Chapter 303: A New Pawn

Chapter 303: A New Pawn



***

"Hey, hey, hey! Quit bein' so stiff, lad! We're all friends 'round here!"

A girl with a childish voice called out to the kneeling Emir before 'He' could respond.

Yet the man her words addressed didn't even shift an inch, staying in a kneeling posture. "Aye, ye be givin' me the cold shoulder, eh? How rude~... But, by the Forge! I'm mightily impressed! Not any youngin' can sense Mr. Player's strength at first sight, and judgin' by how ye reacted, I wager yer instincts went wild. Am I right?"

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Emir was still, his mind like a clear river.

"Hey, stop ignorin' me! I'm just tryin' to give ye a compliment here, ya know!"

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She received nothing but silence again.

"Oh, is that 'cause I didn't introduce meself? Ye can call me Ms. Knight, lad."

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Once more.

"So ye want me to introduce the rest too? Well, ye should've asked, shouldn't ye!"

Ms. Knight didn't even wait for him to give her the cold shoulder for the fifth time and began introducing those next to her.

"As yer 'blood' told ye, this opposite o' ye is Mr. Player, a Class-Two..."

'Class-Two? Like the second-highest rank?'

"An Angel, a Malāk, a Cherubim... A Paragon."

Emir flinched slightly as he heard that last word, which confirmed his thoughts.

Paragon.

'He...' or rather he was a Paragon?

A being of such power was not a Class-One? A Primordial?

He wasn't a Class-Zero? A being 'Above The Hierarchy?' But a Class-Two?... Him?

Such a thing Emir could not fathom.

"Mr. Board be the one sittin' to Mr. Player's right..."

Her words got him out of his drowning thoughts as his head turned to whom she pointed, showing respect while still not raising his head.

Mr. Board wore a plain dark coat suit with a white shirt.

His eyes were different-one black, the other white-giving him an interesting look, especially with the presumably unneeded wire-rimmed glasses.

He kept his hair neatly cut around his surprisingly long, pointy ears, with one-half white and the other black, mirroring the striking duality of his eyes.

His build looked to be that of an average Celestial, and the last highlight of his appearance was the silver ring on his finger that showed a tiny chessboard.

"Hmhm."

"Have no worries 'bout him, he's not always like that, just a tad bipolar... Now, over yonder is Mr. Bishop, sittin' next to Ms. Queen, and of course, yourself."

Mr. Bishop possessed a striking appearance with neatly styled blond hair, a strong jawline,

and expressive green eyes. His hair and face were partially covered by a 'Keffiyeh,' held in

place by an 'Agal' atop it.

Clad in mourning attire, he wore a 'Thobe' of charcoal. The flowing fabric draped elegantly around his slender yet silently strong frame. Subtle buttons graced the cuffs of his thobe, each

one carved in the likeness of a bishop chess piece.

Completing his ensemble, he wore a black 'Bisht,' its rich fabric adorned with delicate embroidery along the edges. The man truly looked to be a man of the sands, embodying an

ancient oil baron.

"Peace be upon you, young one... May time embrace you with more endurance than those who

came before you."

He smiled warmly at Emir, though his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness behind the words.

Ms. Knight, who acted as if she didn't hear his somber words, pointed at herself and loudly

stated:

"He rattles on in gibberish now and then, but ye'll grow accustomed to it, no doubt. And last but not least, meself! The finest of the lot!"

She, though short in stature, possessed a sturdy build. Her long ginger-colored hair cascaded over both of her front shoulders, adding a touch of warmth to her presence, a different type of warmth compared to Ms. Queen, it was one that most would feel when eyeing a child. Her eyes, a captivating shade of orange-brown, reflected the intensity of her character, and her attire seemed to contradict her wild demeanor, as she opted for practical yet well-tailored

garments.

She wore a fitted dark green jacket adorned with gold-brown stitching. Underneath that, a subtle light green sundress reached her knees, offering comfort for easy movement. Additionally, her neck wore a black choker featuring the knight chess piece, delicately crafted

in the shape of a horse, with gold accents, slightly dimmer than Mr. King's almost blinding

accessories.

'Thanks, kid... Or dwarf.'

Emir nodded his head, silently thanking the petite girl while still not uttering another word, awaiting his acceptance.

And finally, after silence returned to the room, a melody-no, a voice-resounded.

It was Mr. Player's to be exact.

His voice was like music to the ears, almost in a literal sense of the phrase due to its heavenly

quality. Rather than feeling suffocating, it was relaxing, reminiscent of the jazz melody that

had captivated Emir earlier.

"Welcome to the hidden gathering of chess pieces, Mr. Pawn."

The verbal chains that Emir had imposed on himself began to loosen.

"Welcome to the esteemed Chess Club, Setrenc."

And as those words registered in his mind...

"Welcome to the game." They snapped.