The car pulled away, merging seamlessly into the morning traffic of Veridian Hills. Natalia and I sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the city wake up around us.
I leaned back into the plush leather seat, mapping out the entrance procedures in my mind as the rhythmic hum of the car's engine served as a backdrop to my thoughts.
"It's a three-phase exam," I explained, turning slightly to face Natalia, whose violet eyes were focused intently on me. "Phase one is individual aptitude—essentially a comprehensive screening. They run you through physical assessments, reflex tests, cognitive evaluations—the works. It's designed to mercilessly cull the mediocre from the exceptional."
