Elda saw Jibran standing in front of the designated room Noir talked about yesterday. He was staring at the chess board Elda put there.

  Sometimes Noir could come late, not because of being a sloth, but rather with the extremities of the land he’s bound to be dragged somewhere to damage control of whatever happened. While waiting for Noir, she enjoyed playing chess, with an attendant or anyone else.

  Elda passed Jibran and sat in front of the chessboard. While arranging it she felt his eyes peering.

  “What fascinated you about me? I can feel you sneaking a peek towards me.”

  Elda saw Jibran jolted and immediately bowed down. The tips of his ears are red. Elda smiled, feeling amused.

  “Forgive my Lady. It’s just that I heard a rumour that the Tenebris line didn’t look past the 20s. And I was astonished that the rumors were true,” said Jibran while going upright. He stared at her eyes, Elda had to say she’s impressed by his bravery. Not a lot of people dared to look into her eyes.

  “It’s not like we don’t age, we age slower than regular humans. It’s like between humans and animals. 14 in humans are so young yet on some animals, they’re technically an elderly,” explained Elda.

  Jibran nodded and looked away to the hall, seemingly deep in thought.

  “Don’t you feel a deep, endless loneliness? There may have been a lot of your acquaintances that you outlived. And I don’t know what race Tenebris was. But only your siblings and your cousins have the same condition, if I’m not mistaken?” asked Jibran as he was still staring ahead and not at her.

  “That’s why it’s strategic for me not to get too close with everyone but my kin and cousins. Even Olivier’s line has shorter lives. His grandchildren have quite a lot of time, but down the lines, it kept getting shorter. Almost the life expectancy of humans. That’s our people in this Kingdom now. Olivier’s distant descendants, and the descendants of humans that were loyal to my father.”

  Elda saw him looking down to the ground, not saying anything. A sentimental man then, more akin to his brothers than her or Freya and their father.

  “Come sit and play with me. Noir must have been delayed by something,” offered Elda.

  “If my Lady offered it, who am I to refuse?” Answered Jibran.

  Jibran looked at her and then the board, before settling on her again. From near the door he walked to the seat across from her. He sat quite stiffly, obviously uncomfortable.

  “Played before?” she asked, while rotating the board so that she got black. It was an inane question, because either way she would give him the first turn.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “Only scarcely. I know only the basic moves of each piece. If you’re looking for a challenging opponent, I am not a suitable one,” replied Jibran as he examined the board. He furrowed his brows, maybe trying to recall the moves of each piece. Then he moves his pawn two space forwards.

  “Yet I saw interest earlier. Here, I’ll give you some moves you may not know yet as we play,” Elda stopped as she saw him shivering.

  “But besides that, perhaps your clothes are not suitable for this weather,” continued Elda as she moved her piece.

  “I know as much. But we really don’t have fabrics to endure the cold,” Jibran lifted his head up to look at her rather than the pieces.

  “Well that much is true. I imagine there would not be a lot of animals with furs either, being in the warmest land. Although this is just an assumption,” said Elda as she moves her pawn two steps forward too.

  That would make the most sense, she thought. He widened his eyes slightly.

  “No, that’s true. Animals and creatures usually adapt to the weather too,” he replied, eyes focusing back on the game.

  They played a few next moves with the pawns, at some point Jibran widened his eyes.

  “What was that my Lady?”

  “En Passant, one of the moves in chess that I assume no one has taught you yet. When you moved your pawn two squares forward and landed it right beside mine, I could eliminate it by moving diagonally. Remember that.”

  “I shall, my Lady, thank you for the generous teaching.”

  Elda wouldn’t call it generous, just a simple instruction. But then again politics and their courtesy, it’s not like Elda hasn’t done that. Some were veiled sarcasm or even threats. Though from time to time she would think that it made some things very exaggerated and she would try to refrain from rolling her eyes. They kept playing in silence after that.

  “What’s this? You put up quite a fight despite being a beginner?” Remarked Elda. Genuinely surprised by Jibran.

  “As I have said before, I prided myself on my mind and intellect instead of brawn,” replied Jibran with a smile that reached his eyes. The first positive sentiment Elda saw of the man in front of him since they first met.

  “Well you’ve proven yourself somewhat capable, but a little advice, be careful of pride.”

  Right then she checked his king. Jibran’s joyful face turned into frown.

  “See what pride costs you. A weakness, from somewhere you didn’t expect.”

  As she said that Jibran seemed to considering all

  option to get out of it. But it was a checkmate so he bowed slightly and conceded instead..

  “I should’ve known.”

  Jibran leaned back on his chair, and relaxed in resignation. Elda flicked his king gently with a playful smile displayed on her face.

  “Yet you do not. As do I, even if I wish to know everything I couldn’t. Even Noir doesn't know everything, while being the man closest to achieve that. That’s just a reality we all need to accept.”

  She smiled bitterly and gave a long sigh. Jibran looked at her curiously, silently prompting her to continue.

  “Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise, that man, he carried burdens more than I can bear. I know that.”

  What Elda didn’t expect was Jibran’s eyes that turned softer. Eyes filled with sympathy, for the nation that has been quite an opposing force, even if not a full-fledged enemy.

  “I guess a lot of things become a responsibility in that way.”

  “You’re quite bright, catch up quite fast.”

  “Just a tad bit of reflection could get anyone to that conclusion.”

  Humble it seems. The man in front of Elda seems genuine enough. A person who wears his heart on his sleeves. In which he tried to hides really poorly, in Elda’s opinion. Though probably enough to fool some bumbling degenerates that unfortunately exist in every court.

  “True, but how many people reflect?”

  “From my experience, which is much less than yours or many Lords, not quite enough my Lady.”

  “I shall say the same.”