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Sulman's POV

This is so fun, so fun, so fun! I thought, suppressing a sudden urge to laugh out loud as I watched large hazel eyes sweep the board across from me. I have no idea who you are, but you are so fun to play with! I thought, again resisting the urge to say it out loud, gripping the ends of my sleeves. It seemed that I was resisting to do a lot of things today. I had to resist trying out all the street food I could lay my hands on, joining the group of dancers near the plaza, and asking the girl in front of me why it seemed like she was hiding. It was strange feeling for me to resist, since I usually received whatever I desired with the simple wave of my hands. But today, today was different. Today was the day my jewels and status didn't matter- or at least it was suppose to. The heavy and cautious stares of the people around me made it hard to feel that it was the Festival of the Eclipse. But the board that laid before me brought me back to why it was my favorite day. The game was coming to end and although my opponent had definitely given me my most exhilarating challenge yet, my victory was definite. I had played this game since I had first learned to comprehend its rules at age five and since then had gradually become the best player in the Mughal Empire (if I do say so myself). There was just two moves left for the each of us and I was already in position to win. "Your turn", I said, leaning my head into my hand. Her eyes narrowed at me and I managed to hold in my laugh, slipping out just a grin. I felt General Shuja stiffen beside me at my sudden change in facial expression but I ignored him, curious about the owner of those hazel orbs that were purposely avoiding mine. She was so strange. One moment, she would look at me with fiery defiance in her eyes and I had never seen anyone look at me like that before. Then the next second, she ignored me like I wasn't even there, again, no one had ever done that to me before either. What a strange little girl, I thought.

But I couldn't go any deeper into such thoughts because the next second I knew, before me laid a play I had never seen before. With just a flick of her finger, my opponent had played a move completely foreign to me. My eyes widen in disbelief as I leaned closer to the board, staring at the piece she had just moved. What did she just-?  The crowd around me echoed my thoughts as murmurs circulated around. All feelings of amusement were thrown out the window and into the dusted ground as I looked at each of the figures remaining on the board, my dark pieces contrasting greatly against her light ones. I...I can't move, I thought, a slight rush of panic humming through me as my mind raced to find an escape route. One by one, my options were being crossed out in front of me, dwindling until nothing was left. An unfamiliar feeling crept up inside me as the realization struck that there was no play I could make. It was over. This game was over.

It was a trap...I fell for a trap... ME. I fell for a trap set by someone who JUST learned the rules! I thought, snapping over to look at the hazel eyes who were now staring at me calmly. "T-the winner of the final round of the day is the challenger." the moderator said, his voice quivering as the crowd gasped. I knew they were just as shocked as me, after all, it was I who had lost. So I had to ask, I had to know, I had to hear it from her. How in the name of Ur did you do that? What move was that? Who are you?!

Just as the words were about to escape the tip of my tongue, I saw a glint of silver. Wait, no, stop! I thought alarmed, as General Shuja unsheathed his sword. But I didn't even have time to yell out an order or stand to stop him as the sword was brought out with a stealth swing aimed at the girl's neck. In a flurry of heavy brown cloth and dust that had risen from the ground, her seat was left empty as I saw her break through the wall of people and run. "Wait!" I yelled out, both to General Shuja who was about to chase after her and the fleeting cloak that was disappearing from my horizon. "Young Majesty, what he did to you was unforgivable!" General Shuja said, his grip on his sword tightening. I couldn't help but internally groan, of course he automatically assumed her to be male. "What he did to me? He just won one game against me!" I said, ignoring the murmuring of the spectators that had gathered from the outburst. Although I didn't know why I was protecting her, I knew it would only make the situation worse if it was revealed she was a girl. "An unknown person of unknown status winning against Prince Sulman of the Mughal Empire in front of his own subjects is putting shame to the royal name!" he said, his armor clanking against him. I signed, the man's loyalty and temper had never ceased to amaze me. I looked around at the people who were all huddled, fear and curiosity in their eyes. It wasn't everyday something like this occurred. 

Somewhere from the crowd, a person spoke up, pointing towards the sky, "We missed it!" he shouted. Everyone's eyes looked towards the sky where the dark moon and the blazing sun just separated as quickly as it met. My mouth opened slightly agape along with everyone else, realizing that we all missed the eclipse. The reason for the entire festival, a celestial occurrence that only happened once every few years, was completely ignored for another occurrence that was even more rare.

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That day, without the people realizing, they did witness an eclipse. One of a different kind. They saw the momentary meeting of a sun-like Prince who burned brightly above all with power and knowledge and a moon-like street rat that glowed softly in the darkness with hidden wisdom. The people had all stood in awe as that sun and moon meet and clashed, but it ended as soon as it began. And they wouldn't see it again until the next eclipse seven years later.

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GLOSSARY:

*The Caste System Of India

               Higher Class        Emperor and Royal Family

                                             Brahmins- Priests

                                             Kshatriyas- Warriors and Rulers

                                             Vaisyas- Skilled Traders, Merchants, and Officials

                                              Sudras- Unskilled Workers

               Lower Class          Untouchables