[Arc 1] Aerox Station

Midnight, 23:00, 15th Bloomcrest, 327

The train let out a sharp whistle as it started moving, signaling that all passengers were aboard. Soon, the steady kadak-kadak, kadak-kadak of the wheels on the rails filled the air, growing louder as the train picked up speed.

Everyone in the passenger car was asleep, but Siddharth couldn’t close his eyes.
The excitement for the next day kept him wide awake.

We’ll reach Aerox Station by 5:30 in the morning, he thought, shifting slightly on his seat beside Miss Dhwani.

Dhwani sat peacefully between both of them with her eyes closed, trying to fall asleep.
Aradhya lay curled against Miss Dhwani, her small hands tucked under her cheek as she slept, her head resting lightly on Dhwani’s lap through the cushion of her own fingers.

Siddharth turned to the window.
Outside, the land stretched endlessly under the soft bluish hue of the moonlight.
Cactus plants flickered past now and then, dust trailing behind in the cool air of the plateau region.

He wanted to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t let him.
He glanced at the two beside him — both lost in gentle slumber.

Just then, Dhwani slightly opened one eye.
“You’re still not asleep?” she whispered.

He met her gaze and shook his head quietly.

“Tomorrow’s an important day,” she said with a faint smile.
“You should sleep.”

Resting her hand softly on her lap, she made a small gesture — a silent invitation.

Siddharth hesitated, his cheeks warming.
Flustered, he looked away... but after a moment, obediently leaned over and rested his head on her lap, slowly drifting into sleep.

7.1

Morning, 5:25, 16th Bloomcrest, 327

The early sunlight hit the rails, shimmering as the train neared Aerox Station.
From a distance, the station looked massive — much larger than Sandket Station.

As the train whistled and began to slow down, Siddharth pressed eagerly against the window, not wanting to miss even a single detail.

The station stretched, with six platforms laid out in a straight line, out of those, 4 platforms of the middle were double the size of the end two platforms, each separated by two parallel railway tracks.
Ten lines in total branched across the station, two rails running between every platform, each pair going in a different direction.

Aradhya was still asleep, curled up on Miss Dhwani’s lap, while Dhwani smiled, watching Siddharth's excitement.

“This station really is different from Sandket Station!” Siddharth said, gripping the window frame. “It’s exactly how the books described it!”

“It is!” Dhwani agreed warmly.
She then turned to Aradhya, gently shaking her.
"Wake up, we're here."

Aradhya stirred, rubbing her eyes groggily.
When she caught sight of the station through the window, she lit up instantly.
“Yey!” she cheered — a little too loudly.

Several passengers turned to look.
Realizing her outburst, Aradhya flushed with embarrassment and quickly hid her face against Miss Dhwani's arms.

Laughing softly, Miss Dhwani stood up, grabbing their bags just as the train came to a halt, the air filled with the hiss of brakes. Slowly the people of the coach started to get off.

Siddharth immediately rushed out and hopped off the train, wide-eyed with curiosity.
The station was clean and well-maintained, very unlike Sandket’s dusty platforms.
The polished wooden signboards gleamed under the morning sun, and the letters on them were clearly readable.

Wooden benches lined each of the six platforms, almost as if they had been placed thoughtfully for the comfort of travellers.

Looking around, Siddharth thought aloud,
“Hey... if people don’t travel much here, why are there so many passenger platforms? Isn’t this mostly for goods trains?”

He turned to ask Miss Dhwani — only to realize she wasn’t beside him.

Instead, a tall man with a strong posture and spiky blue hair overheard and answered,
“It’s because this station is specially for passengers and is opened during the Academy test season,” he explained, smiling cheerfully.
“Otherwise, the trains bypass this station and head straight for the industrial sector of Aerox.”
He pointed down the continuing tracks beyond the platforms.

“Ohh... I see...” Siddharth muttered, glancing around.
Where did Miss Dhwani go? he wondered, looking right and left.

Then he spotted her a little ahead, holding Aradhya’s hand.

The man chuckled, seeing Siddharth’s confused face.
“Lost, huh?” he said with a teasing grin.
“You are so young. You must be some kind of super genius to take the test.”
With a shrug, he climbed the stairs leading out of the station from over the platforms.

Siddharth quickly hurried back to Dhwani and Aradhya, and together, they too continued their way out of the station by the footbridge.

7.2

Morning, 6:00, 16th Bloomcrest, 327
Outside Aerox Station

A small garden spread out in front of the station, dotted with tea stalls and food vendors, the aroma of steaming chai and frying bread floated in the crisp morning air. The candidates who had just arrived on the train from Sandket wandered around, chattering excitedly over breakfast about the first test.

Among them, Siddharth, Aradhya, and Miss Dhwani stepped out into the cool morning air.

“Would you like to grab some breakfast here?” Dhwani asked, looking at the two.

“Is it necessary?” Siddharth replied, shrugging as he scanned the area.

“It is,” Aradhya said firmly, her tone sharper than usual. She tilted her head and asked, “What are you looking for anyway?”

“Entry points. Test timings. Anything useful. None of that was mentioned in the form...” Siddharth said, scratching his head and glancing at Dhwani.

Touching her chin thoughtfully, Dhwani replied, “Hmm... I guess we won’t know until candidates from all towns gather here. We're the second group to arrive—the people from Minevale got here before us.”

Around them, other candidates chatted animatedly:
“The others should be arriving soon.”
“Yeah, everyone has to be here by eight. Let's grab some tea.”
“Nah, I'll go for milk instead!”
“Haha! Classic!”

“So basically,” Siddharth muttered, glancing at the chatting groups, “we just wait around doing nothing until someone tells us where to go.”

“We should eat,” Aradhya said practically. “Or we’ll be starving during the test.”

“Can’t you stay quiet for once? You’re boring me,” Siddharth grumbled.

“Don’t say that,” Dhwani scolded lightly. “You two should try being friends.”

Ugh, whatever, he thought with a shrug. “Alright.”

“Wait, really?” Aradhya’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah? What?” Siddharth looked at her, confused.

“We’re friends now?!” she beamed, grabbing his hand with a bright smile.

“Y-yeah... what’s the big deal?” Siddharth muttered. I don’t even know what being friends feels like... I’m just doing this because Miss Dhwani said so, he thought, cringed out.

“Good! Now, let’s eat,” Dhwani said, pointing toward a poha stall nearby.

We finally became friends, Aradhya thought, smiling brightly as she skipped ahead, swinging Dhwani’s hand playfully.

Siddharth walked a few steps behind them, hands stuffed into his pockets, glancing around the bustling garden with a lazy look.

We’re going to make a good team, she thought again, her heart feeling lighter than usual.

Time drifted by slowly.

Some candidates were already warming up, stretching their limbs as they prepared for the test ahead. Others were grabbing a quick bite, sipping tea and chatting with each other, while a few stood quietly in thought, absorbing the moment. There were even some who had fallen asleep, using the calm of the morning to rest before the challenge began.

At 7:49 in the morning, the final train arrived, and the last group of candidates spilled out onto the station platform, all of them eager and anxious for what lay ahead.

The square was now alive with a low murmur. Candidates shifted nervously, exchanging glances. The morning sun pressed down hotter now, beads of sweat forming on foreheads. Some clutched their test forms tighter, the paper crinkling softly. A bird cried out overhead.

A loud Ahem! cut through the air, followed by the booming voice of a man with a shiny bald head and a thick moustache, wearing simple white athletic wear. He stood at the front of the crowd, a file in his left hand, and his voice echoed through the garden.

“Attention, please!” he called, and instantly, all noise ceased. Every candidate turned to face him, their eyes filled with curiosity and tension.

“Today marks the beginning of your Academy Admission Test. As you can see, the garden you’re standing in is part of a larger complex with two distinct pathways, each leading in a different direction but all eventually leading to the same place—Aerox.”

A murmur ran through the crowd as some candidates exchanged confused looks.

One voice from the back broke the silence. “Wait, this isn’t Aerox?”

The man, unfazed, continued, “As you may already know, every town has a dessert area between the station and the edge of the city, often marked by windmills and energy sources. In the case of Aerox, however, this area is so well-maintained that it feels as though it is part of the city itself.”

The confused candidate nodded, realizing his mistake.

At the far end of the garden, two wide gateways stood open, revealing the endless stretch of desert beyond.

The bald examiner stepped forward.

“As you can see, there are two gateways ahead,” he said, gesturing broadly. “Both lead to Aerox City. However, the paths are different. Gate One leads through the open desert — nothing but sand, cactus, and sun for miles. Gate Two follows a proper road, the easiest and fastest way to reach the city.”

A girl raised her hand hesitantly.
“So… we can choose which path to take?”

The examiner looked at her, an unimpressed frown crossing his face.
“...No. Candidates will assemble at Gate One,” he said firmly. “There’s no reason for us to open a path through the desert unless we want to roast ourselves under the sun. That route is for candidates only. Non-candidates — whether family, teachers, or even pets — will exit through Gate Two and head straight to the city.”

The girl nodded quickly, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

Watching the small exchange, Siddharth smirked, his gaze flickering across the gathered candidates. I guess majority of them are new here, not knowing anything just like me.

His heart beat steadily — sharp, focused, indifferent.
Observant as ever, yet distant from everything unrelated to his goal.

“Take care, Siddharth, Aradhya. Don’t lose!”
Miss Dhwani smiled warmly, patting their heads as she handed them their forms.

Siddharth barely reacted, his mind already racing ahead toward the desert.
Aradhya, however, grinned brightly.

With a final wave, Miss Dhwani watched them step through Gate One.
Then she turned, walking briskly toward Gate Two, disappearing with the flow of non-candidates.

“So, he’s here…”???