As both Stacy and Anton wept, someone came from behind them. A hand landed on Anton's shoulder—both Elyon and Eve stared at that certain someone.
"What the hell is he doing?"
A flock of crows landed on the nearby trees; every one of them gazed into Anton's soul. Then they went wild: CAW CAW KRAA.
Anton turned around and wiped the tears from his eyes. "What do you want?"
A man with stubble stood behind him, his gray hair tied into a bun. Two green eyes stared into Anton.
It was Vigil.
For the first time since joining Elyon and Eve... he was smiling. He was grinning from ear to ear.
"Anton, Anton, doesn't it feel good? To finally let go? To have the will to move on from the deeds of the past?"
CAW KRAA.
"What do you mean?"
"You are one of the only ones whose presence I find... MEMORABLE."
Vigil slapped his face with both hands.
Then he started laughing. "You try to move on, to live happily ever after. But the world won't let you. Speaking of the world... you will have to live it all over again. The death—"
Before Vigil could finish, Anton punched him square in the face.
Another flock of crows landed on the trees; the branches could barely hold them. And so, all of the crows present landed right in between the people.
Vigil was knocked to the ground, and his laugh died instantly. "Ah, I apologize for my... imprudence. There was something I wanted to ask of you, but I got sidetracked."
The crows gathered on top of Vigil's body and began to flap their wings. With the help of the flock, Vigil managed to stand back up without much effort.
Once he was on his feet, Vigil pointed to the carriage. "The Church has a chess set. Would you spare a game?"
Anton just stared at him, thinking: Who the hell is this guy? I'll just tell him I don't know how to play chess so I don't have to deal with this weirdo.
"I don't kn—"
"You do, Anton. You do know how to play. You are one of the greatest chess players I know."
Everyone stared in stunned silence as Vigil spoke. Eve decided to intervene. "Vigil, tha—"
Before she could finish her sentence, a crow landed on her shoulder. KRAA KRAA.
"VIGIL! STOP THIS NONSENSE!" Eve screamed at him.
That made Vigil walk over to her. Eve's hand reached for Nightfall, but she stopped once Vigil got close enough to whisper in her ear: "That pinky promise was a lie. You intend to run away."
Eve's whole worldview cracked.
"You are..."
"Am I that readable?" Vigil responded before Eve could even form the question.
Elyon pulled Vigil back by his tunic. "Stop this already."
Vigil looked back at him. "Do you really want to make a scene? I can very well... Yet if you were to do it, the Harmony would descend on your head."
Elyon gritted his teeth and let go of Vigil. "Do whatever you want."
"Very well." Vigil walked past Elyon, reaching Anton once again. "Shall we play?"
Anton didn't know what to do, but since Stacy looked uncomfortable, he decided to agree. Both of them walked over to the carriage in total silence.
Eve was too stunned to follow them; Elyon didn't want to follow them. Stacy remained rooted in place. She wanted to follow Anton, but Vigil creeped her out too much, so she just stared into the fire.
Anton and Vigil were alone. Anton had hated Vigil from the moment he mentioned Betty and Georgey. But he needed more information about this guy; he needed to ask for his name first, since he didn't really know if "Vigil" was actually his real name.
"It is... my name is Vigil."
"What? I never asked about your name."
"You were about to."
Can Vigil read my mind? If he can, I'm in big trouble.
"Don't worry, I can't," Vigil said, looking ahead.
Anton's eyes widened. "Just shut up."
Fuck.
As they walked toward the carriage, they approached the cooking tent. Maryam had just stepped out to get some fresh air when she saw the two of them.
"Hey, Vigil, Anton, where are you two going?... Anton, could you be a dear and give me a cigarette sin—" Maryam realized too late that Anton and Vigil had passed right by her without acknowledging her presence at all.
Maryam was left standing in silence.
Once they reached the carriage, Vigil asked for the chess set. One of the officials handed it to him, and in silence, both men took a seat on the grass.
"I will be black, you will be white," Vigil spoke while Anton just glared at him.
Anton (White) played Pawn to d4.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn to d5.
"Did I mention why I wanted black?"
"Just answer my question. I don't want to talk with an asshole."
Anton (White) played Knight to f3.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn to e6.
"Hmm... but where is the fun in that?"
Anton remained quiet.
Anton (White) played Pawn to e3.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn to c5.
"It's the color of my crows." As Vigil spoke, a crow landed on Anton's shoulder.
"Why the hell would I care about the color of your shitter flyers?" Anton slapped the crow off his shoulder.
Anton (White) played Pawn to c4.
Vigil (Black) played Knight to c6.
"You have quite a foul mouth."
"Go bake a cake."
Anton (White) played Knight to c3.
Vigil (Black) played Knight to f6.
"It is not my birthday."
"Really now? Then when is it?"
Anton (White) played Pawn captures on c5.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop captures on c5.
"I don't have a birthday."
"How about I give you one?"
Anton (White) played Pawn to a3.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn to a6.
"Sure."
"How about Fuck You Day?"
Anton (White) played Pawn to b4.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop to d6.
"I think it's already fully booked."
"Oh, don't you worry, I will make some room."
Anton (White) played Bishop to b2.
Vigil (Black) castled kingside (O-O).
"You are a funny guy, Anton."
"Oh, really? Didn't peg you for the type to care about... fun."
Anton (White) played Queen to d2.
Vigil (Black) played Queen to e7.
"Then can I tell you something... fun?"
"Go ahead, fucker."
Anton (White) played Bishop to d3.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn captures on c4.
"You will die at the Church of Heaven."
"..."
Anton (White) played Bishop captures on c4.
Vigil (Black) played Pawn to b5.
"Something the matter?"
"How do you know that?"
Anton (White) played Bishop to d3.
Vigil (Black) played Rook to d8.
"I just do."
"This shit won't work with me."
Anton (White) played Queen to e2.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop to b7.
"Don't I look like a trustworthy guy?"
"Nada."
Anton (White) castled kingside.
Vigil (Black) played Knight to e5.
"The game should be about halfway done."
"Oh, shut up."
Anton (White) played Knight captures on e5.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop captures on e5.
"..."
"Don't dodge the question. How can you be so certain I will die?"
Anton (White) played Pawn to f4.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop to c7.
"The cancer isn't the thing that kills you, Anton; it's your ego."
"... H-how the fuck do you know ABOUT THE CANCER? I HAVEN'T EVEN TOLD STACY ABOUT IT!"
Anton (White) played Pawn to e4.
Vigil (Black) played Rook to c8.
"..."
"SPIT IT OUT!"
Anton (White) played Pawn to e5.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop to b6, check.
"Something the matter?"
"Huh?"
Anton (White) played King to h1.
Vigil (Black) played Knight to g4.
"I just do. Believe me if you want, don't believe me if you don't."
"..."
Anton (White) played Bishop to e4.
Vigil (Black) played Queen to h4.
"Or maybe I will tell you."
"Go ahead."
Anton (White) played Pawn to g3.
Vigil (Black) played Rook captures on c3.
"I'm just messing with you. I won't."
"Shit fucker."
Anton (White) played Pawn captures on h4.
Vigil (Black) played Rook to d2.
"..."
"..."
Anton (White) played Queen captures on d2.
Vigil (Black) played Bishop captures on e4, check.
"I already told you, Anton, we were halfway there."
Anton just stared at Vigil, then looked back down at the board.
Anton (White) played Queen to g2.
Vigil (Black) played Rook to h3.
Whatever Anton did, it was over; he had to resign. And so he slapped the pieces away. White and black pieces scattered across the grass beneath the church's shade. Anton got up, grabbed Vigil by the front of his tunic, and pulled him close until their faces were inches apart.
"What... THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM?"
Vigil laughed lightly, but he didn't say anything. Anton let go of him and walked away, leaving Vigil alone.
Sometime later, Eve and Elyon walked over to Vigil.
"Let's rest; it has been a long day." Elyon and Eve could only nod in silence.
The sun fell completely; it was dark outside. Everyone went to bed, except Anton and Stacy. Maryam saw the two of them after finishing her duties and started laughing, thinking her earlier words held true.
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!"
"WE ARE NOT A COUPLE!"
"Sure... sureee."