The training sessions, which incorporated a blend of agility and speed drills, extended for approximately two hours. Winston got into the habit of repeating drills when he was not satisfied, Dumi didn't reprimand him—he understood. Winston, the pressure around this match had him performing these drills with more vigor and precision. He was highly motivated to seize this chance for swift advancement, and the drills conducted this week have notably contributed to the refinement of his form, agility, and speed.
Once the drills and brief breaks were taken, Dumi incorporated additional drills because of Winston's request and because they still had several hours remaining in their scheduled day. The drills Winston was performing were just stamina, agility, speed, and body control. And the ones Dumi is now adding were ball control drills, the first the ball control. In preparation for the ball control drills, which were designed with four different exercises, six cones were systematically positioned in a straight line. Winston skillfully maneuvered the ball with a single foot, executing a zig-zagging pattern between the cones for a total of four back-and-forth repetitions. Another drill was an outside cuts, it the same as the single foot but he uses his outer foot, after some few breaks, he continued he altered the outside cuts into an inside cuts, as the name implied it was the same as the last two drills but this time using the inside foot. The last one was a sole taps drill, where Winston taps the top of the ball with the sole of his foot. Alternating between feet.
Dumi's gesture towards Winston indicated that the remainder of the day was consumed by drills, emphasizing that the usual long breaks were forgone due to the intensive nature of their practice sessions. "Go get some rest for now, we will continue tomorrow." Dumi said, picking up some training equipment. Offering to help clean up, Dumi gestured to Winston to take a shower.
At the shower, Winston opened the core system. It has been a while since he last checked his stats, hoping that the drills he has been performing gave him more growth. He found himself completely at ease as the shower's water flowed over him, the fluctuating temperatures of hot water allowing his mind to gradually drift away from conscious thought. Before deciding to head to the training, the letter with a crest on it fell out of his bag. In that moment, a sudden recollection of Diana's earlier pronouncements struck Winston, leaving him deeply unsettled as he pondered for a while—the mysterious meaning behind her statement that his father was running out of time. Was he sick? The last time Winston talked to his father was back on his first win—he didn't get a chance to talk to him again. Apparently Winston's mother told Winston his father frequented more hours at work. She didn't tell him why, nor did Winston bother to ask.
Ding!
[Nethen Essence: 64%]
[Voltage Core: 64%]
[Pace]
Acceleration: 70
Sprint Speed: 70
[Physical]
Physical: 70
Jumping: 70
Stamina: 70
Strength: 70
Aggression: 70
What's going on, why are my stats stuck at seventy? Does this mean I have reached the max stats? Maybe the system is having some kind of glitch, but if it were a glitch, wouldn't also affect all my skills? Maybe it got to do with these two skills that have been popping up.
Wrapping a towel around his waist, he sat on the long wooden bench. "Does this mean my pace and physical strength are on some kind of restoration, if so, that means I'll become even fitter and faster than before," he murmured to himself. With a wide smile on his face, he stood up and finished dressing. As he was exiting through the doorway, Annalise was observable in the field, cradling a basket of a brown hue. When she turned around to face Winston. in a soft smile she said, "I brought lunch, I figured since you haven't eaten all day," she continued, "if you are looking for my father—he left already, something about an emergency call."
"Oh,"
"Don't worry, he always gets calls like these anyway, Let's find a place to eat,"
As they walked along the training ground passageway, Winston observed Annalise, who was holding the picnic food basket. "You know, I love cool weather like this: hot but not too hot, windy but not too windy. It always creates this mood of sitting under a tree and losing yourself in a book. You know."
Winston was so focused on training that he hadn't paid any attention to the weather. Even if it started raining, he would still be at the training ground, training. In truth, ever since he got this system, he has been training in different weather. To him, this weather was the same as all the weather. But right now he didn't want to come off as someone who doesn't have a life outside of football. His sister's ridiculous flashed in his mind. "Yeah, it is, what kind of books do you love to read?"
"Science fiction, fantasy, and romance. My favorite author is Aether Luther, her new book is a mix of fantasy and romance. And in the book world it is called romantsy." Annalise said with an energetic tone. "What about you? No, let me guess, a football training manual," she said with a joking tone.
Gazing over at Annalise, her gorgeous, pale white, flawless skin, sky-blue eyes, and white teeth made Winston's cheeks have a faint red on them. "hehe joke on you, I would read it. But if it doesn't have basic training, or talks about the legends, then no, I won't read it." Winston said, joining in on the laughter.
"Man and sport, you really do love football. Oh, we are here, let's have a seat," gestured Annalise on some empty garden table covered by an enormous umbrella.
"Yeah, it was the first thing I was introduced to. My father was a football player." Said Winston, sitting across Annalise.
"I see, I wondered why you are always on the ground training, and here I thought maybe you were just hiding from all the noise. Your upcoming match with your teammate, I mean."
As two of his teammates walked across the upper hallway, Winston turned and faced Annalise. "It's both, actually, I love playing football. I have been playing it for so long that it has become third nature. Even when I was young, my friend and I used to play football all day from morning till night."
"If you don't play or practice, what do you do?" Annalise asked curiously,
"You know, I used to watch local matches around my area."
"What about your friends?"
After swallowing his tuna sandwich, Winston calmly said. "Oh, after we graduated out of high school, we went our separate ways. They continued with their studies, and I pursued a football career. And that was the last time we got together,"
"It's good that you are pursuing your dream."
After gulping the orange juice, Winston calmly asked, "What about you—judging by who your father is, shouldn't you be at college, not being a receptionist? Not saying it beneath you?"
Annalise chuckled as she poured orange juice and said. "You know something, I get that a lot—people expect me to be this snobby rich kid whose father is a legend—to tell you the truth, that is not my style. I love meeting new people, and yes, I am still studying at university; this is my second year."
Feeling stupid for offending Annalise, with a sad expression he said, "I am sorry for my rude assumption."
Annalise with a hand up, she gently looked at Winston and said, "no problem, like I said I get it a lot and more of a compliment to me. Because once they get to know me they feel sad just like you right now."
"That fair, so what are you studying"
Annalise with a teasing tone said, "Wait so you not gonna ask me why do I work for this hotel"
Choking on his sandwich, he gulped half of his juice and replied, "I thought you didn't want to talk about it."
"Well I don't mind, I mean you told me something meaningful about yourself. So in exchange I wouldn't mind sharing mine too."
Winston hasn't considered the part about his friend that touching, he guessed that maybe Annalise saw it as, from his side this was just another part of growing. It is rare these days seeing childhood friends last long. He asked, "Then why do you work here as a receptionist?"
"It's a secret," she burst out laughing after seeing Winston's puzzled expression.