Staring into Emberly's calm eyes, Stefan had an epiphany.
Emberly was no ordinary individual, as she seemed to recognize his obsessive passion with just one glance. "Stefan Anderson, Titan Name: Blaze," he replied, noticing a split-second dilation in Emberly's eyes, quickly dismissed by her nonchalant demeanor.
Countless individuals had adopted that name after the original Blaze disappeared a century ago, leading the world to presume him dead.
"You're just starting; don't push yourself too hard," Emberly cautioned softly.
"You bear a resemblance to the coach, is…" Stefan began, interrupted by Emberly's swift response, "He's my father."
Watching her return to her section, retrieve a small white backpack, sling it over her shoulder, and exit the room, Stefan expected it, yet couldn't help but widen his eyes at the revelation of her being Jason's daughter.
The sounds of grunts made Emberly glance back, observing Stefan continuing his push-ups. 'Quite stubborn,' she chuckled inwardly, leaving with a tiny smirk.
After an hour of rigorous training, Stefan stumbled out of the gravity room, his legs trembling and his stomach growling.
"So hungry," he muttered, feeling like a famished beast. Despite having eaten earlier, his intense training had accelerated his metabolism, leaving his body depleted as his growing muscles and tendons absorbed the nutrients.
Struggling to maintain his balance, Stefan leaned on the glass wall and made his way to the cafeteria, relieved that it would remain open until 10 p.m., considering the commitment of the dedicated cultivators. The rules were in place to ensure the titans received adequate rest.
Spotting Stefan entering, Grim, a brown-haired man with deep black eyes, expressed disdain for those who appeared incapable of dedicating themselves fully to something not inherently their forte.
"Can't you see he's not well?" Landon hissed, rushing to Stefan's aid as he leaned on the counter, placing his meal order through the AI.
"I've got your meal, Captain," Landon announced, earning a scoff from Stefan, who, despite his demeanor, didn't reject Landon's assistance.
As they sat down, Emberly and Scarlett, another red-haired player, known for her towering presence in defense, strode into the cafeteria.
The hall was solely occupied by the rising stars, with Stefan inadvertently intruding, sparking annoyance among those with uncontrollable pride.
"Emberly, Scarlett, over here!" Landon waved enthusiastically at the two ladies, and after they grabbed their favorite drinks, all four congregated at one table.
"Who's this?" Scarlett inquired, eyeing Stefan, who focused on devouring his meal. "He's Stefan. Don't mind his demeanor; he sometimes acts like an old man," Landon explained, prompting Stefan to momentarily pause.
Even Emberly appeared taken aback as Stefan shot Landon a piercing glare. "Just kidding," Landon quickly added, raising his hands in jest, eliciting a chuckle from Scarlett.
"So, Stefan, what position do you play?" Scarlett queried, while Emberly observed silently. "Striker. It's the only position I've ever played," Stefan responded, looking at them intently while wiping his mouth.
"I'm a defender, just like this charmer here. The princess handles both wings, although she excels on the right side," Scarlett explained with a softer tone, showcasing her better communication skills compared to Emberly.
Emberly's exceptional beauty was her only standout feature. She had poor communication abilities and seemed to lack passion for anything other than training and playing soccer.
"Oh? He's a defender too."
Stefan's skeptical tone caught Landon off guard. "What's with your tone? Coach said I had the potential to be among the top 100 defenders on our planet. I just need someone to help me tap into my potential, and the next day, he brought yo…!" Landon's excitement was cut short.
Scarlett and Landon were astonished, while Stefan squinted, and Emberly tilted her head, displaying curiosity in her watery eyes.
"You're my teacher!" Landon exclaimed, but Stefan vehemently denied it. "Are you crazy?"
As Stefan attempted to leave, Emberly handed him a lollipop.
"What's this for?" Stefan asked.
"It's good, sweet, and invigorates the mind. Consider it a gift for the new member," Emberly replied in a light tone.
Amidst Landon's audible gulp for the gift, Stefan accepted the lollipop and departed, leaving the group behind.
"We don't even know what his abilities are?" Scarlett sighed, expressing concern, while Emberly remained optimistic. "He'll reveal them eventually. If my father brought him, he's either hiding them or just discovering his talents," Emberly stated, puncturing her drink with a straw and sipping it.
"By the way, if you're too busy with the new guy, don't forget we have a match on Monday," Grim scowled before walking away, clearly displeased.
Scarlett exclaimed in frustration as her phone vibrated, realizing that her dad was due to arrive tomorrow. "I forgot my dad is coming tomorrow. Ugh! Why does it have to be on Sundays!"
"You haven't even checked it yet; how do you know it's him?" Landon questioned.
"Oh, it's him," Scarlett replied confidently, showing Landon the screen.
---
'Perhaps I should concentrate on reconnecting with the ball,' Stefan thought to himself. He glanced at the lollipop for a moment before tossing it into a nearby garbage bin.
Running a hand through his hair, he slumped onto the bed, gazing up at the ceiling.
'I hope Mum has an illness that can be cured. I'll spare no expense to ensure her health,' he pledged silently before closing his eyes.