Chereads / The mysterious prodigy / Chapter 18 - Battol's moment

Chapter 18 - Battol's moment

Professor Ali

Good morning, My dear Students.

Professor Ali

It feels like I haven't seen you for such a long time.

Professor Ali

For 2 weeks you were away from campus, some of you left with Doctor Ahmed on a noble mission to help at the refugee camps

Professor Ali

While others left to experience participating in the Olympics

Professor Ali

I'm sure you all learned notable lessons

Professor Ali

I can't wait to hear all about it

Professor Ali

Miss Malak, you went to the refugee camps, right?

Malak

Yeah, I did

Professor Ali

Tell me, what was it like?

Malak

10 times scarier than it seems on the news

Malak

Honestly, when we first arrived I regretted going there immediately

Malak

But in the end, I'm glad I did, I just don't know how to explain it

Malak

There are two voices in my heart

Malak

One who wishes we never went and learned about all those cruel things that happen at war

Malak

you know the Coward side of me that refuses to believe that we live in such a cruel world

Malak

And the other voice is telling me that I saw with my own eyes, that I must overcome my cowardly nature and become strong to help the misfortuned ones

Professor Ali

I see, you're in a state of duality

Professor Ali

I'm proud of you, you've become honest and realistic throughout this journey

Professor Ali

What about you Rania?

Rania

I've always heard about wars from the news and people who have been in wars

Rania

But seeing it with my own eyes is a whole different thing

Rania

I believe that we underestimated the situation didn't prepare ourselves and didn't take this seriously enough before we go

Rania

But again I don't believe there is a way for anyone to prepare for such a situation

Professor Ali

Exactly dear

Professor Ali

Numerous things will happen to us in life that we won't prepared for

Professor Ali

What about you Karim

Professor Ali

I heard that even though you're such a great swimmer you decided to go to the refugee camps instead of pursuing fame in the competition

Karim

Yeah, it was an experience indeed

Professor Ali

Would you like to share it with us?

Karim

I'd rather not Professor

Professor Ali

Why not?

Karim

I can't find the words to best describe it

Karim

So I'd rather keep silent than leave a a false impression

Professor Ali

I see

Professor Ali

Ok now

Professor Ali

I wanna hear about the Olympics

Professor Ali

Let's talk to our champs who I'm so proud of

Professor Ali

Miss Lili

Professor Ali

I heard you engraved your name in everyone's memories there

Lili

What? Me!

Lili

No way, I wasn't that good

Lili

I only managed to win a bronze medal and I barely survived my last match

Lili

You should have seen Nora she played much better than me and she won a silver medal

Professor Ali

Oh come on, you don't need to be so humble

Lili

What? Me!

Lili

No way, I wasn't that good

Lili

I only managed to win a bronze medal and I barely survived my last match

Lili

You should have seen Nora she played much better than me and she won a silver medal

Professor Ali

Oh come on, you don't need to be so humble

Lili

I guess I did play better than most people expected me to

Lili

And much much better than I expected

Lili

I mean, It was an incredible experience

Lili

I'm grateful that I had that opportunity

Professor Ali

Congratulations Lili

Professor Ali

You worked hard and earned your medal

Professor Ali

Don't take away the right to celebrate this achievement from yourself

Lili

Ok, thanks professor

Professor Ali

What about you Maya?

Professor Ali

Have you finally been able to satisfy your passion?

Maya

Yeah, I'm So glad I participated

Maya

The defeat broke me at first but I've decided to get over it

Maya

I'm the kind of person who lives their life without regrets

Professor Ali

As expected of you Maya, I'm so proud of you

Professor Ali

Anyone else would like to share?

Professor Ali

Miss Nora

Professor Ali

How was your experience?

Professor Ali

You're a champion who won a golden medal.

Professor Ali

Tell us all about it

Nora

I don't know

Nora

So much happened but in the end, I'm so grateful that I participated, I'm happy and proud of my achievement.

Professor Ali

Ok, if you say so

Nora

God, I'm so tired

Nora

I can't believe it's finally over

Nora

I'm going to take a long rest

Nora

I wonder if Battol is doing well in the chess tournament

Nora

She will be back in a couple of days, her tournament took place later than all other competitions

Nora

I hope she is doing well

Nora

I'll pray for her, then I'll go to sleep

Battol

Wow

Battol

Even if I don't end up winning anything at least I get to enjoy this luxurious trip

Battol

I should thank the coach Warda for accepting me as her student even though I was so bad at chess

Battol

My life is so fun at this point, I don't want this trip to end

Professor Warda

Battol

Battol

Yes, coach, I'm coming

The battle opened the door to her coach and welcomed her

Battol

Please have a seat coach

Professor Warda

Are you comfortable in this room?

Battol

Yes, I'm very comfortable

Battol

Good job finding this hotel

Professor Warda

I'm not the one who takes care of these sorts of things my dear

Professor Warda

There is a special department on campus that takes care of the traveling arrangements for all the courses

Battol

Oh, I did not know that

Battol

Bless them for treating us like royalties

Professor Warda

Battol, if you think that we are on some sort of vacation

Professor Warda

That you should enjoy your time here no matter what happens tomorrow

Professor Warda

Then I must tell you

Professor Warda

You're wrong

Professor Warda

We are not on a vacation

Professor Warda

You and I will have lunch now, then we will practice till you faint

Professor Warda

Do you understand?

Battol

Yes coach

Battol

But shouldn't I get enough rest for tomorrow

Professor Warda

Of course, I'll let you go to bed early

Professor Warda

That's why we will go eat and start practicing at once

Battol

Yes, coach

Coach Warda did not go easy at all with Battol

But it was working

This time Battol managed to win a few matches against her coach

Professor Warda

Impressive

Professor Warda

You have finally become a match for me

Professor Warda

I'm proud of you

Professor Warda

You have come such a long way

Professor Warda

I believe that you will defeat everyone tomorrow

Battol

Thanks, coach

Battol

I wouldn't have learned that much on my own

Battol

I'm honored to call you my coach

Battol

I promise to make you proud tomorrow

Professor Warda

I'm sure you will

Professor Warda

Now, let's keep practicing

Battol

I thought we were done

Professor Warda

What are you talking about?

Professor Warda

We will keep going

Battol

Yes coach

Surprisingly Battol wasn't nervous

The tournament is finally starting

Professor Warda

You will do great

Battol

Thanks, coach

Professor Warda

Believe in yourself and don't get nervous

Battol

I'm not nervous

Professor Warda

Are you sure?

Battol

Yeah, I'm used to chess tournaments

Professor Warda

Alright do your best

Battol

Thanks

ily and quickly

Battol

Hey, coach did you see that?

Battol

That girl wasn't as good as she seemed

Professor Warda

Don't get full of yourself, it's normal for the first match to be won easily

Professor Warda

You need to stay focused

Battol

Ok

Battle won the second match quickly too

Battol

Checkmate!

Battol

I'm unstoppable today!

Professor Warda

Be modest

Battol

Yes, coach

Battle won all 3 matches on the first day

She successfully qualified for the finals

Scene

Indoor 1_1

Battol

I was on fire, I destroyed them

Professor Warda

Good job, but stay humble

Battol

Yes, coach

Battol

All the tactics you taught me were so efficient

Battol

You're the best coach ever

Professor Warda

I already know that I've taught many champions before you

Professor Warda

And you are my newest masterpiece

Professor Warda

But you must maintain a modest mentality

Professor Warda

You need to stay focused, once your ego gets in your head you will be blinded

Battol

I understand

Battol

I won't let down the couch

Battol

I promise

Professor Warda

Now let's get back to the hotel and rest

Professor Warda

This is just the beginning

Professor Warda

The real challenge starts tomorrow

Coach Warda and Battol went back to the hotel

The finals will take place the next day

This time Battol will face chess champions

All she learned from coach Warda and James will be put to the test

Battol

Ya Allah, I'm so tired

Battol

My head hurts and my eyes are killing me

Battol

I just wanna sleep, I'm hungry but I don't have the energy to get up

Battol

I wanna call my mom or Nora and tell them how awesome I was

Battol

But I'm too tired to even stretch my arm and reach for the phone

While she was thinking about getting up and calling her mom and her friend her phone started ringing

Battol

Ok, I'll get up

Battle talked to her mom on the phone and told her about everything that happened today

Her mom wished her all the best and told her that she was so proud of her

Battol

Ok, Mom, I'll talk to you later

Battol

I love you too, take care

Professor Warda

Good morning Battol

Battol

Good morning coach

Professor Warda

Have you slept well?

Battol

Yes coach, thank you for asking

Professor Warda

We will have breakfast on our way to the tournament, we can't be late for the finals

Battol

Ok

Professor Warda

Remember, build and domain at the board from the beginning of the match

Professor Warda

Don't make a move unless you're 100% sure of all possible outcomes

Battol

Yeah I know

Battol

Don't worry I got this

Professor Warda

Your match is about to begin

Professor Warda

Good luck

Battol

That's weird

Professor Warda

What is it?

Battol

I'm suddenly feeling a shiver

Battol

The atmosphere of the place suddenly changed, I felt like it is getting cold here

Professor Warda

Don't worry, you will be fine

Professor Warda

Take a deep breath

Sarah

Hello, you must be Battol

Sarah

I'm Sarah, I was told that you're my opponent

Battol

Hi, I'm Battle

Battol

Nice to meet you

Sarah

The pleasure is mine

The semi-final match Between Battol and Sarah just started

Sarah

Nice move

Sarah

It's rare to see someone using the Queen's gambit opening

Battol

It's become a habit, I just don't like using other openings

Sarah

I see

Sarah

Well

Sarah

Bad news for you, this opening is very weak against someone like me

Sarah

Let's see your next move

Battol

Don't underestimate me

Battol

Do you think I'll be easily cornered by you?

Sarah

Oh, dear

Sarah

Look at yourself

Sarah

You have already fallen into my trap

Battol was in big trouble indeed

Battol

God, I can't believe I've made such a stupid mistake

She was in a tight situation, she either lost her queen or the bishop

Sarah

Your clock is running

Battol

Just be quiet

Not only she was cornered but she also had less time than her opponent

Things were not working in her favor

Sarah

What's wrong sweetie?

Sarah

You can just quit and spare yourself the humiliation

Battol

The one who is going to be humiliated here is you

Battle tried to make the wisest movies and play it safe

She was focusing on the defense around her king, she did not want to risk a quick loss

Sarah

You're gonna have to move those paws sooner or later

Sarah

You can't hide from me forever

Battol

You're such a blabbering type of girl

Battol

Just shut up and play

Sarah

Alright

Sarah

I'll quietly destroy you

As the game carried on Battol realized that she had no plan whatsoever to win

All she's been doing is defending and avoiding her destined loss

Battol

This is wrong

Battol

If I just keep defending I'll lose sooner or later, my clock will run out

Sarah

So you have finally realized it

Sarah

I'll end this gently if you want

Battol

No, I will be the one to end this

Battol

I'd never give up, in the worst case if I can't win I'll take you down with me

Sarah

We'll see

All the tactics she learned from her coach led her to this situation

Her coach's strategies were rational and logical

But to win this she needs a suicidal tactic

She needs to take a risk to turn the situation around

Sarah

What is this move?

Sarah

Are you really that desperate or have you given up on the game?

Battol

I told you, I never give up

Sarah

I must admit you're a very entertaining opponent

Sarah

But I can't play around with you any longer

Sarah

I'll just end this match

ing to win the match in her next turn

But to her surprise, instead of seeing Battol thinking hard about a way to defend her king

She started attacking back

both of them were pointing their guns at each other

Sarah

I see

Sarah

That is what you meant when you said you were taking me down with you

Sarah

Cool, but I'm not done yet

Battol

I'm not done either

Sarah made her last move, she threatened Battol's king again to take down the castle

But to her surprise, that move ended her

She forgot about Battol's pawn who was waiting there to take down her precious queen

This stupid mistake that she made at the end of the game ended her career

Her ego and stubbornness have paved the way for Battol's victory

Sarah

Wait, this is an obvious mistake, there is no way I'd seriously do that

Battol

But you just did

Sarah

This is silly, I was distracted I demand a takeback

Battol

Distracted?

Battol

By what?

Battol

Why would I grant you a talkback and ruin my victory?

Battol

Sorry honey

Battol

I don't feel generous today

Battol

This is my victory

After Sarah lost her Queen she couldn't do anything