The Blade Alchemist: New Adventures
Wolf Alchemists: Part 1
One Month Later
Drake POV
I waited in the train booth for it the finally arrive in Resembool. Shortly after Mathew had left for Xing with Al and May, I had to go back to Eastern Command. There have been recent raids on the Amestris-Xing trade caravans. The matter was getting bad and we still haven't found out who's doing it. The train finally arrived and my family were all waiting at the station for me. I walked off the train to five wolves all attacking me with hugs. "Hey guys. I've missed you all. You been good for mom?" They all looked at me and nodded. I turned to my wife and gave her a kiss and hug. "Welcome home, hon." I smiled and kissed her again. "Good to be home."
We walked back to the house and sat down for lunch. "So, you guys been practicing and studying?" Justin and Sarah looked at me and nodded. "Wanna see after lunch?" Justin asked and I nodded. "Of course I do." We finished our lunch and I walked out to the yard with the two. "Alright, lets see what you've got." Justin went first, he drew an array on the ground and I looked at it. "A seven point array? Are you sure about this, Justin?" He turned to me and nodded. "You wanted to see what I can do, didn't you?" I chuckled and stood back. He pressed his to the array and sparks shot up all over the place. Suddenly, the ground exploded in numerous spots around us reaching out about twenty feet away.
"What was that?" I asked and he stood up. "I used the array to decompress the air in the soil at a super high speed, causing the areas to explode from the pressure." I looked at the many small holes it the ground. "I'm impressed. Very impressed. You came up with this on your own?" He smiled and nodded. "Yes, but it only works to about thirty feet away." I smiled and turned to Sarah. "Okay, now your turn, Sarah." She nodded then walked out and placed several small sticks into the ground sticking up in the air. She then came back and drew her array on the ground. "A six point array, but I've never seen anything like that." She smiled and nodded "I think you'll like this, dad." Me and Justin both backed up and she placed her hands on the array. The sparks appeared, then immediately vanished. "Did it fail?" I asked.
The wind started to suddenly pick up and I saw a large dust cloud erupt from the ground and form a cyclone about ten feet high. The cyclone then began to start throwing small rocks and dirt clods out, hitting each of the sticks with precision. But then it started throwing them in multiple directions. "Sarah, I think you should stop." Justin warned and I looked at him. "Why!?" I demanded. Just then, a rock flew from the cyclone and went right through the living room window. We heard the clash of glass breaking. "Sarah! Stop it now!" I yelled and she stopped the cyclone. "SARAH GANTERS! GET IN HERE RIGHT THIS MINUET!" we all heard Jess scream from the house and I turned to Justin. "I'm guessing this is not the first time."
"No. She broke two last week." I turned to her. "You can either take your mothers wrath, or mine! Your choice!" I stated sternly and she ran into the house. I turned back to Justin. "So, do you know how she did that?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Not really. I just try not to be around when she does it. She's hit me twice with rocks." I face palmed. "Well, lets go save your sister before your mom kills her." We walked into the house and saw Jess yelling at Sarah. "Honey, let her be. It's just a window. We'll fix it." Jess turned to me. "The fifth window!" My eyes went wide. "The fifth!?" I turned to Justin. "You told me it was the third!" He held his hands up in surrender. "No, I said this one and two last week. The week before she broke two as well." I moaned and face palmed.
"So what happened out there? What went wrong.?" Sarah turned to me. "I used the array to rapidly rotate the air in the area and it caused it to make a cyclone. The cyclone then picks up any rocks and debris around it and I control the speed to throw the objects at targets. But….it's really hard to keep it under control for long. It'll start throwing the objects randomly. And….the windows are the results." I sighed and walked over to her. "Seventeen years old, and you still drive me nuts. But I do love you." I grabbed her in a hug, then pushed her away. "But you still owe me for five windows."
We sat at the table eating dinner and I turned to Justin and Sarah. "If I were you two, I would carve your arrays onto something that you can where. It saves you the time of having to keep drawing the arrays." They both nodded. "Would gloves work?" Sarah asked and I nodded. "They sure do. Roy uses gloves for his flame alchemy. And Alex has those gauntlets of his. Just find a nice pair of gloves and etch the arrays onto them and it should work. But Sarah, what causes your cyclone to lose control?"
"It's because I have to keep focus on the air currents inside. After a minuet, I lose that focus and the air currents get out of control." I nodded. "I see. So all you have to do is keep your focus on it, right?" She nodded and I sighed. "I wish Izumi could could help. She's fix that quickly." Jess turned to me. "Oh no. I've seen what she did to the brothers. Ain't no way I'd ever let her near my kids." I started laughing. "Well, either way. You two go on to bed now. We have to get up early for the train. Night guys." They both stood up and gave us hugs. "Night mom, dad." they both said and went upstairs.
The next morning, we woke up early for a quick breakfast and Jess was in tears. "Honey, it's fine. I'll watch over them. I've already spoke with Roy and if they pass, he's assigning them to me. So don't worry. Okay?" She nodded and clutched me in a hug. "Take care of our children, honey. Please." I sighed and kissed her. "I will, and you know it." She smiled and nodded. "I know." We walked out of the house and gave final hugs and kisses. We walked down the road to the station and waited for the train. "Last chance guys. Are you two sure you want to do this?" They both looked at each other then to me. "Yes. We're sure dad." Justin answered. "Alright. But don't be disappointed if your not accepted. Remember, it's uncommon for them to accept two State Alchemists in the same year," They both nodded. "We're aware."
The train arrived and we boarded, taking the normal 'family booth' in the back. "So dad. They're letting you come to the exam?" I looked at Sarah and nodded. "I've been selected to be one of the examiners during the physical evaluation. So you'll see me in the room, but do not look at me whatsoever. Just pretend that I'm not there. Understood?" They both nodded again. We rode the rest of the ride in peace. After two long days of train ride, and a sore butt, we finally arrived in Central. We went to the all too familiar hotel and got two rooms for them. "I'll see you guys later. I have to report to Roy and let him know we're all here." I left the hotel and went to Central Command.
As I walked down the hallways, I ran into Riza. "Hey Riza." She looked at me and smiled. "Hello Drake. You bring your kids for the exam?" I smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I'm on my way to see Roy now." She shook her head. "He's not in the office. I'm on my way to him now. You can follow me." We walked down more hallways until we came to the meeting room for the exam personnel. "Evening, sir." I said to Roy and saluted, he returned it. "Hello Blade. I assume you've brought the kids?" I smiled and nodded. "Yeah. Their in the hotel now resting. Those train rides keep getting worse and worse."
"I'm sure. Well here is the info for times and places of the exams. And wish them luck for me." I saluted him and smiled. "Of course sir." I turned and left the room. I got back to the hotel and knocked on Sarahs door. "Come in" I walked inside and she was sitting on the bed stretching. "Hey sweety. The written exam is at 10:00am in room #308. I'll walk you and your brother there in the morning." She yawned and nodded. "Okay. Thanks dad." I gave her a hug and left the room. I entered mine and Justins room and gave him the same info on the exam. We both changed and went to bed.
The next day, I took Justin and Sarah to the room that the written exam was and wished them luck. I had to the records room to check into some things regarding the caravan raids. I was there for about six hours pouring over maps and records of previous raids, but found close to nothing. I decided to give it a rest for now and go see Roy for the results and the written exam. I entered his office and saluted. "Afternoon sir." He returned the salute and I walked up. "Well?" I asked and he chuckled. "I'm amazed. They both passed with good scores." He handed me the results and I saw that the really were good scores. "That makes tow of us. I'm impressed myself." We sat and talked about the raids, but couldn't come up with anything. These raids were getting annoying, not being able to figure it out.
I walked back to the hotel and had Sarah come over to me and Jusins. "Good news. You both passed." They both smiled as wide as can be. "That's great!" Sarah yelled. "Well don't celebrate yet. Next is the physicals. Same time, but room #260. And remember, even though I'm in the room, do not look at me. Keep your gaze on the Fuhrer." They both nodded again. "We will." We all hugged, then Sarah went back to her room for the night. Justin took a shower and we both went to bed as well. Again, I walked the kids to the proper room and told them to wait until called. I entered the room, shook the hands of the other examiners, then took my seat behind the desk. The lights were turned out, leaving the one light over the familiar odd chair.
One by one the exam takers entered the room, were examined, then left. "Next is Sarah Ganters sir." I told Roy and he nodded. "Notify her." He called to the man by the door. He walked out and closed the door. A moment later, we heard a knock. "Enter!" Roy spoke in his stern voice. As much as I disliked it, I glared at my daughter. She walked into the room and looked at the odd chair. "Take a seat, young alchemist! Alchemy is a world of balance! If you truly can use alchemy, the chair will not refuse you! Roy somewhat yelled. She took a breath and sat in the chair, balanced. I let out a silent sigh of relief. Her examination lasted about fifteen minuets, then she was dismissed.
"Next is Justin Ganters sir." I told Roy and he nodded again. "Notify him."