CHAPTER 3 – THE NEW DOCTOR

The training facility was already bustling with activity when Xyrus entered the locker room.

Some players were stretching, while others were preparing their equipment for practice. Xyrus placed his belongings inside his locker and glanced at the medical examination schedule resting on the nearby table.

His name appeared near the top.

PLAYER: XYRUS

ASSIGNED DOCTOR: OLIOT

He frowned.

"Looks like someone is taking his job seriously," one of his teammates remarked.

Xyrus glanced at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just saying our new doctor seems pretty strict."

"Great. Exactly what we need."

His teammate laughed.

Before Xyrus could respond, their coach entered the locker room.

"Everyone, gather around. I'd like to introduce someone who will be working closely with our team this season."

The players gradually stopped what they were doing.

A man entered behind the coach, carrying a tablet and a black medical bag.

He wore a neatly pressed shirt beneath his white medical coat. His expression was calm, and his movements were confident.

"This is Doctor Oliot. He's twenty-nine years old and will be responsible for monitoring your physical condition, conducting medical assessments, and ensuring that everyone remains fit throughout the season."

Oliot stepped forward.

"Good morning, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Doctor Oliot will be handling your medical examinations. I expect everyone to cooperate with him," the coach added.

"Understood, Coach," the players answered.

Oliot briefly scanned the room.

His gaze eventually stopped on Xyrus.

For a moment, their eyes met.

Xyrus raised an eyebrow before looking away.

"Your health should always come before competition," Oliot continued. "If you're experiencing pain, unusual fatigue, or any physical discomfort, report it immediately. Don't hide injuries just because you want to play."

One of the players raised his hand.

"Does that mean you'll stop us from playing whenever we get injured?"

"Only when continuing to play could put your health at greater risk."

The players exchanged amused looks.

Xyrus crossed his arms.

He wasn't particularly impressed by the introduction. He had worked with several medical professionals before, and he assumed Oliot would simply be another doctor performing routine examinations.

Still, something about the man's serious expression made him curious.

After the introduction, the medical assessments began.

Players entered the examination room individually while Oliot reviewed their medical histories and performed the necessary physical evaluations.

Xyrus waited outside with his teammates.

When his turn finally arrived, a staff member called his name.

"Xyrus, you're next."

He stood and entered the room.

Oliot was reviewing a document when he looked up.

"Good morning, Xyrus."

"Morning, Doctor."

"Please take a seat."

Xyrus sat on the examination bed while Oliot placed his tablet on the nearby counter.

"Before we begin, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your physical condition."

"Go ahead."

"Have you experienced any recent injuries?"

"Nothing serious."

"Any persistent pain during training?"

"Sometimes my shoulders feel sore after practice, but that's normal."

Oliot recorded his response.

"How about dizziness, unusual fatigue, or difficulty sleeping?"

Xyrus shook his head.

"Not really. I'm doing fine."

"Good. We'll conduct a physical examination to make sure everything is in order."

Oliot checked his blood pressure and heart rate before proceeding with the remaining routine assessments.

Xyrus cooperated, although he occasionally glanced at the clock.

He had training to finish, and he didn't particularly enjoy spending his morning answering medical questions.

However, he noticed something unusual.

Oliot seemed especially attentive whenever he examined his records.

"Is something wrong?" Xyrus eventually asked.

Oliot looked up.

"Why do you ask?"

"You keep looking at my records. Did you find something?"

"Nothing that requires immediate concern."

"Then why do you look so serious?"

Oliot paused before answering.

"I'm simply being thorough. Your health is part of my responsibility."

Xyrus studied him briefly.

"Well, I appreciate that, but I'm perfectly capable of telling you when something hurts."

"I certainly hope so."

There was something about Oliot's response that irritated him.

It wasn't particularly rude, but his tone carried an authority that Xyrus wasn't accustomed to.

"Are you always this serious, Doctor?"

"Only when it concerns my patients."

Xyrus shook his head.

"Well, this is going to be an interesting season."

For the first time, Oliot allowed himself a faint smile.

"That remains to be seen."

The examination eventually came to an end.

"Your initial physical assessment appears satisfactory," Oliot explained. "However, I'd like to monitor your recovery after intensive training."

"Is that really necessary?"

"It's part of my responsibility."

Xyrus sighed.

"Fine. Whatever you say, Doctor."

He stood and adjusted his shirt.

Before he could reach the door, Oliot called his name.

"Xyrus."

He turned around.

"Yes?"

"If you experience anything unusual physically, inform me immediately. Even if you think it's insignificant."

Xyrus frowned slightly.

"Why are you emphasizing that?"

"Because athletes sometimes ignore symptoms until their conditions become worse."

"I know how to take care of myself."

"I'm sure you do. But I need you to cooperate with me."

Xyrus held his gaze for a moment.

"All right. I'll keep that in mind."

He finally left the room.

When Xyrus returned to the locker room, one of his teammates immediately approached him.

"So? How was the new doctor?"

Xyrus opened his locker.

"Pretty ordinary."

"That's it?"

"He asked questions, checked my condition, and told me to report anything unusual."

His teammate laughed.

"Sounds like a doctor doing his job."

"Exactly. Nothing special."

Xyrus changed into his training clothes and headed toward the rink.

He wanted to concentrate on hockey rather than think about the strange interaction he had just experienced.

After all, he had a girlfriend waiting for him, a career to protect, and a future he was determined to build.

There was no reason to worry about a doctor he had only just met.

Meanwhile, Oliot remained inside his private office.

He reviewed the players' examination results, organizing their records before saving the documents.

When he reached Xyrus's file, his fingers stopped moving.

He studied the information carefully.

Then he opened a separate folder stored inside his locked drawer.

Unlike the ordinary medical records, these documents contained private notes that had no connection to the organization's routine assessments.

Oliot turned through several pages.

His expression remained composed, but his attention was unusually focused.

He looked toward the training rink through his office window.

Xyrus was practicing with his teammates, moving confidently across the ice.

Oliot watched him for several seconds before returning his attention to the documents.

"Everything seems normal so far," he murmured.

He placed the papers back inside the folder.

However, before closing the drawer, he noticed a document bearing Xyrus's name.

He picked it up and examined its contents.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Let's see how long it takes before something changes."

He placed the document beneath the other papers and locked the drawer.

Later that afternoon, Xyrus finished his training session and collected his belongings.

His phone vibrated inside his locker.

A message from Benny appeared on the screen.

Benny: Don't forget to take care of yourself. I love you!

Xyrus immediately smiled.

Xyrus: I will, beautiful. Love you too.

He put his phone away, feeling considerably better.

For him, everything was still falling into place.

His relationship with Benny was strong, his hockey career was progressing, and he had no reason to believe anything would threaten the future he had imagined.

But inside the medical office, Oliot was already looking through Xyrus's records again.

The doctor had completed his first official assessment.

Yet the questions surrounding his unusual interest in the young athlete remained unanswered.

And while Xyrus believed he had simply met another medical professional, Oliot knew that their first examination was only the beginning.

What exactly was hidden inside the documents bearing Xyrus's name, and why was the new doctor so determined to monitor him?