had it all under control.
As they set off, Gustav, who had taken on Ardy’s role for training, mentioned the limits of their operation.
e4 e5 f4 exf4 Bc4 Qh4+
Wait… no, that’s not right. Alex’s thoughts stuttered. Isn’t that the Fool’s Mate? The one you played in the forest, Sophia? You didn’t even know the rules then.
This isn’t probability, he realized. This is a sacrifice—a move that no one would calculate as the most likely.
Is this the real you, Sophia? Making sacrifices, the least probable of moves, just to tear down your opponent’s defenses?
The queen is a witch.
Alex always believed the best strategies involved hiding the queen in the mist, keeping her out of sight, and then launching a sudden, long-range attack.
Kf1 b5
Suddenly, they were transported.
Now we’re in the mist.
(The mist surrounded us—)
It started slowly, creeping in like a thief in the night. But soon it enveloped them completely. The world dissolved into a swirling sea of white. There was no depth, no direction—only the endless fog, clinging to his skin, cold and suffocating. It whispered, ancient and unintelligible, as if the mist itself were alive, hiding secrets older than time.
Alex tried to move, but every step felt like wading through thick air. The ground beneath him was unsteady, and the trees became nothing more than shadows in the distance. The mist pulled him deeper, playing tricks on his mind. His heart raced, thumping against his ribs as he fought to stay grounded in reality.
Where are you, Sophia?
Suddenly, Alex hit the ground hard, slamming into his left shoulder. Pain shot through him, but it wasn’t unbearable. The impact suit had done its job. Without it, his collarbone would’ve snapped. Now, it was just a dull ache, the suit expanding to cushion the blow.
Where are you, Sophia?
The mist tightened its grip, pulling him further in, dragging him down.
My witch… Sophia… where are you?
image [https://urogyn.sakura.ne.jp/images/2024-10-09chess1.png]
69) RETURN TO THE MISTY FOREST
Alex groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, his body aching from the impact. He glanced at his watch.
4:05:10.
Only ten seconds had passed since he’d seen Kf1 b5 on the board. Ten seconds—yet everything had changed.
"Everyone, are you okay?" Alex called, his voice sharp and commanding. "Check your watches! It's 4:05:10 right now. We have four minutes to finish this—everything must be done in four minutes!"
The mist swirled thickly around them, heavy and dense, like it was alive, pressing in on all sides. The world beyond was hidden in an endless, white haze that crept through every crevice, muffling sound and swallowing the landscape.
“I can’t see a thing,” Alex muttered, then raised his voice again. “We need a roll call—call out your names. Ophelia?”
"Here!" Ophelia’s voice cut through the mist, trembling but clear.
"Ronald?"
"Present!" Ronald’s response was quick.
"Luna?"
"Yeah, I’m here."
"Bohn?"
"Here."
"Elena?"
"Ready!"
But when Alex called for Leo, there was only silence. His stomach knotted with worry.
"Leo!" he tried again, his voice sharp, cutting through the fog. Still no answer.
"Sophia?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
“Here,” came a soft, sleepy reply, almost like she was talking in her sleep.
"Pull yourself together!" Alex snapped, frustration bubbling up. They didn’t have time for this.
A low groan came from the mist. It sent a chill through Alex. “Leo? Is that you?”
The groan echoed, but there was no answer.
"Sophia," Alex turned, eyes searching for her silhouette through the mist. "Can you use your powers to clear this mist? We need to see what's going on."
"I’ll try," she murmured, sounding unsure.
Sophia bit down on her pinky, concentrating, and slowly raised her hand. An enormous gust of mist exploded outward, swirling with such force that it cleared the air around them, revealing the landscape in front of them.
They were standing on the edge of a giant chessboard.
Alex and Sophia were on the white side, but what caught his eye was the source of the groan—it wasn’t Leo. It was Nyra. She was lying on the ground, groaning, clutching her laptop tightly. Her legs were twisted at unnatural angles, clearly broken.
"Nyra?" Alex gasped.
Nyra wasn’t even supposed to be here—she was supposed to be back at the college, controlling the supercomputer remotely. But somehow, she had been dragged into this chaotic world.
Worse still, her legs were shattered. Yet she clung to her laptop, refusing to let it go.
Everyone else stood frozen in shock, staring at Nyra. The reality of their situation hit hard. It’s over, someone whispered, though Alex couldn’t tell who. They were short on manpower, and now they had an injured teammate.
But Alex wasn’t about to give up. "Everyone!" he barked, bringing them back to the moment. "Point your watches to 12 o’clock, face the sun."
He glanced around at the others. "At 1 o’clock and 1:30, you’ll see two ruins releasing steam—those are ring-shaped. I’m handling those."
He turned, issuing orders like a general on a battlefield. "At 3 o’clock, there’s a Stonehenge-type ruin about 100 meters from Elena. Go, Elena! Now!"
Elena didn’t hesitate. She took off running toward the distant steam.
"At 5 o’clock, there are two ruins—one shaped like Su Nuraxi di Barumini, and one ring-shaped. Luna, Bohn, you’re on those. It’s about 200 meters. Move!"
Without a word, Luna and Bohn sprinted toward their targets, their figures quickly swallowed by the mist.
"At 9 o’clock, there’s a Newgrange passage tomb," Alex shouted to Ronald. "It’s 100 meters out. Go now!"
Ronald nodded and dashed off into the fog.
"At 11:30, there’s a Maltese megalithic temple, 200 meters away," Alex told Ophelia. "Go! If you need help, I’ll come after."
Ophelia glanced at him before running off into the mist.
Then Alex knelt beside Nyra, guilt tugging at his chest. "I’m sorry, Nyra. I’ll give you first aid, but then I have to go."
Nyra shook her head firmly. Her voice was calm, though her legs were clearly broken. "Don’t bother with me. I’m meant to be here. I’ve got my laptop. I’ll help Sophia."
Alex hesitated, but Nyra’s resolve left him no choice. He turned to Sophia. "Look at the board. Do you notice anything?"
Sophia blinked, her mind slowly catching up. "Hmm..." Her eyes scanned the massive chessboard beneath their feet, now partially covered in vines. But beneath the creeping plants, she could see something.
“There are 32 clean squares on the board,” she said, her voice growing steadier. “And counting the pieces scattered around, there are… 24. One has already been captured.”
Alex’s eyes widened. He grabbed his remote mic, speaking quickly to Sophia and Nyra. "Does this mean we have to end the game with exactly 32 moves? One piece is already gone."
Nyra winced in pain but nodded slightly. "It’s possible. The numbers… they still fit."
Without waiting for further confirmation, Alex sprinted toward the Stonehenge-like ruin, steam rising from it, his heart pounding. 32 moves to finish the game. We have to solve this puzzle in time.
As he ran, he called out over his shoulder, knowing that every second counted.
"We’ll end this with 32 moves—there’s no other way!"