State Alchemist Mustang
Chapter Nine - Testing: Part II
The next day, Raven and the people who passed the written test, were back at Central's base. They all seamed a little more relaxed now that one part one of the test was over. But they were all still a little tense because it was now the interview time. One by one, the alchemists were called into a small dark room. When Raven entered, she saw her father sitting behind a long table. On both sides of him were military officers standing at attention watching her every move. She did a quick scan and saw her mother was not there. But what interested her most was the golden three legged chair sitting in the middle of the room. The only light in the room was a spot light shining directly down on the chair.
"The three legged chair is held up by alchemy, sit in it without flaw, and you pass the first part of today's exam." She heard her father say as she approached the chair. She stood next to the chair and she looked at it. She hesitated, but then moved to sit. She expected it to wobble, but it didn't move.
"Very good." She looked up with a stern face at the table. An hour later, she emerged from the room feeling like a great weight was removed from her shoulders. Waiting outside amongst the waiting test takers, was her mother. She was standing and talking to another military officer. Raven approached her mother and they walked outside.
"Your fa...the Fuhrer will be in there quiet a while." Riza smiled as they began to walk across the lawn.
"Wanna grab lunch?" Riza smiled and looked down at the now smiling Raven.
"Yeah!" So they headed off to get something to eat. Raven was very excited about the next day and she needed to find a way to calm down.
It was the third day of testing and they were standing in the back court yard of Central's base. Raven stood amongst about five or six people, three military and the rest civilians. In front of them was a large section of multiple environments. There was a wooded area, a snowy mountain and a running river. In the middle, the was a small section of desert dry land. They all combined and blended together. To the left, was the Fuhrer and a few military officers, including Riza.
"As you can see, we have set up a multiple environment setting for you. Use what is available here and prove yourself worthy of being a state alchemist. Begin." Roy said simply as the people just stood. They really didn't know how to prove. Slowly a couple people walked out onto the environment and began to draw alchemy circles and mess around with their surroundings to create things. Raven stood back and watched. She wasn't the only one. She really didn't know what to do.
"Everyone." Roy said looking at the few people just watching. Just then, a shady man in black jumped over the court yard walls. As he landed, he drew a quick alchemy circle and slammed his hands down hard. Bright lights and what felt like a small earthquake began. Then, a very large gray smooth pillar shot out of the ground and flew up to the sky, so high no one could see the top. As the pillar shot up, the man laughed.
"The military will fall!" He yelled out. The pillar came out of the ground not in the designated area, but over where the officers were standing. The pillar came out of the ground right under Riza, and due to the speed, she nor anyone else, had any reaction time and she ended up going for a sky ride, holding onto the top of the pillar for life...or death.
"Thats not good." Called out one of the offices who happened to be a state alchemist. He looked up at the pillar as did everyone else. The personnel didn't bother chasing the shady man, they were more interested in saving their own.
"Lieutenant General!" The officers called out. At the top, Riza had her left hand gripping the top of the pillar and had her right arm wrapped around the top, trying to get any kind of grip to keep her from falling. The only good thing was that the top had a point and she was able to hold onto it, but not for long.
"What do we do?" An officer asked Roy as he looked up. He could believe how off that civilian's aim was, and the effect was now his wife's life hanging in the balance.
"Lieutenant General Mustang!" The officers continued to call up, hoping for an answer which does not come. The shady man continued to laugh. Her drew another circle and again slammed his hand onto it, causing the ground to crack and raise up in certain areas, Separating the officers and the alchemists.