Playing Chess and Worries for the Future

"Will you join the expedition?" Arnold asked as he moved a chess piece. The reinforcement army needs a capable leader and he believed that Aethelwolf was the perfect candidate for the position.

Aethelwolf chuckled and shook his head. He then moved his chess piece to counter Arnold's move. "I don't want to be involved in another war again. I already made a promise to my family."

Hearing this, Arnold sighed in disappointment. Aethelwolf had just broken through the Nascent Soul Realm, but his aura was not any less compared to him and the other patriarchs of the noble families.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he only discovered that he was losing the chess game. "Eh?"

Arnold put the matter on hold and focused on the game. He had never lost before when he played with his friends.

After putting more focus, he managed to prolong the game for another thirty moves, but he still ended up losing.