Rule of Fate

Scene: Arrival at the Training Camp

The training camp was massive, a sprawling complex surrounded by tall fences and

patrolled by guards in sleek uniforms. Vairaj, Jerome, and Zoya stepped off the transport

vehicle, looking around at the sea of new recruits. Most of them were older—teenagers and looked like the trio, looked closer to their age.

Jerome adjusted his bag, excitement and nerves clear on his face. "Wow, this place is huge. This is really happening, guys."

Before anyone could respond, a commanding voice echoed through the air. "Everyone, stand in lines!"

The recruits scrambled to form straight rows. A tall, muscular man with a sharp gaze and a

weathered face stepped forward. He wore the unmistakable uniform of a Saviors officer, his

presence demanding attention.

"I am Kane, a former officer of the Saviors, and I will be in charge of you all for the next 3 years," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "This will not be easy. Many of you will want to quit. But if you're here, I expect one thing: your best effort. Always."

The crowd remained silent, hanging on his every word.

"In this camp, we live by three rules: discipline, hard work, and patience. Remember them well. Without these, you will not succeed, and you will not last." He paused, scanning the recruits. "Now, everyone, keep your luggage in your respective rooms. You'll find your

names and room assignments on the boards near the dormitory entrance. Be back here in

20 minutes. Training begins immediately."

---

On the Way to Their Rooms

Vairaj, Jerome, and Zoya walked towards the dormitories, bags slung over their shoulders.

Jerome glanced around at the other recruits, many of whom looked older and more

experienced. "Did you see some of those guys? They look like they've been training their whole lives."

Zoya nodded, her face serious. "Yeah, we're probably the youngest ones here. We'll have to work extra hard to keep up."

Vairaj smirked, adjusting his bag. "Speak for yourselves. I'm a genius, remember? They

should be worried about keeping up with me."

Zoya rolled her eyes. "Sure, Vairaj. You keep telling yourself that. Let's see how your 'genius' helps you when we're doing push-ups in the mud."

Jerome chuckled. "She's got a point. Kane doesn't seem like the kind of guy who'll go easy on anyone, genius or not."

Vairaj shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "Whatever. I'll manage. Besides, you both will

probably be too busy trying to keep up with me."

As they reached the dormitories, they stopped in front of the assignment board. Jerome scanned it quickly. "Looks like we're all in the same dorm. Room 12. That's convenient."

Zoya sighed in relief. "Good. At least we'll have each other. I don't know how I'd handle this place alone."

They entered the dorm and found their room, a simple space with three beds and a small

table. Each bed had a name tag: Vairaj, Jerome, and Zoya.

Jerome set his bag down neatly on his bed. "Okay, let's unpack quickly. I don't want to be

late on the first day."

Zoya started organizing her things as well, her movements precise and efficient. "Yeah,

Kane doesn't look like someone who tolerates lateness. We need to make a good first impression."

Vairaj, meanwhile, dropped his bag on his bed and flopped down beside it. "You two are way too uptight. Relax. It's just the first day."

Zoya glared at him. "Vairaj, get up and unpack. We're not here to relax. This is serious."

Jerome shook his head, laughing softly. "Come on, Vairaj. We've got 15 minutes left. Don't be the first one to get yelled at."

With a dramatic sigh, Vairaj sat up and started pulling things out of his bag. "Fine, fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when I ace this training while you two are stressing out."

Zoya and Jerome exchanged a look, both suppressing smiles. Despite Vairaj's antics, they knew they could count on him when it mattered.

Once they finished unpacking, they headed back out towards the training ground, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

Scene: The Training Field

Kane stood in front of the group, his arms crossed as he addressed the recruits. "The first training session of every day will be focused on building stamina. Stamina is the foundation of survival in the field. Without it, you won't last a second against the monsters out there."

He gestured toward the track encircling the training field. "I want everyone to run ten laps.

After that, you will climb that hill"—he pointed to a small but steep hill in the distance—"and

be back here within two hour. Everyone must be present. Understood?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir!" echoed from the group.

"Good. Disperse!"

---

On the Track

Vairaj, Jerome, and Zoya started jogging together. Vairaj, predictably, began to slow down within the first lap, already looking tired. "Ugh, this is torture," Vairaj groaned, dragging his feet. "Who thought running was a good idea?"

Zoya rolled her eyes, keeping a steady pace. "Stop whining, Vairaj. It's just the beginning.

We can't afford to slack off."

Jerome, running slightly ahead, glanced back with a grin. "Come on, Vairaj. Think of this as a warm-up. You don't want Kane breathing down your neck, do you?"

"I'd rather have him yell than run another step," Vairaj muttered. "This is cruel and unusual punishment."

As they rounded their third lap, another boy, around their age, jogged up beside them. He

had curly brown hair and a friendly smile.

"Hey," the boy said, easily keeping pace with them. "You guys look like you're having fun."

Zoya gave a small laugh. "Define fun. Are you new too?"

"Yeah," the boy replied. "Name's Aaron. Figured I'd join you guys since you seem to be the youngest around here."

Jerome nodded. "I'm Jerome. This is Zoya, and that's Vairaj—the one who's already

regretting his life choices."

"Hey!" Vairaj protested, though he was too winded to say much else.

Aaron chuckled. "Nice to meet you all. Don't worry, Vairaj. I'm not a fan of running either, but hey, at least we're all suffering together."

Zoya smirked. "Suffering builds character. Or so they say." By the time they finished the ten laps, Vairaj collapsed onto the grass, panting heavily. "I'm done. Leave me here. Go on without me."

Aaron extended a hand to help him up. "Come on, man. We've still got the hill to climb."

Jerome grinned, pulling Vairaj to his feet. "No quitting now. We've got a new teammate, and

we can't embarrass ourselves in front of him."

Vairaj groaned but managed to stand. "Fine. But if I die on that hill, tell my parents I was a

hero."

---

Climbing the Hill

The group made their way toward the hill. It looked steeper up close, and many recruits were already struggling.

"This doesn't look so bad," Aaron said, squinting at the incline.

"Easy for you to say," Vairaj muttered. "You didn't just run ten laps on legs made of jelly."

Zoya smirked. "Less complaining, more climbing. Let's go."

They started up the hill together, helping each other over tricky spots and cheering each other on. Vairaj slipped a few times but managed to keep going with Zoya's encouragement and Aaron's jokes lightening the mood.

By the time they reached the top and began the descent, they were all tired but smiling.

"See?" Jerome said, clapping Vairaj on the back. "You survived."

"Barely," Vairaj replied, though there was a small grin on his face. "I'm going to need a nap after this."

Aaron laughed. "Same here. But hey, we did it. First challenge down."

As they reached the training field again, they felt a small sense of accomplishment. It was

just the beginning, but together, they knew they could face whatever came next.

Scene: The Water Break

The recruits gathered near a shaded area where water bottles were placed on a long table.

Vairaj, Jerome, Zoya, and Aaron grabbed bottles and sat on the grass, catching their breath.

Around them, other recruits were chatting and hydrating. As they sipped their water, a group of four same age recruits approached them, with confident postures and easy smiles.

"Hey," one of them said, a tall boy with dark blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. "You guys

are the youngest ones here, huh?"

"Yeah," Jerome replied, standing up to shake his hand. "I'm Jerome, and these are Vairaj,

Zoya, and Aaron."

The recruit nodded. "I'm Logan. Nice to meet you. These are my friends: Ethan, Clara,

and Raven."

Ethan, a stocky boy with curly brown hair, gave them a friendly grin. "You all did pretty well for your first run. Most of the younger recruits were struggling to keep up."

Clara, a tall girl with braided auburn hair, added, "Especially on the hill. I saw you guys

sticking together. That's good. Teamwork is everything here."

"Thanks," Zoya said, smiling. "We're just trying to survive the day at this point."

Raven, a quiet girl with jet-black hair and sharp features, gave them an appraising look. "Survival's the right mindset. But it's going to get harder from here."

Logan leaned in slightly, his tone serious but encouraging. "Stick close to people you trust.

And don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. No one gets through this alone."

The younger group exchanged looks and nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and

determination.

---

Scene: The Challenge

Kane's voice boomed across the field as the recruits gathered again. "Alright, listen up! The next round will determine whether you stay or go. If you succeed, you'll move forward in the program. If you fail, you'll pack your bags and head home. No second chances."

A tense silence fell over the recruits.

Kane continued, pointing toward the edge of the camp. "Your challenge is simple in concept but tough in execution. Out there, beyond the perimeter fence, is a dense forest. Hidden within the forest are six flags of ur team color for each group. Your task is to retrieve at least three of them and return here within two hours. Succeed, and you pass. Fail, and you're out."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Be warned—this isn't just about running. The forest is designed to test your instincts, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. You'll face obstacles and traps. And no, we won't be giving you a map. Work together, or don't. Your choice."

The recruits murmured among themselves, some nervous, others excited.

Vairaj whispered to his friends, "This doesn't sound like a beginner challenge. Is he trying to scare us off?"

Zoya shook her head. "No, he's testing us. We can't mess this up."

Aaron nodded. "We stick together, like always."

Logan and his group approached them again. "Need a hand?" Logan asked with a small smile.

"You'd help us?" Jerome asked, surprised.

Clara shrugged. "Of course. We've been through these kinds of tests before. And like we said, teamwork is everything."

Raven smirked. "Besides, it'll be fun to see if you can keep up."

Ethan grinned. "Let's move. Two hours isn't much time."

---

The Forest Challenge

The group entered the forest, splitting responsibilities. Logan took the lead, scouting ahead for traps. Clara and Raven kept track of their direction, ensuring they didn't get lost. Ethan helped the younger recruits navigate rough terrain, while Vairaj, Jerome, Zoya, and Aaron focused on spotting the flags.

At one point, they encountered a deep ravine with a rope bridge swaying precariously.

"Great," Vairaj muttered. "Because running and climbing weren't enough."

Logan tested the bridge. "It's stable enough, but we need to cross one at a time. I'll go first."

One by one, they made it across. When it was Jerome 's turn, he hesitated.

"Don't look down," Zoya encouraged. "Just move."

With a dramatic sigh, Jerome crossed, muttering, "If I fall, I'm haunting all of you."

---

They found their first flag in a hollow tree, but it was guarded by a mechanical drone that

activated as they approached.

"Stay back," Raven ordered, moving in with quick reflexes to disable the drone. Her

precision impressed everyone.

By the end of the challenge, they had retrieved three flag and made it back to the camp just before the two-hour mark, exhausted but triumphant.

Kane surveyed the returning recruits. "Well done," he said, his tone gruff but approving.

"Those of you who succeeded—welcome to the real training. The rest of you... better luck

next time."

Vairaj, Jerome, Zoya, and Aaron exchanged tired smiles, grateful for Logan and his team's

help. They knew this was just the beginning of their journey, but they felt ready to face

whatever came next.