The morning sky was pale with the first hints of sunlight. Dew clung to the grass, the air crisp and cool.
Arthur tightened the laces of his worn boots, his breath misting in the cold. The academy pitch stretched before him, silent at this hour.
He hadn't been ordered to train this early. Most of the academy players were still asleep, their rooms filled with snores and dreams. But Arthur was awake. He had to be.
Ding!
[System Alert]Daily Training Missions Unlocked.
Morning Drill: Complete 100 Short Passes, 50 Dribbles, 20 Long Passes. Reward: +5 XP (Passing, Dribbling).
Arthur rubbed his hands together. So it's like grinding in FIFA career mode. But instead of pressing buttons… I have to sweat for real.
He dragged a bag of old footballs to the center circle. His body ached from yesterday's scrimmage. His calves were sore, his lungs still heavy. But he pushed it aside.
The first pass smacked against the training board with a dull thud. The rebound caught him off-guard, rolling past his foot.
"Tch…" He jogged after it, passing again.
Again.
Again.
His legs burned, but slowly the rhythm came. Pass. Receive. Pass. Receive. Each repetition felt a little smoother.
By the time he reached fifty passes, his shirt was sticking to his back, drenched in sweat.
"Oi… you serious?"
Arthur turned. A few of his teammates had wandered in, yawning, still stretching. Clovis, the striker, raised an eyebrow at him.
"Training by yourself at dawn? Trying to impress the coach?" Clovis smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Another boy chuckled. "What's the point? Stats don't change overnight."
Arthur wiped his forehead, ignoring them. "That's what you think."
Clovis sneered. "You think hard work makes up for talent? Keep dreaming, young master. Your family name won't carry you anymore."
Before Arthur could answer, Marcus's voice cut in. The defender walked over, stretching his arms.
"Leave him alone. At least he's trying," Marcus said calmly. "Better than sleeping in."
Clovis snorted. "We'll see if it matters when the qualifiers start. If we even get in."
Arthur held his gaze for a moment, then turned back to his drill. He wouldn't waste words. His passes would speak for him.
By the time the sun fully rose, Arthur was exhausted. He collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving.
Ding!
[Training Complete]
Passing XP +5
Dribbling XP +5
Current Overall: 57 → (57.3)
A small increase, invisible to anyone else, but he felt it. His touches sharper, his eyes a little clearer.
Arthur closed his eyes, letting the sun warm his face. This is just the beginning.
Footsteps crunched nearby. Arthur sat up, expecting another teammate.
But it wasn't.
At the edge of the pitch stood his father, Lord Reginald Hayes. His broad frame was outlined against the morning light, his arms crossed.
Arthur blinked. "Father?"
Reginald said nothing for a long moment. His eyes swept the field, taking in the scattered footballs, the sweat-soaked boy before him.
Finally, he spoke. "You woke before dawn to train?"
Arthur nodded. "Yes. I… I need to improve. Slowly, maybe. But I will."
Reginald's stern expression didn't change. He walked forward, picked up a ball, and with one sharp motion, sent it flying. The strike was clean, powerful, the ball whistling before smashing into the top corner of the net.
Arthur's jaw dropped. Even at his age, his father's technique was flawless.
Reginald turned back. His eyes burned with quiet fire. "That is the standard of a Hayes. Every touch must command respect. Every pass must inspire. Do you understand?"
Arthur swallowed hard, then nodded. "I understand."
For a brief second, Reginald's stern mask cracked into something else. Not a smile, but… pride.
"Good," he said. "Then train harder. And don't stop until your game carries the Hayes name again."
With that, he left, his footsteps fading into the distance.
Arthur stared after him, his chest tight. His father's words weren't soft. But they carried weight. They carried belief.
Later that day, the academy gathered in the common hall. Coach Darius stood at the front, his arms folded.
"All of you," he began, his voice sharp, "you've trained, you've played scrimmages. Now the time has come."
The players leaned forward. Even Clovis stopped smirking.
"The National Youth Tournament Qualifiers will begin soon. We've been invited to the regional bracket. Only the top two academies will advance."
A murmur ran through the players. Excitement. Nerves.
Darius's eyes narrowed. "This is our only chance. If we fail, the Hayes Academy will be dissolved. And with it, any hope for the Hayes family to rise again."
Arthur felt the words like a weight pressing down on him. His chest tightened, but his resolve only grew.
Soon.
He has to sharpen himself, to grind, to claw at every weakness.
He clenched his fists. No matter how weak I am now, I won't let this chance slip.
That night, as the academy lights dimmed, Arthur sat by his window, looking out at the moon.
Ding!
[System Notification]New Main Quest Unlocked.
Main Quest 2: Lead Hayes Academy to advance through the Qualifiers. Reward: Silver Skill Card + Attribute Boost. Failure: Academy Dissolution.
Arthur smiled faintly, though his hands trembled.
The path was clear. Brutal, narrow, but clear.
And step by step, the fallen lion would roar again.