Hunching over his desk, Alex was furiously scribbling out some maths equations. Most students hated the subject, as evident by everyone around him messing around. But there was something about its cold hearted and logical nature that drew him in.
The bell rang and the students poured out in their droves. Yet Alex stayed sat, continuing his rapid writing. His maths teacher watched, arms crossed, with a smile on his face. At least one student enjoyed his teachings.
“It’s time to go Alex.” He called out.
After all, it was part of the teacher’s code to not let students alone in a class unsupervised. And he had to go eat lunch himself.
“Just a minute.” The boy replied as he went over the last few questions. “And done.”
Getting up, he quickly packed his bag before heading towards the door.
‘No homework for tonight now.’ He thought gleefully.
As the two left through the classroom door, the teacher locked the room behind them.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, Alex. But remember to have fun too.”
The two waved their goodbyes, and Alex walked towards the cafeteria.
As the long hallways swept behind him, Alex entered his destination. The large room buzzed with energy, the air filled with the overlapping hum of conversations, the steady clatter of trays and the shuffling of students.
He was greeted with the familiar sight of long tables, packed with groups of people. Each table was like its own little world. The rich scent of food hung in the air – fresh bread, grilled meat and something sweet he couldn’t quite place.
Alex scanned the crowded place, searching for a place to sit. He had brought a packed lunch from home, as the food from the canteen was too expensive to afford. It brought with it the small relief of not having to wait in a long queue. Naturally, he prepared lunch for his siblings too.
Seeing groups of friends talking with each other gave Alex a small tinge of jealousy. Most days he sat alone; his mind too wrapped in his thoughts to care. Alas, humans were social creatures. Even the most reclusive of people had to interact with others sometimes, lest they go crazy from isolation.
As he got older, he understood this better. The sound of students laughing and joking made him feel out of place, their voices mixing into a blur of sound. Soon enough, among the sea of bodies, he spotted an empty seat near the back.
Walking towards it, he could feel the eyes of others boring into him, looking away just as quickly as they looked at him. But even that moment felt so long.
Just as he was about to sit down, a voice broke through the haze of noise.
“Alex over here.”
Alex’s head snapped over, his eyes resting on a figure. Golden wheat coloured hair, brilliant brown eyes. He was wearing his favourite jacket, a brown leather body with white fur curling around the neck area. It was not cold enough to be suitable yet, but Alex wasn’t going to tell him that. It was Aquilo, of course.
He had been watching Alex for a bit now, his mind contemplating his next action. He usually didn’t pressure Alex into joining him, hoping his friend would do it on his own accord. But he was getting impatient, Alex didn’t seem to change at all. He needed an impetus, something to push him.
Alex stared at Aquilo for a second. The blonde boy was sitting in the middle of the cafeteria, surrounded by his own clique. He waved Alex over, his usual easy-going grin plastered across his face. The group at his table were laughing, some mid-conversation, but Aquilo’s eyes were locked on Alex. The black-haired boy continued to hesitate, his hand hovering over the back of the chair he had chosen.
Aquilo continued to wave, more insistently now.
“Come on man, sit with us!”
‘I have been putting it off, but I can’t reject him now.’ Alex thought with resignation.
‘Regardless, if they are Aquilo’s friends, surely they can’t be all that bad?’
Slowly stepping towards Aquilo’s table, he continued to think.
‘Besides, if I don’t like it, I’ll just tell him. I’m sure he’ll understand.’
The students sitting with Aquilo looked at ease, their laughter ringing across the canteen, uncaring of what the others thought. A few of them glanced in Alex’s direction, their smiles seeming genuine. There was no judgement, only curiosity.
As opposed to the seat Alex had chosen, this table had a long bench on either side.
“Cortez, move over.” Aquilo said to a lithe shaped figure next to him. He smiled in response, shuffling over to make space. Their intentions clear, Alex sat down between them.
“Guys listen up.” Aquilo’s voice instantly attracted the attention of everyone at the table.
Clearly, he had some level of respect among the group. Alex wilted under all the eyes on him. He wanted to disappear into the crevice on the floor.
“This is my friend Alex. The guy I’ve been telling you about. I’ll trust that you lot will treat him well.”
“You can put your faith in us, boss!” One kid called out, earning a chorus of agreement.
“Tell us about yourselves Alex.” Another spoke out.
He felt like shrinking further into himself. But gathering his courage, he finally spoke out.
“Ugh, hi guys. I’m Alex.”
Someone snorted, but it earned him a glare from the people around him.
“I’m hoping to be a mage, and I currently work with my uncle in the mine just outside Inops.” Mustering all his strength, he finally spoke out.
“A mage? Who’s your favourite 7th tier?”
“You work outside the walls? That’s crazy. I heard it was swarming with monsters.”
“Do you earn crystals in the mine? Can I have some? I’ll pay.”
Instantly, he was overwhelmed by the barrage of questions.
“All right, all right. Give him some breathing space.” Aquilo chastised them and then turned to Alex.
“I hope you don’t mind. They get excited over anything.”
“No, it’s fine.”
From the other side, Cortez began talking.
“Alex, is that right?”
With his name called out, the boy turned around to better observe who was talking to him. A perpetual smile on his face, Cortez was dressed fashionably, giving the look of someone who kept up with trends and took painstaking time to maintain their image.
His fine mannerisms easily betrayed him as someone from high class society. On the other hand, his tanned skin revealed that he didn’t idle his days indoors.
“Yes.” Alex replied curtly, not used to speaking with strangers. Not offended in the slightest, Cortez’s smile became even wider.
“I believe you have not met me before. I am Cortez Novak.” Circling his hands, he gave a flamboyant bow. Well, the closest to a bow someone could do while sitting down.
Earning a snigger from Alex, Cortez covered his mouth, as if feigning shame.
“Oh my, were my actions unsavoury?”
Too dense to realise he was joking; Alex rapidly shook his head.
“Fufufu. I am going to have fun with you.”
The blue-eyed boy couldn’t tell if that was foreboding or not.
“Lay off for a while.” A gruff voice reached them from across the table.
There, sitting opposite of Aquilo, was a giant of a person. His clothes seemed ready to rip at any moment, exposing his dark skin.
“Poor Austin. Always so tense.” It didn’t deter Cortez at all.
With a solid humph, the larger boy stared away, smashing food into his mouth.
“Do not mind Austin. He is rough on the outside, but just a little kitten in his heart.”
A red vein throbbed on the dark youngster’s forehead.
As everyone neared completion of their food, with a thump on the table, Aquilo drew everyone’s eyes towards him again.
“Guess what we are doing after lunch?”
It was the same thing they did every Monday.
“Monday Football!” The group shouted in unison.
“I still think Football Friday would have been a better idea.” Someone by the side grumbled, but no one paid him any heed.
‘Yeah, no. I’m going to stick that one out.’ Having not played the sport in a while, Alex had no desire to make a fool of himself.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Alas, Aquilo was not one to let him go that easily.
“Alex, one of our friends is sick today, so we need a replacement.”
It was clear what he wanted. Still, Alex tried to retort, anything to get him out.
“Yes, I’m sure there are many people here who would love to join you. You know, people with athletic ability.”
Aquilo feigned thinking, before shaking his head.
“Nope, can’t think of anyone. You’ll have to do.”
Ready to make a run for it, Alex found to his dismay that Aquilo had caught his hand, a grin creeping along his mouth.
***
Thus, he found himself outside in the school’s field. The grass a solid green, and the dirt a firm brown, it was a good day for outdoor activities. The sun watched silently on, as a small group of spectators gathered.
‘As if it wasn’t bad enough.’ Glancing over, Alex felt dejected.
“All right. Seven vs Seven. Half court. 30 minutes. Standard procedures.” Clapping, Aquilo beckoned for his friends, selecting the teams through a secret number system.
On Alex’s side, he ended up with the quirky Cortez and silent Austin, Aquilo set to oppose them.
“Alex, any preferred role?” Cortez took on the captain role for their team, assigning positions and setting the formation.
With Alex shaking his head, their captain nodded, his hand on his chin.
“Defender it is.”
With the table set, the match started as soon as everyone was ready, Cortez taking kick off.
Alex’s heart was thudding as the game began, the energy washing over him like a wave. The ball was being passed through the field, and suddenly it was on. He wasn’t sure what to expect – this type of intensity was unusual for him. But he knew damn well he was going to try.
“Alex!” A teammate called out.
Ending his thoughts, he looked up to see the white ball being passed towards him. He barely managed to control it beneath his feet. It seemed more like an animal than an object, constantly trying to slip outside his control.
“Man on!” Hearing the call, but not understanding what it meant, Alex turned his head.
From behind him, a shadow appeared.
“You can’t just stand there like a tree, Alex!” Aquilo shouted with a grin, his feet already moving to steal the ball from under his.
Alex scowled, his frustration already bubbling under the surface. He had lost his first exchange and in such a humiliating way. To his best friend no less!
As the match played on, beneath that emotion was an ever-growing feeling of … fun. He wasn’t used to this sort of game, but maybe that’s what made it so interesting.
After 10 minutes of sprinting, some of the players were already showing signs of slowing down. The game was merciless, with no referees to manage it. Players barged, kicked or pulled. Anything that could give them an edge, short of punching their opponents’ heads directly.
The audience’s volume changed with the ball’s movements, as though they were hypnotised by it. As it would approach either goal, it would culminate in a loud stream of noise, either to cheer on or distract the attackers. And then a sigh would follow as the ball inevitably didn’t make it in.
As Alex’s team lost the ball yet again, Aquilo charged down the right side of the field, ball by his feet. Alex moved to intercept him. Aquilo’s footwork was quick and precise. His legs arcing back to kick it, Alex stretched out his own legs to block. With a sharp pass to his teammate, the ball slipped through Alex’s side like water.
He landed lopsidedly, thus falling on the ground. Before he could even react, the ball was in the back of the net. With the small crowd cheering, Aquilo turned to give Alex a wink.
“Bad luck Alex, keep going!” With a teammates’ encouragement, he got up again.
Later, as Cortez spent too long doing tricks than actually driving forward, he was tackled, and the ball lay with the opposing team again. Aquilo faked a pass to the right, before cutting sharply left, easily bypassing one of Alex’s teammates. His side moved like a machine, every player knowing their role.
That was the main reason sport maintained its popularity recreationally for this long, despite the advent of VR and other forms of entertainment. Apart from helping maintain a good shape, it helped build character and teamwork, valuable traits for people looking to become a mage.
Regardless of that, the professional scene was all but non-existent, with cities trapped in their own little worlds. Esports had replaced that niche.
The ball continued to zip from one foot to another and soon ended up inside their box. With a perfectly placed chip, the ball landed in the net once more.
His fists clenched. He wouldn’t going to let them walk over him. As the game continued, Alex steadily became better. His days in the mine had not gone unnoticed, as despite Alex’s small stature, he could tussle with anyone here.
During a quick half time water break, with his characteristic deep voice, Austin gave some instructions to their team. Alex silently listened.
‘This just might work.’
As kick-off started, their team instantly retreated, drawing the opposing players forward. Meanwhile, Austin continued forward with another player, spreading the defence. As their team rotated the ball, it ended up at Cortez’s feet.
With his annoying skillset, he successfully managed to anger the man marking him, who went for a long lunge. Easily escaping the attempted tackle, the graceful figure made some space before elegantly sending it across the field.
As it headed towards Austin, Alex could see the determination in his eyes. Using his height advantage, he wrangled the ball for himself. He wasn’t one for finesse – he was all brute strength. Bulldozing through the defence, and with a final powerful kick, the ball sailed past their goalkeeper. The goalposts shook from the impact, the ball nestled within the net.
As the spectators cheered, Austin gave a small, satisfied nod. Alex grinned, feeling some weight off his shoulders. They weren’t out of this yet.
Another chance came soon enough. Cortez danced around the ball with flair, his footwork intentionally flashy. He made a few daring dribbles that had the crowd gasping, moments from losing the ball each time. His unpredictability kept Aquilo’s team on their toes.
“You’re insane,” Watching from the back, Alex muttered.
“Move forward, we are running out of time.” With Austin’s orders, he finally entered the other half, trying to keep up with his teammates.
Despite Cortez’s risky play, there was no doubt it was turning the tide.
As he continued to weave through the defence, he came face to face with Aquilo. His eyes flickered between the boy in front of him and the goal, before observing the pitch around him. All in an instant.
Afraid of Austin repeating his feat, he was heavily marked and the others were in difficult places to get to. Except Alex.
“Alex, heads up!”
Seeing the clear space around him, Aquilo’s ball hit Alex’s foot with a solid thud. Before Alex knew it, he was sprinting towards the goal. His legs burned from the effort, but the crowd’s noise and the rush of adrenaline pushed him ahead.
“Come on, Alex!” Someone shouted from the crowd as he tried to make his way up the field.
“This is as close as I can get.”
As a defender approached him, he kicked with everything he had. Hitting the side of the defender’s foot, its trajectory changed, surprising the goalkeeper and soared past into the goal.
The deflection not fazing him in the slightest, Alex felt a surge of triumph, his heart screaming as the audience roared. Aquilo smiled with a nod of approval. But with time fading away, the ball was soon in action again.
As the last minute began, the blonde boy knew it was his last chance. He charged down the field, zigzagging around the bulkier Austin with ease. Cortez, too afraid to get sweatier than he already was, hardly gave chase. His other teammates too spread out on either side to help, it thus landed on Alex to stop him.
Aquilo stood in front of him.
"Take it if you can." He grinned as a grimace appeared on Alex's face.
Aquilo rapidly passed the ball between his feet. The skinnier boy tried to keep up, but it was almost a blur. A small amount of dust appeared around it, obscuring his vision.
Catching a small twitch from Aquilo towards his right, Alex angled his legs to catch the ball. At that moment, the football rolled between his legs, Aquilo flying past with a burst of speed. Alex watched in helpless awe as the goal rocketed into the net. As the audience erupted in cheers, Aquilo threw his fist in the air. The bell rang to signal the end of the break.
“No hard feelings?” Aquilo came jogging over, sweat dripping off his forehead.
Alex was panting slightly himself, but his endurance was far above the norm. Despite the loss, he felt more alive than he ever did in a soulless place like the mines. He hadn’t won, but he felt satisfied. It felt good to not just stand on the sidelines.
“Of course.” With joyous laughs, the two were joined by Cortez and Austin.
“Good goal Alex. It was a shame; I am sure we would have had it with a bit more time. Alas, Aquilo is too good.” Waving his hand around, Cortez spoke expressively.
“Maybe if you ran, we would have won.” Austin grunted.
As they walked together towards their next class, Alex’s mood was sullied by the remainder of what he would see after school.