Three months flew by like the pages of a book caught in a strong wind.
The days blurred into a steady rhythm of sweat and study:Morning training sessions at the high-performance center, grueling drills and strength building; evenings spent at the kitchen table with his mother, German textbooks open, pencils scratching across worn pages.
It wasn't easy.There were days when his body begged for rest, when the strange twists of German grammar made him want to scream.
But Mateo had changed.
The shy, hesitant boy who had first arrived in Munich was slowly being replaced by someone new — someone stronger, more patient, more determined.
On a crisp Saturday evening, after a long day of training, Mateo sat across from his mother at the kitchen table, their plates pushed aside after dinner.
They chatted easily now, in German — about training, about the weather, about silly things like how much he missed real Argentine empanadas.
"Ich glaube, ich kann nicht mehr auf Pasta leben.""I don't think I can live on pasta anymore," Mateo joked in German, a playful smile on his lips.
Helena laughed softly, correcting his pronunciation gently but proudly.
And then —
[System Notification:][Quest Completed: Language of Champions!][Rewards Unlocked:]
Medium Mystery Box
+1 Communication Attribute
Mateo blinked, startled, as a soft chime echoed in his mind.
He had done it.
Five full minutes of natural conversation — no switching back to Spanish, no major mistakes.
He turned to his mother, his heart full.
"Gracias, Mamá," he said in Spanish, voice thick with gratitude. "Thank you for teaching me. For everything."
Helena smiled warmly, reaching out to squeeze his hand.
"You already speak like a real Münchner," she said. "Now you just have to keep practicing a little every day. You'll be perfect soon."
Mateo grinned, feeling a surge of pride swell in his chest.
Later that night, lying on his bed beneath the soft hum of the heater, Mateo called out softly:
"System. Show me my status."
The familiar panel blinked to life before him.
[Mateo González Schwarz]
Age: 12 years oldHeight: 1.51 meters (+3 cm)Weight: 42 kg (+2 kg)Condition: Excellent (Minor Fatigue)
[Attributes]
Strength: 6 (+1)
Speed: 7 (+1)
Agility: 8 (+1)
Endurance: 9 (+1)
Vitality: 8 (+1)
Intelligence: 7 (+1)
Luck: 5 (unchanged)
Communication: 6 (+1)
[Language Progress]
Spanish: Native (Fluent)
German: Conversational (Completed Beginner Level – 55%)
English: Basic (10%)
[Inventory]
Medium Mystery Box — [Ready to Open]
Mateo's eyes widened slightly, a grin tugging at his lips.
In just three months, everything had nudged upward — not dramatically, but steadily.
He could feel it in his body: he was faster during sprints, stronger when lifting weights, more flexible in agility drills.And now, with better communication, he could understand training instructions clearly, and even interact confidently with the coaches and other athletes.
He felt... real.
Taking a steady breath, Mateo spoke aloud:
"System, open the Medium Mystery Box."
There was a soft, melodic ding, and a swirl of golden light unfolded before him, coalescing into a new panel.
[Congratulations! You have received:]
Reward 1: "Athlete's Recovery" Passive Skill (Level 1)Slightly accelerates muscle recovery and reduces fatigue by 10% after training.
Reward 2: Random Bonus Attribute +1 (Speed)
[Speed has increased to 8!]
Mateo sat up straighter, his heart pounding with excitement.
Recovery would mean he could train harder — and faster speed was exactly what a future footballer needed.
It wasn't a miracle.It wasn't magic.
It was the reward for months of sweat, patience, and perseverance.
He lay back against his pillow, smiling at the ceiling.
Tomorrow would be another hard day.