Chapter 7 – Knight’s Leap
The pawn-knight’s hand hovered in the air. Sam didn’t shake it. He wasn’t that polite.
Instead, he pointed at the glowing watch. “Why me?”
The pawn-knight turned. “Because you are the only one left who doesn’t know how to cheat.”
Before Sam could say “what does that mean,” the forest trembled again. Thunder without clouds. Footsteps without feet.
A huge figure soared overhead.
It didn’t fly—it leapt. Landed hard on a twisted boulder, cracking it in two. It wore armour shaped like a knight, complete with a horse’s face on its helm.
It looked straight at Sam.
“Knight’s gambit,” it hissed.
Then it charged—sideways, then forward, then leapt straight over a tree.
Like it was… following chess moves.
Sam ducked behind a boulder, the knight slamming down beside him with a roar of wind.
The pawn-knight jumped between them, raised one hand, and shouted:
“Not yet. The trial has not begun.”
Everything froze. The knight stopped mid-strike. Literally suspended.
Sam blinked.
"Time's not stopped," whispered the pawn-knight.“It’s just… waiting.”
Back in the clearing, under a sky that kept changing colors, Sam finally looked at the watch again. It wasn’t just ticking now — it was whispering actual words.
“Bishop to e5... Knight to c3... Danger on h8...”
It was calling moves.
Sam stared. “Are you telling me what to do?”
The watch pulsed. Yes.
The forest rustled.
Another vision hit him:The rook tower collapsing.The queen with a blade in her hand.And himself—standing on a giant chessboard of stone, facing shadowy versions of… himself?
He gasped. The pawn-knight looked alarmed. “Did it show you the mirror?”
Sam nodded slowly.
“Then you really don’t have much time.”
The trees around them bowed outward. Something massive was waking up.
A soft hum filled the air. Velvet. Smooth. Dangerous.
Then she appeared — tall, regal, cloaked in shadows and sunlight. The Queen.
But not like in a crown-and-gown way. More like a final boss who can end you with a sigh.
Sam felt his knees wobble. The pawn-knight dropped to one knee.
The Queen looked at Sam, eyes glowing with ancient pain.
“You are early.”
“You’re… the queen?” Sam asked, trying not to sound like he wanted to run full speed in the other direction.
She stepped forward, each footstep echoing louder than it should.
“The board is broken. The game is corrupted. Pieces fall before their time. And you—”“You carry the Watch.”
The forest dimmed.
“Do you want the truth?” she asked.
Sam swallowed. “Yes.”
She raised one hand. The trees around them curled like scared cats.
“Then win the next move... or I’ll erase you from the board.”
The watch screamed.
📖 To be continued...