The ground still buzzed with energy. Team 10 stood victorious, sweat glistening on their faces, breaths heavy, hearts pounding.
"All candidates, please take a short rest. Refreshments and supplements are available at the counters. The results will be announced shortly."
The ground slowly emptied as students moved toward the shaded rest areas. Rivet, Keshav, and the others grabbed some energy drinks and sat down on the benches, the adrenaline slowly wearing off.
Shrishti, Tanya, Nakul, and Arnav gathered around Rivet.
"Seriously, Rivet, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have made it through," Shrishti said, sincerity clear in her voice.
"Yeah, man," Arnav nodded, ruffling Rivet's hair. "You basically carried us through that tile challenge and the flag defense."
Tanya just smiled, saying, "You kept your cool when we all panicked."
Rivet shook his head, smiling softly.
"It wasn't just me," he said. "We all made it because we trusted each other. That's what mattered."
Everyone sat quietly for a moment, soaking in the weight of what they had achieved.
After a few minutes, Keshav leaned closer to Rivet.
"So… tell me about your family?"
Rivet glanced up at the sky, thoughtful.
"Papa, Mummy, and my little sister… she's just six years old," he said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Papa works in a factory, and Mummy's a housewife. They've always supported me, even when things weren't easy."
Keshav listened silently, his expression unreadable.
"And you?" Rivet asked, genuinely curious.
For a moment, Keshav didn't respond. His gaze dropped to the ground.
Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "I don't have parents."
Rivet froze.
"What… what do you mean?" he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
Keshav smiled faintly, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I had a brother. Still do. He's older. He works, takes care of everything. But… my parents are gone."
Rivet's heart clenched.
"I'm… I'm sorry," he said softly.
Keshav just shrugged, as if it was something he had long accepted. But Rivet could feel the weight behind that casual gesture.
Inwardly, Rivet thought,
"How much he must have gone through… and yet, he stands so strong."
Before he could say anything more, the loudspeakers blared to life again:
"All candidates, please assemble in the main hall. The Stage 2 results are about to be announced."
The energy shifted immediately. Nervousness. Anticipation.
Rivet stood, exchanging a determined glance with Keshav, and together they walked toward the hall.
In the Main Hall
Hundreds of students filled the giant auditorium, buzzing with whispers. Teachers and tournament officials stood on the elevated platform at the front, papers and screens ready.
The Principal stepped up to the mic.
"Stage 2 has officially concluded. We have witnessed exceptional teamwork, intelligence, and courage. Now, it's time to announce the Top 20 qualifiers who will proceed to Stage 3: The Shaurya Gauntlet."
The room fell silent.
A giant screen behind the Principal lit up, revealing the leaderboard:
Top 20 Qualifiers for Stage 3
1. Keshav Kumar — Exceptional leadership, quick strategic planning, and strong individual performance.
2. Rivet Sharma — Brilliant crisis management and critical thinking under pressure; minor delay during Tile Challenge kept him from Rank 1.
3. Arnav Bhagat — Consistent physical prowess and sharp reflexes in 1v1 duels.
4. Tanya Singh — Excellent teamwork and puzzle-solving instincts.
5. Shrishti Mehra — Fearless initiative and fast adaptation during team challenges.
6. Dhruv Kapoor — Sharp analytical mind and endurance.
7. Riyan Das — Outstanding agility and mental stamina.
8. Priya Mehra — Calm under pressure; key assists during Capture the Flag.
9. Radhika Bansal — Quick decision-making and effective defense.
10. Aditya Pratap — Strong physical feats and tactical awareness.
11. Ishita Verma — Creative problem-solving and consistent spirit.
12. Kabir Sethi — Tactical mind and impressive resilience.
13. Nikhil Bansal — Sharp memory and good physical balance.
14. Veer Malhotra — Despite poor team cohesion, individual performance was strong enough to qualify.
15. Parth Sharma — Strong focus during critical missions.
16. Mehul Singh — Impressive last-minute saves for his team.
17. Ananya Deshmukh — High agility and excellent spatial awareness.
18. Nehu Chauhan — Cool temperament and solid teamwork support.
19. Saanvi Rajput — Steady perseverance and sharp instincts.
20. Nakul Verma — Surprising clutch move during final seconds, pulling his team through.
The hall erupted with cheers, claps, and some disappointed sighs.
Rivet smiled as he saw his name on the screen — second.
He glanced at Keshav, who stood quietly beside him, first on the list, but without a trace of arrogance.
"He deserves it," Rivet thought with pride.
As Rivet scanned the leaderboard, his eyes paused on a familiar name—Nakul Verma.
In a quiet corner of the hall, Nakul stood still, his shoulders slightly hunched, and his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Rivet walked over to him.
"Nakul..." he said softly.
Nakul quickly wiped his eyes, trying to hide the emotion that betrayed his usual cheerful self.
"Bro... I honestly thought I wouldn't make it," Nakul said, his voice trembling just a little.
"When it came down to the last chance... I just told myself — it's now or never."
Rivet placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"You deserve it, Nakul," Rivet said with a warm, proud smile.
"That final push you gave... it changed everything."
Nakul managed a small, shy smile, but there was no hiding the raw emotion shining in his eyes.
The boy who always joked and laughed was today standing silently, proud of the fight he had put up.
And in that moment, Rivet thought to himself—
"Sometimes, a single moment of courage can rewrite your whole story."
And then, his gaze drifted to Veer Malhotra, standing stiffly with his hands clenched.
Veer had qualified… but just barely.
His individual skill had carried him through, even if his team had crumbled.
"Some battles," Rivet mused, "are fought alone too."
The Principal spoke again:
"Congratulations to the Top 20. Prepare yourselves — the Final Stage, the Shaurya Gauntlet, will test not just your strength, but your soul."
The students exchanged glances, some nervous, some determined.
The battle… was far from over.
After the announcement, the candidates slowly dispersed.
Some walked away with wide smiles, others with heavy hearts.
Rivet stood silently for a moment, watching them all — a soft sadness brushing his chest.
But then he reminded himself: he had made it.
He, too, had fought, endured, and today… he had won something for himself.
The evening sky stretched out in soft hues as everyone began heading home.
Tomorrow, a new stage would await them.
Rivet returned home late, tired but proud.
As soon as he stepped inside, his little sister came running and threw her arms around him, her face glowing with pure happiness.
His mother pulled him into a warm hug, tears brimming in her eyes, while his father placed a firm hand on his shoulder, pride shining on his face.
"You made us proud, son," his father said, voice thick with emotion.
And for the first time in a long while, Rivet allowed himself a true, unburdened smile.
Tonight, he was not just a fighter.
He was a son, a brother — and above all, someone who was beginning to believe in himself.
To be continued…