Chapter 6: The Fire Within

The morning sun had barely risen, but the school ground was already alive with movement. Flags flapped in the breeze. Students from different classes and sections were lined up, all dressed in crisp sports gear. The Annual Inter-House Tournament had officially begun.

Rivet stood amidst the crowd, his nerves on edge. Around him, students warmed up, laughed confidently, or bounced on their heels with nervous energy. He felt… small.

But determined.

This was the moment he had trained for. All the early mornings, all the sore muscles—this was it.

Opening Ceremony

A small stage was set near the school pavilion. The event was grand, yet tightly organized. The State Chief Minister and Khel Mantri had been invited as chief guests, underlining the tournament's importance. A few well-known athletes from the state were also present as special guests, drawing awe and excitement from the students.

The principal stepped forward to speak briefly.

"This tournament is more than just competition—it's about growth, spirit, and discovering your limits. Give it your best, and let your effort speak."

And with that, the opening ceremony ended. The crowd buzzed with energy. Some moments were being captured live and posted on the school's official social media page.

"Let's see how far I can go," Rivet thought.

Stage 1 – The First Test

A faculty organizer raised the mic.

"Stage 1 will test your core attributes. All 100 selected students will go through five tasks. Each challenge will give you points based on performance. Your total score will determine your rank. Top 50 will proceed to Stage 2."

The five tests are:

1. 100m Sprint – Speed Test

2. Max Pushups in 1 Minute – Strength

3. 3km Run with Checkpoints – Endurance

4. Balance Beam Walk – Focus & Coordination

5. Timed Puzzle Challenge – Mental Agility

Test 1: 100m Sprint

Rivet adjusted his position in Lane 7, trying to quiet the storm in his chest. He could hear his own breathing. The whistle blew.

"On your mark… Get set… GO!"

The track blurred. Rivet pushed with all he had, but it was like running through water. Three, four, five students zipped past him almost instantly. Their form, their power—it was on another level.

He gritted his teeth and pushed harder. He wouldn't give up now.

He crossed the finish line, barely ahead of a few others.

Result: Rank 49

Just made it.

Test 2: Max Pushups in 1 Minute

Rivet dropped to the ground. The instructor blew the whistle.

He started strong—sharp, quick pushups. But after 25, his arms began to tremble. By 35, his breath was shallow. By 45, he was shouting in his head just to finish.

"Time!"

He collapsed on the mat, chest heaving.

Pushups: 46 – Mid-range score

Not bad. Not great. But still fighting.

Test 3: 3km Run with Checkpoints

This was brutal.

The path circled the entire school campus, with water checkpoints every 500 meters. Rivet ran with controlled breathing, ignoring the people overtaking him. His goal was to finish steady—not burn out early.

By the second kilometer, his lungs screamed. His legs throbbed. Still, he pushed. One checkpoint at a time.

Result: 38th in endurance

A slight win. Enough to boost his spirit.

Test 4: Balance Beam Walk

The balance beam looked simple. But it wasn't.

It was narrow, slightly elevated, and the slightest breeze or distraction could ruin everything.

Rivet climbed up. Each step was deliberate. Careful. The audience's chatter faded into the background.

One foot. Another. Small wobble. Control it.

He reached the end.

Time: 28.9 seconds – Placed 50th

Cutting it too close.

Test 5: Timed Puzzle Challenge

Inside a quiet classroom, each participant sat before a tablet.

Three puzzles appeared.

1. Pattern recognition – solved in 30 seconds.

2. Maze logic – a bit tricky, but cleared.

3. Word puzzle – guessed the last answer.

Score: 2 out of 3 – Rank 43

Not flawless, but decent.

Final Moments of Stage 1

All participants assembled in the middle of the ground.

One by one, results began flashing on the large digital board set up near the audience area. Teachers clapped, some students looked disappointed, others celebrated in small groups.

"Only 50 of you will proceed to Stage 2. Your ranks have been calculated based on performance across all five tasks."

Keshav – Rank 9

Rivet – Rank 47

Rivet stared at the board, heart pounding.

He had made it.

Barely—but he was still in the game.

The Day Ends

The sun had begun to lower in the sky. Rivet walked away from the ground, exhausted. His body was sore. But his heart felt… alive.

He spotted Keshav near the refreshment area. Their eyes met. Keshav gave a tiny nod and a smirk.

"Tomorrow," Rivet whispered to himself, "I'll come back stronger."

The next stage would begin the following day.

But for now—he had survived.

To Be Continued…