Meeting the Tower Master

By now, the crowd around the library had grown significantly larger. A friend told a friend, who told another, that a genius five-year-old kid was beating up the mages at Reborn chess.

The word spread fast. Soon, they came to the Magic Tower, flooding the second floor with spectators who were eager just for a chance to witness one of the games.

"Woah, who's that old dude?"

"He looks weak. Why are the other mages letting him be the next one in line?"

From what they could tell, the old man had just arrived and didn't even participate in the previous chess tournament. There were still plenty of other mages who hadn't gotten their chance.

Strangely enough, the competitive mages meekly stepped aside and let the old man approach the table. Silence was their only response.

No one objected. No one questioned it.

While most of the onlookers wondered what the old man's real identity was, one of the more knowledgeable citizens suddenly froze. His eyes widened in recognition.

"I recognize him… that white beard flowing down to his waist… that peaceful smile on his face, the white pointy hat…" He swallowed hard. "That's the Tower Master!"

The spectators gasped. 

Nobody had ever seen the rumored 8-star Tower Master of Kingsbridge!

And now, he was out in the open. 

This was unheard of. He was said to remain at the top of the Magic Tower at all times and only bothered to come down during the most significant events.

They didn't think this would be considered as one.

Michael's eyes narrowed.

He is indeed the Tower Master? Michael thought. I thought he was just joking about knowing an 8-star magic spell.

The Tower Master kept his smile as he took his seat across from Michael at the chess table.

"How about it, kid? Do we have an agreement? If you beat me, I will perform one of my finest spells in front of your very eyes."

Michael pondered for a second. "And what if I lose?"

The Tower Master smiled, impressed that a five-year-old kid had the presence of mind to worry about consequences.

"If you lose, you'll join our Magic Tower as my apprentice."

The Tower Master's declaration sent the mages into an uproar. 

Becoming the apprentice of the 8-star Tranquil Blazing King of Fire was an intensely coveted position that most prodigies failed to even qualify for and could only dream of; it was a privilege granted to the rarest of the talents.

They were confused as to why that was the losing condition. It was a prize for the five-year-old kid rather than a punishment.

And even then, they couldn't understand why the Tower Master offered such a prestigious honor to this child.

Sure, Michael was—by all extents—a prodigious talent in chess, but that wasn't enough to become the Tower Master's apprentice.

"Who is this kid anyway?"

"I thought he was just a normal child… but is there something special with him?"

Even the spectators above couldn't help but gossip about Michael. Most of the people here were well-versed in the magical world's rising mages, so they knew about the best talents and upcoming geniuses of the younger generation.

But none of them recognized Michael. He wasn't from the famous Magic families or the talented Knight families.

And that made him all the more intriguing.

If Michael was truly talented enough in magic that the Tower Master was offering him an apprenticeship, they should have known about him by now.

But Michael's identity was still shrouded in mystery.

They would have never thought that the youngest son of the Vanderbilt family, a lineage known only for their business acumen, would bring the most talented up-and-coming magician of the current times.

"What's wrong? Don't like the conditions?" the Tower Master asked, stroking his long white beard.

Although Michael wasn't worried about losing, he didn't like the idea of being forced to stay in the Magic Tower for his entire life.

"Are you perhaps scared of losing?" the old man teased.

And that was enough reason for Michael. 

"Let's play then," Michael said as he moved the white pawn.

_____

The moment the game began, Michael knew that he was playing with an opponent unlike any he had ever faced before. It was as if he was playing against someone from his previous life—someone who knew all the tricks and openings carved through a thousand years of chess history.

He had to think longer about making his moves and couldn't afford to be careless. A single mistake, and he would find himself on the losing side.

He had to get serious.

The rest of the mages and spectators observed the high-level battle between the two with nothing but silence, reigning in their gasps of surprise whenever one of them made an amazing move while their eyes were glued to the board all the time.

Time passed as Michael and the Tower Master engaged in a close battle, exchanging piece after piece in a relentless duel.

Slowly, their pieces lessened—until each side was playing with nothing but a handful of their pawns, a bishop, and their King.

"Woah… the two of them are head to head! I don't know who's winning."

"Nobody had ever lasted this long against the kid. Has he met his match?"

"I think the Tower Master will win. He's a world-class 8-star wizard, after all!"

The moves continued, with Michael's only bishop getting cornered by two advancing pawns.

He had a choice to make. 

He could choose to save his bishop but risk his King at an unfavorable position, or he could let his only bishop be captured, turning the tides on their battle for the Tower Master.

Either way, it seemed like the old man was about to win. 

It was a delicate situation.

[Would you like me to show you a checkmate win in 7 moves?] asked ChatJK1.

There's no need, Michael replied.

Although he looked like he was in trouble, Michael had seen enough late-game moves from some of the pros back in his previous life to know exactly how to turn this game into a win.

"It's your move next," the Tower Master said, his tone laced with a trace of haughtiness. He thought he already had the game in the bag.

But as Michael reached for his move, he chose to pick up a pawn on the opposite side of the board, completely surprising the crowd and the Tower Master.

The crowd gasped, thinking that the five-year-old boy had finally made a blunder.

But the more knowledgeable chess players considered Michael's move and tried to play it out in their heads.

And they quickly realized that this wasn't a mistake.

It was a killing move.

A frown formed on the Tower Master's face as his smirk faded. He too realized the significance of that seemingly blunder-like move.

After a few seconds, a smile broke out on his face, continuing with a raucous laughter that filled the library.

"HAHAHAHA! I lost!"