Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Trial of Shadows

The third day of training camp began with a sense of unease. The team gathered in the dining hall, wolfing down their breakfast as the coaches spoke in hushed tones at a nearby table. The usual banter among the players was subdued, their fatigue from the prior days evident in their slower movements. Still, there was an undercurrent of curiosity—the kind that made their exhaustion bearable.

Coach Gadiona called them to the field just as the morning mist began to lift, his expression unusually serious.

"Today's focus is adaptability," he announced, his voice calm but firm. "In a match, things rarely go as planned. Weather, field conditions, opposing strategies—all of it can shift in an instant. Your ability to think on your feet will often be the difference between victory and defeat."

He paused, glancing at the other coaches before continuing. "To that end, you'll be facing a challenge unlike any you've encountered before. We call it 'The Trial of Shadows.'"