Chapter 116: Winner and loser(1)

The match between Alpshar and me was approaching its end. When my infantry pieces encountered his, I was poised to win based on my numerical advantage. However, at that moment, Alpshar's archer pieces were the closest to my archers, preventing them from supporting the infantry. This meant the game would last at least a few more turns.

Yet, I had moved my cavalry eight squares closer to Alpshar's palace. The cavalry had the chance to move up to eight squares in a single turn, but this game was much larger than chess, as I had mentioned before.

Now we were both silent and completely focused on the match.

A slight smile appeared on Alpshar's face. "I realize that our philosophical discussions are as dangerous as the fires of war. " he said. "But prince, remember that victory is not achieved solely by intelligence. Sometimes unpredictability is the strongest weapon." He carefully directed his gaze toward the game board. Meanwhile, I had moved my cavalry even closer to the palace.

I thought my victory was assured, yet I remained vigilant. What was Alpshar's plan?

Alpshar silently moved one of his pieces. At first glance, this move seemed meaningless, but I soon realized it was a delaying tactic. One of my pawns was heading toward a trap that Alpshar had set. That was his style: to prepare a deadly move silently and slowly. However, I was not an ordinary opponent.

I paused for a brief moment and carefully examined my pieces. I thought Alpshar could use his move as a deceptive strategy. I needed to reclaim the advantage I had given him. I pulled back a few of my pawns, rearranged my archers, and pushed my cavalry forward in one final move toward the palace.

Alpshar took a deep breath and smiled. "A clever move," he said, "but as in every game, sometimes losses teach us more than victories. However, I'll allow you to enjoy your victory for now."

As my cavalry approached the palace, I felt I was on the verge of victory. But at that moment, Alpshar made an unexpected move. He finally revealed the piece he had been hiding. This soldier, which appeared ordinary, skillfully maneuvered behind my cavalry. At the same time, it closed the distance between my pawns and archers.

I hadn't realized Alpshar's plan until it was too late, but this move could shift the balance. Sёarch* The NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"The game is nearing its end, prince, but I see that landing the final blow won't be so easy," Alpshar said, his eyes focused on the pieces on the board.

Although my pawns had won the battle, Alpshar's move completely blocked me as my cavalry attempted to seize the palace. He had neutralized my last strong move. The pieces were stuck together, and the game had reached a stalemate.

After a moment of silence, Alpshar raised his head. "A draw," he said softly, wearing his usual sly smile. Discover hidden tales at m vl-em-py-r

A fleeting sense of disappointment washed over me, but I replied with a smile. "A draw." I had no choice but to accept this outcome in the face of Alpshar's intellect.

As we slowly returned the pieces to their places, I knew deep down that this was just the beginning. In our next encounter, there would be a winner, but there would also be a loser. When I looked at Alpshar, I saw an unreadable expression on his face. He wasn't angry or sad, nor happy or peaceful... There was something different about him, and I felt strangely as if I would never know what it was.

It felt as though, despite the few steps between us, there was a chasm. Why did I feel this way? Why did I feel as if I had lost all my confidence? I had drawn with him, but I hadn't lost. So what was this inferiority complex?

When I looked at Alpshar again, I could now see an emotion in his eyes... No, I could see more of an emptiness. His slightly narrowed eyes and strong, chiseled jaw gave him a truly intimidating appearance. But in the next moment, he stood up and extended his hand.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, prince. I won't keep you from your path any longer," he said.

I stood up and shook his hand. His grip held a firmness and coldness I had never felt before. This handshake was not just a farewell; it felt like a challenge. I looked into Alpshar's eyes again; there was no glimmer of victory but rather a profound calmness. This calmness unsettled me.

At that moment, I realized that his mind was a battlefield, and every move he made resonated not just on the board but also in my thoughts.

As Alpshar left the game scene, I looked back at him. Inside me, a feeling of inexplicable inadequacy was rising. Although we had drawn, I had not been defeated. But why did it feel as though I had truly lost? His strategy, as much as his moves, had drawn me in like a magnet.

Perhaps this was more than just a game. This encounter with Alpshar was a mental and emotional test. In this game, what was lost or won was not just pieces but also one's beliefs about oneself. This single meeting with him revealed my own weaknesses and the darkness within me. I felt as if I were looking into a mirror rather than facing a rival.

But how long could I look into this mirror? Alpshar's words echoed in my mind: "Victory is not achieved solely by intelligence." Perhaps he was right. The formula for victory existed not only in the games of the mind but also in unpredictability.

---

*Third Person POV*

After Ethan left Alpshar's tent, he approached the tower made of skeletons, at least fifty meters tall, to take a closer look for a while longer. But also At that moment, Alpshar moved to the other room inside the tent and saw a young and beautiful woman there.

Her golden eyes shone even in the brightest moments of the day, and anyone who stared long enough into those golden eyes would likely end up blind. The woman had dark blue hair, contrasting sharply with Alpshar's crimson hair, and her eyes matched it quite well.

"Did you eavesdrop on us, Belliana?" Alpshar asked, looking at the beautiful young girl.

"Is there a problem with that, big brother?" Belliana replied.

"Hahh... You're getting bolder. So, what do you think of him?" Alpshar asked with a mocking smile.

"I think someone has finally appeared who you won't be able to defeat, even in the end. I'm very curious about what you'll do with him in the future, brother," Belliana said, smiling mockingly in return.

"Someone I won't be able to defeat? Belliana, I know deep down you're imitating me, but if you want to mimic me better, you need to use your mind more effectively," Alpshar said as he walked toward the next room in the tent.

As Alpshar walked toward the other room inside the tent, he felt Belliana's gaze upon him. This dialogue with her, as always, felt like a power struggle. The young woman was skilled at responding to Alpshar's mocking demeanor, but she also harbored a sense of curiosity. At that moment, thoughts about Ethan were swirling in Alpshar's mind.

"Maybe this time I've really found a rival," Alpshar thought, beginning to feel a spark of something alongside his usual calmness. "But an enemy I cannot defeat can never exist."

When he entered the other room of the tent, a table filled with old maps and strategy books greeted him. He thought about the sweet companionship he had experienced with Ethan and the chaos within him. "If this has made me feel so good, the next encounter will be even more interesting, but the next encounter won't be a game, Ethan Lenistark," he murmured.

Belliana entered the room behind Alpshar. "I knew it. You're taking Ethan seriously, aren't you?" she asked. "It's interesting that he hasn't been defeated so quickly. No one has ever managed that in front of you before."

A faint smile appeared on Alpshar's face at Belliana's words. "Taking someone seriously is important for evaluating rivals. Ethan is playing a different game, so ignoring him would be suicidal," he said. Unable to withstand Belliana's curious gaze any longer, he continued. "But the chaos within him could be an opportunity for me."

Belliana became attentive when she saw Alpshar's seriousness. "What are you planning?" she asked in a lower voice.

"What makes you think I'd tell you my plans, dear sister? You want to imitate me better when I share my strategies, don't you? But you need to create your own character now. That's why I'm sending you to the Dragon Academy," Alpshar replied.

Belliana was taken aback for a moment by Alpshar's words. "The Dragon Academy? What's the point of sending me there? I don't want to live in your shadow!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with anger and disappointment. "I'm already different; I'm not imitating you!"

Alpshar responded without losing the smile on his face. "This will make you stronger, Belliana. The Dragon Academy is not just about dragons; it's also a place to develop powerful strategies and discover your own potential. If you stay here, you'll only remain in my shadow. If you go there, you'll have a chance to find your own light."

Belliana turned away in anger and took a step. "But I'm here! I'm by your side in the midst of the battle. Why do you want to send me away?"

Alpshar approached her with determination. "Because I care about you. You need to find your own strength. I want you to surpass me, so we can fight against greater enemies together. You will grow stronger in the Dragon Academy, and I can't wait to watch your development from there."

Belliana saw the determination in Alpshar's eyes. Knowing he was thinking so much about this was somewhat comforting. However, her anger and rebellion did not diminish. "You're just trying to send me away for your own interests! I want to make my own decisions!" she said.

"Yes, you want to make your own decisions, but to do that, you need to stop imitating me," Alpshar said, softening his voice. "This decision is not mine; it's yours. But at least consider it an opportunity. If you want to be strong, the beginning of that path goes through here. I don't want you to continue on your own. If there's a goal alongside you, you'll develop better."

Belliana paused for a moment, struggling with her indecision. "What will the Dragon Academy give me?" she said, though the resolve in her voice was slowly fading. "I'm sure I'd learn more if I stayed by your side."

"No," Alpshar said, increasing his determination. "Your talents and intelligence will be invaluable there. Your teachers will be eager to teach you real strategies and powers. If you don't seize this opportunity, you will only limit your own potential."

Belliana looked down. A conflict raged within her: as she tried to rebel and remain independent, she also felt a desire to be strong. "If I go there, I feel like I'll never come back," she said.

"You will come back. I'll even kill dragons like the devil Annaxor if I have to, to bring my sister back!" Alpshar said with a serious expression, as if he truly believed he would do something like that if necessary.

Alpshar's words deepened the contradictions within Belliana. Her strong bond with her brother had forced her to consider going to the Dragon Academy. Yet, at the same time, it suppressed her desire for independence and to find her own identity. The uncertainty on her face did not escape Alpshar's notice, and just as he was about to speak again to persuade her, Belliana interrupted.

"Fine, I'll go, but I will return, and I will conquer the entire continent before you do!"