Chapter Three

Legacy, what is a legacy?

It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. 

| Lin-Manuel Miranda

Rion

"Morning Coach." Leopold said, floating over to the chair and hovering above it. 

"Mmm." Rion mumbled in response, eyes fixed on the most recent training statistics. "This still isn't good Leopold. I don't know what they're planning here, but it looks like we're regressing. At this rate, relegation would be too good for us." 

"Tell me Rion, did you leave last night?" Leopold asked

Rion shuffled the documents, eyes shifting over the individual pages with more scrutiny. "Yeah, yeah." 

"To sleep?" 

"I grabbed Coffee from a place nearby, small little shop rooting for the team. They had no idea who I was, but they were happy to talk to people about the failings of the Dawnbreakers." Rion said. "Funny, isn't it? They love the team but having but negative things to say. Almost makes you wonder why they're still fans."

"You really don't get it?" Leopold asked, raising an eyebrow in question. 

"I have a general idea, but no I don't really." Rion admitted

"Well, at least you're not trying to lie and say you do. We can work with that." Leopold extended a hand, revealing to Rion its contents. It was a small letter with an official looking wax seal that bore the symbol of the Royal Premier League President. 

"They accepted?" Rion said, reaching out for the letter. It slowly formed into a tangible mass of paper as Leopold released his control over the materials. 

"So it would seem." Leopold said, smiling. "From what I heard, Coren was fairly convincing when he brought it up to his former Coach. Something about 'giving you enough of a chance to show what you have to offer.'"

"Well that's rather-"

"And about giving you enough rope to hang yourself. Something like that."

"Right. Still not the most liked person here." Rion said

"That's putting it lightly my friend. You might as well be the harbinger of the locus coming to devour us all, smothering all hope and destroying any chance at redemption. Some of these boys are just waiting out the day that your contract is revoked."

"Let me guess, if that day doesn't come fast enough, then they're going to see about making it happen sooner." Rion offered. Leopold nodded and leaned back. 

"Rock and a hard place Rion. Still think you can make it out of this?" 

Rion grunted noncommittally, ripped open the letter, and stared at the pages. It was a letter of agreement to a friendly between the two teams. There, set on the front in gold lettering was the date. Two weeks from the start of the season, two weeks from today. Two weeks. 

"They gave us a practice, er, friendly match, rather. Only, they're not letting us play until two weeks before the season starts."

"Two weeks, huh? That's not a lot of time, but if you get started on things soon then perhaps it would work." Leopold said.

"The problem is that I can't implement my plans until after they realize they're way isn't going to work. They need to come to me for the answers, not have me chase them down to run the plays." 

"Then you'd better find a way of tipping the scales in your direction, because as wonderful as an idea as that is, that's all it is without action. And idea, a good one, but just an idea." Leopold said

"Like what?" Rion asked. "What should I do?" 

"Shake things up, rearrange the status quo."

"Suggestions?" 

Leopold shrugged, rising from his position above the chair. "I can think of a few things, but that's not what matters. Myself and the others-"

"The rest of the staff that I haven't met yet?"

"The very same, myself and the others are not here to direct you but instead to guide you. Its a long journey, and this season is just the start."

"So figure it out is what you're saying." Rion said, comprehension dawning on each word like a lazy sunrise. 

"I'm sure you'll come up with the right idea," Leopold said. Floating out of the room, Rion was left to his own once more, only he didn't feel so uncertain anymore.

Coren

Coren stripped the sweat drenched jersey from his shoulders and tossed it lazily into the basket where it joined a dozen others in various states of similar disgust. Towel rubbing off the sweat from his head, he slid open the locker and barely caught sight of the ball launched in his direction. He had just enough time to spin, slow the speed with a simple catch, and kick it back to the thrower. 

"Great work out there today," Mart said, slowing the ball with a spell and wave that sent it lazily spinning towards the ground. 

"I'll never get over how easily you can all do that." Coren said, leaning back against the lockers. Other players, those that had been involved in the small teams match between primary and reserves meandered through the locker room or made their way to the showers. A few tossed compliments to Coren and Mart as they passed, and out of the corner of Corens eye he swore he could see Taberny walk into Rion's office. A part of him, a small jealous and barely audible part violently wondered what Rion, or rather Rion as the Coach would want from Taberny instead of talking to him.

"You got your own talents for things," Mart said leaning next to him. "Never seen a better activator, nor one with a better mind for the tactics of things."

"Thanks," Coren said, "but you know most of that stuff is above me." 

"Yeah, I know that's what you say. I also know that the teams powers have never been more stable since you've joined us, and we've generated a solid completion rate for passes under your direction."

"Taberny is the one in control, not me. In case you've been living in your own world Mart, but I'm just a player."

"Come now Coren, we both know better than that. More than half this team listens to you before they even think about talking to Taberny."

"The other half would rather see me fail, falter, and lose everything." Coren said. 

"Eh, that's just life. They're not against you, they're just used to the system as it stands. Status Quo and all that." Mart offered. He turned and opened his locker, positioned a few down from Corens, and slipped on a new shirt that looked as if it had gone through quite the journey. "Anyway, good work is all I wanted to say."

"Where're you headed?" Coren asked

"Hm? Me?"

"No, the other man standing in front of me. Yes, you." 

"Oh, just, you know, out." Mart said lamely

"Uh, huh. Still seeing that one in the Quarter?" Coren asked. 

Marts face split into a sheepish smile and he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, "Yeah, you caught me." 

"Why don't you bring her along some time? I'm sure everyone would love to meet her." 

"Yeah... Maybe some other time." Mart said, walking towards the door "I'm not sure they're really up for the whole 'team' thing." 

"Alright, alright. Well, I won't bust your balls over it, just thought you should know that we'd accept her."

Mart smiled a bit weaker but nodded and started towards the door. With a slight wave and a chuckle, he added "We'll see about it someday maybe."

"Yeah, right." Coren laughed and turned back to his locker. 

"Halverk!" The voice, Taberny's by the sound, carried a daggers edge to its tone. Coren spun and saw the fist of Taberny coming for the locker next to him. He didn't flinch as the meat struck the metal and dented the lockers door off its hinges.

"What the fuck!" Coren shot, throwing himself back from the approaching man. "Taberny chill the fuck out!"

"What did you do?!" Taberny was snarling, spittle flying from his lips with each word. "What did he promise you?"

"Who? What? Promise what? Taberny you're not making any sense."

Taberny's shoulders tightened, until he eventually let out a strangled breath. "I'm done Coren." 

"What do you mean you're done?" He had a sinking feeling he knew what it meant, but he had to hear it for sure. That was the only way to know. Because if that was what was actually happening, then things were about to become very difficult for himself as well. 

"I'm being dropped as Captain."

Corens heart plummeted and a cold chill ran along his back. "What? Says who?" 

"Says the boy," Taberny sneered. "Said I'm too old and the team doesn't listen to me anymore. Not like they listen to you."

"Me?" Coren asked. It wasn't exactly a secret that Coren ran the whole thing a touch better than Taberny, but etiquette was etiquette and certain standards had to be obeyed. "No, nothing like that is true. And besides, it doesn't matter whether or not he makes that decision, it's up to the team. Not the Coach." 

Sighing, the last vestiges of anger dissipating into the ether, and the clear impression that Taberny had just broken his hand, Taberny stepped back and cupped his hand. "Not anymore, he said that I could step down as Captain and retire, or he would fire me publicly. Said he'd make a whole big thing about it in the papers too."

"No one would go for it! This is an outrage! He can't force you out of the position, let alone make you retire!" Coren snapped back

Silence fell between them, though Coren swore he could hear the pulsing of Taberny's fist in his ears. Eventually it was Taberny who asked the question. 

"You had no idea?" 

"Look," Coren said "The most I know is that Coach wanted to get us a friendly against the Lions, he asked me for help, I said I would."

Taberny raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Coach?" 

"I, er, well..." Coren stumbled, "Well, technically he is our Coach." 

"Yeah..." Taberny said, though the voice didn't quite reach the level of agreement. "Well, he's your Coach now. Look either way, I'm done. I need to find a new Captain, and that might as well be you. I don't want it to be you because it feels like I'm playing right into this kids hands, but ultimately I care more about the Dawnbreakers doing well than I do about being the pawn of some pissant. So, you're it kid. Good luck." 

"I'm what? You're making me Captain just like that?" Coren asked

"I don't really have a choice, so yeah. As much of a prick as I think you are sometimes, you're also one of the few people on this team with their head in the right place. Mainly I mean not up their own ass. So yeah, you're Captain now."

"What about the team? They won't accept this." 

"I'll talk to them, I don't like the situation, but I don't need to watch this team stumble out the gate because I've got a bone to pick with the Head Coach. Just keep the team in the League and I'll retire in peace." 

"That's it?" Coren asked "Just stay in the league?" 

"What, you think you can do more than that?" 

"You honestly thought we couldn't?" Coren shot back

"I know this team has done, the heights we've reached. But that was then Coren, not now, not today, not this decade. This team," With his good hand Taberny motioned to the room and it became very clear that some of the other players were watching with side eyes and quiet murmurs. "Is stuck, and unless everyone accepts that, they're never going to get anywhere." Leaning in Taberny added, just loud enough for Coren to hear "We're never going to be the team we used to be, but if you have this fantasy about being something then sure, go for it." 

Pressing past Coren, Taberny headed for the door. He took one last look around the room before he gave Coren a sneer, leaving the room cold but filled with subtle chatter. 

"Okay then." Coren said. "We'll see about that."