The next day, the scrim room pulsed with tension. Aarav slid into his chair, headset snug, fingers trembling slightly. He'd spent half the night replaying strategies with Rhea, feeling a spark of confidence—but now, under the harsh glow of monitors and the weight of expectation, that confidence wavered.
"Alright, team," Rhea's voice cut through the comms, sharp and commanding. "This is a high-pressure scrim. Treat it like a tournament match."
Aarav nodded silently, heart pounding. Don't choke. Just play.
The countdown began. The map loaded. Chaos erupted.
"Push mid!" Rhea barked. "Aarav, rotate left—NOW!"
Aarav spotted an enemy flank forming and hesitated for a split second, calculating. If I rotate now, we lose cover. If I wait—
"Move!" Rhea snapped.
Aarav moved—but too late. The enemy collapsed on their position, wiping two teammates instantly.
"Damn it!" Rhea's voice was ice. "What was that?!"
"I… thought—" Aarav began.
"Don't think. Act!" Rhea shot back. "You froze and cost us the round."
The words hit like a punch. Aarav clenched his jaw, guilt flooding him. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't fix the scoreboard," Rhea said coldly. "Next round—no hesitation."
The next match started, but Aarav's mind was a storm. Every call felt heavier, every move slower. He tried to push past the fear, but the pressure crushed him. Another mistake—a missed heal during a chaotic fight—and the team wiped again.
Silence filled the comms. Then Rhea's voice, sharp as a blade: "You're playing scared. If you can't handle this, you don't belong here."
Aarav's throat tightened. "I… I'll do better."
"Better isn't enough," Rhea said, ripping off her headset. She stood, frustration radiating off her. "We can't afford dead weight."
The room went quiet. Zayn glanced between them, tension thick in the air. "Hey, chill—he's new."
Rhea ignored him, eyes locked on Aarav. "You want to be here? Prove it. Or walk away."
Aarav sat frozen, shame burning in his chest. He wanted to speak, to fight back—but the words wouldn't come. He just nodded, silently promising himself: I'll prove it. No matter what.
Rhea turned and walked out, leaving the door swinging behind her.
Aarav stared at the blank screen, heart pounding like a war drum. For the first time, he wondered if he'd made a mistake stepping into this world.