Stepping out of the small changing room, Chase was greeted with his teammates circling around a small board, with the coach standing next to it.
Some of his fellow classmates were yelling, or arguing over the gameplan, while others were silently getting into the huddle.
Coach Gerald was wearing a strange expression on his face, as if he didn't even want to be at his own team's game.
He spoke in a gruff and stressed out voice.
"Alright, enough! Anyone actually have any questions before I explain the gameplan."
The room quieted down, but no one spoke.
Chase glanced around the room a couple of times, comparing his jersey to the others in the room. He couldn't tell if he was just seeing things; however, it seemed as if his glowed slightly brighter then the other black and orange jerseys.
Finally, Leo of House Lion spoke.
"Sir, based on our last two games, and the recent recruitment of... well that."
He looked Chase dead in the eyes, with nothing but pure disgust.
Glaring back, he didn't let his obnoxious teammate's words bother him all that much.
Gerald put a hand over his eyes, and let out a deep sigh.
"I have a feeling your question won't have anything to do with the actual game, so I'll just begin."
He paused, as Chase leaned against one of the farther walls in the back of the group.
"In our studies of Skytide academy, we have noticed that they play very physical; however, they are extremely well disciplined, so we can't just go out and force penalties."
Chase took another glance around the room, noticing that his friend Equan was not even bothering to stand. He was sitting on one of the benches, holding his gladiator-like helmet on his lap, as he looked at the floor with an almost angered expression.
His black locks covered his eyes, so Chase couldn't even see the boy's lightning blue eyes.
Coach Gerald then continued on with the pregame analysis.
"We need to hold down the defensive side, and push our vanguards into a split, between offense and defense. Leo I'll have you play more toward the offensive side, so we can hopefully go with a four on three approach."
Leo grinned.
"Sounds fun... That is, if you can even count the stray as a player."
Gerald scratched the back of his neck, and exhaled deeply.
Suddenly a southern voice called out from the other side of the room.
"Knock it off Leo. Let me remind you that multiple frost fang players were able to blow past you when you were assigned to defense last week."
A handful of teammates snickered, which caused a whole lot more bickering between the team.
Eventually, the players calmed down, and the coach spoke out again.
"I will have Equan play lead attacker, with Chase as the flank. Jack will play in the slot, and middleman role."
"What! You can't be serious?"
Jack yelled, as he closed his insulated canteen filled with what Chase could only guess as water.
"You refuse to show up to most practices Jack, I can't have someone who doesn't want to be put the work in, leading the charge..."
Gerald looked at the boy with a stern expression.
Jack made some sort of gasping noise, and was about to turn around and storm off, before Hans could grab him by his jersey's collar.
Gerald let out another deep exhale, and pointed at the board.
On it was some sort of aetherball formation that Chase knew truly nothing about.
"I'll have the defense play in a half circle formation around our goal, and spread out decently enough to where a flank isn't possible, forcing Skytide into a more physical game."
Someone decided to speak up, and protest against that plan.
"But sir, why would we put them into a position where they have the advantage, why not play a more stealthy flank based approach?"
Another student shouted.
"Coach doesn't know anything about his own sport!"
One of the other players grabbed that student his neck, and almost put him into a headlock.
Hans had to not only hold back Jack from leaving the room, but also intervene in the fight, and pull the bigger student off of the smaller one.
Throughout all of this, Chase stayed silent, leaning against that same far wall.
He tapped his armored shoes together quietly, trying to keep his mind off of his chaotic teammates who would rather fight each other, then try to win the game.
"Sir?"
A familiar voice called out with a slight stutter.
"I think when we have possession, we should push our side defenders up thirty meters."
Gerald looked at the boy for a second, then raised an eyebrow.
"Everfrost, I want to know your reasoning for such a gamble..."
Michael looked around the room, as the players quieted down, allowing him to speak.
"If they are heavy on physical play, then we should push our defense up when we have advantage, maybe we could force a couple turnovers, and even have our entire vanguard on a fast paced offense if we play it right."
Gerald seemed to consider it for a second before finally nodding.
"Alright, that's a good suggestion."
He said, as he began to draw red arrows on the board, where Chase assumed was the defensive strategy.
Then, a loud bell shook the locker room.
'It's time...'
Chase thought to himself, feeling his hands begin to sweat, and his bones shake.
Gerald's expression grew darker, as he turned toward the large double doors in the far end of the locker room.
"Put your helmets on."
The team listened without hesitation.
Chase buckled together the small leather straps that held the helmet underneath his chin.
Suddenly, a strange yet loud noise could be felt shaking the entire arena.
He lifted his hand and placed it on his chest, as the team began to line up at the door.
His heart felt like it was about to turn into a rocket and pierce through his chest at that very moment.
As he began to regret ever even agreeing to Leander's offer, the door began to rumble, as it slowly opened up.
Bright rays of the sunset creeped through the door, as roars erupted from the other side.
The team began to clear through the doorway, leaving Chase as the last one out.
His steps felt like they were in slow motion, as he walked out of the doors. In front of him was the vast field of play, that he and his team would fight this battle on.
However, around him was what made his heart drop into his stomach.
Thousands of people filled the stands of the grand coliseum. Each of them looked like tiny ants, yet their screams were loud enough to shake the very ground they walked on.
'I'm not ready.'
He thought to himself, as he scratched the rune underneath his sleeveless jersey.