Astra Chronicles

Chapter 12: Checkmate

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"Until you realize how easily it is for your mind to be manipulated, you remain the puppet of someone else's game," ―Evita Ochel

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"We can do this peacefully and no one will get hurt, Skyler," Tram taunted.

The look of smugness was all over his face and his inevitable victory was coating his voice.

This duel has extended to more than three hours already.

The exhaustion was catching up to me really fast.

We both knew we had to finish this quickly before the sun sets.

The winner should be announced by then.

With all honesty, I knew he could defeat me with just one move of his hands.

His superior intelligence and the battles he had won before were the deciding factors.

I knew that I did not even stand a chance against Tram.

I clenched my fists.

"I will not falter," I declared. "I will never betray my king!"

Tram narrowed his eyes at me.

Knowing fully well where he could target, a tiny smile grew on his lips.

He was an outstanding strategist I was sure that he knew my weaknesses.

It was only a matter of time before he ends me.

"I gave you plenty of chances," he said with a hint of amusement. "So don't hate me for this."

"Try your luck," I sneered, assuming my fighting stance.

In the past, I would never imagine myself to speak to Tram in this kind of voice.

I never imagined I would compete against him.

The whole thing felt unreal as Tram prepared to launch his last attack.

I was sure that this would be a fatal shot.

As his hand moved from his side towards me, I prayed harder for a miracle to take place.

For the universe to take my side.

Just this once.

Just for today, I hope destiny picks me instead of Tram Rosenhelt.

And then, Tram landed his final move.

"Checkmate," I grinned like the cheshire cat.

"What? No?" Tram questioned me.

Tram and I had spent most of the day playing Quadris.

It was a board game patterned to the previous world's chess game.

It had some other rules and different game mechanics but the board pieces were royals too. King, queen, prince, princess, knights, towers, and pawns were the game pieces.