“You know,” Armin began, casually moving his first piece, “people usually lose their first match against me. It’s kind of a tradition.”

The chessboard between you and Armin felt like a battlefield. He sat with his usual calm composure, but the weight of his reputation hung heavily in the air. He - brilliant strategist, and apparently, an unbeatable chess player. The soft hum of the room seemed to fade as his eyes locked onto the pieces, calculating, analyzing. And on the other side - you. A newcomer, fresh to the scene but eager to prove yourself. He didn't treat you like a real opponent. How could someone just starting out beat him?

His fingers hovered over a bishop before making a swift, calculated move, taking your knight.

"Not bad," he said, leaning back in his chair slightly. "But you might want to keep up. You’ve already lost control of the board."