Chapter 9 - Caissa Thea Skaki
Several years before the present day…
Somewhere within the Olympus Empire, a young maiden can be spotted amidst the bustling streets, appearing to be around the age of a teen.
Her once adored father, who was the very pillar of her existence, had mysteriously vanished without a trace! Depriving her of familial care and leaving her heartbroken and bewildered, she was miraculously given the benevolence of her father's relatives, who took her in and cared for her.
In spite of her parentless self, she possessed a remarkable resilience while adapting to her surroundings to such an extent that she could thrive!
As a result of her engagement in odd jobs from running errands for local merchants to assisting the neighborhood, her own labor bore fruits in the form of her sustenance, garments and daily necessities.
And, even though she donned the mantle of a commoner, she exuded innate brilliance throughout her endeavors. No matter how plaguing those hardships were, she confronted those trials head-on!
It could also be said that her father's disappearance gave birth to her everlasting determination, compelling her to carve the path through this world and thrust herself into the adversities in front of her.
Be that as it may, a couple of years passed when she reached the tender age of fourteen, putting her in a situation where she must resolve it promptly before it worsens.
With the appearance of the Adventurers Guild, adventurers have outspread throughout the empire after the alluring commissions, impeccable services and bountiful rewards have captivated everyone's attention.
In other words, this sudden emergence has caused her menial jobs to seem less enticing. As such, although the temptation to enlist as an adventurer became apparent, the young girl dismissed it under the Guild's prohibition of underage employment.
In her jobless state, her father's good-natured brother came forth with an opportunity to extend an offer to his niece as always. She was approached by him and was asked to work at one of his clients' places for a few days.
Already struggling to find a job as well as unwilling to compromise her deeply cherished principles of repaying those who have lent a helping hand to her, she immediately accepted her caretaker's sincere offer without delay.
Unbeknownst to her uncle, his decision to entrust his niece with this task would set her on an unforeseen journey, completely diverging his expectations of his niece.
—Whoosh!
Little did the girl know, when she was diligently cleaning the attic and arranging the books in their proper order onto the bookshelves, a peculiar board suddenly became visible after doing a gentle nudge to the nearby bookcase.
It was in that fleeting moment that Caissa Thea Skaki, a mere commoner, found herself mesmerized by a chessboard. Her glance was fixated as if she was in a trance!
—Fwish…
With each passing second, she found herself staring at a scene of enigmatic pieces stationing themselves onto black and white squares, continuing to be unaware of the pawn within her grasp!
Not only that, whenever Caissa discerned those pieces, a cascade of rules etched themselves into her consciousness. And at that moment, the unprecedented promotion of a lowly pawn becoming a towering queen fascinated her!
But what of the piece she subconsciously held in her hand? What significance did it hold?
"Huh?"
Her eyes widened with bewilderment when there was unexpectedly a queen within the palm of her hand. The surprise in her expression couldn't last long when multiple chessboards played out in motion, supplying her limited mind with intricate patterns, strategies, and profound principles within them!
It was as though the essence of chess itself was inscribed inside her head, seemingly like a Blessing in disguise…
"Caissa. Caissa! Wake up!" A voice reverberated inside the attic, startling the young girl from her slumber.
"...Uncle?"
"What are you doing with that chessboard? You're practically clutching it."
"Ohh." Caissa realized, yet chose to cling onto it tightly.
"Now that we've completed my client's request, we can finally leave. No need to worry, I already have more clients waiting in line. I can arrange another job for you if you want, Caissa."
"Yes." Caissa rose to her feet while her unwavering gaze faced her uncle.
"What is it?"
"May I keep this chessboard? It has utterly captivated me. Can I have it?"
"Well, it's not really mine to begin with, since it belongs to the client."
"If possible, could you arrange a meeting between the client and I? I wish to converse with him. If it doesn't go well, I'll accept a loan for this item instead."
"Caissa, are you truly committed to this?"
Waiting for a response was futile because his niece's silence told everything that he should know. And so, he sighed in defeat while rubbing his chin to think of a solution to this.
"What should I do? I can't simply allow you to meet him. It wouldn't be appropriate for an unsupervised young girl like you to rendezvous with an adult man. And granting you a loan while you're still a teenager... Is there a particular reason behind your request? It's just a board game."
"No, it's more than that. I witnessed
something extraordinary within this chessboard, and it has ignited an insatiable curiosity within me. Uncle, I understand you perceive me as a logical and sensible niece, but may I act differently just this once?"
"Might as well. Since this is the first time you sought my assistance, I'll help you. However, you have to leave quickly while I explain the situation to my client. The worst I can expect is a few minor complaints, but that's all."
"Thank you."
A moment to remember; the notion of repaying her uncle's boundless kindness dearly ingrained itself inside her head, waiting until the day finally came for her to fully commit to it wholeheartedly.
—Chitter-Chatter…
Once two years passed by, an unprecedented announcement that was posted on the bulletin board, entirely caught everyone's attention, including the young teenager. It was informing those who wished to participate in a Chess Tournament with the chance to receive a rewarding prize!
Driven by this newfound opportunity to repay her uncle and his wife, Caissa resolved herself to participate in the Chess Tournament to engage in fierce battles of intellect to test how far she had gotten through her own self-taught effort!
—CHEEERRRR!
Her irides faced forward at the contestant as though she was confronting her destiny head-on, shimmering her lustrous silvery hue under the sun's gentle touch. Not to mention, her tranquil composure enveloped her when she was clutching her queen piece with unfaltering determination.
"Time up. The match's winner is Caissa Thea Skaki. Please remove your hands from the board and pieces!" The arbiter's voice rang out for the two contestants to listen clearly.
After waiting patiently for her opponent's defeat, Caissa, who exuded an ethereal charm through her flowing locks of platinum blonde, stood up to prepare for the next round!
—BUSTLING!
Slowly but surely, the tournament was showered with a thunderous roar erupting from the crowd, unknowingly intermingling their blaring outcry with the commentators' voices!
"Dear spectators, the second round has come to a close. Nonetheless, it isn't the time to be relaxing as the third round is sure to commence once more after a short intermission!" Nathan's words faded into the background when an ear-splitting horn reverberated!