The morning air was crisp as Henrik drove them toward the academy, the excitement building in Kaiser's chest. This was it—the place where his dream would either be made or broken. Kaiser couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. The Netherlands had already been full of surprises, and today promised even more.
When they arrived, the sprawling facility of SC Telstar stretched before them, surrounded by neatly trimmed fields and modern buildings. Henrik led the way, while Sanne stayed close to Kaiser and his mother, explaining some of the academy's rules and traditions along the way.
"This is where you'll start your journey," Sanne said with a small smile, though there was something unreadable in her eyes.
'At least she's talking now' Kaiser thought within himself.
"Don't get too comfortable—this place is tough. The coaches expect perfection, and the competition... well, you'll see."
Kaiser nodded, trying to absorb everything. His mother, walking beside him, shot him an encouraging smile.
As they entered the main building, Henrik received a phone call. After a brief conversation, his expression shifted slightly, his smile faltering for a moment. He turned to Kaiser.
"I need to meet with the director," Henrik said, his voice neutral. "Sanne will show you around the academy. Don't worry. I'll make sure everything is taken care of."
Kaiser was about to respond when a man appeared from down the hallway, his presence imposing despite his calm demeanor. This was the director—Arjen de Vries. Tall, with a well-groomed beard and a sharp suit, he looked every bit the part of someone in charge.
"Henrik," Arjen greeted him, his voice cutting through the air with an edge. "I trust you've brought me someone good." The man said as they both took their seats in his office.
"I didn't want to say this in front of our guests, but why is there only one prospect from a scouting mission that took you a month?" Arjen asked.
Henrik's lips pressed into a thin line. "Kaiser's a special case. He's the one I want you to focus on."
Arjen raised an eyebrow. "I see." He studied Henrik for a long moment, as though weighing his words. "I hope you realize how important this is. We're a small Club, Henrik. We rely on player sales to stay afloat. One prospect might not be enough to justify this... gamble. You understand that, right?"
"Our finances are not so abundant that we can travel such distances, only for us to bring one talent at a time. Talents that we aren't even sure of." He added with snarky tone.
Henrik's jaw tightened. "I know exactly what I'm bringing you. Kaiser is the future, Arjen. He's the one who will bring this academy the recognition it needs."
Arjen glanced over, towards the window where some players were training, then back at Henrik. "I'll take your word for it... for now. But if he doesn't show immediate promise, we'll have to reconsider our options. This isn't a charity, Henrik."
Henrik held Arjen's gaze, his expression hardening. "I've never asked for charity. Just give him a chance. You'll see."
The director's eyes narrowed, but he finally nodded. "Fine. But I expect results quickly. We can't afford to be patient with this one."
Henrik's shoulders relaxed slightly. "You'll get results."
As Henrik left the directors office, Henrik's face remained tight with barely concealed frustration. He wandered around the training grounds a bit until he eventually met up with Sanne and the rest, who had been patiently waiting for him to join them.
"We're good." Henrik said, though his voice betrayed his tension. "But the director is expecting you to prove yourself quickly. We'll start with a training session. Let's go."
That was music to kaisers ears, as he had been itching to test out the new [Vision] skill he had gotten after completing the quest about a month back.
Sanne, who had been silent during the exchange, now motioned for them to follow. "This way," she said curtly, bringing kaisers attention back to his surroundings.
Kaiser glanced at Henrik, sensing the shift in mood but saying nothing. He felt a little more nervous than before, but it wasn't enough to rattle him. He'd been in tougher spots in his previous life—this was just another challenge, one he intended to conquer.
---
The academy's training ground was bustling with activity. Players jogged, stretched, and practiced shots, their determination clear in their every movement. Kaiser couldn't help but observe, his eyes drawn to the players' skill and precision.
Seeing these players carry out drills let him know that this was actually happening. He was in an actual academy where his dreams could be realized.
He glanced around, taking note of the players who were focused on their training. Among them was a figure who seemed to stand out—a player with the build of a seasoned pro, clearly the academy's star. His name, Kaiser would later learn, was Julian "Jules" de Boer. From the little Kaiser had seen of him, he seemed to be talented, confident, and perhaps a little arrogant.
Sanne noticed Kaiser's gaze and smirked slightly. "That's Jules. He's got an ego the size of Amsterdam, but he's a great player. Just don't let him get to you."
Kaiser gave a small nod but didn't take his eyes off Jules. The academy's ace was clearly watching him, sizing him up with a glance that spoke volumes.
"Don't let him intimidate you," Sanne added, her voice cool. "He likes to think he's the best here, but everyone knows he's just barely holding onto that title."
Kaiser wasn't intimidated. In fact, the presence of players like Jules only made him more determined to prove himself. He was younger, yes, but that didn't mean he couldn't hold his own. He wasn't some starry-eyed kid—he had lived through more than his fair share of challenges, and this was no different.
"Hey new guy." Jules said, while gesturing towards Kaiser.
"Why don't you join us for the session? That's okay, right Sanne?" Jules asked.
"Well, that's up to him if he wants to." Sanne said with a shrug.
"No it's fine. I'll play. Can I get a bib and some boots?" He said with utmost confidence.
Sanne smiled briefly before opening a bag on the edge of the pitch and bringing out a pair of boots which she handed over to Kaiser.
He put them on without a word as his mother and sanne went and took a seat on one of the benches to watch from afar.
Kaiser stood at the edge of the training pitch, his eyes scanning the movements of the players as Henrik observed from a distance. The drill was in full swing—a passing triangle. Three players formed a tight shape within the cones while one defender, Jules, lurked outside, determined to break the pattern. The goal was simple: maintain possession, pass accurately, and keep the ball moving without letting the defender intercept.
Kaiser was positioned in the middle, his legs itching for action. Though the nervousness gnawed at him, he wasn't easily intimidated. This wasn't his first time under pressure, and he knew he couldn't let the intensity of the academy's best players throw him off. The ball zipped between his teammates, and Kaiser's focus tightened. Jules, the academy's top defender, closed in quickly. His footwork was sharp, his eyes calculating every movement.
Then, something clicked. A faint pulse of energy hummed in Kaiser's mind as his "Vision" skill activated. He saw the opening—a slight misstep from Jules. In an instant, he readied himself. Without hesitation, he sent the ball arcing through the gap, a perfect pass just out of Jules' reach. The ball landed smoothly at the feet of his teammate, who continued the drill as if nothing had happened.
Jules stood still for a moment, a look of surprise flickering across his face before his competitive spirit flared. "Nice one," one of the players commented, clearly impressed. Jules shot Kaiser a sharp look. "This kid's good," he muttered, clearly not happy with the challenge. Kaiser simply smirked, brushing off the remark.
As the session progressed, Kaiser's focus remained sharp. He was ready to show what he could do. That is, until Jules decided to challenge him.
The passing drill had them both working on short, quick passes, but Jules seemed to take every opportunity to get under Kaiser's skin. His comments were subtle, but there was a clear sense of competition in the air.
"Let's see if the 'future' can handle a real pass," Jules said, tossing the ball towards Kaiser with a little too much force after it had gone out of play.
Kaiser didn't flinch. He took the ball in stride, using his new [Vision] skill to send an impeccable pass back, landing it precisely where it needed to be.
Jules narrowed his eyes. "Not bad, kid. But we'll see if you can do it under pressure."
Henrik had been watching from the sidelines, his eyes locked on Kaiser. He saw the director surveying another pitch and motioned for him to come over , both of them now observing the tense interaction between Kaiser and Jules.
"Director, come on. It's time to see him in action." Henrik said, his voice low but insistent.
The director raised an eyebrow. "What's going on here?" He was clearly interested but hesitant.
Henrik smiled slightly. "Watch for yourself."
The director stepped closer to the field just in time to see Jules step up the pressure on Kaiser, trying to provoke him further. Kaiser, however, remained calm, handling the ball with quiet precision.
The director observed in silence, and after a tense few moments, he nodded to Henrik.
"Alright." the director said, his voice finally giving way to a hint of approval. "He has potential. But we need to see more before making any decisions."
Henrik gave him a small smile. "We're just getting started."
As the training session wrapped up, Kaiser felt the weight of the director's watchful gaze still on him. It wasn't over, not by a long shot. But he was determined to prove that his second chance wasn't just a fluke.