Chapter 7: The team that begins to shine

  The sun was beginning to hide behind the mountains when the presenter of the event took the microphone. His voice echoed throughout the enclosure.

  -Ladies and gentlemen, due to the tie in the competitions... the final decision will be made with one last race: a freestyle test!

  The murmur of the audience grew like a wase. The teams began to agitate, preparing for the outcome.

  Talion swallowed saliva. It all comes down to this... he thought.

  "Ready, champion?" Luz said, giving him a slight elbow.

  "Ready..." Talión replied, although his mind was still spinning.

  "Don't pressure yourself!" shouted Azrat, who had approached the group. Remember... you just have to swim faster than me... although that won't be easy. -He smiled sideways, winking.

  Talión laughed, feeling the tension drop a little. Azrat had that magic of turning any tense moment into something relaxed.

  ?

  The Decisive Moment

  Talión got on the starting block. His muscles were tense, and the sound of the water filled his ears.

  Remember the orca... he thought. Be like her... slide down... flow...

  The whistle sounded.

  Talion threw himself into the water like a projectile. Adrenaline exploded in his chest and his arms moved with brutal force. To his left, he saw how Azrat advanced on par with him, his body sliding with an impeccable technique.

  Don't think... just nothing...

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  In the final stretch, Talión gave everything. His arms were burning, his lungs were burning... but he didn't stop. The wall approached and he stretched out his hand with everything he had.

  FINAL TOUCH!

  The speaker exploded:

  —Winner: Blue Mountain School!

  Talion came out of the water panting. They had won.

  "Come on, crazy!" Luz shouted, jumping to hug him.

  "Well done, bastard!" Azrat said, approaching with a wide smile. I already said that you were good...

  Talion dried his face and smiled.

  "I'm glad you think so... because I want you on our team."

  For the first time, Azrat stopped smiling.

  "Really?" he asked surprised.

  "Of course," replied Talion. You're fast... and we need someone to help us crush the other teams.

  "Ha!" If that means more races with you... then I'm in. -Azrat said, giving him a strong handshake.

  The team had won... and now they had Azrat on their side.

  ?

  Hours later...

  The team celebrated its victory in a small taco stand. Between laughter, jokes and anecdotes of the event, the group began to feel like a real family.

  But while they were walking back to school, a group of three boys appeared blocking the way. They were some of the bullies who frequented the area.

  "Look at nothing else... the 'prodigy' of gray hair and his crazy club..." said one of the guys, throwing a burlesque laugh.

  "Hey... it was enough today, don't you think?" Talión said, trying to calm the situation.

  "And what if not?" one of them replied, pushing him slightly.

  Before Talion could react, Azrat stepped forward.

  "Do you really want trouble?" Azrat said with a confident smile. Because if that's the case... believe me, you're going to have less fun than you think.

  "And what are you going to do?" Swim on top of us? - the bully sneered.

  Azrat let out a nasal laugh.

  "Not to swim... but I can break your face with this Norwegian arm."

  There was a brief tension... but seeing the confidence in Azrat's eyes and the firm posture of Talión and Luz, the bullies backed out.

  "Bah... they're not worth it."

  The group of idiots walked away, leaving the three laughing.

  "Really 'Norwegian arm'?" Talión sneered.

  "What?" It sounds rude... -Azrat said laughing.

  ?

  Hours later...

  The team returned to the club, exhausted but happy. Talión, Luz and Azrat stayed a while longer in the pool, sitting on the edge with their feet in the water.

  "You know what?" said Luz. For the first time in a long time... I feel that this is serious.

  "And why wouldn't it be?" Talión replied.

  "Because this time... I have friends who believe in me.

  There was a brief silence.

  "We haven't won anything yet..." Azrat said. But I promise you something... with this threesome, we're going to break it.

  The three of them clashed their fists, knowing that together they would be unstoppable.

  ?

  End of Chapter 7