Striker of the Gods

Caos unleashes a 70 mph shot, making the net tremble as if he were a bride before the altar.

"Seriously, what was just that? I barely felt it passing. That sounded like a cannonball in the Siberian winter," says Di Gregorio after being unable to catch that shot out of 50 shots Caos performed with ease, as if it were a real game, scoring each of them. His confidence radiated as he took a deep breath, preparing for another round. Di Gregorio couldn't help but admire his skill, wondering how anyone could make such precision look so effortless.

"Nah. I am just getting started, as I may score even more if given more time," says Caos while grinning at the goal, preparing his shot by raising the ball in the air to perform a bicycle kick. In that moment, it was like everything was about to stop. Despite the absence of the public, Gregorio could feel the greatness of that shot, a vivid flame of colors that he could not see. As Caos launched himself into the air, time seemed to stretch, and the world around him faded into a blur. The ball soared with incredible velocity, a perfect arc that promised to change the course of the game and perhaps even their season.

"Non è giusto… Questa non vale come gol... Sei il migliore... Ma come ti alleni così?" says Gregorio after unsuccessfully catching the ball, wondering why he would even aim at catching the ball. There was pondering about it when Caos told him, "Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each. Football is my chaotic playground."

After training, they made their way to a 5-star landmark hotel, established in 1937, now draped in modern opulence.

Its rooftop spa shimmered under twilight. Guests whispered of its Turkish baths, alpine views, and fitness suites. They were near Via Roma, not far from the Egyptian Museum — history and glamour woven into every brick.

There, a woman approached.

Her name was Diana — and her gaze knew exactly what it wanted before a word was spoken.

"Salve. Piacere di conoscerti. Sei un grande del calcio.

Posso sedermi qui con voi e i miei amici?" she asked, her tone warm, eyes flickering toward Caos and Gregorio.

Gregorio, amused, replied before Caos could.

"Sì… ma sotto una condizione: niente flirting. Sono sposato."

Diana chuckled and settled in beside them.

The rooftop buzzed with Italian laughter, music, and late-evening light.

Caos, quiet as always, was already writing into his libreum — etching the lessons, the feelings, the fire of today.

The city pulsed.

And Diana could feel something stir — a prelude to something unforgettable.

To be continued...