Chapter 30: LIGHT BEHIND THE LANTERNS

The afternoon was still enveloping the area behind the school when Kai and Eve arrived in front of the wooden hut under the old banyan tree. The sunlight was still quite bright, penetrating through gaps in the tall bamboo leaves and creating dancing patterns of light on the ground. The afternoon air felt cool and fresh, with a slight scent of wet earth from the rain a few hours ago. The sound of birds starting to return to their nests could be heard in the distance, adding to the calm and peaceful atmosphere.

They both entered the simple wooden hut. Inside, the small wooden table was still in the same place, with two old but sturdy chairs. The wooden chessboard with fine carvings was already on the table, ready to be used. The chess pieces made from the same wood were already neatly arranged in their starting positions, waiting for the players to begin.

Eve sat on one of the chairs, her intelligent eyes behind her round glasses looking at the chessboard in front of her with full concentration. Her nimble fingers touched the board’s surface, feeling the smooth wood texture under her fingertips. She was ready to start. She was ready to show her abilities. She was ready to face the new challenge given by her teacher.

"Alright, Sir," Eve said, her voice firm and full of conviction, her hand reaching for the white pawn in front of her. "I’m ready to start. I’ll make the first move—"

"Wait."

Kai raised his hand, stopping Eve mid-sentence. His outstretched hand toward Eve made the girl halt her movement. Eve blinked, slightly startled. Her hand, which had almost touched the pawn, stopped in midair, then slowly was pulled back to her lap.

"What is it, Sir?" Eve asked with curiosity, her intelligent eyes looking at Kai with clear confusion. "Is there something wrong with the chessboard? Or is there something I need to pay attention to before starting?"

"There’s nothing wrong," Kai answered calmly, his eyes looking at Eve with a small smile she couldn’t read. "But before we start, there’s something I need to do first."

Eve blinked, growing more confused. Her eyes followed Kai as he stood up and walked to the corner of the hut, taking an old wooden box covered in dust. She watched Kai open the box and take out several old lanterns made of dull brass metal, with glass around them that was still intact despite being dusty.

"Sir, what are you doing?" Eve asked, her voice full of curiosity she couldn’t contain. Her eyes didn’t blink, observing every movement Kai made carefully. "What do you need the lanterns for? It’s still quite bright. We can still see clearly without them."

Kai didn’t answer. He just smiled slightly and started hanging the lanterns around the hut—on the branches of the banyan tree that extended into the hut, on the bamboo poles surrounding the area, and in the corners of the hut itself. His movements were calm and measured, like a strategist planning his next move. He lit each lantern one by one with an old match, adjusting the wicks so the flames burned steadily, then hung them in strategic places. Golden light started spreading around them, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere.

"You’ll see later," Kai finally said, without turning around, his hands still busy lighting the last lantern in the corner of the hut. "Trust me."

Eve fell silent. She looked at Kai with an expression that was hard to read—a mix of curiosity, confusion, and a little admiration. As someone who always analyzed everything with data and logic, she didn’t like unclear answers. But she knew Kai wouldn’t explain further if he didn’t want to. She just let out a soft sigh and refocused on the chessboard in front of her, waiting patiently.

The lanterns glowed brightly, creating a warm golden circle of light around the hut. Under the remaining afternoon sunlight, the lantern light looked almost excessive—like celebrating something that hadn’t happened yet. But Kai kept lighting lantern after lantern until all the ones he’d brought were perfectly hanging, creating a bright atmosphere around them.

When Kai finally finished, he walked back into the hut and sat across from Eve. He straightened the chessboard with calm movements, making sure all the pieces were in the correct positions. Then he looked at Eve with a serious expression.

"Alright," Kai said, his hand pointing to the chessboard in front of them. "Now we can start. I’ll let you choose the first move. Show me how you analyze this game with the new rules."

Eve nodded slowly, her previously still hand now moving. She extended her right hand, reached for the white pawn in front of her, and moved it two steps forward with a steady motion. There was no doubt there—only growing confidence.

"E4," she said softly, her voice flat but with a deep note of focus in it. "A classic opening move. I want to see how you respond."

Kai smiled slightly, moving his black pawn in response. "E5. I like classics too."

The game started slowly. Eve moved carefully, every step carefully calculated. Her eyes never left the board, occasionally blinking quickly as she counted the points she had and the points she was risking. Her nimble fingers moved across the board’s surface, feeling the smooth wood texture under her fingertips.

Kai observed everything calmly. He saw how careful Eve was with every piece, how she calculated the value of every sacrifice, how she thought long and hard before deciding to exchange pieces. There was something different about Eve today—something more serious, more focused. Her usually slightly messy light blue hair was now neatly arranged, and her eyes never blinked.

"You look different today," Kai said while moving his knight. "More focused. Calmer. Usually you’re always busy taking notes or analyzing out loud. But now, you’re just quiet and thinking."

Eve didn’t lift her head. Her eyes were still fixed on the board. "Because I’m learning, Sir. I’m trying to understand this new system. And to understand, I need to be fully focused. There’s no room for distractions."

Kai nodded, smiling slightly. "Good. That’s the right attitude."

The game continued. Eve started growing bolder, sacrificing a few small pieces to gain better positions. But every time she lost a piece, she could see her points decreasing—and that made her even more careful. She started realizing that this game wasn’t just about defeating the opponent’s King, but about managing resources wisely. Every move had consequences, and every decision had to be carefully calculated.

Outside the hut, the lanterns Kai had hung continued to shine brightly. The afternoon sunlight slowly started to fade, but Eve didn’t notice. Her focused eyes never left the chessboard, and in her mind, there was only one thing: how to beat Kai.

"This new rule system is very interesting, Sir," Eve said while moving her bishop. "It’s like teaching me about risk management. Every piece I sacrifice is a decision I have to carefully consider. I can’t play carelessly anymore."

Kai smiled, moving his queen to a more aggressive position. "That’s because in real life, every action has consequences. Every decision has a price to pay. Chess is a reflection of that."

Eve nodded, her eyes still focused on the board. "I’m starting to understand. This isn’t just about winning or losing. It’s about how we manage what we have."

The game continued with increasing intensity. Eve started growing bolder, taking bigger risks, trying various strategies she’d never tried before. Sometimes she succeeded, sometimes she failed, but every time she learned something new. A thin layer of sweat started forming on her forehead, and she bit her lower lip with deep concentration.

"I like seeing you like this, Eve," Kai suddenly said, his voice soft. "When you’re truly focused on something, you look different. More alive."

Eve lifted her head for a moment, looking at Kai with a confused expression. "More alive?"

"Usually you’re always busy taking notes, analyzing, observing. But now, you’re truly engaged in this game. You’re not thinking about anything else besides the chessboard in front of you. That’s a good thing."

Eve fell silent, digesting Kai’s words. Then she looked down at the chessboard again, but this time there was a small smile on her lips—a smile rarely seen, a smile that made her look more human than usual.

They continued playing. The sound of pieces being moved, occasionally Eve’s soft sighs, and Kai’s voice giving brief comments became the only music inside that hut. Outside, the lanterns continued to shine brightly, and inside the hut, golden light created a warm and intimate atmosphere. No one noticed that the day was getting dark, because the lanterns had already created the illusion of an eternal afternoon around them.

Finally, Kai moved his queen to a deadly position. "Checkmate, Eve. Game over."

Eve stared at the chessboard with wide eyes. She saw her trapped position, no move that could save her King. Slowly, she let out a long sigh and lowered her head.

"I lost," she said softly. "I thought I was careful enough, but you were always one step ahead. I couldn’t read your pattern."

"You played well, Eve," Kai said, his voice gentle. "For the first time with new rules, you’ve shown remarkable ability. You learn quickly, and you’re not afraid to take risks. That’s an important quality."

Eve lifted her head, her eyes looking at Kai with curiosity. "But I still lost."

"Losing isn’t the end of everything," Kai said. "Losing is a lesson. You learn from every defeat, and that makes you stronger. I saw how you started understanding the point system, how you started considering every move more carefully. That’s progress."

Eve fell silent, digesting Kai’s words. Her cold fingers touched the chessboard’s surface, feeling the smooth wood texture. Slowly, she nodded.

"Alright, Sir. I’ll learn from this defeat. And I’ll come back stronger tomorrow."

Kai smiled. "That’s the right spirit."

Kai tidied the chessboard with calm movements, placing the pieces one by one into the beautiful wooden box. Eve helped him, her nimble fingers moving quickly to gather the scattered pieces. They worked in silence, enjoying the remaining peace in that hut.

"Sir," Eve said softly, her eyes looking at the lanterns around them. Her intelligent eyes moved quickly, noticing something she hadn’t paid attention to before. "I just realized... it’s already dark. I didn’t notice at all. I thought it was still afternoon."

Kai smiled slightly, his eyes looking at the lanterns still shining brightly. "That’s because I deliberately lit these lanterns."

Eve blinked, confusion visible in her eyes. "What do you mean, Sir?"

Kai pointed to the lanterns still shining brightly around the hut. "I deliberately lit these lanterns before we started playing. I wanted you to give your full effort without needing to think about your surroundings. If you kept noticing the darkening day or changing light, your focus would be divided. And if your focus is divided, I wouldn’t be able to assess your abilities accurately. I wanted to see how much potential you have when you’re truly focused."

Eve fell silent, digesting Kai’s words. Slowly, she understood her teacher’s intention. Her eyes moved from the lanterns to the neatly arranged chessboard, then to Kai’s calm face. There was something warm in her chest, something she’d never felt before.

"I understand now, Sir," Eve said softly, her voice gentler than usual—a gentleness rarely seen from her. "I... I really enjoyed that game. For the first time, I didn’t think about anything else besides beating you. I didn’t think about data, didn’t think about analysis, didn’t think about anything. Just me, you, and the chessboard. It felt... fun. Like this world only had the two of us."

Kai smiled, his eyes looking at Eve with a warmth he rarely showed. "That’s what I wanted. That’s what allows someone to learn optimally. When you can forget everything and focus on one thing."

They stood up from their chairs, packing all the chess equipment neatly. Kai closed the wooden box and placed it in the corner of the hut, ready to be used another day. The lanterns were still burning brightly around them, but they were both ready to leave. Eve picked up her bag and followed Kai out of the hut.

"We need to get back to school," Kai said, looking at the darkening night sky. "The other students must already be waiting. I don’t want them to worry."

Eve nodded, then followed Kai out of the hut area. They walked through the tall bamboo trees, crossed the yard covered in dry leaves, and exited through the already-open iron gate. Behind them, the lanterns were still burning brightly around the hut, like small stars that had fallen to earth.

When Kai and Eve arrived at the training field, they paused for a moment. The scene in front of them made Kai slightly surprised.

The students were still there. No one had gone home.

Rin and Katrin sat at the edge of the field with basketballs beside them, still chatting in soft voices. Rin, who was usually quick to anger and impatient, now sat calmly, her eyes looking toward the entrance with undisguised curiosity. Katrin beside her sat with her back straight, her strong hand gripping the basketball tightly, like she was ready to play anytime.

Near them, Maya sat with her knees pulled to her chest, her big, anxious eyes looking toward the entrance with worry. Her cold fingers played with the end of the red ribbon in her hair, a movement that had become a habit when she felt uncomfortable. Sera stood near them with her arms crossed, as usual, but this time her expression was more relaxed—no longer as tense as a guard ready for battle.

On the other side, Ella, Liliana, Irene, and Rina sat in a circle on the grass. Ella sat with her back straight, her notebook already closed on her lap, the pen tucked between her nimble fingers. Liliana sat calmly beside her, her dark blue hair loose over her shoulders, her calm eyes looking toward the entrance with a faint smile that never faded. Irene was no longer hopping around like usual, but her eyes still sparkled with an unquenchable spirit—her legs occasionally moved like she wanted to jump. Rina had closed her notebook for the day, her round glasses placed beside her, and she sat with a casualness rarely seen on her always-serious face.

Mira and Iris sat on a bench near the field. Mira, who was usually unable to stay still, now sat quietly, her legs swinging gently, her cheerful eyes looking toward the entrance with a wide smile that never faded. Iris beside her smiled mysteriously, her hand playing with the end of her wavy hair, her green eyes observing the entrance with curiosity she couldn’t hide.

Nora and Luna stood near the archery area, still holding their bows—but no longer practicing. They just stood there, waiting. Nora with her upright posture, her pale blue eyes looking toward the entrance with ever-present alertness. Luna beside her stood calmly, her silver-gray hair hanging over her shoulders, her half-closed eyes looking into the distance with endless patience.

Aria and Fay sat near the drink table, still guarding the water bottles that were starting to run low. Aria bit her nails nervously, her big eyes darting back and forth, occasionally looking toward the entrance with deep anxiety. Fay beside her smiled to herself, her gaze drifting in an unclear direction, occasionally laughing softly for no reason others could understand.

And Eve—when she saw all her friends were still there, she stopped. Her intelligent eyes moved quickly, counting them one by one. Her usually flat face changed—her cheeks started to flush, red that crept from her neck to the tips of her ears.

"You all... why are you still here?" Kai asked with a slightly surprised voice. "I thought you’d already gone home. It’s already night. Why haven’t you gone home?"

Ella shrugged casually, a small smile on her lips rarely seen. "We couldn’t possibly go home early and leave Eve practicing until late at night. She’s our friend. We wouldn’t leave her alone."

"Yeah," Rin added in a firm voice, her eyes looking at Eve with a slight smile. "Besides, this is Eve’s first practice with the new rules. We’re curious how it turned out. Don’t tell me she lost badly?"

"We can’t sleep well if Eve hasn’t come home yet," Mira added, her eyes sparkling with remaining cheerfulness. "Mira was worried Eve might get possessed by chess and forget to come home! Or maybe she became the chess queen and doesn’t want to return to the human world!"

Iris laughed softly beside Mira, her nimble hand playing with the end of her wavy hair. "Or maybe she became the chess queen and doesn’t want to return to the human world."

Eve, hearing all of that, was silent. She didn’t say anything, didn’t move, didn’t show any expression on her usually flat face. But under the light of the streetlamps that were starting to turn on, the red on her face was clearly visible—red that crept from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. It was the first time they’d seen Eve blush. The always-logical and calculating girl now couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

"I... you didn’t need to wait for me," Eve finally said, her voice soft and a little awkward—an awkwardness rarely seen from her. "I can go home alone. I’m used to it."

"But we were already waiting," Nora said in a flat voice, her pale blue eyes looking at Eve calmly. "There’s no point going home now. Besides, we’re already here."

"We’re already here," Luna added softly, almost whispering. "We were waiting."

Eve didn’t answer. She just looked down, hiding her increasingly red face. In her heart, there was something warm—something she’d never felt before. Something that made her want to smile even though she didn’t know how. Something that made her feel like she wasn’t alone.

Kai watched all of this with a small smile he couldn’t hide. He saw how they cared for each other, how they waited for each other, how they were becoming a family for one another. And in his heart, he felt a pride he couldn’t explain.

"Alright," Kai said in a firm voice, breaking the silence. "Since you’re all still here, I’ll dismiss you now. But before that..." He reached into his pocket, pulling out some money. "I want you to buy drinks and food for the journey home. Because of me, you’re going home a bit late. I know you must be tired and hungry."

Mira, hearing that, immediately shook her head, her hand raised like refusing. "No need, Sir! We don’t want to trouble you. Besides, we’re used to going home late. This isn’t the first time."

Rin also shook her head, her chin raised high with stubbornness. "I don’t need your money. I can buy my own. I’m used to taking care of myself."

"We don’t need it," Iris said with a mysterious smile, her eyes looking at Kai with an unreadable gaze. "Besides, this isn’t because of you. We really wanted to wait for Eve. We wouldn’t leave before she came back."

But Kai didn’t lower his hand. He kept extending the money, his eyes looking at all his students with full conviction. There was no doubt there, only certainty that this was the right thing to do.

"You need drinks and food," he said in a voice that couldn’t be argued with. "You’ve been practicing all day. Your bodies need recovery. And good food will restore your energy for tomorrow. So take it. This isn’t about who’s stronger or who doesn’t need it. This is about taking care of yourselves. If you don’t take care of yourselves, how can you take care of each other?"

Hearing that, the students exchanged glances. There was a few seconds of silence, where they read each other’s expressions. Their eyes met, and without words, they understood that this was a sincere offer.

Finally, Ella was the first to move. She stepped forward, accepting the money with a small nod. Her sharp eyes looked at Kai with a gratitude that didn’t need to be spoken. "Thank you, Mr. Kai. We’ll use it well."

Rin let out a long sigh, then accepted her share awkwardly—her strong hand almost tearing the money because she didn’t know how to act. "I’m taking it because you said so, not because I want to."

Mira hopped slightly, accepting the money with a wide smile that made her whole face shine. "Thank you, Sir! Mira will buy a cold, refreshing drink! And maybe some snacks too!"

Iris took her money with a mysterious smile, her nimble fingers touching the money with a movement that was almost like a dance. "I’ll buy something sweet. To calm my mind after a whole day of training."

Katrin, Maya, Sera, Rina, Irene, and Liliana—they all accepted with nods and small smiles. Katrin accepted firmly, Maya with trembling but sparkling eyes, Sera with a short nod, Rina with a brief analysis of which food was most nutritious, Irene with a small jump of excitement, and Liliana with a calm smile that never faded. Aria accepted with trembling hands, but her eyes sparkled with a happiness she couldn’t hide. Fay accepted with an empty smile, but there was a glint in her eyes that showed she understood.

"Good," Kai said with a satisfied smile, seeing them all accept. "Now, go home quickly. Get enough rest. Tomorrow we meet again." He turned to Eve, who was still standing with a red face. "And Eve... you showed remarkable progress today. I’m proud of you."

Eve didn’t answer with words. But under the light of the streetlamps that were starting to turn on, a small smile could be seen on her lips—a smile rarely seen, a smile that made her look more human than usual. She nodded slowly, and in her heart, there was something warm she couldn’t explain.

The students started to leave. They waved at Kai, some enthusiastically, some with small smiles, some only with nods. The sounds of laughter and conversation started to be heard among them as they walked toward the school gate. Mira laughed with Iris, Rin walked beside Katrin with firm steps, Ella walked ahead with Liliana beside her, and behind them all, Eve walked with slow steps, her eyes looking at her friends in front of her with an expression she couldn’t read.

Kai stood at the edge of the field, returning their waves with his own hand. He watched them leave—nine girls from Class IX-9 and six girls from Class 2-2—and in his heart, there was a warm feeling he couldn’t explain. He saw them laughing, joking, and walking together like one family.

They’re not alone anymore, Kai thought. They have each other. And that’s more valuable than anything.

But as the students started disappearing behind the school gate, Kai felt something strange behind his back. Like a piercing gaze, a gaze he couldn’t ignore, a gaze that was already too familiar. There was a vibration in the air, a vibration that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

Slowly, Kai turned around. He looked toward the school building that was starting to grow dark, only a few lights on the ground floor still on. And on the second floor, right at the window facing the field, he saw something—or someone.

A woman stood there. Her face was faint behind the shadows, but her body shape was familiar. The same clothes. The same posture. Black hair falling to her shoulders. The same woman he always saw at the school gate, who always smiled at him with a smile he couldn’t read. The same woman he’d seen from a distance, who always disappeared before he could get close.

Kai froze. His eyes didn’t blink. His heart beat faster, pumping blood through his body at an unusual speed. Who is she? Why is she always there? Why is she always watching me? Is she part of my past? Is she someone I should recognize?

The woman didn’t move. She just stood there, looking at Kai with a gaze Kai couldn’t read from that distance. The light behind her was faint, making her silhouette look like a shadow from a past he couldn’t forget. There was something in her posture that made Kai feel like he recognized her, but he couldn’t remember from where.

Kai wanted to move, wanted to run toward that building, wanted to chase that woman and ask who she really was. But his feet felt heavy, like planted in the ground. Something was holding him back, like a warning in his heart that he shouldn’t get closer. That if he got closer, something would change—something he couldn’t control.

The woman slowly turned around. She walked away from the window, leaving an empty shadow behind the glass. Her footsteps were silent, leaving no trace. And when Kai looked away for a moment to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, the woman was gone. No trace. No sound. Only silence remained, only questions hanging in the night air.

Kai was still standing in place, staring at that empty window with deep curiosity. In his mind, one question kept spinning without end.

Who is that woman, really?