11 A new friend?

I woke up, still tired. I was resting while thinking of what to do, but even after half an hour, I couldn't put my thoughts in order.

"Thinking of escaping right?"

Then I turned my head to stare at the annoying fellow.

"Do you have any idea?"

"I know we are very well trapped, in a cell, surrounded by powerful monsters. And in a purple forest as well"

"Is the purple forest different from a normal forest?"

"You don't know? The purple forest is a famous fairytale, it's a purple forest that magically appears from time to time in different places. Didn't anyone ever tell you that?"

"..."

"Ah, sorry"

"Don't bother. I never cared about it. More importantly, tell me more about it"

"I can tell you, but I am bored. My brain doesn't work while bored. If you play a game with me and win, I will tell you more"

"Game? Do you want to cut my arm or something?"

"No! Why would you say that?"

'What's wrong? I thought I learned the meaning of the word 'game' correctly' I stared at him confused.

"So sad, come here. Let me teach you a little about having fun"

Then he picked up a board and a lot of wood pieces, the board had sixty-four squares carved on top of it. He placed the pieces on top of the board in different positions.

"This isn't the funniest game I ever played, but it's what I have in this cell. It's called chess, the game is like this..." He explained the rules of the game.

"I understand the rules, but how did you even get this?"

"Hehe, I made it using some wood I found on the corner. They are monsters, they don't care about me doing little things with wood"

"..."

"Okay, enough with the questions, let's play! If you win I will answer more, but it's no fun if only me is betting. If you lose you have to tell me something about you as well"

I was still suspicious about him, he could be plotting something. Use me as bait to escape, or kill me somehow. But I didn't have a choice, I didn't know much about anything and he seemed to know way more than me.

"Okay"

"The first two matches are for you to practice. I don't want you complaining after you lose"

We started the game... After some time, I was sweating, my eyes focused on the board with a serious face while sitting cross-legged on the floor. On the other side of the board a thirteen-old boy resting on the floor. His hand supported his head and a smile on his face, he had no signs of concern.

"It's your turn, I don't want to spend all day in one turn"

"Here!" I made the best move I could think

"Checkmate" He moved another piece and ended the game

"How?" I was dumbfounded. I didn't even think he could do that.

"You are a hundred years too young to beat me" He said smirking at me.

'Annoying'

Then we started the second game, this time it lasted longer.

'I think I get it. This time I will win' I thought as I moved one piece.

"Checkmate" he said moving another piece.

"HOW?!" Every time I think I know the game, he moves a piece and my mind turns into a mess again.

"Hehe, you can start calling me master if you want"

"We still have one more match" I was determined. I needed to know more about this place, but now I just wanted to win, a fire sparked in my eyes.

"I like the spirit"

We started the third match, and the pieces moved on the board, I was giving my all, my head aching a little, my forehead sweating and my eyes fixed on the board.

The time passed, this was the longest match of the three, we spent so much time the torch in the cell started to weaken, the cell didn't have windows but as we were deep in the purple forest, the sunlight didn't reach here anyway so it was getting darker.

It was his turn, he picked up a piece and started to talk.

"I am sorry little brother. I enjoyed this very much, you were the first to be able to play with me for so long. I had a lot of fun but... Checkmate" he said as he put down the piece on the board.

'Even though I lost, I kinda wanna play again. I can think of many mistakes I made and how to fix them. I wanna try again'

"You have a very nice look in your eyes right now, much better from when you woke up little brother"

"True... I may have to thank you for that..."

"I just didn't like that gloomy look on your face. Now, more importantly, shall we play again?"

"Sure"

Then we played for a very long time, I lost count of how much time we spend playing, and for the whole time he was lying relaxed on the floor and I was sitting concentrated and serious.

"Checkmate"

"Tch... I should have moved the other piece"

"This marks 21 victories and 0 defeats, HAHAHA!"

"Why are you counting that?"

"Well, if I don't count I can't brag about it"

"As annoying as ever"

"Ouch, I guess I deserve that"

"I am just stating facts"

"I was going to tell you about some stuff but I might not do it anymore"

*sigh* "Okay... I'm sorry" It was harder to say it than I tough.

"I'm not feeling much sincerity, but it's good enough"

"Then, what are those things out there?"

"I Don't know"

"What are they gonna do with us?"

"I Don't know"

"How did you get here?"

"I Don't remember"

"Then what do you know?!"

"I know how to play chess"

"I already know that!"

"I know"

"AGH! If you don't want to tell me just say it!"

"Hahaha. Don't get mad. I'm just joking. We should be able to leave soon. We just need to wait here"