The worst part wasn't the mistake.
It was the silence after.
Ethan lay awake longer than usual, staring at the ceiling of his flat while the city hummed outside. The misjudged pass replayed in his head again and again. Not dramatically. Not painfully. Just… persistently. He wasn't panicking. He wasn't spiralling.
He was aware.
The system hadn't spoken since the match.
No prompts.
No corrections.
No reassurance.
System:
Performance Review: Pending
That unsettled him more than criticism ever could.
Training the next morning was sharper.
Alex Neil had changed the structure. Shorter drills. Higher tempo. Less tolerance. When someone miscontrolled the ball, play stopped instantly. No shouting. Just a look. That was worse.
"This is where lads either sharpen up," Alex said calmly, "or fall off."
Ethan felt the step up immediately. Touches had to be cleaner. Decisions faster. There was no room to hide behind effort alone anymore.
The system nudged faintly.
Optimal Risk Profile: Moderate Increase Suggested
Ethan ignored it.
He played simple. Moved the ball early. Trusted positioning over instinct. When the session ended, Alex gave a small nod in his direction. No praise. No warning.
Just acknowledgement.
System:
Directive Override Logged
Again.
The question came later that day.
A reporter, local outlet, nothing flashy. End of the interview. Casual tone.
"Quick one," the reporter said. "There's been talk you were released by Chelsea as a kid. How much did that shape you?"
The old Ethan would've dodged it.
This one didn't.
"Yeah," he said evenly. "Chelsea at thirteen. I wasn't ready. Probably thought talent was enough back then. Getting released forces you to grow up early."
No bitterness. No drama.
Just truth.
System:
Narrative Control: Improved
When the clip went online, the comments surprised him. Less mockery than he expected. More respect.
The email arrived that evening.
Official. Plain. No hype.
England U21 – Training Camp Invitation
Assessment Only
His name looked strange in that context.
Jordan called immediately. "No caps. No guarantees. But this is real. They want to see you up close."
Ethan swallowed. "Dates?"
Jordan hesitated. "That's the complication."
They clashed with the sponsor shoot.
The big one.
£20,000.
Full media access.
Mandatory appearances.
System:
Priority Conflict Detected
For the first time, the system didn't suggest a solution.
The dressing room found out before he could process it properly.
"You're England now?" someone laughed.
"Say it again," another said. "Just so it sounds real."
Ethan shook his head. "It's just a camp."
"That's how it starts," someone replied.
He smiled, but something tightened in his chest.
Visibility changed dynamics. Suddenly, jokes landed differently. Compliments lingered longer. Even silence felt heavier.
The message from the sponsor came that night.
Friendly. Polite. Firm.
Decision required within 48 hours.
Ethan stared at the number again.
£20,000.
The system updated quietly.
Monetary Influence: Escalating
He thought about rent. His mum. Stability. He also thought about the Chelsea dressing room years ago. Lockers too big. Confidence too small.
He didn't reply.
Matchday came quicker than expected.
Ethan started again.
This time, he didn't chase moments. He let them come. Played wide when needed. Dropped in when required. In the fifty-second minute, he tracked back, nicked the ball cleanly, and recycled possession instead of forcing the counter.
The goal came three passes later.
Assist credited to someone else.
Alex clapped once from the touchline.
System:
Consistency Rating: Rising
The crowd applauded his work rate when he was subbed late on. Not for flair. For discipline.
That meant more to him than any highlight.
Back home, exhaustion finally hit.
He sat on the edge of his bed, phone in hand, England email open on one side, sponsor contract on the other.
For the first time since the system had appeared in his life, it changed visually.
The interface split.
System:
Path Selection Required
Path A: Optimised Performance
Description:
Accelerated growth. Higher risk. Increased system intervention.
Path B: Organic Growth
Description:
Slower progression. Reduced system control. Greater autonomy.
No recommendation.
No countdown.
Just a choice.
Ethan leaned back, heart steady but mind racing.
Success had stopped being abstract.
Now it was directional.
And whichever path he chose would decide not just how fast he rose…
…but who he became along the way.
END OF CHAPTER 32
Author's Comment
Chapter 32 is about choice.
Talent gets you noticed. Discipline keeps you relevant. But direction defines careers.
Question for readers:
If you were Ethan, would you choose Optimised Performance or Organic Growth — and why?
Thanks for reading 🙏