There's a price for everything, including brilliance.

Pedri, Sam, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha stole the show in Turin, but there was a price for that performance. Targeted by Juventus's aggressive center backs all game, Sam suffered a knock.

The cameras never caught it.

The world only saw the smile, the sweat, and the raised arms under the lights of Turin. They saw the celebration, the calm walk to the tunnel, the handshakes and the replays of his assists.

But what they didn't see was the limp.

What they didn't hear was the muffled groan echoing down the hallway once the roar of the Allianz Stadium had faded.

Injury was never a pleasant situation for any professional football player.

The pain, the discomfort, and with his history with injury, Sam hated all of it, but this time, he couldn't help it.

It was such a long time since he suffered any injury that it felt like a novelty experience for him, but the discomfort remained all the same.

The locker room was a blur of adrenaline and victory as Barcelona's players cheered, drenched in sweat and triumph.

Hansi Flick was hugging his staff, and Yamal was laughing, replaying his solo goal on his phone.

"We're through!" Gavi yelled and slapped Raphinha's back so hard he almost dropped his drink; the Brazilian glared at him.

And there, just beyond the light, Sam sat still with a towel draped around his neck. His breathing was sharp and shallow, and the smile he'd worn for the cameras had vanished.

A deep ache pulsed in his right thigh.

It had started in the 80th minute, when a Juve defender's reckless tackle caught him. He had played through it, forcing his leg to obey, refusing to limp and refusing to show weakness.

But now the adrenaline was gone, and the pain was not.

Pedri noticed it first. "Sam, you okay?" He asked, his voice slicing through the chaos with a concerned look on his face.

Sam grimaced, but then he forced a grin. "Yeah, I think just a little tightness".

But when he tried to stand up, his knee buckled slightly.

"Sit!" Hansi Flick was quick to react as he ordered immediately while walking towards him with a serious look on his face. His tone was firm but calm, leaving no room for argument, and Sam obeyed obediently.

With one gesture from the coach, the team doctor was fetched as he soon arrived at Sam's side.

Sam didn't even try to argue once the doctor came. Knowing the pain he was feeling; he knew that it was serious.

The doctor soon frowned as he examined him.

Seeing that frown, Sam grimaced again. 'Seriously? C'mon man'.

A few minutes later, he lay on the massage table in the treatment room, fluorescent lights glaring overhead.

The doctor ran a cold scanner across his thigh as Hansi Flick stood by silently with his arms crossed and his face unreadable. The machine beeped twice, and then a small screen glowed with the results.

The doctor looked at the result and exhaled softly in relief.

Then, he looked at the coach. "It's just a muscle strain, nothing catastrophic… but he'll need rest".

"How long?" Hansi Flick asked.

"Five weeks, maybe four if we're lucky".

The room went silent.

Sam's heart sank.

Five weeks?! That was nearly half of the most crucial stretch of the season through the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and even the Champions League quarterfinals.

He clenched his fists. "I can't sit out five weeks".

"You don't have a choice if you want to fully recover," the doctor said gently. "Push harder, and you risk a full tear".

He shook his head. "Now, that would be catastrophic. That would end your whole season".

Sam pursed his lips.

But then, Hansi Flick placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about us. You focus on your recovery, we'll handle this".

He smiled. "Get treatment, get strong, then return when you're ready. You've already given us enough".

But Sam barely heard him because in that moment…

DING!

A familiar blue glow flickered to life in the corner of his vision, and he froze. It was a System notification.

~----~

[Mission Complete: Prove Yourself Worthy!]

>Objective: Lead Barcelona to the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals.

>Status: SUCCESS.

[Reward: Randomizing… please wait…]

[Randomization Complete!]

[Reward Awarded: High-grade Recovery Elixir]

~----~

Sam blinked.

He almost forgot that the system gave him a mission during the quest for quarterfinal qualification back in Turin.

The holographic image shimmered quietly, unseen by anyone else.

Sam didn't do anything immediately. He waited until the others left the room, the players heading to the bus, Hansi Flick to the press room, and the doctor filing reports.

Then, alone in the sterile quiet, he accessed the system notification again.

~----~

[High-Grade Recovery Elixir]

>An alchemic tonic designed to drastically accelerate physical recovery. It restores damaged muscle tissue and eliminates fatigue.

>Duration of Effect: Permanent.

[WARNING: Use in moderation. Overreliance on this elixir may lead to diminished natural healing.]

~----~

Sam stared at the small vial materializing in his hand; it was sleek, glassy, and filled with a liquid that shimmered like starlight.

A grin spread slowly across his face.

"Guess miracles really don't end, huh?" He whispered, feeling giddy. He finally understood how the system selected its random rewards.

Without hesitation, he uncorked the small vial.

In one gulp, he drank the contents as he felt a rush of warmth spread through his veins like fire meeting ice. The pain dulled instantly. His leg tingled, the ache fading into a numbing sensation.

He exhaled.

Then, smiling faintly, he whispered. "Sorry, doc. Five weeks is too long".

…

That night, Sam sat in his hotel room, his leg stretched out on the couch, the city lights of Barcelona glowing beyond the window. His phone buzzed, and Kayla's face appeared on screen.

"Hey, love," she said softly, her face lighting up his entire world. "How's my stubborn husband?"

She already received news of his injury.

Sam grinned at the sight of her. "I'm recovering. Faster than they expected."

She frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Don't push yourself too hard again. You may be really good, but you're still human."

He laughed quietly and didn't answer.

Kayla sighed, her hand resting gently on her belly. "You promised you'd take care of yourself for us, remember?"

"I do". Sam's gaze softened. "And I am, I promise. It's just sometimes, I lose myself in the quest to help the team win".

Sophia's eyes squinted in annoyance, but she didn't nag further. She understood. They spoke some more before finally ending the call.

As the call ended, Sam leaned back, staring at the city skyline. The night hummed with quiet promise.

His body felt light, and his spirit stronger than ever.

For some reason, he felt strangely at peace despite being injured.

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