The Slayer and the Chess Player (Private/Elyx)

Oak Town was known as one of the oldest locales where ancient tomes and items could still be found, where legends were still told about the legendary wizards of yesterday, and it had become the place where he had visited frequently. The game master came annually to visit the grave of his sister Emmi but more than that he found reasons to come to this old town and by this point could be considered as a second home for the gentleman. He had recently won a chest tournament last year and could find himself returning to defend his title against the amateurs who would likely show up this year as well, though likely he'd not as it wasn't fun.

This wasn't Emerick's reason for visiting the town today, he just wanted to have a lighthearted game with someone. There Emerick sat in the plaza of Oak Town at a square table of mahogany with one chair empty. Sitting on the table was an ornate chessboard of white and black marble with exquisitely detailed chess pieces layed out. Emerick was sitting behind the white pieces, giving the tactical advantage to whoever decided to have a game with him. There was someone in particular which Emerick was waiting on or so it seemed, as he had already declined a few challenges.

Oak Town, a new and relaxing town. The same reason why most of his friends don't go, because it was designed to be a nice place that was calm. Most of them were just beyond extreme, and would be bored. Any attempt to hype up the town would instantly be denied and shut down. Maybe he should hang around here more often, it would beat having to take jobs constantly. So someone had invited him for a game of chess, probably as a job or something. And because the Wizard Saint had nothing better to do, he actually accepted it. So he would walk down to eventually see a young man with an empty chair across the table he was sitting in, but there was a game already set. The brunette would turn to the man, placing his palm down against the stony table. Hey there sir. Are you a man named, Emerick? I have a request from him for a game. If not, do you know him?

"Greetings, indeed I am Emerick. I take it then that my opponent has arrived and you are Elyx Reiaki. It is a pleasure to meet you at-last, I've heard good things about you. It's always nice to meet another fellow of one's guild. That is why I have invited you out here." Emerick motioned to the board of the game that had been set up and waiting for the challenger. Emerick motioned to the black side and awaited Elyx to make the first move of the game. during the process of the game, Emerick would take his moves neither too shortly or wait to long to move. Each move was thoughtfully planned out ahead of time, as if Emerick had thought of nearly every possible move ahead of time. At the same time, though, it seemed as though he was giving aay his position more than he should - it was a game for fun after all.

Well shoot, looks like he was unable to go for Foolsmate, since he was the one who had to make the first move. Well, the least he could do at this point is to make sure to avoid getting himself into that trap. So he would avoid moving the 5th pawn from left to right, up one space. Instead, he'd start with a classic move, moving the 4th pawn upwards two spaces. It was a simple set-up. Elyx was not any true genius with Chess, but it was certainly a great game for strategy, and as an Ace of Black Rose, that was key to winning any battle. Thanks! I'm glad to hear that from you. I take it you are a recent member of Black Rose, correct? Regardless if you know my name or not, I should introduce myself formally to you. My name is Elyx, Elyx Reiaki. I am the Fifth Wizard Saint of Fiore, and I am Black Rose's Guild Ace of Leaves.

"Indeed, I am a recent member of Black rose, though before that I had heard some of your exploits as such as they are before I joined black Rose. During that time I was a bit of a minstrel, traveling around and singing stories I'd heard. That was before I found out I'm a wizard." Emerick studied the movements of Elyx upon the board before them, moving out his fourth pawn on the left, a traditional polish opening it seemed. Well, there was no need for Emerick to break from tradition at the moment so he mirrored the moment of Elyx by placing his black pawn before the white pawn which had been moved. This moved the traditional polish opening to a symmetrical variation. Emerick was already planning ahead by limiting the range of movement which Elyx could move by. Emerick's true motivations were shrouded, and his emotions were closely guarded but a smile persisted.

He could not remember the last time he had played the game, it was not really a popular game back in Shadelle. The closest thing they had to something like chess was a different game called "Go". It helped with memorizing areas, especially with the bigger boards. It was highly encouraged since it was able to help with memory and being able to think very far ahead with the game. It was the difference between victory and defeat, and one space could have made the difference right there. But looking at the knight and bishop on the right side, he saw an opening that makes life for an opponent difficult. All he had to do was set up. Since he moved his own pawn away from the bishops path, he could move it to b5. There was only one step left now. Heh, I'm glad my name means something to some people. So you were a traveler before you arrived as well?

Emerick had seen the move of the bishop to B5 in one of his many future possibilities, fueled by the power of his ancestor to foresee the future to some degree. Emerick's mind had already processed in ways to counter this movement and it was a rather easy counter to do however this stayed at the back of Emerick's mind at the moment. Should he counter the movement or allow it was no longer a question as he had already chosen the path in which he must take. Emerick took up his knight and set it down at C6 as if baiting the bishop to take the piece. 

"Yes, I've wandered for a time, and I've played many games however I always seem to find myself drawn back to chess all the time. It is one of the greatest games of strategy known to myself. Something like Go, a game of memory, is also good for it's own reasons."

Go is a favorite back in my previous home. One of the most encouraged by my previous tribe. I'm a musician, so being able to memorize things was something I had to do, and Go was just the game for that. It also helped my spatial views as well, an added plus, surely.

Well, knights are now advancing. It was time for him to move a knight as well. The one on the right, where he was losing a bit of weight, but all for a good reason. The plan was still active, his opening was just as strong as he'd liked it to be. It all depends on his opponent, naturally. But in the end, it would result in a stronger hold on his opponent if he could play carefully and move stealthily. And so his knight would advance to f3.

Emerick had already anticipated the movement which Elyx had presented in moving the knight to F3, this was but one of nine possible moves which Emerick had already prepared for. The strategy of his chess battle with Elyx moved and flowed with many optional variations. The chess player was like a general lording over his army, deciding which flank to charge - which sacrifices had to be made. Of course, he had already streamlined all moves down to two choices, support the right flank where the bishop pressed in at the ranks, or to promote a left-flank charge to deal with that knight early. The decision was made, Emerick quickly took the pawn and placed it on F6, he would support the left flank to reduce the number of good moves that white knight could take.

Seems like his knight is being bluffed. If that were the case, he'll mimic the same strategy. Elyx is not going to be the only one put on lockdown in this game. If he goes down, everyone around him goes down with him. And so he would move a pawn upwards one space, not bothering to go for a two space opening with it. This allowed the black knight to back off from the scene provided one of the pieces went mad and began to attack. It was a threat, but nothing about it was hollow. A pawn is now located at C3.

The movement to C3 was a fore-seen circumstance rising from his lock-down of the Knight at C3, though it was an easy enough foe to defeat by simply avoiding it's blade. Now that Emerick had done well in the left flank charge, he had two more strong options presented to himself. emerick could either close off the left flank or the right flank at this moment, which would end with either completely shutting down that white knight or pushing that white bishop well back into the white field. Emerick took the pawn at G in his hand, then set it down at G5. This would lock down that knight and hopefully serve as two masterful strokes in one clever action.

"You're not that bad at this game, Elyx. I'd say you are certainly a good challenge, but even moreso that playing with you has been fun."

Thanks! You clearly have more experience though. Regardless, a challenge such as yourself is always fun to try to beat, even if it's not a successful attempt. The Sky Slayer would reply. His next move would be to move the left corner pawn from A2 to A3. There was a reason why he had done this, but only for long-term purposes. It was probably the longest he had ever though he would ever be thinking in a simple game such as chess. Now it was time to see what his opponent would do. If things went to plan, the process of his opponent breaking down will begin.