Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The plane's engines hummed in the background as Elias Mwansa sat pressed against the window, his wide eyes glued to the view of endless clouds and the sprawling ocean below. His small hands clutched the strap of his backpack, which he refused to stow away even when the flight attendants asked him. Somewhere deep inside, the thought of letting go of his bag, stuffed with his favorite football jersey and a well-worn ball, felt like letting go of his dream.

His mother sat beside him, calm and poised, flipping through a Spanish phrasebook. She had insisted on learning as much as she could before their arrival in Barcelona, though Elias barely understood a word of it. Across the aisle, his older brother, Nelson, had his headphones on, scribbling in a notebook full of numbers and formulas. Nelson always seemed so serious, so focused.

Elias, on the other hand, couldn't keep still. His legs bounced up and down with excitement—or was it nervousness? They were leaving everything they'd ever known in Zambia behind. Their small home, his school, and even the dusty field where he played football every day with his friends. This was supposed to be a fresh start, but all Elias could think about was one thing: Would he still be able to play football in Spain?

"Elias, calm down," his mother said, placing a gentle hand on his knee. Her tone was firm but warm, the way it always was when she wanted him to listen.

"Sorry, Mama," he mumbled, though he didn't stop bouncing entirely.

"We'll be landing soon. When we get to Barcelona, I need you to focus, okay? This isn't home anymore. Things will be different, but we'll adapt. Understand?"

Elias nodded quickly, though his thoughts were already racing ahead. He wasn't worried about adapting. He was worried about how he'd find a way to play football. He'd heard about how big the sport was in Spain, about how it wasn't just a game here—it was life. And if that was true, then surely there was a place for him too, wasn't there?

As the plane began its descent, Elias's heart thumped in rhythm with the engine's rumble. Barcelona awaited, and with it, a future he couldn't yet imagine.

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The first thing Elias noticed about Spain was how different the air smelled. It wasn't dusty and warm like Zambia's—it was salty and crisp, like the ocean. The streets were crowded with people speaking a language he didn't understand, their voices rising and falling like music. Buildings loomed tall and modern, and the cars zipped past faster than he was used to.

Their new apartment wasn't anything fancy. It was small, just enough for the three of them, but it felt empty. Boxes were stacked in corners, half-unpacked, and the air carried the faint smell of cleaning chemicals. Nelson claimed the smallest room for himself, saying he needed a quiet place to study. Elias didn't care—his room had a window that looked out onto a park, and that was all he needed.

The park became his escape almost immediately. On their first evening, as his mother busied herself with unpacking and Nelson buried his nose in a textbook, Elias grabbed his football and sprinted outside. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows over the neatly trimmed grass.

A group of boys his age were kicking a ball around, their shouts and laughter echoing through the park. Elias hesitated for a moment, clutching his ball tightly. He didn't know how to approach them—what if they didn't understand him? What if they didn't want to play with someone like him?

Before he could talk himself out of it, one of the boys noticed him. He was tall and lanky, with messy brown hair and a wide grin. "¡Hola!" the boy called out, waving Elias over.

Elias swallowed his nerves and stepped forward, holding up his ball like a peace offering. "Uh… hi," he said, his voice uncertain.

The boy tilted his head, not understanding. He gestured to the ball and then to their game, his grin widening. "¿Quieres jugar?"

Elias didn't understand the words, but he understood the gesture. The boy wanted to know if he wanted to play. A smile broke across Elias's face as he nodded eagerly.

The game was fast and chaotic, nothing like the informal matches Elias was used to back home. The boys were good—better than anyone he'd played with before. But Elias wasn't intimidated. He was quick on his feet, weaving through defenders with surprising ease. When the ball came to him, he struck it cleanly, sending it soaring into the makeshift goal.

The boys erupted in cheers, clapping him on the back and shouting words he didn't understand. For the first time since arriving in Spain, Elias felt a spark of belonging.

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That night, Elias sat on his bed, his legs sore and his heart full. He stared out the window at the now-empty park, replaying the game in his mind. He couldn't stop smiling. If this was what football in Spain was like, then he was ready for it.

The next morning, over breakfast, Elias brought up the question that had been burning in his mind since they arrived. "Mama, can I join an academy?"

His mother paused mid-sip of her tea, raising an eyebrow at him. "An academy? You mean for football?"

"Yes! There's this one called La Masia. It's for the best players in the world. That's where I want to go."

Nelson chuckled from across the table, shaking his head. "You just got here, little man. Take it easy. You don't even know if they'd take you."

Elias glared at his brother. "I'm good enough. I know I am."

His mother sighed, setting her cup down. "Elias, it's not about whether you're good enough. These academies… they're very competitive. They don't just take anyone. And I don't even know how we'd manage the costs."

"It's free if you get in," Elias blurted out, his voice rising with excitement. "I read about it online. They take care of everything if they pick you."

His mother frowned, her face thoughtful. "Even so, it's not that simple. You'd need to be scouted or go through trials. And Elias, you're only ten. Maybe in a few years—"

"No!" Elias said, louder than he intended. "I want to try now. Please, Mama. I know I can do it."

His mother exchanged a glance with Nelson, who simply shrugged. Finally, she let out a long sigh. "Alright," she said. "If you're serious about this, we'll look into it. But you'll need to work harder than ever, Elias. This won't be easy."

Elias's face lit up with a grin so wide it nearly hurt. "I'll do whatever it takes!" he promised, his heart racing with excitement.

This was it—the first step toward his dream.

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