Chapter 91: Planning for the Future
Theme: Long-Term Strategy
In the quiet solitude of his guest chambers in Asgard, Volundr sat beneath the warm glow of a softly flickering enchantment lamp.
Scrolls, notes, and meticulously drawn diagrams surrounded him, each detailing magical theories, combat profiles, and psychological observations. At the center of it all lay a parchment labeled with a single name: Rossweisse.
Volundr's eyes skimmed across the page, reviewing months of observations. He had documented her growth in defensive spells, her latent affinity for support-type enchantments, and her difficulty with traditional Asgardian offensive magic. Even her personality traits—disciplined, loyal, eager to improve—were neatly noted in the margins.
He tapped his pen lightly against the parchment. Potential Rook – High Compatibility.
There was no doubt in his mind. Rossweisse's natural instincts to protect, her resistance to damage, and her ability to enhance others on the battlefield made her a perfect candidate for the Rook piece in his future peerage.
But more than that, Volundr saw a hidden fire in her—a spark that, once nurtured correctly, would ignite into something formidable.
He began outlining a multi-phase plan in a separate scroll:
Phase One: Build trust with Rossweisse through indirect mentorship. Continue offering tools and guidance without revealing intentions.
Phase Two: Deepen relations with her family and guardians in Asgard. Establish himself as a reliable, long-term ally.
Phase Three: Monitor her growth until she matures emotionally and magically—approximately 3–4 more years.
Phase Four: Official recruitment, timed with key peerage expansions and Rating Game milestones.
Volundr paused, his gaze drifting to the window where moonlight spilled across the snowy peaks of Asgard. Patience was key. He couldn't rush this. Rossweisse was still young—still searching for who she was and what she wanted to be.
Guiding her too forcefully would only push her away. But the day would come when she was ready. And when it did, he would offer her not just a piece on his chessboard, but a purpose—a place where her strengths could shine.
Meanwhile, down in the training grounds, Rossweisse stood tall, her palms glowing as she tested a newly refined barrier technique.
The magic shimmered steadily, the artifact Volundr had given her enhancing her control and precision.
There was determination in her eyes, confidence beginning to take root where once there had been doubt.
She had no idea of the strategy unfolding behind the scenes—no idea that the quiet figure who advised her from time to time was planning for a future where she would stand as one of his most vital pillars.
But she didn't need to know yet.
Volundr watched from above, arms folded, mind calm. Strategy, after all, wasn't just about moves made in the present—it was about seeing ten, twenty, a hundred moves ahead.
And in Rossweisse, he had already seen the endgame.