To him, he was the most normal man in the history of everything. He worked hard, got what he wanted, and did it again the next day.
This was the circle of life. All things in life are psychological. If you're happy, all things are easy. If you're sad, all things are impossible. That was the circle of life for Holden. He was happy.
"Hello there." He was happy. He was living on the side of a mountain and had felt that he was complete. The town was what would be called a backwater place. Even more thought of the town inside then out. Probably because nobody was outside the town and thought of it all that much.
But upon a stranger coming upon their path, they had faced something that was unlike any other as she had come to be merciful.
"I desire tea and a place to stay for the night."
"Of course."
Like any other stranger looking for a home, she was in traveling clothes. The rugged terrain of the desert had done a number on her boots. As Holden lit a match and tossed it on the stove, the woman was already warming her hands by it. She had felt the cloudy environment had done a number on her but she couldn't have accepted such a thing as gospel. She knew that when those clouds and such horrid humidity had cleared, she would be left in a dry and hot environment unlike the kinder one of the pasts.
"Would you like for me to play music in the meantime?" Even though he wasn't the richest man in the town, he still was the one to be taking in the elder woman. She had black hair that only allowed a single strand of white to escape. She wore purple robes and a black bonnet that covered her ears and unkempt hair.
Such a shame. A woman heading out on the trail all by herself. I guess I just need to make her time here as best as possible because it isn't getting any better.
Despite his youth, Holden had an ailment called white forelock. Grey hair developed faster than normal and he wasn't too tall. He used this to his advantage because on the trail he could shoot faster than anyone's eyes could track.
He felt more at home with the elderly anyways. He didn't fear this woman or what she brought with her. She trusted that whomever she had been hosted by would be worthy. Elderly magicians tended to have a hard time with getting shelter.
Alas, when he had placed the kettle on the stove and turned his face to her, she had expected this and was able to reach her cupped hands out with a golden locket inside.
"Save this, host. For I will be gone soon."
"Madame… I don't know what to say!"
Slowly but surely, his locked legs became jumpy and his finger twitched as he admired the watch of which, if he pawned, could bring upon a month of good care. He would have anything in the town for it!
"Just say thank you."
As he clasped the locket in his hands, he pulled it inward to his chest and closed his eyes. He felt the warmth so much in his heart.
Like everyone else to come, he would learn to fade away. When he opened his eyes, the woman was gone. She had given up the locket and with it her magic. In her bag was a book of magic. He couldn't remember why but he was feeling so terrible that morning. Now everything was so beautiful and he was so happy.
Life was good.
Life was great.
He was good.
He was great.
Not too long afterwards, he was learning magic at such a rate unknown to others. He had talent never seen before or again. His locket was the reason.
The locket had an ability that was strange. It could trap two people in a game for a long time until one died or you could have given it to someone, resulting in your immediate demise but they are trapped with it forever until they either give it up or lose the game.
If the lightning balls or any other tricks didn't work, he planned on the six shooter to do the talking with a final wording from the locket.
When Selena had endured the final lightning ball and was on a warpath for Holden, she was struck with the sudden feeling of something so familiar.
"Is that a… I haven't seen one of those in so long. I congratulate you on having such a relic."
Where most would ask questions, Holden reloaded and repeated the gesture again. Her skin was left with small dents.
"Thank you. I know I'm not going to get out of this. But I can do some things to make sure that you have a hard time."
He opened the locket and inside were two pictures. One of Selena and one of a woman who was unfamiliar to her.
"What is that?" She raised an eyebrow before she felt her bones and muscles twist into a vortex. Naturally, she blinked. But when she opened her eyes the arena was gone from her and she was left at a checker board with an elderly woman. "Do you know where I am?"
I probably shouldn't approach her, this isn't a good thing. I don't like how that locket worked. Obviously, she is a person here for her own reasons. So that means she might know a way out.
"We got to play checkers. Five games, doesn't matter if you win the first three we still have to play all five."
Her eyes were hollow. But Selena could sense that the woman was at peace with such a fate. Sitting in silence until she plays a game of checkers.
"Does that mean I get out of here if I win?"
The woman didn't answer. Seeing no other way out, Selena sat crisscrossed at the checkerboard and began to play. She was black and the woman was red. This board had to be rigged.
It started out with basic mimicory. Selena moved the piece furthest on her left hand side outward to the right. This was met by the second furthest right piece from the woman moving forward to block her. Though there was one mistake. They had simply left the blocking piece without a back to protect it. Selena saw this and moved a piece over the piece. The original piece she moved was quickly taken over by a further right piece in the back.
"So how long have you been playing checkers?"
Selena moved the piece that she had across from her original piece and moved it forward. The woman then moved her center piece in front of Selena's center. Seeing the trap, Selena moved her piece inward to make a temporary stalemate.
"A little under a century."
After about three minutes of playing, Selena had the woman on the ropes. She'd taken eleven of her pieces whilst also only losing two. This wasn't her best game and that was by a long shot. Now, the game is going to be over. As she claimed the final piece, her eyes closed to blink and when she opened them, she was back in the arena with the locket wrapped around her neck.
Though Holden had lost, he had cursed her to an eternal game where if she lost those checkers matches to come, she would lose it all.