The end of the registration period brought a mix of relief and tension that seemed to permeate the air of the fifth caste. Helena could feel it in the hushed conversations on the streets, the nervous glances, and the closed expressions of the residents. Those who had registered for the Process carried a silent pride, walking with their heads held high, while those who chose not to participate averted their gaze, as if admitting their own defeat.
In the central square, a massive metallic panel had been installed, reflecting the light from the crystals embedded in the cave's ceiling. A holographic projection on the panel listed the names of confirmed candidates along with instructions for the next stage.
Helena pushed her way through the crowd gathered there, her firm steps contrasting with the nervousness churning inside her. She stopped in front of the panel and read the words hovering in the hologram:
"All registered participants must report to the caste auditorium tomorrow at 8 a.m. This will be the first step toward the Process. Arrive prepared. Punctuality will be evaluated."
Helena repeated the message in her mind. Arrive prepared. A simple phrase, yet laden with uncertainties. Prepared for what?
She lingered there for a few more minutes, observing the reactions around her. Some faces displayed determination, while others reflected fear of the unknown. The competition had already begun, though no one dared to admit it.
----
Back home, she found Mira and Selene sitting at the kitchen table, an unusual atmosphere hanging in the air. Mira held an embroidery piece in her hands, but Helena knew she wasn't truly focused on her work. Selene, on the other hand, seemed calm, pouring steaming tea with practiced ease.
"They've announced the next step," Helena said, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow at 8 a.m., in the auditorium."
Mira didn't lift her eyes, but Selene smiled faintly, looking at her granddaughter with an enigmatic expression. "So the game begins," her grandmother said, her tone almost amused.
"Game?" Helena raised an eyebrow. "This isn't a board game. This is my life."
"And isn't life a game?" Selene countered, her voice steady. "Full of rules you only discover in the middle of the match?"
Helena took a deep breath, struggling to contain her frustration.
"And what rules are those? 'Arrive prepared'? Prepared for what?"
This time, Mira set her embroidery aside and looked at her daughter seriously.
"I can't answer that, Helena. You know why."
"Because the eternal secret binds you. I've heard that before," Helena replied dryly.
Mira nodded, fatigue evident in her eyes.
"But I can tell you this: the Process isn't just about strength or intelligence. They test everything, and in ways you can't predict."
Helena crossed her arms, her frustration growing.
"That's incredibly helpful."
Selene let out a short laugh, though it wasn't mocking.
"Sometimes, the answers aren't in the words but in what you observe. Pay attention to the details, Helena. Always the details."
Helena remained silent, pondering her grandmother's words. She knew Selene rarely spoke without reason.
----
Later, Helena met Ethan at the highest point of the fifth caste, a rocky formation where they could see the fields lit by the crystals. It was one of the few places they could talk without fear of being overheard.
Ethan was sitting on a rock, tossing pebbles into the river below.
"So, it's tomorrow," he said without looking at her.
"Yeah. And the riddles have already started. 'Arrive prepared,' as if it's some kind of inside joke," Helena replied, sitting beside him.
Ethan let out a short laugh, but there was no humor in it.
"Mystery is what they do best. Even the times have hidden meanings. 8 a.m.? You think it's just about punctuality?"
"Of course not," Helena said, crossing her arms. "I bet they'll watch who arrives early, who shows up last minute, who rushes to the door."
Ethan nodded, pointing a pebble at her.
"Exactly. They're already testing us before it even starts."
Helena sighed, watching the light reflections on the river.
"Do you think we're ready for this?"
Ethan turned to her, surprised by the question.
"Who could ever be ready for this?"
She laughed humorlessly. The honesty of his answer stung.
----
Back at home, Helena noticed the silence that enveloped the night. Mira prepared a special dinner—something rare—with roasted meat, golden potatoes, and fresh bread that filled the air with a comforting aroma.
Helena eyed the set table with suspicion. "A banquet for the farewell?" she joked, though there was a hint of truth in her words.
"It's just dinner," Mira said firmly. "Nothing more."
But everyone knew it wasn't just that. Mira and Selene treated the meal like a ritual—a symbolic farewell before something bigger.
Selene began telling old stories, as she often did. Helena had heard many of them before, but that night, her grandmother's words seemed to carry a different weight, as if each tale had a hidden purpose.
"And do you think any of those heroes went through the Process?" Helena teased.
Selene gave her a mysterious smile.
"Who knows? Perhaps they faced something far worse."
----
The next morning, Helena woke before the artificial sunrise. She dressed in simple, practical clothes and headed to the auditorium with Ethan and a few others.
The place was massive, with rows of chairs arranged in arcs around an elevated stage. Uniformed guards stood along the walls, their expressions as rigid as the stones surrounding them.
Helena found a seat near the center. As she observed the environment, the tension grew with each passing minute.
Suddenly, at exactly 8 a.m., a metallic voice echoed through the space, and the door they had entered through was shut by one of the guards.
"Welcome. You have been selected to take the first step toward the Process."
Helena exchanged a quick glance with Ethan.
"Over the coming weeks, you will be evaluated in different aspects. Some of you will not make it to the end."
The silence that followed was crushing.
"Today, we will begin with something simple. A written test. You have 90 minutes. Instructions are on your desks. Good luck."
A momentary wave of relief washed over Helena. A written test? That seemed easy. But as she opened the notebook before her, she realized she was gravely mistaken.
The questions were bewildering:
– "If you were a leader, how would you ensure the loyalty of your subordinates?"
– "What would you sacrifice for something greater than yourself?"
– "Complete the sequence: 3, 9, 27, …"
They were questions that tested logic, morality, and self-awareness.
Helena gripped the pen tightly and began to write. Each word she penned felt like a piece of a puzzle she didn't yet understand. Deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.