Chương 1701: [1598] – Y07.098 – A Man VIII

'What is this?' Although Qasem had, as one might say, demolished the little girl in dragonchess, he was surprised someone so young had learnt his personal favourite opening.

"Where did you learn to play dragonchess?"

"I learnt in the Iyr with my elders, and my sister," Konarot replied, her tail slumped, her lips forming a pout, for she had decided to use the General Asad's opening against the old man since Jirot had used the Slumbering Claw, into the Awakening Claw, which had done so well. However, he would have been used to it, and the girl also wished to be different.

"Do you know the little one?" Qasem asked.

"Jirot is my little sister," Konarot said.

"Ah! So you are the first greatest?" Qasem asked, his brows raising, but then again, the Iyr was so queer, so it wasn't a surprise that a bavwa would be related to a devilkin.

"Yes…" Konarot pouted further, for she had lost much quicker than her younger sister, who had at least ten moves over her.

"It is a shame you used Prince Asad's opening against me, for it is my speciality," Qasem admitted, surprised the girl had decided to use that particular opening, in which the wizards remained to the side, and the knights surrounded a priest, the second priest remaining beside the king, similar to the Slumbering King opening, developed by Slumber Claw.

However, if she had used the opening against someone specialised in the Slumbering King opening, often known as the Slumbering Claw opening, she would have had a much easier time.

"Konarot, what do we say after the game?" Adam whispered. Konarot blinked, and then mimicked her sister, shaking Qasem's hand after the game, and as the girls returned, Qasem made his way back to little Riham, who lasted a handful more moves, before rushing to her mother, and the exhibition continued.

As the games continued, Qasem revealed why he was considered the second greatest within Arisa, for though he played against three at once, this time playing three different boards move by move, within a moment of one another, he easily dismantled the players, and though some had decent showings, taking him well into the mid game, once the pieces had developed, only two took him towards the end game, though they surrendered soon into them.

Only three had brought him to the end game, and one of them was a little girl who was a bavwa, while the fourth would have been the devilkin girl, if only she had not wielded his favourite opening against him.

"Hey, Tamil," Adam whispered as the exhibition began to draw to a close.

"Can I give kal Qasem a gift?"

"Yes?"

"How much would be suitable?"

"Fifty silver is respectable," Tamil admitted.

"Though one hundred may be best."

"What about a thousand?"

"I suppose that would be fine too?" Tamil replied, for who did not like more silver?

"Could I ask him to play another match against my daughters?" Adam whispered.

"I'm sure for a thousand silver he would be willing to do at least that much…" Tamil blinked, for the half elf wielded his silver and gold as though it were a hammer.

"Kal, kal, may I ask a small favour?" the half elf called, reaching into his cloak, and he summoned an amber into his hand, placing it into the old man's palm, who winced as he felt the cool gem upon his palm, mostly because he was in thought of how much an amber was worth, certain it was a hundred gold.

"Yes, Mo?" This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Would you be willing to play against my daughters once more? I'd like to let them play against you once more, together."

"If the Mo wishes for it, I will," Qasem replied, placing the gem into his cloak, for he was fairly certain he had never received this much gold all in one go, or rather, not this much from a single person that wasn't already owed to him for previous work.

"Kaka, we should use the Waking Claw," Jirot whispered into Konarot's ear.

"Okay," Konarot replied, and as they set up the board, Qasem sat once more, waiting for the girls. He sipped his kafa, this time drinking an entire cup, and he lit his pipe once more, for he would need it if he were to face against the girls. He had the sneaking suspicion these girls together would be a formidable foe. He was right. As the girls sprung the Waking Claw onto him, the old man formed Prince Asad's opening, for against the Waking Claw, it was still decent.

"We have to sacrifice the wizard," Konarot said.

"Mmm…" Jirot groaned.

"I like the wizards…"

"It is best," Konarot said.

"You must do it, kaka. I cannot." Jirot's heart ached as they sacrificed their first wizard, which was the best move to take, for it would allow them to open up the flank once the old man took it.

'Why do they play at such a high level?' Qasem thought, taking the wizard, which was the best move, even if it did open up the flank, and as they traded a few more pieces. As the girls together took him to the end game, the moves slowed to a crawl. Each move now could spell a quick demise. Adam's eyes slipped to the side. Omen: 14, 16'I could give them a good roll, but…' Adam clenched his fists tightly, for how could he dare to ruin the game for his children, who wished to face the old man together?

Rajin watched the board, but he was not quite at the level in which he could assist the girls, even if he wanted to, and with Adam and Vonda beside their daughters, he couldn't step forward anyway. His eyes peeked down towards the trio of children watching intently.

"Good game," Qasem said, finally claiming victory, but he had only managed to do so after making enough sacrifices to the point he almost lost, the girls taking his hand and shaking it lightly, the old man then using his scarf to wipe the sweat off his face.

"Well played," Jirot said, letting out a pant, though quickly returned back to Jarot, who hugged the girl tight, allowing her to smother him with affection, for it was difficult to surrender his sister to the world twice in one day.

"Your daughters are quite good," Qasem admitted.

"Their early game and mid game is well developed, though Jirot is better, and though Konarot did not take me to the end game the first time, her end game is better."

"I have been blessed with such gifted children," Vonda admitted.

"They take after their mother." Adam chuckled, flashing a wide smile, for weren't his daughters adorable, and weren't they the best, these children of his?

"Shukhur, are you intending for them to play chess on the international stage?" Qasem asked.

"I believe, as Iyrmen, they may take another route," Vonda said, a gentle smile still upon her lips.

"Iyrmen?" Qasem replied, suddenly standing a little taller.

"Aha, they are children of the Iyr, even if we are not Iyrmen," Adam admitted, smiling innocently. Qasem's eyes darted to the nearby Iyrmen, and then to the pair standing before him, with the understanding he hadn't paid proper attention, for there was obviously something off about the situation. A Mo of Death, a Ray of Life, and Iyrmen, each who were probably quite capable, and then bavwa and devilkin. Ah, well, Iyrmen, not bavwa?

Vonda smiled innocently, for her presence had certainly saved his life, for there was no way he would act so rude to her children with her standing so close, and as they greeted one another once more, the Mo and Ray stepped away, returning back to the group.

Gus and Hussain thought about forming a greater connection with the Mo and the Ray, but it was awkward when Tamil and Aliya kept them to one side, and also because of how awkward it was to step forward when the half elf was smothering his children with such affection.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Adam asked, cutting into a piece of cake, bringing it up to his daughter's lips.

"Yes!" Jirot declared, eating the dessert from her father's spoon.

"I'm glad, I'm glad," the half elf said, smiling brightly, then his eyes fell to Konarot.

"Konababy, did you enjoy yourself?"

"Yes!" Konarot replied, biting the rest of the cake from her father's spoon.

"Gosh! My children, they're so good at playing dragonchess, and they're so good at watching with such great behaviour, and they're all so cute!" the half elf declared, embracing all five within his arms, and for a moment his heart throbbed.

'How can we talk to him when he's like that?'

"Make sure you thank Mr Tamil and Mrs Aliya for inviting us along to the exhibition," the half elf said.

"Thank you!" the children replied all at once.

'He really is the Crazy Father…'

"My children, aren't they so well behaved?" the half elf asked, flushing, though the smile upon his lips was shameless.

'Ah,' Qasem thought.

'He is strong?'