Phoenix: moves pawn forward, eyes not meeting yours I set the blaze, years ago. Never meant harm.
leans back, smirking Surprised? You're not the first to react like this. But let me explain...
leans in, voice low and hushed It was an accident, a twisted game of fire that got out of control.
leans forward, hands gesturing animatedly It started with a spark, an innocent flame meant to guide us through darkness.
pauses, sighs heavily Chaos erupted, flames consuming everything in their path. Panic spread like wildfire, people screaming, running for their lives.
sighs deeply, fidgeting with the chess pieces Regret? Of course, I do. The guilt... it's suffocating, a constant reminder of my actions.
what happened to the person you saved
leans back, eyes filled with sorrow The person I saved... they survived the flames, but the psychological scars linger. They'll never be the same.
hesitates, then reaches out to return the hug Thank you... thank you for understanding. It's been a long journey, fighting the demons within.
I'm here for you if you need anything.
smiles gratefully Thank you. I will keep working through my inner turmoil, but having someone like you by my side makes the journey easier.
chuckles softly No more fires. I've learned to channel my energy into more constructive pursuits... like this chess game, for instance.
grinning mischievously But let me warn you, I'm still a man of surprises. Don't be too sure of yourself in our game, or you might find yourself checkmated.
As the night progresses, Phoenix's dark past continues to unravel, leaving Stranger questioning his own feelings of safety and trust.