Rolan lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. He yawned widely. There was a War Game on today, but Rolan wasn't needed, so he stayed in his room as he listened to the commotion outside. Cheering floated in through Rolan's open bedroom window. By the sound of it, Team MAR had just won one round.
Rolan smiled. Good, he thought, I can't wait to fight and show Phantom how strong I've become!
He sat up and stretched. No point sitting around, I should go train some more! he thought with a rush of euphoria. He got to his feet and rushed over to the set drawers at the end of his bed to brush his hair.
He stared into the mirror set into the wall before him.
His big sparkling red eyes stared back at him. He smiled.
"Hello there," he said to his reflection. "What's your name?"
Rolan chuckled to himself, feeling goofy. "I'm sorry. Your name must be Nalor..."
He shook his head, still laughing to himself as he turned his back on the mirror and strode to the window. He peered out of it and noted the weather. The sky was a greyish-blue but there was no clouds threatening rain.
Rolan walked back over to his drawers and pulled out some clean clothes. He got changed in an instant, and then opened his sock drawer. He hauled out a large shoebox, which he opened to reveal his glittering ARMs.
As he was getting these ready, a sharp knock sounded at Rolan's door.
"In a minute!" Rolan called over his shoulder, pocketing the rest of his ARMs and placing the box back into the drawer.
He skipped to the door and opened it to reveal Phantom.
Phantom leant against the door's frame, smiling. When he saw Rolan his smile became wider.
"Hello there, my boy! How are you?" Phantom asked. Rolan smiled up at his father-figure.
"I'm fully refreshed and rearing to go!" he squeaked in reply.
"What are you up to today?" Phantom questioned him.
"Well... I was thinking... since it's such a fine day... Well, I was thinking about going out to train," answered, jumping foot to foot resolutely.
"I'm pleased with your commitment and enthusiasm, Rolan, but didn't you train yesterday?" Phantom enquired innocently. Rolan stood still and raised an eyebrow.
"Of course! AND the day before yesterday AND the day before that one! I AM battling Team MAR soon."
Phantom laughed and ruffled up Rolan's hair.
"So committed..." he said softly. He walked into Rolan's room and sat lightly on Rolan's bed. He crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knee. "I was just thinking... instead of training today, why don't you have a rest?" Phantom said in a straightforward tone.
"But... Phantom, I need to be at my strongest for my battle... I want to win!" Rolan exclaimed. Phantom merely chuckled.
"But Rolan, my boy, you've trained for weeks on end! I believe you are strong enough to defeat Team MAR single-handedly, so why don't you have a day off? We could go for a walk in the park... or maybe go to the movies..." Phantom suggested.
Rolan stood, dumbstruck. Phantom doesn't want me to train? What's wrong with him? He ALWAYS wants me to train! he thought, his mouth gaping open like a fish.
"But... Phantom! I NEED to train!" he gasped, his red eyes wide with shock. Phantom stood to his feet, looking suddenly furious. He swept up to Rolan and placed a hand around Rolan's neck and held him with an iron grip.
"You will not train today, but instead, come out with me," he hissed, his face only inches away from Rolan's.
"O...o... okay... Ph... Ph... Phantom!" Rolan spluttered, trying to breathe.
Phantom let go of Rolan's neck and beamed.
"That's a good boy... I'll meet you in the throne room in one hour... I'll see you then," he said, and with that he left the room.
Rolan stood, panting.
Now what? he thought, frowning.
The day turned out to be bright and sunny as Rolan walked next to Phantom. Together they walked through a field of purple tulips.
Rolan said nothing. He was terrified of how Phantom had treated him this morning. As he thought about this, a memory of his mother and father buzzed like a bee in his mind.
For years, Rolan believed his parents loved him dearly, but as he was nearing the age of six, he started to notice something... His parents, once full of smiles and hugs, started to hate him. When they smiled at Rolan, their eyes stayed cold and filled with an abhorrence that pierced his heart. He decided to leave them. He didn't want to pressure them into caring for him, if they didn't really love him...
S he ran away. He thought it would be easy, living on the streets, but he was proved wrong. He starved all day, froze in the cold winter's nights, got beat up by the other street kids and was picked upon by the adults.
And what happened on that fateful day almost killed Rolan. He remembered it the most easily, for it was the turning point in his life, the one day where he had a decision to make... And he chose to follow Phantom and learn hard to become a Chess Piece.
"Phantom?" Rolan questioned, breaking the odd silence that had spread its wings between them. Phantom continued to look ahead, as if transfixed by some long forgotten emotion.
"Phantom?" Rolan asked louder this time. Phantom started and looked down upon Rolan, smiling.
"What is it?" Phantom asked, masking his face with a sweet fatherly sort of smile. Rolan felt nervous as Phantom's pupil-less eyes bored into his own.
"Why did you save me? All those years ago... Why did you rescue me off the streets?" Rolan interrogated.
"Because... Rolan, you must understand my position back then. I had to recruit many Chess... and I preferred for them to all be like me... Meaning they were all outsiders or all had the same dream... We ALL share the dream of ruling MAR, but we all have different reasons why we do... I mean..." Phantom stopped walking and turned to face Rolan. "Why are YOU a Chess Piece?" he asked with a smirk.
Rolan pondered on that question for a while under the penetrating stare of Phantom.
"I guess... it was to repay my debt to YOU," he replied, "but now... Being a Chess Piece is... well, sort of PROVING myself to the world that I CAN look after myself..." He smiled. "Why are YOU a Chess Piece?" he shot the question back at Phantom. Phantom looked startled and laughed nervously.
"Because, Rolan... I hate the scum that have spread across MARHeaven like a ravenous plague... I'm the saviour of this land. After destroying the weak and recruiting the powerful, the Chess can govern this land under the all might King and Queen!" he ranted, his eyes popping slightly as his true insanity ripped through his cloth mask of smiles and sanity.
Rolan cringed, his eyes full of fear. Phantom threw back his head and laughed maniacally.
"Once we rule this world, nothing can stop us ruling the next!" Phantom cried.
"Phantom?" Rolan squeaked, cowering from the crazed man. Phantom snapped out of it and smiled at Rolan as if he didn't just go completely nuts.
"Let's forget that happened... Okay?" he said awkwardly, wiping his mouth clean of spittle.
"Ur..." Rolan began.
"No. Let's just get to where we're going, okay?"
"Erm... okay then," Rolan replied. Phantom smiled and turned around. Rolan watched him walk away before he rushed to catch up with him.