“This was the shortest match analysis meeting I’ve had in ny entire career.” Coach Irene spoke, addressing the team.
“That just shows you what a stellar performance you guys put on out there.”
They were in the analysis room.
A large television was on the wall, the game they played against Kernistad was paused, several drawings was made on the screen.
Coach Irene stood in front of the TV with her back facing it, looking at the 28 players seated in front of her.
The players looked very satisfied with themselves, and also happy that a usually tedious meeting was quickly wrapped up.
“With that said and done,” Coach Irene leaned back against a table, arms crossed in front of her chest.
“As promised, it’s time to chose a captain.”
She picked up a tablet that was on the table.
“I told you that we will pick our captain after the game, but I didn’t tell you how we were going to do it.”
She tapped a few times on the tablet, speaking while typing.
“I’m going to send you a link that will take you to a site where you will vote for who you think deserve to be our captain.”
–ding–
The notification sounded simultaneously on everyone’s phones.
“But before you make your choice, I want you to think and analyze and make certain that your choice is made with the team’s best interest in mind and not something personal. Like voting for someone just because their your friend.”
She paused for a bit, looking at her team.
“You may be young, but you’re not children. Therefore, I trust that you will thoroughly think your answer through.”
She looked at her team again, making sure everyone heard he clearly.
“You have five minutes. Stick to your own device.”
Julian tapped on the link that brought him to the voting site.
For him the choice was easy.
The armband should go to the hardest worker of the group.
And that was none other than Keenan Monlouis, the defensive midfielder that kept Kernistad in their own half for most of the game.
With his choice locked in, Julian put his phone down and waited for the rest of the time to run out.
“That is time.” Coach Irene said five minutes later, bringing the voting to a close.
“Everyine has made their choice,” she stepped aside, giving fhem full view of the TV.
“Without further ado, I pronounce you your Captain and Vice Captain.”
The screen changed and Julian and Keenan’s photos came up.
“Give a round of applause to your Captain: Julian Valecrest and Vice Captain: Keenan Monlouis.” Coach Irene announced.
–clap, clap–
A round of applause broke out, with some boys even whistling.
Julian and Keenan stood up from their seats and turned to rest of the team, nodding their heads and mouthing thank yous.
“SPEECH!!” Austin shouted through the noise, immediately followed by more and more boys.
“SPEECH!! SPEECH!! SPEECH!!”
They chanted, urging Julian to say something.
‘Fuck you, Austin.’ Julian thought, internally cursing the boy.
“Alright, alright. Settle down, settle down.” Coach Irene silenced.
“Give Julian a moment to speak.”
Julian stepped forward, confident, throwing a quick glance over the crowd.
Yes, he hated speeches.
But that doesn’t mean that he was bad at them.
“Firstly, I want to thank each everyone one of you here, especially those who voted for me, as you’ve shown me that you believe in me and that you trust me to lead you. I am delighted to be named your captain and I promise to do everything in my power to get us those silverware.”
He paused for a moment, checking the smiles on the players’ faces, seeing that they received his words well.
“Secondly,” Julian turned to Keenan standing beside him.
“I want to congratulate Keenan on his selection as Vice Captain. I believe he is the best person to stand beside me as one of your leaders and I’m sure the hardwork and dedication he showed on the pitch will carry over in his duties as the Vice Captain.”
“Lastly, I want to leave you with a quote I read somewhere: Don’t stand behind me; I may not lead. Don’t stand in front of me; I may not follow. Just stand beside me and be my friend. And that is all I ask of you; do not treat me like your Captain, instead like I’m your friend. Someone you can come to when you have problems or if you are unhappy about something. I promise to lend you my ear and give you advice and support as your friend. I thank you.”
–clap, clap–
Another round of applause and whistles broke out, louder this time, with the whole team joining in, even the coach, wearing a small smile.
When they were done, Coach Irene congratulated the two once again, and then dismissed the team.
Not forgetting to remind them to be on time for tomorrow’s training.
********
“Holy fucking shit.”
Julian couldn’t help but utter in stunned amazement, gazing at the vast and sprawling expanse of the estate in front of him.
[Yep. Take it all in.] Mini-ball smugly said, nodding.
He fully stepped out of the limo, his eyes never once leaving the mansion.
The mansion was massive.
A towering silverstone marvel with spires stretching up into the afternoon sky with red tile roofs barely noticeable.
The grounds was clean, with not a single out of place leave in sight.
And the hedges of the well-maintained garden was neatly trimmed with different flowerbeddings everywhere.
Julian could see a few workers diligently doing their tasks, making sure everyone piece of the garden was impeccable.
The limo was parked in front of the door, needing only to take the spotless steps leading upto it to open the door.
Julian took the steps and pushed the door open, revealing a pristine clean place with marble floors, expensive ornaments, silver and red curtains hanging behind tall windows and intricate chandeliers from high ceilings.
Some maids scurrying around, cleaning every nook and cranny of the already clean place.
“This way, young Master.”
Mira stepped ahead of him, leading him through winding hallways and corridors, occasionally passing a maid who stopped her work and bowed in the direction of the two.
They onky stopped when they reached a large door on the end of the corridor on the ground floor.
Julian’s bedroom.
“Here you are, young Master.” She said with a bow, pushing the door open and stepping aside to let him in.
“Just shout and I’ll be available to assist you in a moment’s notice.”
“Oh, wow.” He said, eyes trailing all over the place that dropped with luxury and money from every angle.
The bed was large and seemed even more comfortable than the one he slept on in the hotel, and that was top of the line quality.
“This is all yours?” He asked, hand running over a smooth redwood table at the side of the room.
[Yes. This is the exclusive estate of Julian Valecrest: Silverstone Estate.]
“Why didn’t you say anything about this? We could’ve stayed here since day one.” He peeked through the curtain.
“This place is amazing.”
[It’s too far from the academy and I only come here when it’s time to work.]
“Speaking of work,” Julian turned his head side to side, searching for something.
“Where does the magic happen?”
[Sit on the chair and place both hands on the table.]
Jukian did as told, sitting in the chair and placing both hands palm first on the table he hust ran a hand over.
[Hold on tight!]
–vooooom–
Before Julian could formulate a reply, he felt himself sinking at a fast speed, causing him to get startled snd grip the table tighter.
The table and chair he sat on sunk into the ground, or rather, it was a elevator in disguise that carried him to the underground floor.
“Holy fuck!! Warn me, at least!!”
Julian shouted when the ride finally stopped, heart hammering in his heart like crazy.
[I did warn you, though.]
“…”
Julian didn’t reply, his attention already caught by something else.
What he saw absolutely blew his mind.
The place was a hacker’s wetdream.
Julian saw monitor after monitor after monitor.
Each looking more powerful than the last.
On some table he saw a stationary robotic arm with a lot of pieces lying around it.
Not to far from it was the rest of the robot.
Trapped behind a transparent glass just a few meters away from the table.
The thing was off, but it looked like it could go on at any moment.
Julian was a little bit scared of it.
He saw more crazy, but he wasn’t a tech person, leading him to have no idea what some of them even was.
[Pretty impressive, isn’t it?]
“Yeah.”
[Well, let’s get to work.]
“Yeah.”