The morning alarm buzzed at 6:30 AM, but Mateo was already awake, his internal clock having adjusted to the demanding rhythm that had become his new reality. Three weeks had passed since he had moved into the dormitories, and what had initially felt overwhelming now flowed with the natural ease of a well-rehearsed routine.
The early morning System training, breakfast with Lukas and the other players, the bicycle ride to school, afternoon first-team sessions, evening study time, and late-night conditioning work had woven themselves into a tapestry of purpose that gave structure to his days.
As he quietly prepared for another day, careful not to wake his roommate, Mateo reflected on how profoundly his life had changed.
