Dominik was shaken from his sleep by the sounds of cookware banging in the small corner they called a kitchen. His mother had her long hair braided behind her as she moved around preparing their breakfast. Still groggy, Dominik greeted, "Good morning, Mother."
"Morning, my darling," she replied, wiping her hands on her sack dress. She walked over to Dominik, who was still lying on his mat, and bent to kiss his forehead. "I hope you slept well."
Dominik smiled. "I slept well today, Mother."
She stood up and said, "I woke up earlier today and did all your chores. I know how tired you've been with training and the stress you've been under."
"Mother, you also work hard. You didn't have to do that. I could have done the chores myself. I'm an adult now, and I'm responsible for my obligations," he said with a frown.
"You could have grandchildren, and you'd still be my baby. Stop scolding me and get ready. I've informed your uncle you'll be skipping training today."
"Yes, Mother," Dominik said as he stepped into the bathroom to take his bath.
After finishing his bath, now fully dressed and ready to visit his grandfather, Dominik saw his mother packing the breakfast into tupperwares before arranging them in a basket. "We're having breakfast with your grandfather. It's been a while since we've done so." Dominik responded with a nod as he carried the basket, and he and his mother proceeded to visit his grandfather's house.
They arrived at his grandfather's house in the more livable areas of the Class 5 district in Ahnduim City. Passing through the waste and mud, they reached his grandfather's little bungalow, which seemed out of place in the district. The bungalow, built out of cheap Bambi wood, was small and humble but carried a noble air about it. A little fence surrounded the perimeter of the house. Dominik opened the gate and climbed the stairs at the porch to get into the house.
The bungalow was divided into a left and right side. As they entered, Dominik glanced toward the clinic door on the left side, which remained tightly locked. It had been this way since the previous day, a sign that the clinic was temporarily closed. The wooden home, split into two distinct sections, was a cozy but practical arrangement: the right side was their living quarters, while the left side housed the clinic where his grandfather had once practiced.
The bungalow's interior was a blend of comfort and tradition. The right side of the house, where they lived, was warmly decorated with handcrafted furniture made by his grandfather himself, while the left side was filled with shelves lined with physical books. His grandfather's house showed his liking for things of the earth. The scent of old paper and the faint aroma of herbs filled the air.
Upon entering the house, Dominik found his grandfather sitting in an armchair in a corner of the room, dressed neatly in white robes, a white tunic, and free-flowing blue pants. Dominik's grandfather was a striking figure: a sturdy, tall old man whose presence exuded an air of nobility and wisdom, accentuated by his piercing golden eyes that seemed to hold centuries of knowledge. Despite his Class 5 status, he carried himself with a dignity that made it hard for others to discern his true class at first glance.
"Good morning, Father," Lucille said upon spotting her father.
"Is that my darling daughter?" His grandfather looked up with a small smile.
"Good morning, Grandfather," Dominik said.
"What's with the sour look on your face?" his grandfather said.
"Stop scaring your grandson; you're too old for that," his mother said.
"Hmph, I'm not scaring the boy; he looks constipated." His mother let out a loud laugh as she looked toward Dominik and said, "Drop the basket on the table and take a seat." Dominik's shoulders relaxed as he took his seat. There was a power and authority his grandfather exuded, even more than the patriarch of the Muita family, that made him fear him.
His mother announced, "I came with breakfast. I made flatbread, Sonami tea, and steamed kelp." She set the table, and they proceeded to eat their meal.
After breakfast, a silence descended upon the room, as if they all knew where the conversation was about to be steered. They settled into the comfortable seating area, with the grandfather taking his place in a large armchair that seemed almost regal. Dominik and his mother sat opposite him, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air.
The grandfather's tone shifted as he began to speak about the IGE48. "Dominik, I've heard you've been nominated to take the IGE48 for the Muita family," he started, his voice steady. "It's time you understood the full scope of what you're dealing with."
"Yes, Grandfather," Dominik said.
His grandfather leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with intensity. "What have you learned about the IGE48?" he asked.
"I was at the library yesterday, and I read Indiana Gassius's book on the IGE48. I understand how it works, Grandfather."
The old man burst out in laughter. "Indiana Gassius, eh? What a sham of a book. No wonder Class 4 and 5 citizens often die during the IGE48 consignment every decade."
"I believe you are an adult, an intelligent one at that, so I'll tell you something about our family today," he began.
"Before moving to Ahnduim City thirty years ago, I lived in Disane with your mother and my late wife." Dominik let out a gasp at the revelation. Disane was a place where only the elites lived; it was practically a gathering of the strong. "We served a Class 2 family during our stay there, and it was during that time that I stumbled across knowledge about the true nature of the IGE48." Dominik had many questions about their family background, as his grandfather's description was quite vague, but from the look on his grandfather's face, any questions he raised would remain unanswered. "What is the truth about the IGE48?"
Dominik listened intently as his grandfather continued. "The IGE48 procedure is not as straightforward as it might appear. The process actually involves two stages: the weeding-out stage and the actual administration of IGE48. In the weeding-out stage, nominees are placed in a controlled environment where they must navigate a labyrinth. Many die in this stage because they do not understand the dangers or fail to find their way. Any wrong turn leads to the complete obliteration of a candidate."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "The upper-class children in Disane have access to a much better schooling system where many of them have trained at replicas of the labyrinth for years." Upon hearing that, Dominik began to understand that Class 4 and 5 citizens like him were doomed from the start. They had no chances from the get-go.
"The second stage," he continued, "is taking the IGE48 itself. The body must be prepared meticulously before administration. If the preparation is not thorough, the recipient dies. You see, back in Disane, the IGE48 was a big deal for the big families. They spend years preparing their most powerful youngsters for a chance at it."
Dominik's mind raced as he processed this new information. The stakes were far higher than he had anticipated. His grandfather's insight painted a clearer picture of the road ahead.
"Knowing all of this, Grandfather, how does this help me not die at the consignment?" Dominik inquired.
"To help you," his grandfather said, breaking into Dominik's thoughts, "I will take you to Turin. I have an old friend who owes me a great favor, and he can assist in preparing you for the IGE48. It's crucial that you're well-prepared to face the challenges ahead."
Dominik nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and resolve. The path forward was fraught with danger, but with his grandfather's guidance and support, he hoped to navigate it successfully.
After the conversation with his grandfather, Dominik stepped out of the house briefly. Upon his exit, his mother turned to her father. "We cannot hold this ruse any longer."
He sighed. "I'll go with him to Turin to get him ready. In the meantime, prepare everything in my absence. I'm afraid it's time to head back home."
Her countenance changed. "Yes, Father. I know you're entrusting Dominik to him. Extend my thanks to the old master when you arrive in Turin."
He responded with a nod. "I'm scared Dominik might not be ready for the change he's about to experience." She said
"No one is ever ready for what he is about to face, my dear," he replied.