The letter arrived on a Thursday morning, folded neatly into an envelope with the school's crest. At first, I thought it was another warning about my "suspicious progress." My hands shook as I tore it open, bracing myself for disappointment.
But instead, the words leapt off the page:
"Congratulations, Shelly Pasimupindu. You have been selected to represent our school at the National Academic Olympiad."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. The National Olympiad? The competition that only the top schools in the country dreamed of entering? Me?
The classroom buzzed as I read the letter again and again. Clifton whistled low, his face a mix of surprise and something I couldn't place—respect, maybe. Others whispered, some in awe, some in scorn.
"She's going to embarrass us."
"She probably cheated her way in."
"No one changes overnight like that."
The words stung, but I forced my head high. Still, deep inside, doubt gnawed at me. Could I really do this?
The system shimmered into view, confirming what the letter already said:
[Major Quest Activated: Compete in the National Academic Olympiad]
Reward: 10,000 ZWD, Academic Mastery +3, Reputation +5.
Penalty for Failure: Reputation -5, Confidence -3.]
This wasn't just another task. This was the test.
---
That evening, Mom held the letter with trembling hands. Tears welled in her eyes.
"My daughter, chosen for the Olympiad," she whispered, her voice thick with pride. "Do you know what this means, Shelly? Do you know what doors this could open?"
Her hope filled me with warmth—and dread. What if I failed?
Clifton, leaning against the wall, smirked. "Well, sis, guess the world's finally going to see if you're the real deal. Don't choke."
"Clifton!" Mom snapped, but he only shrugged. His teasing held no real malice this time, but it still made my stomach tighten.
When everyone went to bed, I stayed up, staring at my textbooks. The system helpfully broke down the Olympiad syllabus into neat quests, progress bars glimmering like fireflies. But I wasn't just studying words. I was studying my worth.
---
The Olympiad was held in Harare, at a sprawling campus filled with banners and students from across the country. Walking through the gates, I felt smaller than ever. Some students already wore their medals from past competitions, their uniforms crisp, their confidence unshakable.
I clutched my worn-out bag tighter. The whispers followed me here too.
"That's the girl from Speciss College, right? The one with the rumors?"
"Cheating scandal waiting to happen."
"She looks nervous already."
I forced myself not to crumble.
The first test was Chemistry. My heart thudded as the exam paper landed on my desk. Rows of formulas and complex equations stared back at me. For a moment, panic rose, threatening to choke me.
Then the system pulsed.
[Quest In Progress: Chemistry Olympiad Round One]
Progress: 0% → 1% → 2%…
Each time I solved a question, the bar climbed. My pen flew across the page, the answers flowing like water. The fear melted into focus.
By the time the invigilator called, "Pens down," my progress bar flashed 100%. I leaned back, sweat dampening my forehead, but my chest lifted with cautious pride.
---
After the exam, I found myself standing in the courtyard. Students clustered in groups, laughing, analyzing questions. I spotted Rudo across the way. She hadn't come as a competitor, but as part of the support team. Our eyes met.
For a heartbeat, I thought she'd look away. But she didn't. She walked over, slow, hesitant.
"Shelly," she said quietly, "you looked… confident in there."
Her voice held no accusation, only curiosity. My throat tightened.
"I studied," I whispered. "Really studied. I didn't cheat, Rudo. I never have."
She bit her lip. "I want to believe you."
"Then believe me," I pleaded. "Please. You've been my friend through everything. Don't let this ruin us."
She didn't answer right away. Then she sighed. "We'll talk after the results."
And she walked away, leaving a fragile hope in her wake.
---
The second day brought the Oral Defense Round. Contestants had to present solutions aloud, under the scrutiny of judges and competitors. My stomach churned as I stepped onto the stage.
One of the judges, an older man with sharp glasses, frowned at my name tag. "Shelly Pasimupindu. From a Chitungwiza, yes?"
"Yes, sir," I said, forcing my voice steady.
He adjusted his papers. "Well, impress us."
The problem on the board was brutal. Even some top students groaned. My hands shook as I picked up the chalk. For a terrifying moment, my mind went blank. The whispers of doubt surged.
She'll fail.
She doesn't belong here.
Cheater.
Then the system pulsed again:
[Motivation Boost Activated: +10% Confidence]
I took a deep breath. Slowly, carefully, I began to solve. Each line I wrote drew murmurs, some of surprise, some grudging respect. The solution unfolded like a path I'd walked a hundred times before. When I turned back, the judge's stern expression had softened into something unreadable.
"Correct," he said simply.
Applause rippled through the hall. My knees nearly gave out, but I managed to bow before leaving the stage.
---
That night in the dorms, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The system displayed my progress:
[Olympiad Quest Progress: 67%]
I should have felt victorious. Instead, I felt empty. The medals, the money, the rewards—they were within reach. But what about Rudo? What about my classmates who doubted me?
The system couldn't measure those things.
I whispered into the dark, "I don't just want to win. I want to be believed."
---
The final day arrived—the Grand Test, a grueling combination of subjects: chemistry, physics, mathematics. Hours stretched into eternity as I scribbled, calculated, erased, and rewrote. Sweat dripped onto the pages, smearing ink.
When it was finally over, I sat frozen, staring at the ceiling of the exam hall. My body felt like lead. Around me, some students celebrated, others wept.
The system flickered:
[Quest Complete: National Academic Olympiad]
Result: Pending | Rewards Locked.
---
We gathered in the auditorium for the announcement of results. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
The announcer stepped to the podium, his voice echoing. "In third place…" Cheers erupted. "In second place…" More applause.
I squeezed my fists, breath caught in my throat.
"And in first place, the champion of this year's Olympiad…" The pause stretched forever. "Shelly Pasimupindu!"
The hall exploded. For a second, I couldn't move. Was this real? Had I really—
Students clapped, some reluctantly, some in genuine awe. Teachers cheered. My schoolmates screamed. And there, in the crowd, I saw Rudo. She wasn't clapping, but she was smiling—small, hesitant, but real.
Tears blurred my vision as I stepped onto the stage to receive the medal. The announcer shook my hand. "You've done your school proud," he said.
The system's final notification chimed in my head:
[Quest Complete: National Academic Olympiad]
Reward Unlocked: 10,000 ZWD, Academic Mastery +3, Reputation +5.]
But this time, the rewards felt like background noise. The real reward was the look in Rudo's eyes—the beginning of belief.
---
That night, back in my dorm, I held the medal close. It was heavy, cool against my palm. But what weighed more was the promise I made silently:
"This isn't just about me. It's about proving that even with whispers, with doubts, with betrayal—I can rise. And I'll bring those I love with me."
The system pulsed softly, almost like approval.
For the first time, I didn't just feel like the system's host. I felt like the author of my own destiny.