We are all consumed by want.

I have this nasty habit. It's basically observing people more than taking action. For example, we had one hour to prepare ourselves for the fight against the flame alchemist, and although my signature alchemy's weakness is flames, and quick changes in light, I was paying more attention to the other two alchemists. One of the guys was using transmutation circles with both angles and swirls. My guess would be that he was using the force of the wind to change the winds' current into a precise form and shape. Making 'wind blades' as I so expertly dubbed them. The other guy was using transmutation circles with triangular/rhombus shapes, sharp turns and lines. I came to the conclusion that it changed a large variety of minerals into crystallized forms, occasionally stronger than diamonds by rearranging the chemical structure and bonds between the elements, a very complex type of alchemy, but useful nonetheless. I wrote them all down in one of my notebooks to see if I would be able to do them later. This particular book was my 'Alchemy To Do List'.

When I finally began planning my plan of attack I only had fifteen minutes left. Seeing as my unique alchemy was more for covert operations I had to add more standard circles to my hands, and a bunch illusion circles on paper that could be linked to the long distance control circle (link circle) I had on my upper arm. I was gonna wing it and be awesome.

The fights took place outside in the combat field. The combat field was this HUGE circular field that had nothing but a short wooden fence around it. I could probably fit eighteen bakeries in it and still have room.

Thankfully, we weren't going to follow the ladies first ideology. I got to go last,and had the opportunity to watch fights that were for sport, with the famous flame alchemist in action. Despite this, the fights were boring though and uncreative, dull even. They were predictable and easy to follow. If they were to get into a fight, it would most likely be finished quickly and easily. I couldn't see the fight very well due to the distance, but the fights themselves were very different compared to each other.

Michael, who had developed the wind blade alchemy, was very systematic. That fight had a lot more standing around with hands activating circles. For some reason it seemed that despite his calm attitude, he was gradually growing frustrated.

When the colonel fought Gabriel, the 'Crystalline Alchemist' as I had come to call him, it was entirely different. Gabriel seemed to have a rather obvious short temper. There was a lot of dodging on both sides, both from fire and fiery crystallized… Rocks? I couldn't tell exactly. You could feel the intensity radiating from the two.

When Mustang announced my turn, I smiled giddily. The papers filled with circles was clutched in my hand, at my side. When he took note of the circles, he commented, "If you want to lay out your circles, you can."

With a smile I replied, "Thank you, but I don't have to." He shrugged and I approached him without any signs of attack. I brought the papers to my front and just before I let it reach my other hand, I threw them into the air. As I dropped to the ground and used the earth to use a basic alchemic circle, that allowed you to use the kinetic energy of any mineral, to shape the earth to your will. It was simple enough to enclose the him in a tepee of sorts.

Of course it was just as simple to break it as well. As such, before he could break it down I used the link circle on my arm to activate multiple of my illusion circles to build on top of each others to make it seem as though there were more tepees of earth than there actually were.

As I had mentioned on multiple occasions before, illusion alchemy is not exactly suited for combat, in general. Much less for combat against a flame controlling alchemist. So the moment he used his fire alchemy, everyone immediately realized that all of the layers were illusions. Of course it didn't change the fact that the circle that made the illusion was still there, so he ended up having to go through the illusion. I pounded my hands to the earth again using the same unoriginal circle once again. This time placing walls in between the illusions.

The moment there was a long string of colorful cursing I knew the officer had walked straight into a wall. I began to chuckle lightly but it was quickly cut off as a flame stretched over both my head, and the entire combat field. I had my personal illusion bend itself over so it wouldn't be affected by the stupid flame. The Flame alchemist truly deserved his title. I ran into the maze I had ended up making. As long as I stayed in the shadows, my illusion appearance wouldn't fall. By now, the illusion teepees were easily distinguishable from the real walls. I saw the colonel making his way over, burning the papers I had earlier strewn across the ground. I had pounded my hands to the ground once again to build a wall directly in front of me. Without moving my hands, I activated another circle on my hand that would create a magnetic field that would repel the molecules in the earth. It created a hole in the ground faster and more sufficiently than any other circle. I took out another paper from my pocket and set the illusion that made the hole appear sealed.

I used the Field Circle to continue tunneling till I was under the colonel. He was yelling something to the effect of not underestimating your opponent, and the moment I activated one of the circles that was designed to change the elements of the earth into iron, and would simultaneously use the kinetic energy to move only the iron. At the same moment, the top of the tunnel to the left of me collapsed. I have a startled yelp, I used the Field Circle again and popped up to the surface and found myself facing a white glove, fingers ready to snap.

"It would seem I've won this match." Was the only thing Mustang said. I stood up and brushed myself off. I respectfully gave a swift nod to his judgment, and left the combat field.

The other two had been standing quite a good distance away. The fire had been dispersed and the illusion had been destroyed. The combat field had tall earthy walls that had all been blackened at their tops. I off handedly wondered what the people who didn't know what was going on, thought of the scene.

Giggling at the thoughts my mind had conjured up, I looked to Gabriel and Michael, "Well, there goes discretion." They each grew a small smirk, which in my book, is a success, whether or not I get the position. I could always attempt to go in as a regular foot soldier, despite how unproductive it could be.

The blonde lady walked towards the colonel and the colonel crouched down. When he stood up again, he began talking to her. As they walked over to the three of us, there was quite a lot of settle expressions in the man's movement as they both spoke. At first it was serious, then offended, some weird combination of desperate and happy, factual, serious again, and that's when I gave up. This guy was weird.

When they came within earshot, we were dismissed till certain times, each our own. Michael was to report to Colonel Mustang's office in 1800 hours, I in 1900 hours, and Gabriel in 2000 hours.

I left and I wanted food.