"You're late."
Upon arriving, he was shocked to see who was waiting for him.
He smiled in response, making his way through.
"Chess?"
Intrigued by the proposition, he sat opposite to him, looking at the pieces now on the table.
"Northern, Magic or Cathedral?"
"I grew from the East, so I love Magic Chess the most."
"Is that so?"
One tap, then the table changed, and the pieces also changed.
The board, which was an eight by eight, began to expand, as the pieces now are also different.
The King, was the humans, bishop became elves, the queen is a dragon, the knight is beastmen, the rook will be the dwarves, and the additional ones - Djinns, who moves like Gold Generals.
The movements are the same, except that pawns can take the ones beside them, not just in their northeast parts.
The board is a ten by ten, and there is a space in between the pawns and the officials.
What made it special is that the king, the human, can borrow one of the "dead" pieces' move for one turn, but they can't be chosen again when the pawn reaches the finish line, or use it again for the king to move.
This makes the fantasy lore that "cornered rata will fight back" being pushed to it's limits.
Also, that "King's Move" is just once, and can take even the one that is threatening it.
But, he saw more to it.
He knows a few things about his opponent.
"E5."
"F4."
"Takes F4."
"Dragon takes F4."
The Dragon's Gambit.
It is when the strongest piece, the Dragon, takes the center of the board to wreak havoc.
It is one of the most destructive and most played opening of the Magic Chess.
But, his opponent, is a master of the said chess.
His Dragon Piece, was obviously wreaking havoc, but the noticed something.
He was being led where to explode.
Taking piece by piece, he saw the trap being laid.
As the Dragon Piece took care of many pieces, it thought that its place has become larger, but, it was constricted more.
With a few more moves, he lost the ability to move the dragon piece, and was in harm's way.
It took pieces, but all of them were low ranks, and the only high rank he got was the Djinn.
Pawns and alike were sacrificed, to trap the queen, to trade it for another djinn.
This move surprised him even more.
He was in a losing game.
Then he pulled a hidden move.
"So, how about the trade?"
Negotiations.
He came here to negotiate, and was caught up with the game's pace, only to see himself being trapped down.
"And Risha?"
"Oh, young mistress will be here soon, I just need to confirm the items before we--"
"Then we wait for her."
"Can I see the items--"
"We wait."
"Well, this is a necessary proce--"
"For her."
Silence. Only the sound of breathing in and out was heard in quick succession.
Followed by the gnashing of teeth, he moved his Dragon, for it to become a fodder for his King's Move.
But his opponent just smiled.
Within five moves, he was on the verge of being defeated.
And, what's funny is that, his opponent did not take any of his pieces, breaking his King's Move, and not giving him any chance of breakthrough.
In desperation, trying to at least salvage the situation, he put his Dragon Piece in a disadvantageous position, where any of his opponents' piece can capture it, giving him his King's Move the next turn.
Yet, a sly smile appeared on his opponent's face.
Realizing what had happened, his face contorted into a grimace.
That was a free capture, and even in his next move, if he uses his King's Move, he will lose.
Because all the tiles that will be used by the king is in check.
But he is not in check right now, so he planned an escape route.
His eyes lit up as he saw the most probable way to at least make the game a draw, or make a stalemate.
As he moved and moved his other pieces, he found a small hole in his defense, and started plugging it.
But that's the signal of his end.
Pawns, are actually the weakest piece in every chess game.
Yet, because of the new move, a horizontal capture, it became a good piece to make things work.
At first, this was the pawm that was almost sacrificed to the Dragon Piece, but because he didn't take it to lose the Dragon, it became a menace in the mid game.
The marching pawn was not overlooked, but underestimated by the opponent.
Because, each and every capture of the the pawn, there is a piece behind it, guarding it, and helping it from clearing that side of the board.
Until, it came to an end.
A killer pawn.
Supported by the others, the king can't even take it's moves.
Because the second it does, it will land to a spot where the enemies are waiting.
And so, the most embarrassing lose came to him.
Being checkmated by a pawn.
But he refused to budge.
He did not move the king yet.
He was buying time.
Time until Risha appears and save him.
But that moment didn't come.
1 minute.
3 minutes.
5 minutes.
"Tick tock. Your move."
Blood rushed to his head, his veins popped up as his teeth gnashed. Rage is building up inside him, but he has to pull it back.
He has to get the items, no matter what.
The he made it.
He made the move.
And in one move, the checkmate came.
"Wow, that was a fun game."
His opponent sighed.
But, that's not all. He didn't get to even win, in negotiations, nor in chess.
The opponent then stood up, stretch is upper body before leaning down to his ear.
"I hope you learned a lesson."
He then walked up, and waved.
"Hi, Risha!"