Chapter 9: The Alchemy Exam
Dayna woke up early the next morning and prepared her things that she might need. She also packed her things; for Roy said the he was picking her up early for the exam. She showered, changed and headed downstairs, trying not to wake anybody up. Little did she know that as she turned into the kitchen, she saw Elicia, Gracia and Hughes sitting at the table, waiting for her.
"Good morning Dayna, hope you weren't thinking of leaving without having some breakfast?" said Gracia, holding a big plate of pancakes, dripping with maple syrup.
"I didn't think anyone would be up this early," said Dayna, sitting in a nearby chair.
"We wanted to see you before you left for the exam, to wish you the best of luck"
"Thank you very much" she said, as she dove into the mountain of pancakes.
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Hughes got to get the door and saw Roy standing there.
"Dayna, are you ready to go? We don't want to be late"
Dayna got up, finished her milk and ran to get her things. She met Roy back at the door, ready to go.
"I'll see you later. Thanks for everything" she called, waving back at the Hughes' family.
They got in the car when Dayna noticed something,
"Where are Ed and Al?"
"Ed said that he had to do something, Al went with him, but they said good luck and that they would see you as soon as they could" explained Roy.
"Nervous?"
"A little, but I'm ready, I can do this!"
Roy smiled, "I believe in you, you can do this".
They reached Central Military Headquarters and Dayna was amazed by the size of it. Roy told her to follow him and he lead her inside the massive building.
"I told the Furher that you were coming and taking the test. I'll be one of the higher-ups that you are going to be judged by. Don't worry about impressing me, I already know what you're capable of doing"
Roy led her to a set of large doors. Inside was a large room of tables and down below she could see what she figured were the bigwigs of the military.
"You can sit anywhere you like. I have to take a different door to prepare for the judging," he said, exiting out the door. Dayna walked down the stairs and decided to sit at a table in the middle of the room. A uniformed official came and handed her a bunch of paper and advised her not to look at it until she was told. She shook as she looked at the paper; she had such an urge to peek, but she looked down to see Roy at the base of the room.
He looked up and smiled at her and it made Dayna fell a lot better.
A man with a moustache and an eye patch stood up from the large table he was sitting at, the room became silent as he rose to speak.
"Welcome to all our candidates for this years exam. I wish you the best of luck and hope that one of you will become our new State Alchemist. You may now begin!"
Dayna took a deep breath as he flipped her paper over.
'Well, here goes'
Dayna shook as she stood outside the room where the next test was taking place: the interview. She felt that she had done all right on the written test, but she was still incredibly nervous. The last person who went into the room had just come out; he looked more nervous and upset than Dayna did. Her heartbeat increased when she heard "Next!" calling from the room, she took another deep breath and went into the room.
The room looked like the way Ed had described it when he took the test. It was dark when a light came on and she saw a golden chair with three legs. Ahead of the chair, she could see Roy, the Furher and all the other higher officers sitting at a table.
Dayna stepped forward and sat carefully down in the chair. The Furher looked at her and then at a piece of paper,
"Now, Miss Simerion, why do want to be an alchemist of the state?"
Dayna pondered about the question, she then looked up at the Furher and gave her response.
"I want to help others. People I've met and others that I haven't. In any way, I want to use my alchemy to give others hope when the think they've lost it"
"Are you aware of the duties that are required for a state alchemist? Are you prepared to handle that?"
"Yes sir, I am"
The questions carried on for half an hour and Dayna was finally allowed to leave, when she exited the room, she saw a familiar face.
"Hello Mr. Hughes"
"Hey, how's the exam going?"
"Well. I hope, what are you doing here?"
"About to go and eat lunch. My wife made one for you, care to join me?"
"Sure. All these tests are making me hungry"
After lunch, the group of alchemist were brought outside. The Furher stood up front and explained that the final test would be a demonstration of alchemic skill and the objective was on trying to impress them. Dayna looked past and saw the pile of provided supplies that had been brought for them: Tree logs, steel beams, water, rocks, etc.
A few alchemists went before her and all of they're alchemy skills were pretty impressive.
'What am I going to do? Roy said that my shield technique was really impressive, but how can I use it?'
Dayna had developed a plan when her turn finally came. She stepped forward and asked if she could have help moving two of the steel beams and a log. She stepped towards them and clapped her hands together, she placed them on her items and a machine gun was now in it's place.
'Ok, the bigwigs seem impressed so far. Now for the second act'
"Excuse me Furher, may I ask a favour?"
The Furher got up and asked,
"What is it dear?"
"Could you operate this gun for me?"
The Fuhrer walked over and took hold of the gun. Dayna moved back and away from the other alchemists.
"Ok. Prefect. Now when I give the word, I would like you to fire the gun towards me"
One of the officials quickly stood up,
"Miss, are you sure you want to do this? You could be seriously hurt…or worse!"
"Don't worry sir, I've had experience with this before," Dayna said as she faced the Furher and clapped her hands together.
"Ready…GO!"
Dayna quickly moved her hands as the Furher fired the machine gun at her. To everyone's, shock, all the bullets stopped in front of her hands and a pale bluish-green light surrounded her.
When the gun was empty, Dayna lowered her hands and all of the bullets landed on the ground. She bowed her head to the Furher,
"Thank you for your assistance, sir"
The Furher clapped his hands together in applause,
"Wonderful! Outstanding performance young lady. Everyone, I think we've found our new alchemist!"
"Really! You mean it?"
"Yes, Congratulations!"
"I did it! Thank you!" she cried and ran over to give Roy a big hug.
"I can't wait to tell Ed!"
