The First Team
1844 Words
The glowing warning remained on Ananya's laptop screen.
WARNING: An unknown player has accessed your previous match history.
She stared at it for several long seconds.
"What does that even mean?" she whispered.
She quickly opened her account settings. Her password hadn't been changed. Her email was secure. There were no unauthorized logins.
Everything looked normal.
Except for one thing.
Someone had been looking through her match history.
Ananya took a deep breath and opened the activity log.
Only one line appeared.
User Information: Classified
No username.
No IP address.
Nothing.
It was as if the system itself was hiding whoever had searched for her.
She closed the laptop and leaned back in her chair.
"For years, nobody cared who ShadowFlame was..."
"So why now?"
Outside, the rain tapped softly against the hostel window while thunder echoed in the distance.
For the first time since creating ShadowFlame, she felt uneasy.
The next morning...
The campus of IN Tech University was alive with energy.
Freshers hurried across the pathways looking for classrooms. Seniors gathered near the cafeteria discussing assignments, internships, and the upcoming esports selections.
Ananya walked between Riya and Meera, holding a cup of coffee.
"You've been unusually quiet," Meera observed.
"I just didn't sleep well."
Riya smiled mischievously.
"Still thinking about your mysterious teammate?"
Ananya almost dropped her coffee.
"What teammate?"
"The one you were smiling at while gaming yesterday."
"I wasn't smiling."
"You definitely were."
Meera laughed.
"Your face gave you away."
Ananya shook her head.
"It was just another match."
She didn't tell them about StormKnight.
Or the warning message.
Some secrets were safer when kept alone.
As they reached the Computer Science block, a crowd had gathered around the digital notice board.
Students whispered excitedly.
"It's finally happening."
"The gaming selections!"
The display changed.
IN TECH UNIVERSITY
National Esports Championship
Player Selection Trials
Registration closes today at 5:00 PM.
Selected players will receive scholarships, internship opportunities, and represent the university at the national championship.
Riya turned toward Ananya.
"You're registering."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Meera folded her arms.
"If you don't register, I'm submitting the form for you."
"You wouldn't."
Riya smiled.
"We absolutely would."
Before Ananya could argue, applause echoed through the hallway.
Students stepped aside.
Arjun Varma walked calmly toward the auditorium.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn't surrounded by bodyguards or attention seekers.
He simply smiled politely at students who greeted him.
Professor Raman walked beside him.
"Good morning, Arjun."
"Good morning, sir."
"We're counting on you again this year."
"I'll do my best."
Ananya watched quietly.
"There he is again..."
There was something familiar about him.
His calm eyes.
The way he observed everything before speaking.
It reminded her of StormKnight.
She immediately shook the thought away.
"That's impossible."
Thousands of people played Legends of Astra.
There was no reason to think the university's star student was the game's number one player.
Meanwhile...
Inside the Innovation Lab...
Arjun sat in front of three monitors.
One displayed his startup dashboard.
Another showed lines of code.
The third displayed Legends of Astra.
A notification appeared.
Friend Request Accepted
ShadowFlame.
A faint smile crossed his face.
Vikram walked in carrying two cups of coffee.
"So..."
"Did she accept?"
Arjun nodded.
"Last night."
"I've never seen you send a friend request first."
"Neither have I."
"What makes her different?"
Arjun looked at the replay of yesterday's battle.
"She doesn't rely on strength."
"She wins by thinking."
Vikram laughed.
"So the legendary StormKnight has finally found someone interesting."
Arjun closed the replay.
"Maybe."
That afternoon...
The university auditorium buzzed with excitement.
Nearly two hundred students had gathered for the gaming club orientation.
Large LED screens displayed the university logo.
Professor Raman stepped onto the stage.
"Welcome, everyone."
"This year, only five students will represent IN Tech University in the National Esports Championship."
The hall erupted with applause.
"But before that..."
"We will conduct team-based practice matches."
"The teams have already been assigned."
A giant screen lit up behind him.
Names began appearing one by one.
Students cheered whenever friends landed together.
Then Ananya looked up.
Her smile disappeared.
TEAM 7
Arjun Varma
Ananya Rao
Rohit Sharma
Sneha Iyer
"What?" Ananya whispered.
Riya gasped.
"You got Arjun!"
Meera grinned.
"Looks like luck is finally on your side."
Ananya wasn't so sure.
She had planned to stay unnoticed.
Instead...
She had been paired with the most famous student in the university.
Across the hall, Arjun looked at the same screen.
For the first time that day...
He smiled.
"A good team."
Professor Raman continued,
"Your first practice match begins tomorrow morning."
"Prepare well."
Students slowly left the auditorium discussing strategies.
As Ananya packed her notebook, someone stopped beside her.
She looked up.
It was Arjun.
"Looks like we're teammates."
His voice was calm.
Professional.
Ananya nodded politely.
"I guess we are."
"I've heard you're good at strategy."
She blinked.
"Who told you that?"
He smiled.
"I have my sources."
Before she could ask another question, he walked away.
Ananya watched him disappear into the crowd.
A strange feeling settled in her heart.
Why did it feel as though he already knew her?
Far away...
On Arjun's phone...
A message flashed from Legends of Astra.
ShadowFlame is now online.
He looked toward Ananya one last time.
Then at his screen.
"Interesting..."
The moment Arjun walked away, Ananya stood frozen in the middle of the auditorium.
"I've heard you're good at strategy."
His words kept echoing in her mind.
"How could he possibly know that?" she whispered.
She had never participated in any university tournaments. She wasn't a member of the Gaming Club until this morning. Except for ShadowFlame, no one knew how she played.
"Ananya!"
Riya's voice pulled her back to reality.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
"You've been saying 'nothing' since yesterday."
Meera smiled knowingly.
"I think our genius has finally found someone who can surprise her."
Ananya rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
The three girls laughed as they walked toward the hostel.
That evening...
The university gaming arena was brighter than ever.
Rows of high-end gaming PCs lined the hall.
Large LED screens displayed live player statistics.
Students filled every seat, cheering for their favorite teams.
Professor Raman stepped onto the stage.
"Today's practice matches are not about winning."
"They're about learning teamwork."
"Remember..."
"An individual may win a battle."
"But only a team can win a championship."
Applause echoed across the arena.
"Team Seven, please take your seats."
Ananya took a deep breath before walking toward her assigned computer.
To her left sat Rohit.
To her right sat Sneha.
The final chair remained empty.
A few seconds later...
Arjun calmly walked in.
The entire arena erupted into cheers.
"There he is!"
"Captain!"
"We're definitely winning this year!"
Arjun smiled politely before sitting beside Ananya.
"Good evening."
"Good evening."
It was the first time they had spoken without dozens of students surrounding them.
"I'm Arjun."
"I know."
He laughed softly.
"I suppose everyone does."
"I'm Ananya."
"I know."
For the first time...
She smiled.
Professor Raman's voice echoed through the speakers.
"You have ten minutes to discuss your strategy."
Rohit immediately spoke.
"I'm the strongest attacker."
Sneha nodded.
"I'll support from the back."
Both of them turned toward Arjun.
"What about you, Captain?"
Arjun looked at Ananya.
"What role do you prefer?"
She hesitated.
"I usually adapt."
"Meaning?"
"I'll play wherever the team needs me."
Arjun's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Adapt..."
The same answer ShadowFlame had once given during an online team event.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
"Fine," Arjun said.
"During the match, don't focus on getting the highest score."
"Watch your teammates."
"If someone makes a mistake..."
"Cover for them."
Ananya nodded.
"Understood."
The countdown began.
10...
9...
8...
The arena fell silent.
Every computer loaded the practice battlefield.
Their opponents appeared on the opposite side of the map.
"They're Team Three," Rohit whispered.
"They're one of the favorites."
Arjun remained calm.
"Don't panic."
The timer reached zero.
START
Immediately, Rohit rushed toward the center of the battlefield.
"Wait!" Ananya shouted.
Too late.
Three opponents surrounded him.
"I've got this!"
Within seconds...
His health dropped below twenty percent.
"Help!"
Sneha tried reaching him but was blocked.
Arjun defended one side.
Ananya quickly studied the map.
Instead of charging straight ahead, she noticed a narrow pathway behind the enemy formation.
"If I go through there..."
She moved silently through the forest.
One enemy never noticed her.
Second...
Third...
She attacked from behind.
The enemy formation collapsed instantly.
"Now!"
Arjun understood without another word.
He launched a perfect counterattack.
Together...
They rescued Rohit.
The spectators burst into applause.
"What teamwork!"
"They didn't even speak!"
"It's like they already know each other's moves."
Professor Raman watched quietly from the judges' table.
"Interesting..."
The match continued.
Every time an opponent tried trapping Team Seven...
Ananya predicted the strategy first.
Every time she created an opening...
Arjun used it perfectly.
Neither needed long explanations.
One glance was enough.
Rohit stared in disbelief.
"Have you two played together before?"
Both answered at the same time.
"No."
The entire team laughed.
Twenty minutes later...
The final objective appeared.
The enemy team rushed toward it together.
"They're all attacking!" Sneha shouted.
Arjun looked around.
"We can't stop all four."
Ananya suddenly spoke.
"We don't have to."
Everyone looked at her.
"If we destroy the bridge..."
"They'll lose their fastest route."
Rohit blinked.
"Can we even do that?"
She nodded confidently.
"Trust me."
Without hesitation...
Arjun smiled.
"Do it."
Ananya activated her character's special skill.
The virtual bridge exploded into hundreds of glowing fragments.
The enemy team was forced to take the longer route.
Those extra fifteen seconds were enough.
Team Seven captured the objective.
VICTORY
The giant screen flashed brightly.
TEAM SEVEN WINS
Cheers filled the arena.
Students stood and applauded.
Professor Raman smiled proudly.
"Excellent."
"What impressed me wasn't your victory."
"It was your coordination."
He looked directly at Ananya.
"You think several moves ahead."
Then he turned toward Arjun.
"And you trust your teammates."
"That combination is rare."
After the match, students crowded around Team Seven.
"Arjun, that was amazing!"
"Ananya, where did you learn strategies like that?"
She smiled awkwardly.
"I've just played a few games."
Riya laughed from the crowd.
"A few?"
"If that's 'a few,' then I'm a professional!"
Everyone laughed.
Across the room, however...
One person wasn't smiling.
A tall student wearing a black hoodie watched Ananya carefully.
His name was Kabir Malhotra.
Captain of Team Three.
He replayed the match on his tablet.
Every move.
Every strategy.
His expression slowly changed.
"No..."
"It can't be..."
He zoomed in on one particular move Ananya had made.
Only one player in the entire game used that exact strategy.
ShadowFlame.
Kabir clenched his fists.
"So..."
"You're hiding here."
A faint smile spread across his face.
"If you really are ShadowFlame..."
"I'll expose you."
As Ananya left the arena laughing with her friends, she had no idea someone had just begun watching her every move.
Meanwhile, Arjun glanced at his phone.
A new notification appeared.
ShadowFlame has sent you a message.
He smiled.
The game was becoming much more interesting.
- Writer
