Chapter 16: Gifts of Victory

The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains of Rivet's room, casting a golden hue over everything it touched. His eyes blinked open, still heavy with sleep, the voice from his dream echoing faintly in his mind:

"It has begun... Sharva."

He sat up in silence, the weight of that single sentence lingering in his chest like a whisper from fate. His body still felt the remnants of exhaustion—not just from the tournament, but from the celebration that followed. His parents, overjoyed by his victory, had taken him out for a small dinner party. It was the first time Rivet truly felt like a hero in their eyes.

As he got out of bed and began to ready himself for school, something clicked in his memory. The mystery box!

He had almost completely forgotten about it. After all the congratulations, photographs, the dinner, and the emotional high of winning, the box had sat quietly in the corner of his room, untouched.

Rivet walked over and picked it up.

It was sleek, matte black with his name engraved in golden letters—Rivet Karmanya: Annual Tournament Champion. A subtle chill of anticipation ran down his spine as he carefully opened the lid.

Inside lay three items:

1. Champion Badge

A deep metallic gold badge with black engraved letters that read: "Rivet Karmanya – Annual Tournament Champion"

The badge had a regal, elegant design — not flashy, but sharp and striking. A crownless symbol of victory. Rivet held it in his hand, admiring the weight. It wasn't just a prize. It was a symbol of everything he had fought for. He carefully pinned it onto his school blazer.

2. Book – "The Discipline of the Blade"

Bound in textured black with silver accents, the book radiated precision. As he flipped through it, Rivet found finely illustrated diagrams of martial art stances, endurance training, breathing techniques, and mental focus strategies. It wasn't just a manual. It was a roadmap for strength — for discipline.

Every page felt like it had been made for him. Like someone had known all along that this day would come. That he would need this.

3. Smart Fitness Tracker Watch

A lightweight yet premium "KINEX Elite Systems" — one of the most premium and futuristic health-tech brands in the country inside a velvet cushion. As Rivet wore it, the display lit up and scanned him instantly.

"Welcome, Rivet. Initializing personal stats."

It displayed his heartbeat, oxygen levels, breathing rhythm, hydration, and more. The AI had a calm motivational voice. At the bottom of the screen blinked a prompt:

"Would you like to begin Training Mode?"

In that moment, Rivet smiled, Rivet could barely believe it. These watches were expensive—something he could never imagine affording. He hadn't just won a trophy—he had been given the tools to become something greater.

Later at School…

Rivet stepped onto campus, blazer straightened, the Champion badge gleaming under the sunlight. As he walked toward class, he heard a familiar voice.

"Well damn, you make that badge look royal," Keshav said, smirking as he approached from behind.

Rivet chuckled, glancing at his friend's chest. "Yours looks pretty good too. Tactical Strategist, huh?"

Keshav wore a sleek silver badge with bold lettering: "Keshav Kumar – Tactical Strategist (Runner-up)"

"Yeah," Keshav shrugged. "Guess they know I've got a big brain."

Rivet laughed. "And a big mouth."

Keshav playfully punched his arm. Then he unzipped his bag and k out a book.

"By the way… look what I got in my mystery box."

Rivet's eyes widened as he saw the title embossed in chrome: "The Discipline of the Blade – Advanced Strategist Edition"

Flipping through the pages, Rivet saw advanced martial art techniques, mental conditioning exercises, and multi-opponent combat scenarios.

"This is… way beyond mine," Rivet muttered.

Keshav nodded. "And guess what? Veer's version is even more intense. Fighter's Edition. Raw and brutal."

"What?" Rivet looked toward the back corner of the class, where Veer sat quietly. His badge read: "Veer Malhotra – Fearless Warrior (Second Runner-up)" — deep red metal with bold black text.

His fitness watch band was red-black, perfectly matching his intense aura. Unlike before, Veer wasn't talking. His eyes were focused, burning silently.

"He hasn't been the same since the finals," Keshav whispered. "Feels like he's sharpening something inside."

"Yeah," Rivet said softly. "Like a wounded lion. Waiting to strike."

They both turned to look at him. And for a second, Rivet felt it — that even though the tournament had ended, something far more serious had just begun.