Rivet sat quietly near the benches, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze distant. Around him, Team 10 chatted tiredly, still buzzing from their victory in the maze trial. But Rivet... he was lost in thought.
The faint warmth in his palm had finally faded, yet the questions remained.
A shadow fell across him.
It was Keshav.
"You were incredible today," Keshav said, a rare grin on his face. "I always knew you were tough, but... I didn't know you were this intelligent."
Rivet looked up, a little embarrassed. "It's not like that," he said quietly. "I just... understood the situation somehow. It felt familiar."
Keshav narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing more. He simply gave a knowing nod.
Before Rivet could say anything else, a loud chime echoed across the grounds.
DING—DONG!
An announcement blared through the speakers:
"All candidates, report immediately to the main training ground with your teams. Round 3 is about to commence."
The energy shifted instantly. Everyone stood up, nerves crackling in the air. Rivet and his team exchanged glances and hurried toward the ground.
The Ground
A vast open field stretched before them, littered with broken walls, tall grass patches, and wooden watchtowers. The entire area was marked into four zones, and at the center of each team's base—a single, shining flag.
The teacher overseeing the tournament stepped forward, voice booming:
"Welcome to Round 3 — Capture the Flag.
Your mission is simple:
— Defend your own flag.
— Steal others' flags.
— A team wins by holding two flags at the same time.
But beware... direct fighting is allowed—up to a limit. No serious harm."
A murmur ran through the students.
The teacher continued, his voice dropping slightly:
"Remember, strategy beats strength. Trust your instincts... and your team."
He smiled cryptically, then blew the whistle.
The battle had begun.
Chaos Unleashed
Rivet's heart pounded as Team 10 sprinted toward their base.
Tanya barked quick orders, Arnav scouted the perimeter, Shrishti kept a lookout. But it was Rivet who naturally started guiding them, pointing out blind spots, setting defensive positions.
"We can't just defend," Rivet said sharply. "We need to strike first."
He divided the team—two on defense, two on offense.
They moved.
Through tall grasses and broken pillars, Rivet led Tanya toward the nearest enemy flag—Team 7's.
Shrishti and Arnav stayed back to guard.
The First Clash
They almost reached Team 7's flag when a group ambushed them.
Boys from Team 7—taller, stronger, snarling like wolves.
"Hand over your flag, little genius," one sneered at Rivet.
Tanya glanced at Rivet. "Now what?"
Rivet smiled slightly. "Now... we dance."
They dodged and weaved. Tanya tackled one down, while Rivet used speed and positioning, not brute force. He ducked low, grabbed the flag, and sprinted back through the chaos.
Alarms blared.
Team 10 has captured Team 7's flag!
But trouble wasn't over.
From the far side, Veer's team—Team 5—came storming, aiming straight for Rivet's home base.
The Final Stand
Shrishti and Arnav fought bravely but were overwhelmed. Veer's boys tore toward the flag.
Rivet saw it happen from across the field—too far to stop them.
And then
Keshav moved.
Though he wasn't officially part of Team 10, Keshav intercepted Veer's team like a wall.
One after another, he disarmed them with stunning speed—blocking, redirecting, not hurting them but making sure they never touched Rivet's flag.
Veer charged at Keshav, roaring with rage.
"You think you can stop me alone?!"
Keshav's eyes flashed. "Alone? I'm not alone."
With perfect timing, Rivet arrived.
Together, they forced Veer's team back.
The Last Seconds
Rivet panted hard, feeling his strength drain.
Team 10 now held their own flag and Team 7's—but they were barely standing.
Tanya had a twisted ankle. Shrishti was bruised. Even Keshav looked tired.
And now, another team—Team 4—was making a final desperate charge.
"Protect the flag!" Tanya shouted.
Rivet wiped the sweat from his forehead.
No.
They had come too far to lose now.
Something inside him blazed.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Resolve.
He shouted, "Everyone behind me!"
As Team 4 closed in, Rivet led the defense personally, taking hits, blocking, dragging them back inch by inch.
The final horn blared
BRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Round 3 Over!
Winner: Team 10!
Aftermath
The field fell into stunned silence.
Students gaped at Rivet and his battered team.
Some clapped. Some whispered.
Even the teachers exchanged glances of approval.
Keshav walked up to Rivet and bumped shoulders with him, smirking.
"You're a stubborn one," he said.
"You're one to talk," Rivet shot back, grinning for the first time that day.
But deep inside... he knew.
This was only the beginning.
The trials outside were nothing compared to the storm rising within him.
To be continued…