Chapter 5: The Debut

The day had arrived. Lucien stood in the tunnel at Pride Park Stadium, the home of Derby County. The pre-season friendly wasn't just another match. For Lucien, this was his first step into the limelight of senior football, the first chapter in what he knew would be a legendary career.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, even for a pre-season game. Fulham fans who had heard whispers of Lucien's prodigious talent made the trip to see if the rumors were true. Could a 15-year-old boy really be the next great hope of English football?

Lucien's heart beat steadily, his mind focused on the task ahead. He could hear the muffled chants from the crowd, but it was all background noise to him. This was his stage now, and he would perform.

As he adjusted himself, a familiar voice spoke beside him.

"Nervous, kid?"

Lucien glanced over to see Nathan Harvey, a senior Fulham player and a veteran of the first team. Harvey had been through countless games, big and small, but even he knew this match was different—because of Lucien.

"No," Lucien said simply, his voice calm.

Harvey chuckled. "I wish I had your nerves of steel when I was your age. You're going to be fine out there."

Lucien didn't reply. He didn't need reassurance. His confidence wasn't bravado or arrogance—it was certainty. He was ready.

The referee's whistle blew, signaling for the players to take their positions on the pitch. Lucien stepped out into the bright lights of the stadium, his boots crunching on the pristine grass. The crowd roared as Fulham's team emerged, but Lucien kept his gaze forward, his expression neutral.

In his mind, he visualized the game—how it would play out, how he would influence it, the runs he would make, the passes he would deliver. He knew Derby County would try to test him physically, but his body—gifted with the resilience and agility of the legends who came before him—would hold firm.

The ball was placed at the center of the pitch. Fulham's captain for the day, Scott Malone, glanced at Lucien before nodding to him. Lucien nodded back. This was it.

A Storm in the Midfield

From the very first touch, it was clear Lucien was different. His first pass, a seemingly effortless, inch-perfect through ball to the left wing, sent ripples of excitement through the crowd. His vision, his spatial awareness—everything seemed otherworldly for someone so young.

Derby's players quickly realized Lucien was the focal point of Fulham's attack, and they began to close him down, sending two, sometimes three players to crowd him. But Lucien, with the grace of Zidane and the flair of Ronaldinho, danced through them. His quick feet and close control left defenders lunging in vain, often resulting in fouls.

By the 15th minute, he had already drawn three yellow cards from frustrated Derby players.

Then came the moment that everyone in the stadium had been waiting for.

It started with a turnover in midfield. Lucien anticipated the play, intercepting a sloppy pass before quickly spinning away from two pressing Derby midfielders. With the flick of his boot, he sent the ball out wide to the winger. He sprinted forward, already thinking two steps ahead of everyone else on the pitch.

As the ball was crossed into the box, Lucien ghosted into a pocket of space between Derby's central defenders. The ball arrived at waist height, but instead of controlling it and bringing it down, Lucien twisted his body in mid-air, executing a perfect scissor-kick. The ball rocketed into the top corner of the net, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then the stadium erupted.

Lucien stood still in the penalty box, arms outstretched, head tilted back slightly, basking in the adulation of the crowd. It was his celebration—his way of telling the world that this was just the beginning.

The Second Half

The first half ended with Fulham leading 2-0, thanks in no small part to Lucien's stunning debut goal. As the players retreated to the locker room, Lucien remained composed. He wasn't one to get carried away by the moment. He had more work to do.

In the locker room, Coach Davis gave his halftime talk, emphasizing defensive stability and control. But he didn't need to say much to Lucien. Davis knew that Lucien operated on a different level. He simply clapped the young player on the shoulder.

"You've done well. Now finish it."

Lucien nodded. He was eager to return to the pitch, to cement his presence.

The second half began much as the first had ended—with Lucien at the heart of every Fulham move. Derby, desperate to find a way back into the game, began to press higher, leaving gaps in their defense. Lucien exploited these openings with precision, delivering crisp, incisive passes that split the defense wide open.

In the 70th minute, he collected the ball just outside the penalty box. With a quick feint, he sent two defenders the wrong way before driving towards the goal. As the goalkeeper rushed out, Lucien chipped the ball delicately over his head, scoring his second goal of the night.

Once again, the crowd erupted, and once again, Lucien celebrated with a mixture of pride and indifference.

Post-Match Reverence

Fulham won 3-1, with Lucien's two goals and an assist being the highlight of the match. As the final whistle blew, his teammates rushed to him, patting him on the back and ruffling his hair. For many of them, it was clear they were in the presence of something special.

As Lucien walked off the pitch, he was stopped by Coach Davis.

"You've made quite the impression," Davis said, a rare smile on his usually stern face. "The first team is yours, Lucien. You've earned it."

Lucien gave a slight nod. "Thank you, Coach."

He glanced over at the crowd, where dozens of reporters had gathered, no doubt ready to bombard him with questions. But Lucien wasn't interested in the media frenzy. He had proven what he needed to on the pitch. Words could wait.

The Headlines

The next morning, Lucien's name was plastered across every sports headline in England.

"A Star is Born: Lucien Nightshade's Stunning Fulham Debut"

"Merlin's Magic: Nightshade Dazzles in Senior Debut"

"England's Next Great Hope?"

Every pundit, every former player, every journalist had something to say about Lucien's performance. Comparisons to the greats like Maradona and Ronaldinho were already being drawn. Some were cautious, reminding fans that Lucien was still just 15. But others were more daring, proclaiming him the future of English football.

But Lucien, sitting in the grand study of his family estate, sipping tea as he glanced through the headlines, felt nothing but calm. This was exactly what he had expected.

He had more important things to think about now—the coming season, his long-term plans with Tottenham, and ultimately, his goal to lead England to World Cup glory.

The world knew his name now. But this was only the beginning.

Lucien Nightshade, the Earl of St. Andrews, was destined for greatness.

And nothing would stand in his way.