The news arrived the next morning, delivered by a uniformed messenger who handed over a sealed envelope bearing the official seal of the Fifth Caste. Helena opened it with trembling hands, fully aware that the words inside would change her life forever.
"Candidate Helena Argos, we congratulate you on passing the first stage of the Selection Process. You must report to the central station of the Fifth Caste within 12 hours to board transport for the next phase. Further instructions will be provided at the location. Sincerely, The Selection Commission."
After reading the letter, Helena looked at Mira and Selene. Her mother wore a serious expression, but there was a glimmer of pride in her eyes. Selene, on the other hand, seemed worried, as if she saw something others could not.
— "You did it," Mira said, crossing her arms. "Are you ready for what comes next?"
Helena nodded, though she wasn't sure if the answer was true. Was she ready? Probably not. But it didn't matter. What mattered was moving forward.
----
The 12 hours passed quickly. The house was silent on the morning of her departure, as Helena packed a small bag with essentials: a few changes of clothes, a notebook for notes, an old family photo, and a simple necklace that Selene insisted she take.
When it was time to say goodbye, Mira hugged her tighter than usual.
— "Be careful, Helena. Don't trust everyone. Not everything is as it seems," Mira said in a tone that felt more like an order than advice.
Selene, in turn, held her granddaughter's face firmly and looked deeply into her eyes.
— "Listen to your instincts. They'll guide you when words fail," her grandmother said with a soft smile that seemed to hide years of untold secrets.
Helena didn't reply, only nodded, letting the silence carry the weight of the moment. With her bag on her back and courage in her heart, she headed to the station.
----
The central square of the Fifth Caste, home to the boarding station, was a place of great importance to the community. Only members of the Fifth Caste could board trains there. The area was always busy, but that day there was a peculiar tension in the air. Families and friends gathered to say their goodbyes, while nervous candidates waited for their departure.
The station itself was a monumental structure carved into the depths of the rock. Arched metal supports held up the high ceiling, and hanging lights dangled like stars, casting dancing shadows on the walls. The train waited in the center, an imposing machine of dark metal, designed more for endurance than comfort.
Helena found Ethan near the entrance to one of the train cars. He looked restless, drumming his fingers against the side of his bag.
— "So, this is it," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
— "This is it," Helena replied with a half-smile. "Ready for the unknown?"
— "No, but that's never stopped me before."
They boarded together, finding seats in the middle of the car. Already on the train were candidates from the Sixth Caste, who always traveled to the Fifth Caste before proceeding to the Selection Process. The castes always paired up for the Process, and the Fifth and Sixth were grouped together as the lowest.
The train's interior was functional, with metal seats and bare walls, but the space was filled with life. Young people from all castes spoke in hushed voices, sizing each other up as if everyone was a potential ally or enemy.
Near Helena, a girl with short hair and curious eyes introduced herself.
— "Hi, I'm Tessa. Sixth Caste. Are you two heading to the next stage too?"
Helena and Ethan exchanged a glance before answering.
— "Fifth Caste. I'm Helena, and this is Ethan," she said, nodding toward her friend.
Tessa smiled.
— "Looks like we'll be caste neighbors, at least for now."
During the journey, Tessa proved to be talkative, sharing stories about her life in the Sixth Caste. Her energy contrasted with the somber atmosphere of the train, bringing a bit of levity to the trip.
After hours of traveling on seemingly endless tracks, the train arrived at its final destination. The station where they disembarked was entirely different: austere, cloaked in oppressive silence, and guarded by uniformed figures. The candidates were instructed to form lines and follow a long corridor leading to a platform with ancient elevators.
— "Are we going up or down?" Ethan asked, frowning as he studied the elevator's control panel.
— "Up," one of the guards accompanying the group replied. His tone allowed no questions.
The elevator swayed slightly as it began its ascent, and Helena felt her stomach churn. No one spoke during the ride, the silence broken only by the mechanical hum of the equipment.
When the doors opened, they found themselves in a broader, well-lit tunnel. At the far end, a colossal structure stood out: a building seemingly carved directly into the rock, with numerous windows glowing like eyes watching the void.
— "Welcome to the Training Center," a man in a black uniform announced. "This will be your home for the next two months."
Inside the building, the candidates were divided into smaller groups and led to their dormitories. Helena and Tessa ended up in the same room, a simple space with three beds, lockers, and a shared bathroom. The third roommate had yet to arrive.
— "It's not exactly luxurious, but I've seen worse," Tessa commented, tossing her bag onto one of the beds.
Helena surveyed the room critically. Everything seemed functional but devoid of any comfort. A small panel on the wall displayed digital instructions detailing the first day's schedule: orientation, introduction of evaluators, and general rules.
Tessa sat on the bed by the window, gazing out at the subterranean horizon.
— "Feels like we're on top of the world," she said, almost in a whisper.
Helena approached to look. From their vantage point, the lower castes were distant shadows, a constant reminder of where they came from.
— "We're not on top. Not yet," Helena replied with a resolute tone.
Tessa turned to her, smiling.
— "Well, I guess that means we've got a lot of work ahead of us."
Helena didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Here, in the isolation of the Training Center, the real battles of the Selection Process were about to begin. And she knew she couldn't afford to fail.