CH.7: Challenge accepted

Sora went to find Simone and sure enough there he was seated before his game. The pieces all set up and he was studying the layout of the board with such intensity. Sora knew that Roland would be keeping a closer eye on him and since the first floor is where Sora had pushed the doors open…that is where Roland would be. "Hey there Simone!"

Simone does not acknowledge him or rather he chose to ignore him…either way though he intended to get answers. Sora strolls over to the empty chair and as he is about to sit down the chair vanishes and he winds up on his butt.

"How do you think that was going to end?" Simone inquires studying Sora from his seated position at the table.

"You have really got to teach me that trick sometime." Sora picks himself up from the ground and looking around for a chair he sighs and suddenly a chair appears just as he crouches down.

"I really don't. So it would appear you are still here." Simone moves one of his pieces and Sora is quick to move one of his pieces. Simone arches a brow.

"Let us make this interesting, so, if I were to say win this game…you would give me answers to my questions, right?" Sora was eager to get some ground and maybe get ahead of Roland.

"What makes you in the position to bargain?" Simone fixes him with a stare of his silver eyes and he begins to reach for a piece.

"Look, should you say beat me…I never bother you again. How does that sound?" Sora felt this was a tall order as he would be tempted to say hi to him when he saw him. However his words clearly were heard.

"For every game you win Sora…I will grant you one answer to a question. If you should lose one game then it is all over…and we never speak to one another again. Is that really what you want?" Simone had let go of his piece making his move final.

Sora wished he had brushed up on reading how to properly play this game while in the library but he had not expected to be playing so soon. He needed answers and Simone was likely the only person to give him a straight answer.

"Alright…you got yourself a deal. This should be fun." Sora was always up for a challenge as he recalled a time on the Island when he and Riku would race or dare the other to do some crazy stuff. Moving his piece he is already analyzing the board as he knew Simone did…anticipating moves and hoping to spring a trap on Simone. However Simone did seem practiced compared to him.

What sort of discipline went into playing this sort of game? How did one mentally prepare for the elaborate sort of setup? Sora wasn't much of a strategist and in most of his battles in the past it was more like swing and defend and hope for the best. Hmm…wonder if that was also a reason why he didn't become a Master.

"You are playing with a bit more caution…you must be serious about your question. Tell me something Sora, to what end will you go to get your answers you seek?" Simone takes one of his pieces and Sora takes one of Simone's which causes the silver eyed youth to consider his options more carefully than their previous match.

"Simone, I apologize if I came off the wrong way, I do…because honestly it was never my intention of offending or irritating you. I want us to be friends and right now with Roland playing secrets close to his chest I'm at a loss and need guidance. To answer your question…I will read every book if necessary and tackle each of these floors looking for the truth."

Sora would make it is his life purpose, and, given the amount of time he had he would use each and every second devouring what he needed to find out what wasn't laid out for him. Simone gazed at him and seemed to searching for a lie in his words and when he found none he sits back.

"Sora…sometimes the answers we seek…are not the ones we desire. In our time when we were whole…and we walked among others…the world was full of possibilities. In here…that is not the case, and, it is those answers that will prove to be your bane…for what good will they do you?"

Sora moved his lips about in thought about that…but mostly about his next move. The game was really picking up pace and each piece that was taken revealed a emptier board. His lips were getting dry and he tried to remember the respective move each piece did to ensure he didn't fall into a trap. Simone on his part was starting to have a twitch in his left eye and he often than not stole his fingers together in a meditative style.

"I have to know Simone…and if I could get these answers from anyone else I would. However you are my only shot and bear with me as I seek out those answers." Sora noticed they were a few pieces away from the end of the game and Simone was shaking.

"I have not lost once, ONCE, since playing this game all these years. And yet here you are, playing me into a corner…a CORNER…the likes of which a champion player like myself detests." Simone leaned forward and yet he hesitates.

"Is something the matter?" Sora did not wish to push his luck any and yet as he finds his own eyes tracking the movement of Simone's eyes he notes the predicament he has fallen into. Truth was he had not seen it at first but now that he had it seemed almost…fortuitous.

"I-I cannot…this cannot…" Simone appears to get up but he just as quickly sits back down. "This will be my final move…all rides on this move…"

Sora waits patiently and as Simone moves it is time for Sora to move in. His piece moves and as he keeps a finger on his piece he looks over the board…making sure none of Simone's pieces could take his. When he was certain he releases and Sora remembers a word used on him. "I believe that is Checkmate!"

"I see." Simone grips the arm of his chair and he wavers between anger and resigned, something few could pull off and yet Simone relied on his intellect and calm composure to work in his favor.

"Alright Simone…here is my question…what is the name of the person who founded Castle Recedia, or rather created it?" Sora found that Simone was hardly phased by this question as he had a blank stare on his features, his silver eyes reflecting his calm disposition.

"Is that really the question you seek answered? I would have thought it apparent but then again you are still new here. Did you read the book the librarian gave you, she was the one wearing red?"

Sora had his turn linking his hands together as he tilted his head to the side. "Hmm, oh yeah, wait was it her?"

Simone shakes his head sending his green spiky hair about. "Simplicity thy name is Sora, no, that is not correct. The one who made this place…who created it…is none other than Roland himself, the Keeper for which you are tied…though that is not his real name…but you will not find that in a book…and that is all the time I have for today. Till our next game."

Simone goes to get up and Sora reaches out for his hand but suddenly he is flung backwards by a feel or brush of something cold. He notices Simone standing where he had but his silver eyes appear to light up.

"No one touches me. You want answers…continue to play our game, otherwise I would suggest you steel yourself for what is to come." Simone goes to leave and Sora is left on the floor…wait…Roland, his Keeper…he made this place?

Authors note: The answers are not what they seem, or rather; some answers are just part of the truth. Sora is left with a lot but now even more on his new friend Simone. Next chapter we journey back to Destiny Islands as Riku and Namine grow closer and Kairi decides to leave and seek out council.