Saturday, June 29th, 2022
Saturday morning felt bright and warm. Demien sat in the passenger seat as his mother drove through Florence's streets. Isabella had insisted on coming, saying she wanted to see the contract herself.
They arrived at the same time as Luca and Tommaso. The two parents had never met, but they shook hands like old friends.
"Isabella Walter." His mother smiled.
"Tommaso Bianchi. Pleasure to meet you."
Isabella's smile faltered for just a second. Her eyes widened slightly as recognition hit. She glanced at Demien, then back at Tommaso, recovering quickly.
"The pleasure is mine. Your son did wonderfully at the trial. Demien told me all about it."
"As did yours, from what I hear. Luca couldn't stop talking about those goals."
They walked upstairs together. Marco had coffee and pastries waiting in the office. He'd cleared space on his desk, and two identical contracts sat side by side.
"Isabella, Tommaso, good to see you both." Marco shook their hands. "Luca, Demien." He nodded at the boys. "Please, everyone sit. Help yourselves to coffee."
He waited until everyone had settled before gesturing to the papers.
"Alright. These are your trial agreements. Two weeks at Atalanta's U23 facility in Zingonia. Training, matches, evaluations. At the end, they'll decide whether to offer you youth contracts."
Demien scanned the document. Everything was straightforward. Start date, duration, facility access, basic medical coverage during the trial.
"This doesn't guarantee a contract after?" Isabella asked.
"No. That's what makes it a trial." Marco's voice was gentle but firm. "They're testing him. If he performs well, they'll make an offer. If not, he walks away with experience and exposure."
Isabella bit her lip. "And if they don't offer anything?"
"Then we look elsewhere. Sampdoria was interested. So were some Serie B clubs."
"But Atalanta is better?"
"Much better. Their youth system is one of the best in Italy. Even if he doesn't make the first team, training there for a year would open doors everywhere."
Isabella nodded slowly. She looked at Demien. "What do you think?"
"I want this." His voice was steady. "I know it's a risk, but I'm ready."
"Okay." She squeezed his hand. "Then do it."
Demien picked up the pen and signed. His signature was cleaner than Luca's, more controlled.
Beside him, Luca was doing the same thing. They finished at almost the same time.
Marco collected the contracts and countersigned both. "Congratulations. You're officially Atalanta trialists."
"Should we bring anything specific?" Luca asked.
"Training kit. Boots. Water bottle. Enough clothes for two weeks." Marco leaned forward. "Atalanta's facility is in Zingonia, near Bergamo. About three hours from here. The club provides accommodation during trials, so you'll be staying at their youth residence. I'll drive you both there Sunday evening, July 7th. Get you settled in before the trial starts Monday morning at eight."
Isabella's expression shifted to concern. "They'll be there the whole two weeks?"
"Yes. Full immersion. That's how they assess players properly. Training, meals, recovery, everything on site." Marco looked at both parents. "You can visit on weekends if you want, but during the week, the boys will be focused entirely on football."
The parents spent another twenty minutes asking questions. Tommaso wanted to know about medical protocols and insurance. Isabella worried about meals and whether the boys would be safe. Marco answered everything with patience.
Eventually, they all stood to leave. Tommaso shook Marco's hand firmly. "Thank you for everything."
"Of course."
Isabella hugged Demien quickly before they left. "Be good. Train hard."
"I will, Mum."
Outside the office, the two families said goodbye. Isabella hugged Tommaso briefly, which seemed to surprise everyone. Then they split, heading in opposite directions.
Demien and Luca walked together for a few blocks. The city was busy with Saturday shoppers and tourists.
"Hey." Demien pulled out his phone. "I just realized we never exchanged numbers."
"Oh, yeah." Luca laughed. "That's stupid. We're going to the same trial."
They stopped at a corner and typed each other's contacts into their phones.
"I'll text you later," Luca said. "Send you my address. You should come over before the trial starts."
"Your address?"
"Yeah. We can train together. Get ready."
"That'd be good."
"Cool. I'll message you tomorrow night." Luca clapped him on the shoulder. "See you Monday if not before."
"See you."
They split at the next intersection. Demien watched Luca disappear into the crowd, then turned toward home.
__ __ __ __ __ __
Sunday, June 30th, 2022
Sunday evening, Demien's phone buzzed while he was eating dinner.
Luca's message appeared on the screen: "Via Fiesole 47. Big gates, can't miss it. Come over Monday morning around nine. Bring your training kit."
Demien typed back: "Got it. See you then."
His mother looked up from her plate. "Who's that?"
"Luca. He wants me to come train with him tomorrow before the trial."
"That's nice. Where does he live?"
"Via Fiesole."
Isabella's eyebrows lifted. "That's a wealthy area."
"Is it?"
"Very. Only rich families live there."
Demien thought about Tommaso's expensive suit and the business card that had impressed Marco. "I guess his family has money."
"Well, don't let that intimidate you. You're just as good as anyone."
"I won't, Mum."
After dinner, Demien lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. His body felt restless, like it wanted to move, to train, to improve.
"UG," he said quietly. "How do I start earning points now? I need to get my stats up before the trial."
The system panel flickered into view.
「Good question. You have been reactive so far, opening packs when you had currency. Now it's time to be proactive.」
"What does that mean?"
「Starting tomorrow, I will provide daily training tasks. Complete them to earn TP. The more effort you put in, the more points you receive.」
"What kind of tasks?"
「Passing drills. Shooting practice. Fitness work. Ball control exercises. Each task will have specific requirements and a reward value.」
"And if I don't complete them?"
「No reward. But also no penalty. You control your own progression.」
Demien nodded slowly. "Okay. That's good. I can work with that."
「I'm glad you think so. Rest tonight. Your first task begins tomorrow morning.」
The panel faded. Demien closed his eyes, his mind already planning the week ahead. Tomorrow, training with Luca. Then the trial starting Monday. Seven days to prepare.
He could do this.
He would do this.
__ __ __ __ __ __
Monday, July 1st, 2022
Monday morning came fast. Demien woke at seven, showered, and packed his training kit into a backpack. His mother had already left for work, but she'd left a note on the kitchen table.
"Good luck today. Make smart choices. Love you."
He pocketed the note and headed out.
The bus ride to Via Fiesole took thirty minutes. Demien sat near the back, watching the city transition from working class neighborhoods to expensive residential areas. The buildings got bigger. The streets got quieter. Gardens appeared behind tall iron fences.
The bus stopped two blocks from Luca's address. Demien walked the rest of the way, his backpack bouncing against his shoulders.
Via Fiesole 47 appeared around a corner, and Demien stopped walking.
The mansion sat behind massive iron gates, easily three stories tall with white columns and balconies. Gardens stretched on both sides, perfectly manicured. A fountain sat in the circular driveway, water sparkling in the morning sun.
"Holy hell," Demien whispered.
He'd known Luca's family had money. But this was something else entirely.
At the gate, a security guard stepped out of a small booth. "Can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Luca."
"Luca?" The guard's expression shifted. "You mean Master Luca?"
"Uh, yeah. He's expecting me. Demien Walter."
The guard pulled out a phone and made a quick call. After a moment, he nodded. "Go ahead. Someone will pick you up."
The gates swung open with a quiet hum. Demien walked through, feeling very small suddenly.
A golf cart appeared from around the side of the house. A man in a uniform drove it. "Mr. Walter? Hop in."
Demien climbed onto the passenger seat. The cart rolled forward, following a paved path that wound through the gardens.
They passed a football pitch with perfect grass. Then a basketball court with glass backboards. A golf course stretched beyond that, green and endless. The fountain in the front was just one of several scattered across the property.
"This place is huge," Demien said.
The driver smiled. "Mr. Bianchi likes his space."
They reached the front entrance, and the driver parked. "Here we are."
Demien stepped down just as the massive front door swung open.
Luca stood there, grinning wide. "Demiennnnnnn!"
"Dude." Demien gestured around them. "What is this?"
"What's what?"
"This. All of this." Demien pointed at the fountain, the gardens, the sheer size of everything. "You live here?"
"Yeah. It's one of my dad's houses."
"One?" Demien's voice went up. "How many does he have?"
"A few. This is the Florence one." Luca stepped aside. "Come in."
The entrance hall was bigger than Demien's entire apartment. Marble floors, high ceilings, a chandelier that looked like it cost more than a car. Paintings lined the walls, the expensive kind you see in museums.
"What does your dad do?" Demien asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
"He owns an investment firm. One of the biggest in Italy."
"Oh." Demien let that sink in. "Wow."
"Yeah." Luca laughed. "It's kind of a lot."
He led Demien through the house, pointing out rooms as they passed. Library, dining room, sitting room, another sitting room, kitchen that looked like it belonged in a restaurant.
They ended up in a changing area near the back of the house. Lockers lined the walls, and benches sat in neat rows.
"Did you bring your kit?" Luca asked.
"Yeah." Demien unzipped his backpack.
"Good. Oh, and I got you something." Luca walked to a locker and pulled out three shoe boxes. "I didn't know your size, so I bought three different ones. Pick whichever fits."
Demien stared at the boxes. They were all expensive brands. "For real? I can take one?"
"Yeah, of course. They're yours."
"Luca, these are like two hundred euros each."
"Don't worry about it." Luca waved a hand. "Just try them on."
Demien opened the middle box. The boots fit perfectly. He laced them slowly, his fingers careful with the new leather.
"Thanks," he said quietly. "Really. I wasn't expecting this."
"It's nothing." Luca was already changing into his own training gear. "My personal coach is here. Let's go."
They walked toward the back door. Demien's new boots felt stiff but good against his feet.
Just as they reached the exit, a soft chime rang in Demien's head.
The system panel appeared.
「First day of training. Welcome to your new routine.」
「DAILY TASK UNLOCKED」
「Task: Complete passing accuracy drill」
「Requirements: 50 successful passes within marked zones」
「Reward: 15 TP」
「Time Limit: Training session」