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100) EPILOGUE

The moment Sophia and Ardy shook hands, the chessboard of the final match spread beneath their feet. Surprise and confusion flickered across their faces. Just moments ago, they had been fighting together in the mist, deepening their bonds of friendship and sharing their fates. Yet now, those memories were fragmented, fading into a distant blur.

"Where... are we now?" Sophia wondered, as the audience suddenly erupted in cheers.

The bell signaling the end of the match echoed through the arena, and the roar of the crowd filled the space, reaching up to the ceiling in a wave of enthusiasm. Ardy, too, looked confused, still holding tightly onto her hand.

Among the spectators, some students stood up, trembling as if they had just witnessed the unimaginable. "That match... it was unbelievable," murmured voices from all around. It was as though the two had been playing chess while possessed by something, locked in a duel that seemed almost otherworldly.

"What an incredible match!" The cafeteria buzzed with excitement, and Alex, more than anyone, showed his joy openly. His eyes were fixed on Sophia, a quiet happiness radiating from deep within. He wanted to be the first to run to her, to congratulate her with a heartfelt smile.

The announcer’s voice rang out over the crowd.

“What a remarkable game! It began with a King’s Gambit Accepted, and from the very first check, it seemed that the one-year novice, Sophia Winston-Weiss, would have no chance against Ardelbert von Ritterstein.”

Excitement lingered in the announcer’s voice as he continued.

"Black’s c6 was an attack on White’s bishop, but the squares in front of the king—d5 and d6—became weak, a vulnerability that White later exploited. But when you're in the heat of the game, you don't see these things!"

"It looked like Black had the upper hand all along, with White’s pieces falling one after another. We were completely fooled."

A trembling voice rose from the students, “It was as if they were possessed... like they were being controlled by some kind of magic.”

The two players had clasped hands firmly, and beneath them, the vivid memory of the battle was etched into the board. White’s queen had launched a sharp attack, Black had tried one last defense with the knight, and then White’s bishop delivered the decisive checkmate. The board remained still, marking that moment of victory.

Black’s king lay powerless, its defeat silently acknowledged. The final state of the board seemed to tell the story of their fierce, yet brilliant struggle.

Sophia and Ardy both looked stunned. Just moments ago, they had fought together in the mist, forged friendships, and shared a fate that was now fading into the recesses of their minds. Their memories of the Misty Forest, of that battle, were slipping away, like shadows dissolving into the distance.

Sophia glanced back. Not far away sat Alex, Nyra, Ophelia, Luna, Bohn, Elena, and Ronald—the friends with whom she had shared that journey through the mist.

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Elizabeth’s words echoed in her mind: “Your memories will fade.”

Each of them seemed to be trying to recall the events that had unfolded in the Misty Forest, but those memories were now so faint, slipping further out of reach with each passing moment.

The battle in the mist was now little more than scattered fragments, but before those too disappeared, the stadium erupted into applause that shook the air. The cheers grew louder and louder, surrounding Sophia and filling her heart with a sense of joy and relief.

The commentator spoke, "Our AI suggested that Qxa1+ was the best move. But after Qxa1+, White would escape with Ke2, and Black’s queen would be caught in an unstable position, targeting White’s rook on g1. It may seem minor, but this was White’s hidden advantage."

The commentator continued, "It was a complete surprise. No one expected White to announce checkmate. Brilliant... truly an unbreakable game. We must call it the Immortal Chess Match."

Sophia, enveloped by the roar of the crowd, looked over at Alex. His joy was directed toward her, and she smiled back. In that moment, she realized it wasn’t just the victory she was grateful for—it was Alex’s unwavering support that meant the world to her.

Sophia thanked Ardy, saying, "Thank you very much."

Sophia turned to the referee and politely asked, "May I take this?"

She held the white knight in her hand.

"It was an amazing game!" "I was moved!" "It felt like magic!"

The audience shared their excitement, and soon, the crowd began to press in. Sophia found herself swept up in the sea of bodies, struggling to keep her balance. Alex, too, was surrounded by the crowd, hailed as the team’s captain.

Both of them were lost in the wave of congratulations, as if caught in the eye of a storm.

Alex, too, wanted to celebrate Sophia’s victory from the bottom of his heart, but he couldn’t get close to her. The crowd pushed him along, his outstretched hand unable to reach her. He wanted to say something, anything—to express what he felt in his heart.

But that feeling began to slip away. The memories of the Misty Forest, of the bonds they had formed, and even his feelings for Sophia were like grains of sand slipping through his fingers. What was it he was trying to do? Even as he reached for the memory, it drifted further from his grasp.

Is this what the Witch of the Mist meant when she said the memories would disappear?

Sophia was experiencing the same thing. She caught a glimpse of Alex through the crowd, but he vanished again just as quickly. There was something important she had to tell him. Something precious she needed to give him, but already, the reason why was slipping from her mind.

In her hand was the white knight. Even as the significance of the piece faded, she held onto it tightly, knowing it was important somehow, even if the details eluded her.

"Alex!" she shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the noise of the crowd. She tried to push through, to reach him, but his figure was nowhere to be found.

On the other side, Alex was also searching for her, desperately moving through the throng. But the memories of their strange experiences in the Misty Forest—the battle and the kiss he had placed on Sophia’s forehead—were cruelly slipping away. The friendship, the feelings he had for Sophia, and the bond they had formed remained strong, but the mystical elements of their journey were fading into mist. All that remained was the urgent feeling that he must not let go of something important, something tied to her.

At last, their eyes met across the crowd. In that fleeting moment, the remnants of their memories crystallized, and Sophia extended her hand toward him.

"Alex!" Sophia called, her voice trembling with urgency, as she stretched out her hand with the knight piece.

Pushed and jostled by the crowd, Alex reached for her, and for a brief moment, their hands met. Sophia placed the white knight into his palm.

"Take this... hold onto it...!" Her voice was barely audible over the noise, but it reached him.

Amid the chaos, Alex firmly grasped the piece she had given him. He looked into her eyes, his gaze filled with gentle warmth.

"Thank you," he said quietly, his eyes soft and kind.

The Witch of the Mist’s words echoed in their hearts: "Your memories of the forest will fade, but the friendship and courage you gained will remain yours forever."