The Multiblood Alchemist

And So It Begins

       "We need more State Alchemists," Mustang says quietly to Hawkeye. Ed, Al, and Mason were in my room, and Ed had transmuted a microphone to tune into the Colonel's conversation. "How would we solve that problem? They only allow one alchemist through the test a year," Hawkeye asked. We could hear Mustang tapping a pen on his desk. "Then we recruit the top five."
      When I heard that, I jolted upwards. "That means....." Mason starts. "We could be State Alchemists!" I happily exclaim. Thoughts of Mason and I fighting homunculi and saving the country flow into my head. "Woah, woah, woah," Ed says. "Timeout. Being a State Alchemist isn't as great as you think. People die, and you have to see that," he explains. I scowl at him. "Then that's a price I'm willing to pay."
      Mason and I navigated the damaged hallways to venture to Mustang's office. As we got further in the building, the halls seemed to be safer. At last, we arrived at the door of his office. Mason was the one to knock, only to hear no response. We looked at each other, and he shrugged. He then proceeded to open the large door.
      When Mason opened the door, I turned around to leave. Mustang lay sprawled on his desk, his mouth slightly open. At first glance, I thought he was dead, but at closer inspection, I saw he was sleeping. "Sir?" Mason called. Mustang bolted awake, and we saluted.
      "What do you want?" Mustang asked, rubbing his eyes. "Well, someone told us that you were going to recruit several State Alchemists. So Cassandra and I were going to ask you if we could get permission to take the test."
         "Very well," Mustang said, digging through a pile of papers. He then pulls out two forms and hands them to us. It was labeled State Alchemist Testing Form. This would be the form that would start our tragic future of hunting homunculi.
      On the day of the test, I threw up. "It's probably just nerves," Mason said on the other side of the bathroom door. We both knew that if he stayed in the room while I vomited, he would be right beside me doing the same thing. When I finished heaving my previous dinner up, I stumbled out into the bedroom that Mustang assigned us after I was released from the hospital. On my bed was a short black top that cut off in the middle of my ribs and a tight pair of black pants. When I finished dressing, I went down to the cafeteria to eat breakfast.
      "Why aren't you eating?" Ed demands. I shrug and push the scrambled eggs around my plate. "You know, you're gonna go hungry during the test," he adds on while eating toast. He stares intensely at me, obviously hinting that I should eat. Rolling my eyes, I take a bite out of the eggs. Mason gives me a pathetic look, and I dig my elbow into his side. He yelps out in pain, and I chuckle at his reaction. Turning to Ed, I say, "if you really want me to eat, why don't you drink your milk?" He glared at me, and just to annoy him, I take a large drink of milk. Ed continues to glower at the glass of milk in front of him.

Muttering under his breath, he still continues to glare at it as though he were going to kill it. Rolling my eyes once more, I eat my breakfast.
      After eating my breakfast, I tried talking to Al. It didn't matter how many times I tried to talk to him, he wouldn't talk back. Giving up, I turn back to my plate of eggs.
       After an argument with Mason about alchemy and an arm wrestling match with Ed (which I won), the doors fling open, and a group of people walk in.
      "Any people doing the State Alchemist Testing, please follow us," the man in front says. Mason and I stand up, and follow the group of men.
      Al also comes with us, and a group of people also follow. From what I could see, a third of the group were people our age. The rest were adult males, which bothered me. When we all grouped up, we walked out of the cafeteria.
      "Take your time on the test, and when you're done, bring it up, and sit down quietly," the head director of the tests explains. I stare down at my testing form, and begin.
      Nearly a hour later, I got up to hand my test in. When I sit down, boredom washes over me.               I tap my pencil on my table until the man behind me makes an annoyed sound. Sighing, I stare out of the large window across the room.
    It was so quiet in the room, and it smelled strongly of books and pencils. My eyelids started to feel heavy, and I set my head down on my crossed arms, giving in to the drowsiness.
      What must've been a half hour later, someone nudged me. I slowly lift my head up, a string of drool following me. Looking up, I see my brother.
    "They're going to start the field test," he informs me. I nod and stand up to go outside.
    Set up around us were dummies that has a faint glimmer around them. Must be alchemy, I think to myself. "To prove how you will fare in battle," one of the men say. They hand out a piece of chalk to each one of us, and calls our names in alphabetical order.
"Adrian Backerman," the man says. A boy our age steps out. With the chalk, he draws a water transmutation circle. When the dummy steps forward, he places his hands on the circle and contorts his face in concentration. As the dummy nears, a blob of water emerges from the ground. Adrian then sends the water flying at the dummy.
    Instead of the water keeping its form as a blob, it stretches out and takes the form of a blade. It then pierces the dummy through the chest area, and dissipates. The next person is called up, and the process continues.
"Cassandra Snare," the man calls. I step forward, and crack my knuckles, ready to engage in combat with the dummy.
      After everyone finished, the men discussed the results in the corner of the room. Mason was talking to Bane, one of the boys that were about our age. Annie and Jared, which were two adults, were having a conversation at one of the tables. One of the men and one of the boys were playing a card game in the corner. I try to recall their names, and it comes to me. Leon and Xavier.
      "Alright, we have the results of the tests. The top five will become State Alchemists, and for the rest, well there's always next year," the director shouts. I lean forward to listen. "The fifth best score was Adrian Backerman. Fourth: Annie Havard. Third: Alphonse Elric. Second: Mason Snare. And the top score was Cassandra Snare. Congratulations," the director says.
      They handed out the pocket watches after we got our results.

When I received mine, I ran my fingers over the detail on the front.
"I present to you the Aqua Alchemist, the Light Alchemist, the Earth Alchemist, the Polar Alchemist, and the Multiblood Alchemist."