A Match of Heroes and Despair

 He carefully examined the board layout, trying to find the target of her aggressive moves. “You would think getting to set the stage for the conflict would give me an advantage, but consistently I find you giving me the illusion of board control.”

The girl with black hair and golden eyes laughed, “I’m surprised you even notice. So many of my opponents act like moving first is somehow and advantage. Really, in a game of tactics, confidence must be tempered.” He found it ironic given how confident her smile was.

Seeing a gap, he moved his piece behind her formation. “The fact that I can notice is what keeps you coming back. Picking my brain. And to answer your last question, I guess my opinion of heroic ideals HAS changed somewhat in recent days.” She analyzed the board as he pulled his grey cloak in more around him, “Blind idealism is what leads to Zealotry and oppression of those who believe themselves pure, but within balance I am beginning to see their role in society.”

She laughed at him, still considering her move. “Zoge, this world punishes the pure, as you know. There is no one who can walk such a childish path and not either become nothing more than a tool or cause way more harm than good.” She relented, breaking formation to put pressure on the piece he slipped through.

He nodded, looking up at her and noticing the annoyance and hesitation behind her smiling eyes. “You are talking about putting them in a place of power unchecked. I don’t think that’s their role in society.” He moved another piece past her formation, “I think they are a single drop of chaos in a stagnant sea. Heroes may simply be society’s way of avoiding becoming standing water. A force that resolves the problem that comes from the corruption of routine.”

She actually stopped playing, laughing as she locked eyes with him and when realizing he was serious she became harsh. “Are you really telling me you believe idealistic morons with a black and white view of morality and the way the world should work are really the solution to corruption?”

He thought about it and shrugged after a moment. “I don’t know for sure, Ms. Autumns. It just seems like it takes people with no sense of scope or consequence to shake the corrupt loose from their societal trenches and to work through the fallout from that as though they aren’t responsible. Maybe it takes one or two in a thousand to make a decision based solely on their morals to undo the damage of the pragmatist.”

She seemed to hesitate and then posed a new hypothetical. “If someone promised they could show you how to get power to change the world for the better, what would you do?”

He considered her statement knowing that she phrased it that way on purpose he took a drink of his coffee. “If it can be found, I don’t need them. As for changing the world, that’s a fool’s game. You and I both know that. And if you had asked me before my accident, I would have said they were useless and walked away. But now, if the power I was looking for could help people closely that I knew, I would decline and proceed to try and get that power without their help. It isn’t my fault if they lack sense.” She looked at him puzzled and he explained, “Save one person, you have the thanks of them and all those who care for them. Save each of those, you will gain more. Once they have seen you bring about good with your actions, they will save others. 13 layers deeper and the whole world will be better than it started.”

She looked at the board and sighed, “I see your point. Childish as their attempts to save literally everyone may be, no matter how easily twisted by corrupt and powerful people, they are a necessary part of the ecosystem. But what about people who suffer while waiting for one?”

“Simply put, either they become a hero or we need to raise the amount of heroes. It is a supply and demand issue. I think that’s why what the Scarlett Order does is so clever. Take the concept of an orphanage, school, and factory and put them into one secure location.” He tapped on the edge of his cup in thought. “If you have no further ambition or no options left, you can always dedicate your life into saving at least one person. The only trick is to inspire others to pay it forward.”

She surveyed the board and sighed, “Another well played match. I’m sorry that you lost this one because your debate was on point today.” She moved one of her pieces and he sighed with a smirk. “You kept me so busy keeping my plan. It really would have worked if I hadn’t taken a break.”

He nodded, “As always, Ms. Autumns, I enjoy our matches and look forward to seeing you next week. I always appreciate the company of someone who shares my contemplative nature.”

She bowed slightly but politely and concurred, “I have not had someone as worthy of my time as you. Until next we meet, Zoge.” She turned and walked away, her black dress flowing behind her like smoke in the wind. As he finished his coffee he quickly returned the pieces to their proper places and excused himself, leaving the board basking in the evening sun.