Post by Ark Ghiest on Jan 22, 2013 23:11:26 GMT -5
Ark remembered it as if it was yesterday.
“My Rook takes your Bishop.”
The old man couldn’t help but smirk as he moved his piece to take Ark’s bishop, putting the younger player in even more dire straits then he was the move before. Looking over the board Ark figured he was going to lose again, he always lost to Rushi. It wasn’t that he lacked the intelligence to play chess, but that he tended to try and play defensively, trying to goad the old man into a fatal mistake. The problem with that plan is that Rushi never made mistakes. Tapping his chin a little Ark would glance over at his opponent before reaching to move one of his pawns forward, trying once again to block the old man from getting more pieces into position near his King.
“You do not have me beat yet Master Diki.”
Confident with his placement of the pawn he would remove his finger from the piece to look up at Rushi and would be surprised to see the old man grinning over at him. What was it this time? Had he just stepped into a trap the more skilled player had set up for him? When Ark’s eyes start to drift back down towards the board Master Diki would clear his throat before speaking.
“It is nothing that you did in the game Ark, but now is the perfect time to teach you a small lesson. When it comes to how you play chess and how you carry yourself in combat you always focus on defense too much. I know our matches are simply for training purposes and there is no intent to hurt each other, you must realize that there is a point at which you must take the offensive. When it comes to a real fight, against an opponent that is not going to hold back, you might not be able to simply hold back and defend yourself. You understand this do you not?”
“Of course I do, but isn’t it best to simply avoid the fight in the first place? I know I cannot control everyone around me and their actions, but I always keep myself at a distance when it comes to conflict. If one keeps to himself he is more likely to be left alone by others.”
Master Diki would nod some as his hand moves to grab the one Knight he still had left on the board. Picking the piece up he would move it right next to the pawn Ark had moved. It was exactly what the younger play her been counting on. If Rushi wanted him to go on the offensive more often then he would. Reaching for his last Bishop he would slide it over, taking the Knight the man had just placed.
“Perhaps you are right Master Diki, if the opportunity presents itself I should go on the offensive, especially if I can end the match quickly.”
“That is not what I was getting at Ark. My point is that you may not always be able to talk your way out of a fight. There are many individuals in the world that spend their days looking for others to challenge and at some point you might run into one of them. I just want you to be prepared should you come across this type of scenario. Not everyone is as kind as you and I.”
Master Diki would take his Queen this time and slide it down to take the Bishop that Ark had just moved, a wide grin spreading on the old man’s face. “Checkmate” Ark would glance down at that, soon realizing that it was no bluff, his King was now trapped and there was indeed no move that he could make. With a sigh he would knock over his King. Go on the offensive…well that didn’t work.
Opening his eyes Ark would look out across the green fields of Namek, a small smirk on his lips as he comes out of his mediation. Despite having spent five years with old man Rushi, he had never won a single chess game. Even though he had lost that game it was a fond memory, one of many that he had from that time. It was an important lesson he knew, but so far it wasn’t one that he had come to need. Since his time on Earth he had been able to enjoy a peaceful existence on Namek, spending most of his time alone in the plains. Unfolding his legs he would shove up to his feet, stretching his arms up above him as he did.
Looking towards the East as he had so many times in the past couple of days he would frown a little. He was no expert in reading signatures of others, but he had been able to tell that there were a number of individuals stronger them him off in that direction somewhere. Not sure who they were or what they were doing he decided it was best to stay to himself, as he had done for the past year. Ark had met a number of Namekians on his travels into the Ancient City, but only in passing when he needed to get some supplies or something.
Turning away from that direction he would head over to his small pack, taking out the water skin he always carried with him. Taking a long drink from the container he would then re-cork the skin before tossing it back onto his pack. Hopping several times he would loosen up his legs since he had been sitting with them folded for several hours as he looks up to the sky. Looking like it was going to be another good day with plenty of space all to himself. Choosing to leave Earth over a year ago had been the right decision, how could one beat the relaxation you could find in the empty fields of Namek? It was perfect.
“My Rook takes your Bishop.”
The old man couldn’t help but smirk as he moved his piece to take Ark’s bishop, putting the younger player in even more dire straits then he was the move before. Looking over the board Ark figured he was going to lose again, he always lost to Rushi. It wasn’t that he lacked the intelligence to play chess, but that he tended to try and play defensively, trying to goad the old man into a fatal mistake. The problem with that plan is that Rushi never made mistakes. Tapping his chin a little Ark would glance over at his opponent before reaching to move one of his pawns forward, trying once again to block the old man from getting more pieces into position near his King.
“You do not have me beat yet Master Diki.”
Confident with his placement of the pawn he would remove his finger from the piece to look up at Rushi and would be surprised to see the old man grinning over at him. What was it this time? Had he just stepped into a trap the more skilled player had set up for him? When Ark’s eyes start to drift back down towards the board Master Diki would clear his throat before speaking.
“It is nothing that you did in the game Ark, but now is the perfect time to teach you a small lesson. When it comes to how you play chess and how you carry yourself in combat you always focus on defense too much. I know our matches are simply for training purposes and there is no intent to hurt each other, you must realize that there is a point at which you must take the offensive. When it comes to a real fight, against an opponent that is not going to hold back, you might not be able to simply hold back and defend yourself. You understand this do you not?”
“Of course I do, but isn’t it best to simply avoid the fight in the first place? I know I cannot control everyone around me and their actions, but I always keep myself at a distance when it comes to conflict. If one keeps to himself he is more likely to be left alone by others.”
Master Diki would nod some as his hand moves to grab the one Knight he still had left on the board. Picking the piece up he would move it right next to the pawn Ark had moved. It was exactly what the younger play her been counting on. If Rushi wanted him to go on the offensive more often then he would. Reaching for his last Bishop he would slide it over, taking the Knight the man had just placed.
“Perhaps you are right Master Diki, if the opportunity presents itself I should go on the offensive, especially if I can end the match quickly.”
“That is not what I was getting at Ark. My point is that you may not always be able to talk your way out of a fight. There are many individuals in the world that spend their days looking for others to challenge and at some point you might run into one of them. I just want you to be prepared should you come across this type of scenario. Not everyone is as kind as you and I.”
Master Diki would take his Queen this time and slide it down to take the Bishop that Ark had just moved, a wide grin spreading on the old man’s face. “Checkmate” Ark would glance down at that, soon realizing that it was no bluff, his King was now trapped and there was indeed no move that he could make. With a sigh he would knock over his King. Go on the offensive…well that didn’t work.
Opening his eyes Ark would look out across the green fields of Namek, a small smirk on his lips as he comes out of his mediation. Despite having spent five years with old man Rushi, he had never won a single chess game. Even though he had lost that game it was a fond memory, one of many that he had from that time. It was an important lesson he knew, but so far it wasn’t one that he had come to need. Since his time on Earth he had been able to enjoy a peaceful existence on Namek, spending most of his time alone in the plains. Unfolding his legs he would shove up to his feet, stretching his arms up above him as he did.
Looking towards the East as he had so many times in the past couple of days he would frown a little. He was no expert in reading signatures of others, but he had been able to tell that there were a number of individuals stronger them him off in that direction somewhere. Not sure who they were or what they were doing he decided it was best to stay to himself, as he had done for the past year. Ark had met a number of Namekians on his travels into the Ancient City, but only in passing when he needed to get some supplies or something.
Turning away from that direction he would head over to his small pack, taking out the water skin he always carried with him. Taking a long drink from the container he would then re-cork the skin before tossing it back onto his pack. Hopping several times he would loosen up his legs since he had been sitting with them folded for several hours as he looks up to the sky. Looking like it was going to be another good day with plenty of space all to himself. Choosing to leave Earth over a year ago had been the right decision, how could one beat the relaxation you could find in the empty fields of Namek? It was perfect.
