The black feather drifted gently onto the surface of the creek.
Ripples spread across the water.
McCall and Adrian remained silent, their eyes fixed on the trees above.
Nothing.
The crimson eyes had disappeared.
Only the evening breeze moved through the forest.
Adrian slowly exhaled.
“He’s gone.”
McCall didn’t lower his guard.
“Or he’s waiting.”
Adrian gave a small nod.
“Good.”
McCall looked at him.
“Good?”
“You’ve already started thinking like someone who carries the Legacy.”
For the first time since they met, Adrian smiled sincerely.
“Most people would believe the danger had passed.”
“But you didn’t.”
McCall leaned against the tree behind him.
“I’ve learned too much these past few days to believe anything is over.”
Adrian sat on a fallen log.
“I suppose it’s time.”
“Time for what?”
“The truth.”
For several moments, only the sound of the creek filled the clearing.
Then Adrian began.
“Thousands of years ago…”
“There was no organized football.”
“No leagues.”
“No stadiums.”
“No trophies.”
“There was only a game.”
“A game played to unite villages instead of dividing them.”
McCall listened carefully.
“The First King wasn’t called a king because he ruled a nation.”
“He was called a king because he united people through football.”
“Wherever he went…”
“Wars stopped.”
“Children smiled.”
“Enemies became teammates.”
McCall frowned.
“Just because of football?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“Because of what football represented.”
“Hope.”
“Discipline.”
“Trust.”
“Unity.”
“He believed football could reveal a person’s true heart.”
McCall remembered the First King’s smile.
That peaceful confidence.
It suddenly made sense.
“But not everyone agreed.”
Adrian’s voice grew heavier.
“There were rulers who wanted power.”
“Generals who wanted fear.”
“Men who believed victory mattered more than honor.”
“They challenged the First King.”
“They lost.”
“Not because they were weaker…”
“But because they fought only to win.”
McCall nodded slowly.
“The Fallen Players…”
Adrian looked surprised.
“So you’ve heard that name.”
“The First King told me.”
Adrian sighed.
“Then he trusted you more than I expected.”
He picked up a small stone and tossed it into the creek.
“After losing, those rulers sought another path.”
“They searched for forbidden relics.”
“They twisted the spirit of the game.”
“The Ravens.”
McCall looked down.
“So football became a battlefield.”
“It always has been.”
McCall thought for a moment.
“Then who are the Eagles?”
Adrian touched the silver emblem on his chest.
“We’re guardians.”
“We protect the Legacy.”
“We search for worthy successors.”
“And when necessary…”
“We fight.”
McCall noticed the scars on Adrian’s hands.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“My entire life.”
“My parents were Eagles.”
“So were my grandparents.”
“I’ve trained since I was five.”
McCall laughed softly.
“And here I thought I had a crazy week.”
Adrian chuckled.
“You have no idea.”
A notification suddenly appeared before McCall.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Main Story Quest Updated
Objective:
Uncover the Four Relics.
Current Progress:
Heart of Football ✓
Ancient Journal ✗
King’s Whistle ✗
Golden Crown ✗
Reward:
Legacy Synchronization +10%
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
McCall stared at the screen.
“The Four Relics…”
Adrian couldn’t see the System, but he noticed McCall’s expression.
“What is it?”
McCall hesitated.
“I…”
Before he could answer—
A loud crack echoed through the forest.
Both boys jumped to their feet.
Adrian’s face immediately changed.
“Someone’s coming.”
Another crack.
Then another.
Branches snapped.
Leaves rustled.
Whoever it was…
They weren’t trying to hide.
A figure emerged between the trees.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Gray beard.
Carrying an old thermos.
McCall blinked.
“The old man from the park…”
The elderly man smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take before you met properly.”
Adrian immediately stepped in front of McCall.
His voice became respectful.
“…Master Rowan.”
McCall looked from one to the other.
“You know him?”
Adrian lowered his head slightly.
“He trained me.”
McCall’s eyes widened.
“This old man?”
The elderly man laughed heartily.
He walked closer.
Despite his age, every step felt incredibly steady.
His eyes rested on McCall.
“So…”
“You’re the boy the First King chose.”
McCall swallowed.
“You know about him?”
“I knew him.”
McCall’s heart almost stopped.
“…What?”
The old man’s smile faded.
“Not personally.”
“But through the generations.”
“I’ve spent sixty years protecting his Legacy.”
He reached into his coat.
Adrian instinctively tensed.
But instead of a weapon…
The old man pulled out an old leather football.
It looked ordinary.
Until golden markings slowly appeared across its surface.
McCall felt the symbol on his chest grow warm.
The ball…
Was responding to him.
Master Rowan nodded.
“So it’s true.”
“The Heart has accepted you.”
He looked toward the darkening sky.
“Then we’re out of time.”
McCall frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Rowan’s voice became grave.
“The Ravens didn’t send one hunter.”
“They sent several.”
Almost on cue—
Three black footballs wrapped in dark flames shot out of the forest.
“Down!” Adrian shouted.
The balls smashed into nearby trees, exploding them into splinters.
Three masked figures stepped out from the smoke.
Each wore a different raven mask.
One had silver feathers painted around the eyes.
Another wore a cracked beak.
The third…
Had a completely black mask with glowing crimson lines.
The leader spoke.
“Master Rowan.”
“It’s been a long time.”
Rowan sighed.
“I was hoping you’d retired, Victor.”
The masked leader chuckled.
“Not until the Legacy belongs to us.”
He slowly pointed at McCall.
“Surrender the Successor.”
“And perhaps…”
“We’ll let the rest of you live.”
Rowan stepped forward without hesitation.
“No.”
A powerful wind swept through the clearing.
The peaceful old man vanished.
In his place stood someone completely different.
His back straightened.
His eyes glowed gold.
The air around him crackled with energy.
Even Adrian took an unconscious step backward.
McCall could hardly believe what he was seeing.
The kind old man from the park…
Was one of the strongest protectors of the Legacy.
Rowan looked over his shoulder.
“McCall.”
“Yes?”
“You wanted to know what the world beyond football looks like.”
He faced the three Ravens.
“Watch carefully.”
“Tonight…”
“You’ll witness your first battle between Kings and Hunters.”