Project Mage

Jess hesitated for a moment. Then she sighed and turned to face Risebelle.

"Risebelle, it's… it's about my ex-boyfriend. He was involved in some shady stuff and then without even realizing, I became ensnared in his web of shady stuff. The individuals he associated with, they're relentless... They've been trying to get some information out of me."

Risebelle's mind raced as she tried to process what Jess had just revealed. "Information? What kind of information are they after, Jess?"

Jess swallowed hard, her eyes filled with fear. "I cen't tell you all the details, but it's something related to the school. They think I can help them, but I can't, Risebelle. We're not together anymore."

Suddenly, a young man interrupted their conversation, surprising both Risebelle and Jess, who had believed their discussion was private in the courtyard. He spoke with a shy and nervous demeanor, his curiosity getting the better of him.

His presence exuded a delicate yet enthralling charm. His cropped hair, meticulously arranged, framed his visage with precision, enhancing his allure. Ethereal qualities graced his features, captivating the observer. Notably, his verdant eyes shimmered with a glint of inquisitiveness, adding depth to his captivating gaze. His slender physique and graceful bearing contributed to his singular magnetism, forming an irresistible combination.

He approached Risebelle and Jess with a soft and timid tone of speech, "I'm sorry to interrupt but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. It sounded important and I thought I might be able to help."

Risebelle and Jess exchanged surprised glances before turning their attention to the young man. Risebelle spoke cautiously, "Who are you? Wait. You’re Harty, aren’t you? The Unbeatable chess player.”

Harty nodded, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks at the recognition. "Yes, that's me. I'm Harty."

Risebelle acknowledged Harty's identity with a nod of recognition. "Aren't you from the chess club? Your name is Harty. You're quite the player. I've never managed to beat you. The hell are you doing eavesdropping on us?"

Harty chuckled nervously, "Oh, well, I've been playing chess for a long time, so I've had a lot of practice bu--"

“—That’s not what I asked you. Why, Where. You. Eavesdropping?!”

Harty rubbed the back of his head” W-Well you see, I uh, I was just happened to be in the area at the time and you girls both started talking so…it sounds like you’re in some trouble?”

Jess sighed, realizing that their conversation was no longer a secret. "Yeah, we are. And it's not just any trouble, Harty. It's dangerous."

Harty nodded with a foocused look in his clear green eyes. "I can help you, Jess, Risebelle. I am not a full-fledged detective yet but I'm in training, and I've learned a few things. Besides, I've always had a knack for solving puzzles and this sounds like a case that needs solving."

Risebelle and Jess exchanged glances, considering Harty's offer. Jess finally spoke with gratitude, "Harty, we appreciate your willingness to help. We're just not sure how to handle this situation ourselves."

Harty smiled warmly, relieved that they were willing to accept his assistance. "Great. Here's the plan. After the chess club meeting today, I'll invite both of you to stay. I have permission to use the entire room as my base of operations. It's a quiet place, and we can brainstorm and come up with a plan to deal with this."

Risebelle nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan, Harty. We'll meet you there after were done laying chess. Thank you for offering your help."

Harty gave them a reassuring nod. "You're welcome. We'll get to the bottom of this, together."

As the chess club meeting began, Risebelle settled into her usual spot, preparing for a challenging game. She had always enjoyed the intellectual stimulation that chess provided and it was a nice distraction from the worries of the day.

The members arrived and started to set up their boards. Risebelle's eyes widened in surprise though when she saw Jess entering the room. It was a rare sight to see Jess coming to a place like this.

Risebelle could only find herself smiling at the unexpected surprise. She waved at Jess, gesturing for her to join the game. "Jess, I didn't expect to see you here… you’re usually too busy to come to events like these. Are you up for a game?"

Jess grinned mischievously as she approached Risebelle's board. "Hay girl, I figured I'd change things up a bit today. Why not? Let's see if I can beat you at your own game."

The other people within the room looked on in curiosity as Risebelle and Jess began their match. It was clear that Jess was not as experienced as Risebelle but she played with enthusiasm and in a slightly seductive manner.

The chess pieces moved methodically across the board as Jess tried her best to outmaneuver Risebelle. She had a fierce look in her eyes and her moves were bold, designed to trap Risebelle's king.

However, Once the game reached a critical moment, Jess's excitement got the best of her. She made a move that she believed was a brilliant setup to checkmate Risebelle. With a confident smile, she looked at Risebelle and said, "I've got you now, Risebelle. There's no way out of this one!"

Risebelle surveyed the board keeping calm and focused. She saw the opportunity for a quick victory and seized it. With a sly grin, she moved her rook horizontally and said, "Checkmate."

Jess blinked in disbelief, her excitement turning into astonishment. She couldn't believe how quickly the game had ended.

"What? How did that happen? I thought I had you cornered!"

Risebelle chuckled, realizing that Jess had overextended herself in her eagerness to win. "You played well Jess, but sometimes in chess it's better to be patient and not rush things. It's all about strategy and thinking ahead."

The group gathered around them applauded Risebelle's victory, impressed by her quick and decisive win. Jess, though surprised ended up laughing. "Well, you got me there, Risebelle. I guess I need to work on my ‘patience’."

Risebelle smiled and extended a hand to Jess. "It was a good game, Jess. You'll get better with practice. And hey, it's all in good fun."

After the chess club meeting concluded, Harty, who had been quietly observing the games, approached Risebelle and Jess with a warm smile. "I hope you both had fun, especially with Jess's rare appearance. It's not every day we get to see her here."

Risebelle nodded, clearly enjoying the change of pace. "Yeah, it was a nice surprise. Jess always brings some excitement."

With a quick glance around the area, Harty began rearranging the desks and setting up the chalkboard in a manner that resembled a investigator's workspace. He pinned up several pictures and notes, creating an organized yet mysterious atmosphere.

Once everything was in place, Harty gestured for Risebelle and Jess to take a seat. "Alright, ladies, now that we have some privacy, let's get down to business. As I mentioned earlier, I am a greenhorn at detective work and I believe I can help you with your situation."

Risebelle and Jess exchanged curious glances before turning their attention to Harty, ready to hear what he had to say.

Harty wasted no time in getting down to business. He began by displaying a series of photographs, documents and notes on the chalkboard. Risebelle and Jess exchanged surprised glances when they saw the extent of the evidence he had gathered.

Risebelle couldn't help but speak up with awe. "Harty, this is... impressive. How did you gather all of this information?"

Harty smiled modestly, adjusting his glasses as he explained. "I have access to various resources and I've been observing things for a while now. You'd be surprised what you can learn if you pay close attention."

As Harty continued to explain the evidence he had gathered, Jess batted her eyelashes and flashed a flirtatious smile, leaning in closer to Harty. "Harty, you're not just a chess prodigy; you're a cool investigativey guy too? That's incredibly impressive. You must be quite the catch."

Harty blushed slightly at Jess's flirtatious demeanor but maintained his composure. "Thank you Jess but I am still just in training...haha..."

Risebelle lowered her eyes as she gently addressed Harty while folding her arms. "Harty, don't take Jess too seriously. She has a way of being flirtatious. We’re here for your skills and assistance with our situation."

Jess pouted and turned to Risebelle "Oh, Risebelle, you're no fun! Can't a girl appreciate talent when she sees it?"

Risebelle sighed softly. She has a hint of concern in her eyes ."You have a habit of being an idiot most of the times and getting yourself in trouble. We're dealing with a serious situation here. Harty's helping us out and you should respect that."

Jess rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. "Fine, fine, you're right, as always, Risebelle. I'll behave myself."

Harty, who had been observing their exchange cleared his throat and redirected the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Thank you, now, let's focus on the information I've gathered. It appears that Jess has become trapped in a situation related to her ex-boyfriend and there are people who want something from her."

Jess nodded, her playful demeanor shifting to one of seriousness. "That's right. They think I have information about the school and something related to my ex.... But I don't and I don't want to be involved in whatever they're planning."

Harty leaned in with his eyes narrowing. "This is precisely why we must obtain the identities and motives of these individuals. I have reason to believe that we possess a lead that could serve as our starting point."

Harty tapped his finger on one of the documents displayed on the chalkboard as he spoke. "Our first lead is the meeting scheduled for 7 tonight. It's a crucial opportunity for us to gather information about who's involved and what they're planning. We have approximately two hours to prepare and gather any additional details."

Risebelle nodded in agreement. "You're right, Harty. We can't afford to waste any time. Jess's safety is at stake. We need to find out who these people are and what they want from her."

Harty gave a reassuring smile. "Great. First we'll need to find out the location of this meeting. Jess, do you got any clue where it might take place or who might be involved?"

Jess thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I honestly don't know much about their plans. My ex-boyfriend was always secretive about these things. But I can ask around discreetly and see if I can gather any information."

Risebelle chimed in with a suggestion. "In the meantime, Harty, maybe you could dig deeper into the connections your evidence has revealed. We might uncover something useful."

Harty nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea, Risebelle. I'll continue my investigation while Jess looks for leads. Let's reconvene in an hour with any new information we've gathered."

As Risebelle left the meeting and made her way outside, she spotted Angie sitting on a school bench looking annoyed. Angie was deeply engrossed in playing a handheld game, tapping the screen and shouting at it

“Come on! Come on! Hit the bastard damn it!”

Risebelle approached her friend and greeted her with a warm smile. "Hey, Angie. Waiting for your ride again?"

Angie glanced up from her game and was clearly irritated.. "Yeah and they're late, as usual. I swear, it's like they have no concept of time."

Risebelle took a seat next to Angie, trying to offer some comfort. "I'm sorry to hear that, Angie. I bet it gets you pretty mad doesen't it. How about I give you some help on that game? It seems to be beating you up."

Angie shrugged, her eyes never leaving her game. "Nah, I'll survive. I just wish they weren't asses who forget their daughter. It's not like I have all day to sit around here."

Risebelle chuckled softly, understanding Angie's impatience. "I get it. Maybe you should consider taking the bus or something. At least then you'd have a more reliable way to get home."

Angie grumbled in response with a pout of her face. "Ugh, I haaaate buses. They're always so crowded and noisy!"

Angie's Anger seemed to grow as she continued to tap on her game. After a moment of silence, she glanced at Risebelle with a curious yet irritable look.

"By the way, Risebelle," Angie began, "I saw you talking to that Harty guy from the chess club. What's up with that?"

Risebelle raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. “E-Eh?”