Departure to Europe

Marcel sat in the living room, his mother seated across from him. She had something important to discuss, but for the past few minutes, she had just been watching him silently, lost in thought.

Francine studied her son carefully, taking in how much he had changed in just a few months.

When she and her husband agreed to support Marcel's football dreams, they never imagined things would move so quickly. Now, clubs were showing interest in him, even if nothing was official yet. That alone was proof that his talent was starting to gain recognition.

But despite her pride, a part of her felt unprepared.

Her son, only 14 years old, was already moving at a pace she hadn't expected. He had taken control of his diet, dedicated himself to training, and was even starting to develop muscle. His once slightly fuller face had slimmed down, and his body was becoming more athletic. Every time she saw him so focused and determined, it reminded her how much he loved football.

Yet, deep down, she still saw him as her little boy.

Marcel noticed her expression. She had called him here to talk, but she hadn't said a word in minutes.

"Mom?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

Francine blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh, yes, I'm fine," she said with a warm smile. "I was just lost in my thoughts."

Marcel tilted his head slightly, studying her.

"You said you wanted to talk about something?"

Francine nodded, then asked, "How are you feeling about going to Europe for the first time?"

Marcel exhaled, leaning back slightly. "I think I'm excited... but also a little nervous. It's a big deal. I'm going to play against one of the best youth national teams in Europe. What if I disappoint?"

Francine listened patiently as Marcel continued.

"People always say that youth teams in Europe are way ahead of African teams, especially in places like Cameroon," he admitted. "What if I don't play well? Even though it's just a friendly, I don't want to let anyone down."

Francine smiled gently. "Marcel, I can't tell you how to play. You already know that better than anyone. But every time I've watched you, there's one thing I've always loved."

Marcel looked at her, curious.

"You play with joy," she said simply. "Other players always look so tense, focused, and serious. Their faces are hard, but you? You always have a smile when you're on the pitch. You enjoy football."

Marcel blinked, processing her words.

"I don't want you to forget that," Francine continued. "You're still young. Football is not your job yet. So stop putting pressure on yourself for no reason. Go out there and do what you always do—have fun."

Her words settled into his chest like a warm weight, easing some of the tension he hadn't realized was there.

"I would have loved to come and watch you play in Portugal," she added, "but I can't just leave the restaurant like that."

Marcel smiled. "You always know the right thing to say to motivate me."

Francine chuckled. "It's a mother's job."

She suddenly shifted topics. "You'll be gone for a long time, though. This will be the first time you're in another country for so long. Do you have everything ready? Clothes? Documents? Everything you need for the trip?"

"Yeah, I've packed everything. After the match against Portugal, we're heading straight to Niger for AFCON. We won't be back in Cameroon until the tournament is over… or if we get eliminated earlier."

Francine was about to say something when Marcel cut her off, as if predicting what she was going to ask.

"And yes, I already told Christina," he added. "It'll be weird not seeing her for that long. This will be the longest we've been apart."

Francine smiled. "That's good."

She hesitated for a moment before sighing. "I wasn't sure whether to tell you this now. I was worried it might distract you, but seeing how motivated you are… I think it'll do the opposite."

Marcel frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Francine took a breath.

"When you go to play in Portugal, there's a club there that is interested in you. They haven't made any offers or anything, but they came to ask for information about you. Just basic things."

Marcel froze.

Then, his face lit up.

"Really?!" He jumped up, eyes wide with excitement.

"Which club?" he asked eagerly.

Francine chuckled. "That's not something you need to know right now."

Marcel looked at her, confused. "Why not?"

"Because it doesn't change anything," she explained. "All you need to know is that they will probably be watching you in that match. And in AFCON U17 too. So if you want to make them take you seriously, give it your all. Make your team win. Show them why they should invest in you."

Marcel clenched his fists, his heart pounding.

This was it.

Another reason to push himself.

Another reason to play like never before.

"I will," he said, determination burning in his voice. "I'll give it everything I have."

Francine smiled as she watched the fire in her son's eyes grow stronger.

Marcel suddenly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

"Thank you, Mom," he whispered. "For supporting me. For accepting my dream."

Francine's arms tightened around him. "Of course, my son."

After a moment, she pulled back and patted his cheek. "Now go and sleep. You have a flight tomorrow. You need to be well-rested."

"Yes, Mom. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Marcel."

As Marcel left for his room, his mind raced with excitement and anticipation.

…

Lying on his bed, Marcel stared at the ceiling, his mind restless despite the exhaustion settling into his muscles. The match against Portugal was looming, and the excitement of traveling to Europe for the first time made it impossible to sleep.

Feeling a familiar urge, he opened his system, curious to see if there was anything new.

The moment he accessed it, a notification popped up.

[Congratulations! Your team has qualified for AFCON U17. The "Missions" section has been unlocked.]

Marcel blinked in surprise. Missions? Why is this only appearing now?

Almost as if responding to his thoughts, the system's explanation followed.

[Missions are tasks assigned based on the host's progress. The host will receive missions for each new competition entered. Some missions remain hidden until specific conditions are met.]

His curiosity piqued, Marcel tapped on the newly unlocked "Missions" tab. Two categories appeared.

Main

Secondary

Main must mean the most important ones, Marcel thought as he selected it.

…

[Main Missions]

[African U17 Championship]

The host stands on the verge of Africa's biggest youth competition. Use this stage to prove that you are the best young player on the continent.

- Qualify for the Semi-finals

Rewards: +10 XP, +10 Points

- Qualify for the Final

Rewards: +15 XP, +20 Points

- Win the Cup

Rewards: +20 XP, +30 Points, 1 Lottery Ticket, +1 to all attributes

- Win the Top Scorer Award

Rewards: +3 Shooting, +2 Decision-Making

- Win the Best Player Award

Rewards: +2 to all attributes

…

Marcel's eyes widened, his heart beating faster.

"A lottery ticket?!" he muttered to himself. That meant he had a chance to gain another special boost.

And the attribute bonuses… this was a real opportunity to level up. Until now, the system had only given him XP and points, which were currently useless since he wasn't in a professional club. But this… this was direct improvement.

Even if he couldn't use the XP and points yet, the attribute increases were immediate.

With renewed excitement, he tapped on Secondary Missions.

…

[Secondary Missions]

[First Match in Europe]

The host is about to step onto European soil for the first time and face one of the best youth national teams. Show your worth.

- Do not lose

Rewards: +10 XP, +10 Points, +2 Tactical Awareness

- Score at least one goal

Rewards: +5 XP, +5 Points

…

Marcel grinned to himself, feeling a mix of pressure and excitement.

Not only would this match be a chance to prove himself against a top European side, but now there was a direct reward for performing well. Even just avoiding defeat would give him a boost in tactical awareness—a skill he had been working on improving.

With his anticipation growing, he decided to check his current status before sleeping.

...

[Elite Boost System]

Level: 1 (41/500 XP)

Name: Marcel Ndonga

Date of Birth: 17 May 2000 (14 years old)

Height: 172 cm

Weight: 66 kg

Position: Left Winger / Right Winger

Special Boosts:

Bronze Boost: Defensive Cohesion +5% (One slot available)

Lottery Tickets: 0

Player Attributes

Market: Locked (Unlocks upon joining a professional first team)

Missions: Active

Points: 82

…

After taking it all in, Marcel closed his system and let out a deep breath.

His fingers gripped the sheets as his mind drifted into fantasy, imagining himself dominating the AFCON U17, tearing through defenses like a mix of Messi's dribbling and Ronaldo's finishing.

One day, he'd reach that level.

One day, he'd stand at the top of world football.

And this tournament… might just be the first step toward that dream.

With a small smile, he finally drifted into sleep, his dreams filled with the image of himself lifting trophies and playing in packed stadiums.

...

...

The next morning, Marcel made sure everything was packed. His boots, jerseys, and travel essentials were all neatly arranged in his bag. He checked his phone one last time before stepping out.

Saying goodbye wasn't easy. Christina hugged him tightly, reluctant to let go.

"Call me when you land," she whispered.

Marcel chuckled. "Of course."

He also took a few moments to call some of his friends before heading to the team bus, where the rest of the Cameroon U17 squad was already waiting. By midday, they were on their way to Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, the excitement in the air almost tangible.

Upon arriving at the airport, they quickly moved through the usual procedures—checking in, handing over passports, and getting their boarding passes. Nsimalen was a mix of modern and traditional, with large glass windows allowing sunlight to flood the terminals. Travelers bustled about, some in a rush, others waiting patiently for their flights. Outside, the hum of traffic filled the air as taxis and buses pulled up, some honking impatiently.

Once through security, the team had a little time before boarding. Some players wandered near the duty-free stores, while others sat in the waiting area, chatting or scrolling through their phones. The Air France flight was soon announced, and before long, they were in the air, leaving Cameroon behind as they headed toward Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport.

After nearly six hours, they touched down in France. The sheer size and efficiency of Charles de Gaulle immediately stunned some of the players. Everything was high-tech, polished, and structured—a stark contrast to what they were used to back home. No one was chasing after travelers, offering to carry their luggage in hopes of a tip. Instead, automated signs guided passengers, and airport workers moved with quiet efficiency.

Marcel was less surprised than most of his teammates. He had traveled before—when he was ten, he had visited his father in Canada—and that trip had already shown him how different things were outside of Cameroon. Even so, he still found himself quietly observing everything, comparing it to what he knew.

Before heading to their designated waiting area, they had to go through immigration and security checks once more. Marcel took out some of the money his mother had given him and exchanged it, receiving €500 in return. Seeing an opportunity to explore, he turned to Coach Atangana.

"Coach, can we take a look around?"

The older man, amused by Marcel's initiative, gave a small nod. "Stay in groups and don't go too far."

Marcel grinned and gathered a few teammates—Jean, Ganago, Ngoah, and some others—to explore the airport. They checked out some duty-free shops, where Marcel bought small souvenirs for each of them—keychains and little accessories as a memory of their first European trip together. The group then wandered further, eventually stumbling upon a PlayStation gaming area.

FIFA 15 was available.

Marcel, confident in his skills, grabbed a controller. "Alright, let's play."

Ganago smirked. "I'll take Barcelona."

Marcel chose Real Madrid, but the match was a disaster. Ganago, a hardcore Barça fan, played like his life depended on it and destroyed Marcel 4-0.

Jean burst out laughing. "Man, I thought you were supposed to be good at this!"

Marcel scowled at the screen. "Tch."

Ngoah shook his head. "Guess you're only good in real life, huh?"

The banter didn't stop there. Ngoah pulled out his phone, showing a real-life match result on his screen.

"Look at this," he grinned. "Real Madrid lost to Valencia today. Even in real life, they're trash!"

That set off another round of laughter, making Marcel groan in frustration.

As they headed back to their designated waiting area, the discussions shifted to football's eternal debate—Messi or Ronaldo?

"Who's the greatest player of all time?"

Messi got more votes than Ronaldo. Even Marcel, who admired both, admitted Messi was the greatest. But when asked about his personal favorite, he didn't hesitate.

"For me, it's Cristiano Ronaldo."

Then came the club debate.

"Which club is the greatest of all time?"

Marcel didn't even blink. "Real Madrid. It's not even a debate."

That immediately sparked an argument, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich fans pushing back.

Coach Atangana, who had been silently listening, finally joined in.

"You know, Barcelona's greatness isn't just about trophies," he said with a knowing smile. "They changed football history. Their style of play, their dominance—it wasn't just about winning, it was about revolutionizing the sport."

Some players nodded in agreement.

Jean, however, wasn't convinced. "But football is about winning, Coach. What's the point of playing beautifully if you don't win?"

Coach Atangana laughed. "Did they not win? Between 2008 and 2012, they won 14 trophies in four years. The first sextuple in history. What more do you want?"

Marcel smirked. "Okay, Coach. But tell me this… how many Champions League titles does Barcelona have?"

Jean quickly pulled out his phone.

"Real Madrid has 10. Barcelona only has 4."

That got cheers from the Madrid supporters.

Marcel pushed further. "And how many La Liga titles do they have compared to Real Madrid?"

Jean scrolled quickly, his eyes widening.

"Barcelona has 22. Real Madrid has 32."

"That's 10 more. Again, not even comparable," Marcel grinned.

Before the debate could settle, Ganago jumped in.

"Yeah, but how many of those trophies were won in the age of dinosaurs?"

The entire team burst into laughter, even Coach Atangana shaking his head.

The debate continued, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern fans all defending their clubs, until their flight to Portugal was announced.

The team boarded the plane, the excitement still lingering. This was it—their first step onto European soil for football.

After two hours, they landed at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. The team moved through passport control and baggage claim, then headed straight for their hotel.

By the time they arrived, fatigue had set in, but the excitement remained.

Tomorrow, they would train.

And soon, they would face Portugal U17.