Trilay

Chapter Two

Xirce was standing on a raised platform looking over the field. Dressed in the teams' training uniform for regulars. The jacket, that had his initials as well as the school's name on the back, was open and under it was a mostly black pique shirt with a white collar. His right hand was stuffed in his shorts while he dragged the other one though his blond hair. On the left hand he was wearing a white glove. He looked out on his team who was cleaning up after practice. As it were summer vacation they could have practice a lot longer than normal. The clock was nearing seven and it was the end of practice for the day. A bing was heard and Xirce took his right hand out of his pocket to check his N.O.R.I watch. Taping on the screen twice a holographic screen popped up, showing him an incoming message from his father.

'We will be home in about half an hour. Are you finished with practice? When do you think you will be home?'. Xirce sighed, his father had picked his quests up from the airport about an hour ago. Now they were almost home, and his father was excited for them to meet. Well, calling them quest was maybe a bit harsh, but in Xirces mind that's what they were. Quest how was going to live with them from now on and for the rest of their life if everything goes as 'planed'. In reality were these people his new stepfamily. The thought in itself left a bitter taste in Xirces' mouth.

Tapping on the message, a separate hologram keyboard showed up under the original screen. 'We are about to finish cleaning up and we have to do the line up before we can go home. I think I will be home around', Xirce stopped typing to check the clock in the corner of the screen. 19:03 it read. '20:30, if I catch the bus that leaves 19:40'. He pressed send and closed the screens before turning the watch off. As he ones again directed his eyes toward the field were more and more members of the team who had finished their jobs gathered in front of the platform, talking with each other in groups.

Today about 100 of the members present, but even with such a high number wasn't the whole team there. First of all, they were missing the previous third years, who had all graduated before the summer break. So, the team right now was only made up of the soon to be second and third years. Second, some of the members were away on vacation with their families or just didn't want to come today. The summer break trainings were optional. Before the semester would end the club would send out a form were members had to say which weeks and days they would come. That way it was easier to plan out the days practice. The club also held a training camp for middle schoolers the second week of summer every year. It would run on the side of the normal summer practice. The members of the team could apply to be an instructor as long as they were soon to be third years or a regular. The job was paid and looked great on your CV. The camp had been held for about 50 years and had become the camp to get into. The camp was sponsored by the school and included three meals a day, plus snacks, and the children slept in a dedicated building for the whole week. The camp lasted from Sunday to Friday and always ended with a match been the participants. The camp had only 38 spots so the competition to get in was fierce and the participants came from all over the country. The selection process entailed an interview and a skill-based assessment. The ones that got in was recognized as the best middle school players in Centealia.

From the corner of his eye Xirce could see a boy go up on the platform. He had brown hair and dressed in the same sport uniform except he was wearing long pants, not shorts. He was just a few cm lower than Xirce. The boy walked up to Xirce and stood beside him. "Captain, everything had been cleaned up and the members should be ready for the line-up" The brown-haired boy said using formal speech. "Thank you Torlio" Xirce said to the boy who was named Torlioseko Alleeo, but people close to him called him Torlio for short. Torlioseko was the vice-captain of the team. He was Xirces best friend and a loyal and patient guy. With the message from the vice-captain Xirce decided to call the line-up.

"LINE-UP!" the powerful voice of Xirce rang through a training grounds.

As Xirce raised his left hand over his head everyone hurried to line up. Normally in their squads, but since they were in a period between semesters and not all members were there they just stood in a 20x5 formation. Though, as normal, the regulars stood in the first line a few meters in front of the others. Everyone stood around half a meter apart, their feet 40 cm apart and the right arm with the elbow in a 90-degree angle. The right hand open with the back hand against the back. The left arm tight against the side.

"Zyui" Xirce yelled just as loud, and everyone straightened up and clicked their heels together simultaneously.

"Ryu"

The members placed the left hand by the right shoulder, sill with an open hand and the thumb against the palm of the hand.

"Fyu"

They took the left hand and in a downwards movement until it was 30 degrees out from the left side of the body.

"Xyui" Xirce yelled the last command and placed his left hand back by his side and everyone followed by placing their left arm back against the side. This would be the time were they would take count on how was there, but it wasn't necessary today. Instead, he just called "Go work today. Dismissed". On cue all the members took a more relaxed position and began talking to their friends and started to head to the locker room.

"Are you heading straight home?" Torlio asked. Xirce looked at his trusted vice-captain and just nodded before checking his watch. 19:20. Just enough time to catch the bus.

"I will change first, so I will see you tomorrow" Torlio said knowing how quiet his friend was.

"Yes, we do. Please send me the document of new students who are wanting to join the team" Xirce said. Since was such a large club they had a sign-up link on the club's website that opened for students how had made it into the school this coming school year. It had all been turned into a document by the clubs' management team before it was sent to the vice-captain how proofread it and looked it over for flaws. Then the vice-captain sent it to the captain how was going to check all of the new members scouting out the ones with the highest levels, potential and had stood out in middle school. They got in quite a good number of star players from middle schools that were always interesting to know about beforehand to see if they were cut out the be a regular or just even make the second or third team. The competition at this club was fierce and just the best of the best got a place on a team.

"Of course. I will read through it one more time this evening and then send it to you by morning" the vice-captain said, "I will take my leave first" and with that his bowed his head in respect for his captain and went to the regular's locker room.