Marek knew that the (Control-Measuring Materials) were kept in a safe so old it still smelled like the Soviet Union. His teacher, Valentina Petrovna, guarded them like a dragon guarding gold.

When the exam began the next morning, the classroom felt colder. Marek turned to page four. There it was: “Question 15: Identify the coordinates of the Silent Ridge and list its primary exports.”

The night before the exam, Marek didn't study. Instead, he used a drone to peek through the staff room window. He saw the stack of papers, but they weren't white—they were glowing with a faint, bioluminescent blue.

The rumor was that this year’s test wasn't just about the climate zones of Russia or the relief of the Urals. Legend had it that the 2026 version contained a "phantom question" about a territory that didn't exist on any map.