The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of St.
Monarch's International School, illuminating corridors buzzing
with chatter. Niya walked through calmly, books in hand,
completely unbothered by the curious stares that followed her.
She had already made quite a name for herself—roasting the
Apex Four with witty comebacks, beating them at basketball,
and calmly handling minor disputes.
Across the courtyard, the Apex Four were waiting, leaning
casually against the railings.
Aarav smirked, arms crossed. "So… it seems our new friend here
doesn't just talk. She actually backs it up."
Veer grinned. "Yeah, but let's see if she's as confident when
things get a little tricky."
Kairo nodded, smirking. "I'm curious. She's bold, smart,
fearless… but boldness can only go so far."
Soren, silent as always, just observed, his sharp gaze following
Niya like a hawk.
The bell rang, signalling PE. Today, a surprise obstacle course
had been set up for students—a mix of agility, speed, and
teamwork. Usually, the Apex Four dominated, running through
the course like it was nothing. But today, curiosity got the better
of them. They decided to challenge Niya, expecting a little fun at
her expense.
Veer called out as Niya passed by. "Hey, new girl! Think you can
handle the obstacle course, or are you just going to hide behind
your books?"
Niya stopped, tilting her head slightly, and smiled faintly. "I'm
not here to hide. But if you want to test me… I'll take the
challenge. Fair and square."
Aarav raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. Bold and
confident. I like that."
Kairo chuckled, "Let's see what she's really made of."
The course began. Students dashed, climbed ropes, jumped
over hurdles, and balanced across narrow beams. Niya moved
with calm precision, assessing every obstacle, calculating her
steps. She didn't rush. She didn't panic. Yet somehow, she
managed to complete each challenge faster and more
accurately than many seasoned athletes.
Veer, struggling halfway through, huffed. "What the… how is she
doing this so easily?"
Aarav's smirk grew. "Calm, precise, intelligent… she's…
different."
Kairo, grinning, whispered, "Not scared of anything or anyone.
That's… impressive."
Soren, quiet as ever, observed every tiny movement, noting her
speed, balance, and poise.
Halfway through the course, one of the younger students
slipped on a rope and was about to fall. Niya didn't hesitate. She
reached out, steadying him effortlessly while maintaining her
rhythm on the obstacle course. The crowd gasped.
"See?" she said softly, her calm eyes meeting theirs. "It's all
about awareness, not brute strength."
Veer muttered under his breath, slightly impressed. "She's… not
just smart, she's… perfect at this."
Aarav, arms crossed, nodded slowly. "Interesting. Very
interesting."
Kairo whispered, "She's… something else entirely."
Even Soren's eyes widened slightly at her composure.
By the end of the obstacle course, Niya had not only completed
it flawlessly, but she had also helped a few struggling students
without breaking a sweat, all while keeping her calm, witty
demeanour. The Apex Four, used to being unmatched, were
genuinely impressed.
Veer shook his head, laughing. "Okay, okay… I'll admit it. You're
amazing. But don't think this makes you untouchable."
Niya tilted her head and smirked faintly. "Untouchable? Not my
goal. Just… aware and confident. You might want to try it
sometime."
Aarav's smirk deepened. "Calm, clever, fearless… she's definitely
not like anyone else."
Kairo muttered, "And she keeps her distance. No one's ever
going to get close to her."
Soren stayed silent, but his eyes said it all—he was analysing,
calculating, intrigued.
By the end of the day, the buzz about Niya had only grown
louder. She had completed the challenge flawlessly, helped
others, and left the Apex Four both curious and slightly
unsettled. The first sparks of mutual respect, intrigue, and
challenge had been lit.
For Niya, it was just another day showing that calmness,
intelligence, and wit could conquer any obstacle. For the Apex
Four, it was a new kind of challenge they had never faced
before—one that wouldn't just test their strength, but their
curiosity, patience, and understanding of someone truly
remarkable.