Sinha Imperial Grand Hotel

The Delhi skyline glowed under the evening lights.

The penthouse was finally quiet.

Their luggage had been unpacked.

The business calls had ended.

For the first time since landing...

The three childhood best friends had absolutely nothing to do.

Which, naturally...

Meant it was time for gossip.

Kaveri flopped dramatically onto the sofa.

"I'm officially done with work for the day."

Aarvi placed three mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table.

"And now?"

Kaveri's eyes sparkled.

"Now we fangirl."

Vedhathvika looked up from the sketches she was reviewing.

"...Seriously?"

"Very seriously."

Aarvi laughed.

"Poor Orion."

"They don't even know what's coming."

---

Kaveri picked up a cushion and hugged it dramatically.

"Yaar, sach bataun... Night ko live dekhne ka hi alag maza hai!"

(Honestly, there's something completely different about seeing Night in person!)

She continued excitedly,

"TV pe handsome lagta hai... lekin real life mein toh aur bhi zyada!"

(He looks handsome on television... but in real life, he's even more handsome!)

Aarvi immediately agreed.

"Bilkul! Camera usko poora justice hi nahi deta."

(Exactly! The camera doesn't even do him justice.)

Kaveri pointed a finger dramatically.

"His height..."

"That confidence..."

"And when he's completely focused during a match..."

She placed a hand over her heart.

"Uff... woh serious expression! Bas dekhte hi reh jao."

(Oh... that serious expression! You just can't stop looking at him.)

Vedhathvika couldn't help smiling.

"You two are unbelievable."

---

Kaveri wasn't done yet.

"And then..."

"He smiles."

She dramatically pretended to faint.

"Bas... uske baad toh aadhi audience match nahi, Night ko dekhti hai."

(That's it... after that, half the audience stops watching the match and starts watching Night instead.)

The room burst into laughter.

Vedhathvika shook her head.

"You're the official host."

"You shouldn't be saying things like that."

Kaveri grinned shamelessly.

"Host hoon."

"And fan bhi."

(I'm a host... and I'm also a fan.)

---

Aarvi joined in.

"Waise..."

"It's not just Night."

"The whole Orion team has their own charm."

She counted on her fingers.

"Astra..."

"The calm senior everyone automatically trusts."

"Inferno..."

"The walking comedy show."

"Echo..."

"The team's emotional support system."

"And Storm..."

The quiet one who suddenly becomes a monster inside the game."

Kaveri laughed.

"Honestly..."

"If someone watched them without knowing esports..."

"They'd think they're a group of best friends who accidentally became champions."

Vedhathvika quietly stirred her drink.

"They are."

Both girls looked at her.

She smiled softly.

"I've played with them."

"They never blame each other."

"Even when things go wrong."

"They keep communicating."

"They're... comfortable with each other."

Aarvi noticed the respect in her voice.

"So you've been observing them quite carefully."

Vedhathvika immediately corrected,

"As players."

"As teammates."

"Nothing else."

Kaveri exchanged a knowing look with Aarvi. Tickling Vedhathvika they chimed.

"Of course.Purely professional."

The three of them laughed.

---

Kaveri suddenly sat upright.

"Oh!"

"I forgot to tell you something."

"What?" Vedhathvika asked.

"I've interviewed Orion four times. And every single interview becomes memorable."

Aarvi smiled.

"Tell us."

Kaveri nodded enthusiastically.

"The first time..."

"I expected them to act like celebrities."

"You know..."

"Short answers."

"Too much attitude."

She laughed.

"I was completely wrong."

---

She pointed toward an imaginary stage.

"The cameras had just gone live."

"I welcomed everyone."

"Everything was perfectly professional."

"Then during the commercial break..."

Kunal looked at me and asked..."

She tried imitating his voice.

'Host ji... break ke baad samose milenge kya?"

(Host... are we getting samosas after the break?)

Vedhathvika burst into laughter.

"He actually said that?"

Kaveri nodded.

"Completely seriously!"

"The production crew couldn't stop laughing."

"And somehow..."

"The audience loved him even more."

---

"And Night?"

Vedhathvika asked almost absent-mindedly.

Kaveri noticed the question but answered normally.

"He's very different."

"When the cameras are rolling..."

"He speaks only when necessary."

"But whenever he answers..."

"Everyone listens."

"He never talks over his teammates."

"He always gives them credit."

"If someone praises him..."

"He immediately says,"

"'It was Orion's victory, not mine.'"

A small smile appeared on Vedhathvika's face. "

That sounds exactly like his gameplay."

"What do you mean?"

Aarvi asked.

"He doesn't play to become the hero."

"He plays so that everyone else can perform better."

There was genuine admiration in her voice.

Kaveri smiled knowingly.

"I think you'll like meeting him."

Vedhathvika looked out the window.

"Maybe."

---

Kaveri suddenly clapped her hands excitedly.

"By the way..."

"Tomorrow is going to be so much fun!"

"Why?"

Aarvi asked.

She stood proudly and gave an imaginary bow.

"Kal main Spring Season Finals ki official stage host hoon!"

(Tomorrow, I'm the official stage host for the Spring Season Finals!)

She spun around dramatically.

"Aur sabse pehle main hi Orion ko stage par welcome karungi!"

(And I'll be the very first person to welcome Orion onto the stage!)

Aarvi applauded dramatically.

"Our celebrity host."

Kaveri grinned.

"I've hosted many tournaments..."

"But whenever Orion plays..."

"The energy inside the arena is completely different."

She looked toward Vedhathvika.

"And tomorrow... You'll finally see them."

"Not through livestreams."

"Not through ranked matches."

"But live."

Vedhathvika smiled faintly.

Tomorrow...

She would finally meet the team she'd only known through voices, strategies, and a shared battlefield.

What she didn't know...

Was that one member of that team had already met her.

Not through introductions.

Not through names.

But through a single unforgettable moment...

When two strangers had collided in a hotel lobby, and for a few silent seconds...

Their eyes had spoken more than words ever could.

------

Production crews hurried across the venue.

LED screens illuminated one after another.

Commentators rehearsed their opening lines.

Security tightened around every entrance.

Outside...

Thousands of fans had already begun gathering, carrying banners of their favorite teams.

Some wore Orion jerseys.

Some proudly displayed the black-and-red colors of Glazed.

Today wasn't just another tournament.

It was the Spring Season Finals.

The championship that every professional player dreamed of lifting.

---

Luxury vehicles began arriving one after another.

Each team's entrance was welcomed by roaring cheers.

Camera flashes lit up the entrance gates continuously.

Then...

A sleek black SUV slowly rolled to a stop.

The crowd instantly erupted.

"GLAZE!"

"AGNI!"

"TEAM GLAZE!"

The rear door opened.

A tall young man stepped out.

Jet-black hair neatly styled.

Sharp jawline.

Broad shoulders.

Confident posture.

His expression remained calm, carrying the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to standing under the spotlight.

This was...

Advik Raj singh.

Twenty-six years old.

Captain of Team Glazed.

One of the country's finest Mid Laners.

His in-game identity-

Agni.

A player feared for his explosive mechanics and aggressive playstyle.

If Orion was known for discipline and near-perfect coordination...

Glaze was known for overwhelming aggression.

And Agni was the fire that led them.

---

Steppingout behind him came the remaining members of Team Glaze.

Raghav Menon. Age twenty-five. Stage Name-Vortex. Jungler.

Known for fearless jungle invasions and unpredictable strategies.

Kabir Rathore. Age twenty-four. Stage Name-Hawk. Gold Laner.

Possessing extraordinary positioning and incredible late-game precision.

Nihal Deshmukh. Age twenty-six. Stage Name-Shield. Roamer.

The defensive pillar of Team Glaze.

Calm under pressure and impossible to shake.

Finally...

The last player closed the car door behind him.

Yuvraj Sethi. Age twenty-four. Stage Name-Pulse. Support.

The silent strategist whose vision control and perfectly timed saves had rescued Glaze countless times.

Together...

They had reached almost every national final over the past four years.

And almost every time...

Their final obstacle had been only one team.

Orion.

The rivalry between Orion and Glaze had become legendary.

Fans called it...

"The Clash of Ice and Fire."

Orion's patience against Glaze's aggression.

Night against Agni.

Every encounter became an instant classic.

---

"Agni!"

A young fan called excitedly from behind the barricade.

"One picture, please!"

Advik stopped walking.

His serious expression softened into a polite smile.

"Of course."

He patiently greeted several fans before handing back a little boy's team jersey after signing it.

"Practice hard."

"You'll stand here one day too."

The child's eyes sparkled.

"I will!"

Advik smiled faintly before continuing toward the arena.

To everyone watching...

He appeared exactly as he always had.

Confident.

Focused.

Unshaken.

The perfect captain.

But beneath that composed exterior...

A part of him still carried wounds no championship had ever healed.

Three years.

Three years had passed.

Yet sometimes...

A familiar melody drifting through his house...

A particular shade of yellow...

Or a simple fragrance...

Could still pull him back into memories he had buried.

There had once been a girl.

A girl who had believed she would spend her entire life beside him.

A girl who had carried dreams far bigger than herself...

Yet had quietly sacrificed them for everyone around her.

He had loved her.

Truly.

And losing her...

Had been the greatest defeat of his life.

He slowly clenched his fist before slipping both hands into his jacket pockets.

"The past should remain where it belongs."

"Today's battle is on the stage."

He pushed every memory aside.

Once he crossed those arena doors...

He wasn't Advik Raj singh.

He was...

Agni.

Captain of Team Glaze.

A man with only one objective.

To defeat Orion.

---

Meanwhile...

Inside the luxurious penthouse of the Sinha Imperial Grand Hotel...

Vedhathvika stood before her dressing mirror, fastening the delicate earrings Aarvi had insisted she wear.

Completely unaware...

That the man who had once been her fiancé...

The man she had once imagined growing old with...

Had arrived in the same city.

Under the same tournament.

Only a few hundred meters away.

Destiny had brought them together once again.

Not as lovers.

Not as promised partners.

But as opponents walking toward the same battlefield...

Each carrying a past the other had never truly forgotten.

------

The lobby of the Sinha Imperial Grand Hotel was much calmer than it had been the previous evening.

The tightened security arrangements were working perfectly.

Near the entrance, Arush stood waiting with a folder in one hand and three VIP access cards in the other.

As soon as Vedhathvika, Aarvi, and Kaveri stepped out of the private elevator, he greeted them with a warm smile.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Mr. Arush," Vedhathvika replied.

Kaveri, already dressed in her official host attire, smiled brightly.

"Ready for the madness?"

Arush chuckled.

"I don't think any of us are."

---

He handed over the passes.

"These are your VIP credentials."

"One for Ms. Vedhathvika."

"One for Ms. Aarvi."

"And Ms. Kaveri here is your pass I had collected it from the organisers."

Kaveri looked at hers proudly.

"So official."

Arush nodded.

"You'll be entering through different gates."

"Ms. Kaveri, the organizers have requested your presence early for rehearsals."

She nodded.

"I'll leave in a few minutes."

---

Vedhathvika looked down at her pass.

Her eyes moved to the match schedule printed beneath it.

Spring Season Finals

Orion

vs

Glaze

For a brief moment...

Everything around her became silent.

Glaze.

Her gaze lingered on the name.

She didn't need anyone to tell her who captained that team.

She already knew.

Advik Raj singh.

Agni.

Three years ago...

That name would have shaken her world.

Today...

It simply existed.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

She quietly closed the pass holder.

No expression crossed her face.

No sadness.

No hesitation.

The past had once broken her.

But it no longer controlled her.

Arush noticed the slight pause.

He wondered if the team names had surprised her.

Before he could ask anything...

Vedhathvika smiled politely.

"So that's today's fixture."

"Yes."

"The biggest rivalry in Indian esports."

She nodded once.

"I'm looking forward to watching it."

There wasn't the slightest crack in her voice.

Whatever history she had with that name...

She had already buried it.

---

Arush glanced toward the entrance.

"Our team bus is outside."

"If you'd like..."

"You and your friends are welcome to ride with Orion to the arena."

"It'll save time."

Before Aarvi or Kaveri could answer...

Vedhathvika smiled gently.

"Thank you. It's a thoughtful offer. But..."

She shook her head.

"I'll decline."

Arush looked slightly puzzled.

She explained calmly.

"I'm not a member of Orion. Not yet. The jersey isn't mine. The team isn't mine. And neither is that bus."

She smiled faintly.

"The day I officially become part of Orion... I'll board it with pride. But until then... I'd rather arrive as an ordinary guest."

Arush couldn't help but admire her answer.

There was dignity in it.

Respect.

Without trying to claim privileges she hadn't yet earned.

He nodded.

"I understand and I respect that."

---

Just then...

A member of the organizing committee hurried toward them.

"Ms. Kaveri? We're ready for your stage rehearsal."

Kaveri sighed dramatically.

"Duty calls."

She looked at Vedhathvika.

"I'll see you both inside."

Aarvi hugged her.

"Go make the audience fall in love with your hosting."

Kaveri grinned.

"I always do."

She waved at Arush.

"See you at the arena."

With that...

She walked away alongside the organizers.

---

Arush checked the time.

"I should leave as well."

"The team must already be waiting."

He looked toward Vedhathvika.

"I'll see you inside the VIP lounge."

She nodded.

"See you there."

Arush walked toward Orion's team bus, leaving the two friends behind.

---

A few minutes later...

Aarvi unlocked the car.

The two settled inside.

As soon as the doors closed...

The silence lasted exactly five seconds.

Then Aarvi looked sideways at Vedhathvika with a mischievous grin.

"Ek baat poochun?"

(Can I ask you something?)

Vedhathvika smiled knowingly.

"You've already decided you're going to."

Aarvi laughed.

"Tujhe nahi lagta Orion ki strategy thodi dangerous hai?"

(Don't you think Orion's strategy is a little dangerous?)

Vedhathvika raised an eyebrow.

"What strategy?"

Aarvi started the engine.

Still grinning.

"Soch na... finals mein saamne Advik ki team hai... aur idhar woh tujhe Delhi bula lete hain. Kahin yeh unki secret strategy toh nahi?"

(Think about it... the finals are against Advik's team... and they invite you to Delhi. What if this is Orion's secret strategy?)

Vedhathvika looked confused.

"What secret strategy?"

Aarvi burst into laughter.

"Simple! Advik tujhe dekhte hi emotional ho gaya... game pe focus hi nahi kar paya... aur Orion seedha trophy le gaya!"

(Simple! Advik sees you, gets emotional, loses focus on the game... and Orion walks away with the trophy!)

For two full seconds...

Vedhathvika simply stared at her.

Then she sighed.

"Aarvi..."

"Hmm?"

"Tum stage par Model banna... military strategist mat banna."

(Please just be the Model on Stage... not a military strategist.)

Aarvi laughed so hard that she had to stop the car before pulling out.

"Arre, possibility toh hai!"

(Hey, it's still a possibility!)

Vedhathvika shook her head, trying not to smile.

"Meri life koi psychological warfare ka project nahi hai."

(My life isn't some psychological warfare project.)

She looked out of the window as the car finally pulled onto the road.

Her voice became quieter.

"And besides..."

"If Advik is the player people say he is..."

"He won't lose his focus because of me."

Aarvi glanced at her for a moment.

There was no bitterness in Vedhathvika's voice.

No lingering affection.

Only quiet acceptance.

She had truly let go of her past.

Now...

There was only one thing she wanted to see.

Not Advik.

Not Glaze.

But the team called Orion...

The team that might soon become her new beginning.

-------

After parking the car in the VIP parking area...

Vedhathvika and Aarvi made their way toward Gate 6, the exclusive entrance leading to the front-row seating reserved for special guests.

Unlike the public entrance...

Security here was much calmer.

Most of the guests wore masks.

Some wished to enjoy the tournament without being recognized.

Some were celebrities.

Some were business delegates.

Others were simply private individuals who preferred anonymity.

For the first time in years...

Vedhathvika didn't feel out of place wearing hers.

She adjusted the white mask comfortably before walking ahead.

Today's outfit was simple, elegant, and youthful.

A soft pink mini dress.

Delicate metallic rhinestone straps shimmered under the afternoon sunlight.

White knee-high boots added a confident touch.

A small white shoulder purse rested neatly against her side.

Her long dark wavy hair flowed freely down her back.

She looked effortlessly graceful...

Cute enough to blend in with the excited crowd...

Yet carrying the quiet confidence of a corporate executive.

Beside her...

Aarvi wore a powder-blue co-ord set with white sneakers, her cheerful personality evident in every step.

---

As they entered the seating concourse...

The energy instantly hit them.

Thousands of voices echoed through the arena.

Girls around their age laughed excitedly while adjusting their team merchandise.

Some wore Orion jerseys.

Others proudly represented Glaze.

Some had painted tiny team logos on their cheeks.

Many carried glowing light bracelets.

Others waved colorful pom-poms.

Foam cheering sticks clapped rhythmically together.

Handmade banners filled the air.

One banner read-

"Night, Lead Us Again!"

Another proudly declared-

"Agni Never Backs Down!"

The excitement was infectious.

Every face radiated anticipation.

Vedhathvika smiled unconsciously.

"This..."

She whispered.

"...is beautiful."

Aarvi nodded.

"It really is."

---

As they continued walking...

A loud laugh came from a nearby group of college-aged boys.

One of them glanced toward the cheering girls and smirked.

"Seriously..."

"They're acting like they've come to a concert."

Another laughed.

"I bet half of them don't even know the game's rules."

"Exactly."

"They're just here because the players are handsome."

"Ask them one game strategy..."

"They'll probably faint."

The boys burst into laughter.

Several nearby girls lowered their eyes uncomfortably.

Some pretended not to hear.

Others quietly walked away.

Vedhathvika stopped walking.

Aarvi immediately recognized that expression.

Someone was about to receive a lesson.

---

Vedhathvika calmly turned toward the boys.

Her voice remained polite.

"Excuse me."

The boys looked at her.

One shrugged casually.

"Yeah?"

She stepped a little closer.

"So..."

"You've already decided why every girl here came?"

One of them laughed.

"We're just telling the truth."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Really?"

"Then answer something for me."

"If they're here only because the players are handsome..."

"Why are you here?"

The smile on the boy's face disappeared.

---

Vedhathvika continued calmly,

"Do you know every strategy used in professional esports?"

"Can you execute every rotation perfectly?"

"Can you compete at a national level?"

Silence.

She smiled faintly.

"I didn't think so."

She folded her arms.

"Kamzor players aksar apni skills se nahi... apni zubaan se doosron ko neecha dikhane ki koshish karte hain."

(Weak players often don't rely on their skills-they try to bring others down with their words.)

The surrounding crowd had quietly begun listening.

Even a few security guards paused.

---

One of the boys muttered,

"But girls don't really-"

Before he could finish...

Vedhathvika interrupted him.

Her voice remained composed, but every word carried quiet strength.

"Jab Vidya, Lakshmi aur Shakti... teeno Deviyaan hain..."

(When Knowledge, Prosperity, and Strength are all represented by goddesses...)

She took another step forward.

"...toh tum ladkon ko kis baat ka ghamand hai?"

(...then what exactly are you boys so proud of?)

The corridor fell completely silent.

She continued,

"Banna hi hai... toh Dev bano."

(If you truly want to become powerful... then become worthy like the gods.)

"Danav kyun ban rahe ho... sirf apni taakat ka dhauns jamaane ke liye?"

(Why choose to behave like demons, using your strength only to intimidate others?)

No one spoke.

Her voice had never risen.

Yet every sentence landed with unmistakable weight.

---

She looked around at the girls filling the arena.

"Some of them may be beginners."

"Some may know every detail of the game."

"Some came because they love esports."

"Some came because they admire a player."

"And all of those reasons are valid."

She smiled gently.

"People don't have to earn permission to enjoy something."

"They're already welcome."

The boys lowered their heads.

The one who had spoken first rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"We....we're sorry."

"We didn't think before speaking."

Vedhathvika nodded.

"I believe you."

"Then let today be the last time you judge someone's passion because of their gender."

The boys apologized once more before quietly walking away.

For a moment...

The girls standing nearby simply stared at her.

Then one of them smiled.

Another softly clapped.

Soon...

Several others joined in.

Not loudly.

Not to create a scene.

Just enough to show their appreciation.

Vedhathvika smiled awkwardly beneath her mask.

She hadn't spoken for applause.

She had simply spoken because staying silent hadn't felt right.

Aarvi slipped her arm through Vedhathvika's and whispered with a grin,

"Madam Executive Director... aaj toh bina stage ke hi speech de di."

(Madam Executive Director... today you gave a speech without even stepping onto a stage.)

Vedhathvika sighed dramatically.

"I was only answering a question."

Aarvi laughed.

"Trust me..."

"They'll remember that answer for a very long time."

Together...

The two friends continued toward their front-row seats...

Completely unaware that, somewhere inside the arena, Team Orion was preparing to step onto the stage for the biggest match of the season.

------

The roar inside the arena grew louder with every passing minute.

The countdown timer on the massive LED screen displayed-

15:00

Fifteen minutes until the Spring Season Finals.

Vedhathvika and Aarvi settled into their front-row VIP seats, offering a perfect view of the grand stage.

From here...

Every player.

Every expression.

Every moment...

Would be visible.

---

A few moments later...

A hesitant voice interrupted them.

"Um... excuse me?"

Vedhathvika turned around.

Standing beside her were the same eight girls she had defended outside the arena.

They looked to be between eighteen and twenty-three years old.

Each wore different jerseys.

Some supported Orion.

Some supported Glaze.

One even wore another team's jacket entirely.

Yet all of them shared the same expression.

Gratitude.

The youngest among them stepped forward nervously.

"D-Didi... Mera naam Kavya hai" (Big sis... my name is kavya.(

"We just wanted to say..."

"Thank you."

Vedhathvika smiled gently.

"For what?"

Another girl's eyes became watery.

"No one has ever spoken up for us like that."

She held her cheering banner tightly.

"People always call us crazy fangirls."

"They assume we don't understand the game."

"They think we're only here because the players look good."

A third girl laughed softly through her tears.

"Honestly..."

"Some of us know the game better than the boys who tease us."

The entire group laughed.

Vedhathvika smiled.

"I never doubted that."

One of the girls spoke again.

"You made us feel..."

"...seen."

"Not judged."

"But respected."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"As fans."

Vedhathvika's expression softened.

"Every industry survives because people love it."

"Sports."

"Music."

"Cinema."

"Esports."

"The audience is never 'just' an audience. Also the lack of presence of a female esports player is also a reason these petty ones tease  girls who are involved in esports."

"They're the reason the stage exists."

The girls looked at each other.

One of them quietly wiped away a tear.

Another suddenly hugged Vedhathvika.

The others immediately apologized.

"I'm so sorry!"

"I didn't ask before hugging you."

Vedhathvika laughed softly.

"It's alright."

She returned the hug warmly.

"I'm glad you did."

Soon...

The other girls joined in for a quick group hug.

Aarvi watched the scene with a smile.

"No matter where she goes..."

"She somehow ends up protecting people."

---

One of the girls looked at Vedhathvika curiously.

"Will you cheer for Orion?"

Vedhathvika thought for a second.

Then smiled.

"I'll cheer for good esports."

The answer made every one of them laugh.

"We'll remember that."

The girls returned to their seats...

This time smiling far more brightly than before.

---

The arena lights suddenly dimmed.

A deep bass note echoed across the stadium.

The enormous LED screens came alive.

The countdown reached-

00:30

The audience erupted.

Thousands of light sticks illuminated the darkness like a sea of stars.

Smoke cannons released white clouds around the stage.

Spotlight swept across the arena.

The opening cinematic began.

---

A powerful voice echoed through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"Welcome..."

"...to the National Spring Season Finals!"

The stadium exploded with cheers.

---

From the center of the stage...

A familiar figure walked confidently into the spotlight.

Kaveri Malhotra.

Elegant.

Confident.

Radiating the charm that had made her one of the country's most loved sports hosts.

Beside her stood the tournament's senior commentator and co-host.

Rohan Mallick, a veteran caster whose energetic voice had become synonymous with Indian esports.

Kaveri smiled brightly.

"Namaste, India! Kya aap sab taiyaar hain?"

(Hello, India! Are you all ready?)

The arena answered with deafening cheers.

Rohan laughed.

"I don't think that was loud enough!"

"Let's try again!"

"ARE..."

"YOU..."

"READY?"

The stadium practically shook.

---

Kaveri continued with practiced elegance.

"Today..."

"Two of the strongest teams in the country stand before us."

"One fighting to defend its legacy."

"The other determined to rewrite history."

She raised one hand toward the players' tunnel.

"Please welcome..."

"...the reigning champions..."

"...TEAM ORION!"

---

The lights turned deep blue.

A cinematic orchestral soundtrack filled the arena.

One by one...

The players emerged through the smoke.

Inferno.

The crowd cheered.

Echo.

More cheers.

Storm.

The applause grew louder.

Astra.

The audience rose to its feet.

Then...

The final spotlight illuminated the entrance.

Kaveri's voice echoed through the arena.

"And now..."

"The captain..."

"The legend..."

"India's own..."

"NIGHT!"

The arena erupted.

Thousands of voices echoed together.

"NIGHT!"

"NIGHT!"

"NIGHT!"

Kushagra Singh walked onto the stage wearing Orion's black-and-silver jersey.

His confident stride.

His composed expression.

His sharp features.

His effortless charisma.

He simply raised one hand toward the crowd.

The cheers somehow became even louder.

---

For the very first time...

Vedhathvika saw Orion not through a screen...

Not through a voice chat...

Not through a ranked match.

But standing together...

On the grandest stage in the country.

Her eyes quietly followed each player.

Then...

Without realizing it...

They stopped on Kushagra.

She wasn't staring because of his fame.

Or because of the deafening cheers around him.

She was watching the way he acknowledged every member of his team before taking his own position.

No arrogance.

No unnecessary theatrics.

Only quiet confidence.

A strange feeling settled within her heart.

Not excitement.

Not admiration alone.

Something gentler.

Something calmer.

For reasons she couldn't explain...

Watching Orion together...

Filled her with an unexpected sense of peace.

Almost...

As though she had finally found something she had been searching for...

Without even realizing she had been searching at all.

------

The deafening cheers for Orion slowly settled.

The arena lights dimmed once again.

Kaveri smiled toward the opposite players' tunnel.

"And now..."

"The team that has challenged Orion's dominance season after season."

"The team known for fearless aggression and explosive gameplay."

"Please welcome..."

"TEAM GLAZE!"

The arena instantly split into two sides.

One half chanted-

"ORION!"

The other answered-

"GLAZE!"

Red lights flooded the stage.

Heavy electronic music echoed through the arena.

One by one...

The players walked onto the stage.

Vortex!

The crowd applauded.

Hawk!

More cheers followed.

Shield!

The Glaze supporters roared.

Pulse!

Another wave of applause echoed.

Finally...

The last spotlight illuminated the tunnel.

Kaveri's voice rang confidently through the arena.

"And now..."

"The captain of Team Glaze..."

"The Flame of Indian Esports..."

"AGNI!"

Advik Raj singh stepped onto the stage.

The cheers rivaled Orion's.

Confident.

Calm.

Every bit the champion people expected him to be.

He acknowledged the audience with a small nod before taking his place beside his teammates.

---

After both teams assembled on stage...

Rohan stepped forward with his microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

"We have both captains with us."

"Just one question each before today's grand finale."

The cameras focused on Kushagra first.

"Night."

"What does today's match mean to Orion?"

Kushagra answered without hesitation.

"It means another opportunity to prove that teamwork wins championships."

The audience applauded.

Rohan smiled before turning toward Advik.

"And Agni..."

"What message do you have for Orion?"

Advik looked across the stage toward Kushagra.

A faint smile appeared.

"We've lost before."

"We've won before."

"But today..."

"We've come prepared."

"And we're taking that trophy home."

The Glaze supporters erupted with cheers.

Kushagra merely smiled.

"I'll see you in the game."

---

The captains shook hands.

A simple gesture.

Yet it carried years of rivalry.

Neither smiled for long.

Both quietly returned to their respective sides.

---

The players settled into their gaming chairs.

Technicians checked headsets.

Monitors lit up.

Keyboards glowed.

The officials announced a fifteen-minute technical preparation period before the draft phase.

To entertain the audience...

The massive LED screens began playing highlights from the season.

Impossible escapes.

Perfect team fights.

Tournament-winning moments.

MVP compilations.

Tactical breakdowns narrated by analysts.

The crowd cheered every incredible play.

Vedhathvika watched with genuine fascination.

"So this..."

She whispered.

"...is what professional esports feels like."

---

The entertainment continued.

The host laughed.

"Before we begin..."

"Let's have a little fun."

"The Kiss Cam!"

The audience immediately burst into laughter.

The camera began roaming across the arena.

Couples hid behind banners.

Friends laughed.

Some covered their faces.

Every time the camera found someone...

The entire arena reacted.

Aarvi leaned toward Vedhathvika.

"Oh no..."

"Please don't point it here."

Vedhathvika laughed softly.

"Relax."

"There are thousands of people."

"What are the chances?"

At that exact moment...

A brilliant spotlight stopped above them.

The giant screen displayed...

Vedhathvika and Aarvi.

The crowd cheered loudly.

Aarvi immediately covered her face, laughing uncontrollably.

Vedhathvika instinctively looked up at the screen.

Even behind her elegant white mask...

Her expressive dark brown eyes and graceful presence drew attention.

The audience began clapping, assuming they were simply two close friends caught on camera.

Kaveri, standing on stage, couldn't help smiling. Seeing her plan of troubling her besties worked.

"There they are...my cutu babies"

---

Across the arena...

As players waited for the draft timer to begin...

Advik glanced absentmindedly toward the giant screen.

His eyes froze.

For one impossible moment...

Time stopped.

Those eyes...

He knew them.

There were countless faces in this world.

But those eyes...

Dark brown.

Gentle.

Unforgettable.

His heartbeat stumbled.

"No..."

"It can't be..."

His gaze remained fixed on the screen.

The spotlight disappeared almost immediately.

Yet the image refused to leave his mind.

Was it really...

Vedhathvika?

Or was his heart playing another cruel trick?

---

"Agni?"

Pulse called quietly.

"The draft."

Advik blinked.

"What?"

"The timer has started."

He looked back at the monitor.

For the first time in years...

His usually flawless concentration wavered.

He selected the wrong priority hero.

Pulse frowned.

"That's... not what we practiced."

Advik quickly corrected the strategy.

"It's fine."

"We'll adjust."

But something was already different.

---

The match began.

Normally...

Agni dictated the pace from the very first minute.

Today...

His rotations were slower.

His decisions half a second late.

His attention divided.

Each time he tried focusing...

Those eyes returned.

"Was that really her?"

"Why would she be here?"

"Did she come to watch me?"

"Or..."

His thoughts refused to stop.

---

On the opposite side...

Night immediately sensed something unusual.

"Astra."

"Slight delay in Agni's rotation."

"I noticed."

"Punish it."

Within minutes...

Orion secured the first objective.

Then another.

Then another.

The analysts exchanged surprised looks.

"This isn't the Agni we're used to seeing."

"He's making uncharacteristic mistakes."

"His positioning is unusually hesitant."

---

The audience watched in disbelief.

One mistake became two.

Two became four.

Each one widened Orion's lead.

Kushagra didn't celebrate.

He simply continued leading his team with precision.

A captain never underestimated an opponent.

Especially one like Agni.

But today...

Agni wasn't losing to Orion alone.

He was losing to the storm inside his own mind.

---

Twenty minutes later...

The crystal at Glaze's base exploded into brilliant fragments.

VICTORY

TEAM ORION

The arena erupted.

Blue confetti filled the air.

The Orion supporters celebrated wildly.

Across the stage...

Advik quietly removed his headset.

He wasn't angry.

He wasn't frustrated.

He only looked once...

Toward the VIP section where the spotlight had briefly stopped.

But the crowd had already risen to celebrate.

She was no longer visible.

Leaving him with only one question echoing in his heart...

"Was it really you, Vedhathvika?"