As her laughter faded, the girl wiped the fake tears from her cheeks. Her soft humming helped ease Saber's embarrassment.
"Alright..."
The girl took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"Mister, I suggest you stop misusing the ability my friend gave you."
The moment she spoke, the mood between them shifted to something serious.
"I know it's a passive ability, but you can control it with your willpower."
She continued, "You've likely figured out the consequences of THAT ability, right? It can be useful in many ways, but it comes at a great cost."
"Possibly, you might—"
The girl caught herself and paused. "My apologies. I wasn't meant to explain that just yet." She cleared her throat and looked away, her cheeks flushing.
As she gathered her thoughts, Saber quietly observed her before shifting the conversation. "Can you tell me more about how I died?" he asked, tilting his head.
The girl thought for a moment before answering, "Your body and soul almost got eaten by your sword."
"....."
Eaten?
Saber blinked in confusion. Shaking off the puzzling response, he asked, "What's up with that sword? I've never heard of a sword that can eat souls in this world."
"It's obvious by its na... I mean, I wonder~"
She trailed off, clearly aware of the sword's nature but stopping short. Was this information that important? Saber couldn't decipher her expression, so he decided not to press further on the topic.
"...."
"...."
"...er..."
"...er, what?"
Silence hung between them, thick and awkward.
Saber broke it first. "What do you do for fun in this place?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
The girl paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "I play with myself."
Saber raised an eyebrow. "I get that, but I meant what game do you play?"
Her expression changed, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Mmm~ Wanna play chess?"
"...Chess?"
"Yeah! I know you know how to play, so don't even think about refusing!" She stood tall, hands on her hips, chin raised defiantly.
He couldn't help but admire her spirit, despite the odd situation. With a sigh, he replied, "Just don't regret it, okay?"
"Umu~! I won't. As long as you don't hold back!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious, and despite himself, Saber felt a small smile tug at the corners of his mouth.
This might just be an interesting challenge.
...
..
.
Or not.
"Are you a mind reader?"
"…No."
"Then how on earth do you predict, counter, and corner me every time?!"
"You're just a bad player."
"Even so! It's like you know my moves before I make them!"
Saber sensed the girl's pout, her frustration palpable in the air.
"Mou~! Let's play another round!"
"This is the 256th match! Seriously, can't I get a breather?" Saber leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, trying to ignore the chess pieces laid out chaotically on the board between them.
"Didn't you say you wanted to adopt me for a month and teach me everything?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Saber raised an eyebrow. "I'm starting to regret that decision…"
She raised her tiny hands in a mock surrender. "Please~! Just this one more game!"
Saber sighed, wiping a hand over his face. He glanced at the scattered pieces, "Fine, but if I win again, you owe me a favor."
"Deal!" She immediately reset the board with a determined glint in her eyes.
After reaching the 300th match, the girl grimaced, her hair slightly disheveled from the marathon of games. "Why?! Why can't I ever beat you?!"
With a frustrated slam, she knocked her hands against the chessboard, sending pawns tumbling to the floor. She rested her head on her arm, sprawled out on the wooden floor, showing a dramatic display of defeat.
"Can we stop now…? My brain is melting," Saber muttered, trying to hide a chuckle upon seeing her reaction.
"No! Not until I win!" She glared at him, her competitive spirit igniting once more.
"Let you win? Weren't you the one who insisted I don't hold back?" he replied, chuckling despite himself.
Throwing a nearby pawn across the room in frustration, she huffed, "It's not fair! You know all my strategies!"
There she goes again with her complain... He thought as he rolled his eyes elsewhere.
"...Wait, how long have we been playing anyway?" Saber looked at the window, familiar rays of sunlight casting long shadows across the room.
Currently, they were living inside a small shack, a rustic haven set against a backdrop of towering trees and vibrant wildflowers.
A single window, framed with tattered curtains, let in soft beams of sunlight that danced across the floor. The interior was simple yet functional, featuring a small wood-burning stove, a table made from reclaimed wood, and two chairs.
"About a day and a half," she replied, glancing up at him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"That long? No wonder my head hurts! I think we need a snack break at least." He stood up, stretching his arms above his head, feeling the tension in his muscles.
"But I can't lose momentum!" she protested, scrunching her nose as she continued picking up the pieces, methodically rearranging them into order.
"Your persistence is infuriating," he muttered, throwing an empty snack wrapper into the trash bin as he made his way to the window.
"Just one more game!" she called after him, her voice echoing with determination.
Saber paused, shaking his head with a forceful smile. "Alright, let's see if you can actually surprise me this time."
Heaving out a deep sigh, he returned to his seat, readying himself for the next round.
Maybe losing once wouldn't be so terrible after all.
...As if he was planning to lose.