May 13th, 1908 – Tanya POV
To say she had been disappointed in starting a new life would be an understatement.
She was no longer be on the Earth she knew, she was no longer the same gender, and she no longer spoke the same language as her fellow citizens. Decades of inter-personal connections, knowledge of world history, and occupational hard work all wiped away in an instant. She was human however, and so she adapted. Signaling her new role as “female child” was easy – she always found looking inward far easier than conversing with others – and the new perspective provided by form did improve her understanding of humanity quite a lot. She spent her first formative years piecing together the Amestrian language from the few Germanic and Dutch loanwords she knew from Japanese and her passable conversational skill in English. It was not like there was much else to do at the time.
‘What am I thinking? My life is perfect! Praise Being X!’
While she was sarcastic about any pseudo-religious praise for the supposed deity, Tanya Degurechaff – as she was now known – was nonetheless honest in her assessment. She had feared she was decades away from the stable job and upward prospects of the former career that was abruptly cut short. At her current 9 years of age, she could have been placed in an unimpressive elementary school and far away from a real career. However, she discovered a way out of her dilemma through the scientific magic of this world: Alchemy.
She was just as much a mediocre talent with Alchemy as she had been with Human Resources in her former life, but she had certain advantages. Her passable knowledge of modern science, her memory, and her maturity made her far more capable than her drooling, mouth-breathing peers. The orphanage gave her all the time in the world and she found herself strangely fascinated with the subject. As soon as she started drawing Transmutation Circles and making simple objects, she was hooked.
‘Such a logical and powerful tool. In the next 50 years, it would be no surprise if this world could be more advanced than the one I left. Just like Economics was in the modern world, there seems to be no limit to what can be done with Alchemy in this one!’
She spent most of this stage of her life ignoring her idiotic peers and instead pored over libraries, absorbing all she could. She feared that her young age would be a detriment, but thankfully Amestris was a highly rational and meritocratic nation. There were no age limits to joining the workforce or in taking the free certification exams which proved a candidate’s skill in various Alchemic disciplines.
It took a few years numerous rejected applications, but in 1907, she finally moved out of the orphanage, becoming one of several Alchemist Assistants to Giolio Comanche: the Silver Alchemist. The position gave her the rare opportunity to rapidly progress in the “Alchemist” career path.
There were three occupational “paths”: Trained Alchemists, Skilled Alchemists and State Alchemists.
Tanya was currently a Trained Alchemist. These were people who passed one of the free Alchemy Certification exams allowing them to use specialized, pre-made transmutation circles made by Skilled or State Alchemists. These jobs made up about 1% of the workforce and were often traditional “factory” work: Coal Liquefaction, Nitrogen Fixation, Ore Purification and more. Without them, the remaining ten-thousand higher-qualified alchemists would struggle to sustain an economy needed for fifty-million Amestrians.
It was a stable career, but there was no upward prospects. Many 60-year-olds were doing the same job they started, with the same pay. Tanya shuddered at the possibility.
Instead, by becoming an assistant, she gained access to more advanced alchemy knowledge and connections. Once she learned enough, she would quit her assistant role and take the exams needed to become a Skilled Alchemist. Similar to a scientist or an engineer, a Skilled Alchemist developed new techniques in private companies and often held big contracts with the government and industry. This gave her endless options for upward growth. The perfect career for someone looking to not make waves but instead live a comfortable and fulfilling life like herself.
With that being said, what she absolutely wanted to avoid was becoming a State Alchemist. While the career was highly lucrative – with virtually limitless funding and access to all alchemy research made in Amestris – it was also extremely dangerous. Being an irreplaceable asset of the State, they were prime targets for assassination. Occupational mortality was an unprecedented 20%! That was bad enough in peacetime, but with Fürer-President King Bradley’s Executive Order #3099, Alchemists were now on the front-lines of a civil war! Not even her employer was spared, having lost a leg and only just returning to work after a few months of recuperation.
Thankfully, it was a voluntary career, and so she could simply choose not to become one.
---
May 13th, 1908 – Western Sector Lab #31, Rivera, Amestris – Tanya POV
The Western Sector Lab #31 – aka the “Silver Lab” – was situated underground, built using an abandoned mine that once belonged to the Silver Alchemist’s family. While it no longer produced much ore, the soil and mineral structure of the mine still gave some insight into how and where silver could be found. Likewise, the old mine shafts could be used to test new ore-extracting technologies.
It was in one of these many labyrinthine tunnels that Tanya Degurechaff made her way to the office of her employer Giolio Comanche, the Silver Alchemist. He had requested a meeting to discuss her work, a regular occurrence and something no other assistant did. In other jobs, that level of micromanagement upon the performance of a single employee would be a clear indicator that they would soon be fired.
Tanya knew that her circumstances were different.
The State Alchemist treated her more like a granddaughter than an employee, much to her chagrin. While she appreciated treating a new hire with kids gloves, it had been over a year and she had long since proved her merit. Even now, he routinely put her on straightforward tasks or trivial errands. Because of this, she was forced to spend her ample time doing research so as to make the best of her opportunity in the top-of-the-line laboratory which caused her boss to routinely inspect her work.
She opened the large silver door to Giolio’s office and walked into the cluttered room. The papers strewn throughout the room were a fire hazard and would make finding anything impossible. She was told that such squalor was typical of Alchemists.
‘He’s probably just taking advantage of the “mad scientist” aesthetic to be lazy, but there must be some method to the madness. His research has made him enough money to own several silver mines. It’s almost tempting to consider being a State Alchemist just on the prospect of retiring early with such a healthy portfolio.’
Looking up, Giolio Comanche gave her a grandfatherly smile beneath his monocled face. While the man appeared fat and had a peg-leg, but the way he ‘floated’ around the room with effortless ease betraying a hidden life of rigorous exercise. He did not wear a military uniform, but rather a complex petticoat of rich fabrics that showcased his wealth. Getting up from his desk, he gestured to the seat across from his desk.
“Tanya, my dear, it is good to see you! Please come in, take a seat! Do you want any refreshments?”
Knowing that he would refuse to give her coffee, she declined and sat down on the antique chair. The man insisted on his personal furniture having the handcrafted grandeur of a decadent noble. While wasteful to her sensibilities, she could not deny that the upholstery was far better than what she was used to.
He sat back down and flipped though a stack of papers.
“I must say, I am surprised by the depth of your analysis in this report, Tanya. While I am disappointed that you took advantage of my absence in Ishval to give yourself a project without my permission, I cannot deny the results. If what you are saying is to be believed, this “Operation Orb” you designed is miraculous. Why would you attempt to make such a thing?”
Tanya smiled, sitting up at the praise and secretly gave a sigh of relief. Considering she “stretched” the rules to do the project, she thought it best to remain humble.
“As you know, my skills in alchemy are not very good. I have an adequate knowledge of theory, but struggle to put it into practice. This Orb is a means of trying to remedy that. By ‘bootstrapping’ a transmutation response using electronics and a bit of clockwork, even someone with poor control of the Source like myself can still finely manipulate the hundreds of curved silver pieces in the mechanism. By “inputting” a series of simplified mental images into the Orb when performing a transmutation, the silver pieces will align into a facsimile of a fully-qualified circle such as those used by Trained Alchemists. By being made of a noble metal like silver, the pieces can ignore much of the “noise” generated by the imperfections of the user’s ‘Mental Will’ and these approximate circles. With enough development, this could be used to revolutionize the role of Trained and Skilled Alchemists! By broadening the scope of what they are capable of, they allow State Alchemists to focus on only the most difficult tasks.”
The Silver Alchemist nodded along, no doubt understanding the process far better than she did herself. She appreciated that he did not belittle her explanations despite having decades more experience. While she felt that these “explanation-seminars” she was forced to have with him were unnecessary, she understood the concept that one did not fully understand a topic until one could teach it.
He raised the eyebrow of his monocle-less eye.
“Did you not think that just making silver transmutation circles would be easier than this clockwork?”
She nodded, continuing to play along with his “ignorance”. The State Alchemist would regularly “play dumb” – even if he never said so directly – which allowed her to step through her methodology.
“That is similar, but not quite the same. I created silver circles at first, but I found that the difficulty was in the setup and not the result. As you know, when performing transmutation, you need to rigorously train your mind to think through several abstract and sometimes contradictory mental models, often called a ‘Mental Will’. The power of the alchemist’s knowledge as well as this ‘Will’ are then pushed into the transmutation circle in accordance to the desired effect. A transmutation circle made out of a noble metal like gold or silver can help in ensuring the desired result contains fewer imperfections, but for someone with more limited practical experience such as myself, the struggle is having the transmutation occur at all, rather than the accuracy of the result. That is where intermediate-circles come into play. By making the transmutation circle more complex with the addition of multiple, simpler circles, the Mental Will requirements are far lower.”
He frowned.
“You are talking about the sort of pre-made circles created for Trained Alchemists to use, but if a general-purpose methodology like you suggest were possible, there would be little need for State Alchemists. Knowing the shape and order of those ‘intermediate circles’ as you call them is more complex than simply repeating a transmutation until you succeed. It takes months for a skilled State Alchemist to create a single pre-made array used by Trained Alchemists under the most ideal conditions. I should know, my ‘Polybasite Silver Purification’ circle was what got me my State Certification.”
Tanya stood up with a smile and rushed over to a nearby wall holding a chalkboard. She took chalk in hand and began to scribble equations on the wall.
“That’s what I thought at first, but it actually is solvable with math and automation in many circumstances! See, by working through the three-dimensional differential equation of the approximate volume of the result, you can come conclusions on the proper size-derived Hermes-Intermediate. The mechanics in the Orb act work to construct this circle by willing the summation of the resulting solution’s Taylor Series Expansion into the Orb using Alchemy, the Orb handles the rest. Next, the composition-derived Agathodaemon-Intermediate can be concluded by breaking down the ratios and atomic values of the elements into a series of linear equations and performing Rank Factorization of the resulting ratio-by-value matrix. From there, this intermediate circle can be selected by merely working through the ‘Mental Will’ of the derived pseudo-inverse. Next the-”
The Silver Alchemist cut her off, looking frustrated. No doubt he was annoyed by her droning on about facts he already knew.
“That is enough Tanya. There is no need to go through all the math. I am sure it works just like you say... probably. Now, do you think you could make a Grant Presentation for this in front of the Central Board?”
She could not believe her ears! While she had made the Operation Orb as a project in helping her alchemy, she did not think it was good enough to bring forward to a Grant Proposal in front of the State Board in Central. If approved, her project would be officially recognized, a monetary sum given to continue her work, and her name would be published in the monthly State-sponsored alchemy publication.
‘This is it, this is the chance I’ve been waiting for! If I can just prove my case in front of an Alchemist Board, dozens of private companies would be fighting to hire me. The Operation Orb is practically an entire factory in a small, spherical package. Even if production causes a spike in silver prices or if development costs mount with more sophisticated designs, almost any price would be worth it make them. Maybe the modern computerized world I left could be achieved in my lifetime! I had always hoped my clumsy prototype would warrant consideration, but I never dreamed it would so soon! Praise this meritocratic nation! Hail Amestris!’
She immediately nodded her head, fearing on missing out on the opportunity if she delayed.
“Of course! When should I get ready?”
He tossed her paperwork at her, barely giving time for her to catch it. He smiled knowingly, no doubt sensing her excitement.
“You’ll be leaving as soon as possible. The train departs for Central in two hours.”
---
May 14th, 1908 – Central Command Headquarters, Central City – Tanya POV
The last 24 hours were a whirlwind of activity as Tanya boarded the 9-hour train ride, reviewed her research, and stayed overnight at a nearby hotel. However, to Tanya this was no problem; she relished any distraction from her chaotic emotions. It was as if fate – if such a thing existed – was calling her! She would soon have her place in this new world as she always wanted.
Her optimistic outlook was soon tempered by reality.
She realized upon investigating the schedule that the presentation would be held at Central Command Headquarters. She worried that the conclusion of the Board would be that she join a military research team as a condition for the Grant. It was true that her Orb could have some limited military use and in a militarized nation like Amestris, developing bleeding-edge technology meant giving the military the first look.
‘No, I can’t let fear control my actions. The worst case would be performing weapon prototype demonstrations which might be less conducive to my long-term health but it would come with significant connections with the government. I always knew that it would be a tough road for my career, but this is a significant first step! I just have to think of the best case. I will be careful to focus on the obvious civilian potential of Operation Orb technology and hope peace wins the day.’
She had awoken as early as possible to leave plenty of time to get ready, but had soon found that it was still not enough. While she intuitively knew that her diminutive stature, nine-year-old features, and heavy baggage could be a cause for delays, she had hoped that the tailored suit she purchased with her meager savings would convince everyone of her maturity.
She was wrong.
In just a few blocks, she had been stopped by no less than: three concerned mothers, a fruit-stall owner, and a patrol of military police asking for her guardian. If not for her paperwork and a hasty getaway back into the crowded main streets, she would have been late already.
Making her way through the last of these busy avenues full of people and cars reminiscent of pre-war Shōwa, she approached the guard checkpoint outside the massive fortress-like structure of Central Command. At the gate, two military police officers were filtering access. Stepping into the queue, she slowly inched her way toward them.
The two men looked down at her with incredulous expressions once she introduced herself.
“Uh, miss, you lost? Hey Mark, can you get missing-persons on the line-”
Tanya, now used to the treatment and hoping to avoid an utter waste of time, quickly brought out her paperwork.
“No need to worry gentleman. Despite my looks, I am an Assistant of a State Alchemist. I am to provide a demonstration to a Board of Alchemists today.”
The two reviewed her documents with skepticism.
“This looks right – it is definitely an authentic State seal – but I can’t just let you in. This whole situation is just too strange.”
‘Damn it! Just when things were finally going my way! I could try performing alchemy, but that might make the situation worse. If I wait for them to get a superior or State Alchemist to come down here, then I’ll be late! I can’t let my dreams of a comfortable life end on such a pathetic note! If only-’
Her thoughts were interrupted by a man yelling loudly in the distance.
◊♦◊ “What seems to be the problem here?!” ♦◊♦
As the man came closer it was clear he was an officer in the military. He was also the largest person Tanya has ever seen in either lifetime. Easily over seven feet tall and with a build to match. With his clean-shaven face and head, it was difficult to tell his age, but she felt he was younger than she used to be, no older than thirty. The two guards turn and quickly saluted the man.
“Major Armstrong, sir! I’m surprised to see you back in Central; what with the war on. Uh, well this girl is trying to gain entrance into Central Command, but, well... you know...”
The Major nodded his head in understanding.
◊♦◊ “Indeed! Oh, what a curious predicament! That you have not already called on other authorities must mean there is something to the story, is it not?” ♦◊♦
Stolen novel; please report.
Tanya tried to reign in some semblance of reason back into the conversation by giving the Major her documentation.
“Everything I need is right here. I am going to be late to a presentation in Central Command. Could you help me get in? I don’t mind being escorted if necessary, but I’m in a hurry. As an assistant to the Silver Alchemist, once we meet him inside this can all be resolved.”
As if to contradict her rational approach, the bald strongman took her files and began to flex in a number of outrageous poses. With each position, his muscles threatened to break the uniform he wore. Military uniforms were supposed to be made of thick and sturdy fabric, yet it stretched like elastic on the giant frame of the man.
♦◊♦ “Hmm! These papers appear genuine and these Muscles of Truth™ passed down the Armstrong Line for Generations™ can find no deceit in this young lady’s words! I will take things from here, men! Now young lady, please follow me!” ◊♦◊
He grabbed her large suitcase effortlessly in one arm and made his way passed the guards and up the bridge to Command HQ. The guards tried to stop the muscle-bound Major, but rather than slow him down, he pushed a muscular bicep into their faces, making vague references to the “feeling of truth” in them. In the face of such foolishness, the guards made the wise decision to simply look the other way and let them leave.
When they reach the end of the bridge, the Major stopped at the edge of the main courtyard overlooked by the large command structure. She tried to walk past but found herself held fixed in place by the far stronger man.
◊♦◊ “Now, before we continue on, I would be remiss not to glean further insight into your bizarre circumstances! Could I ask for your name, and why a young lady like yourself is doing being an assistant to a State Alchemist?” ♦◊♦
She sighed in annoyance at the man’s antics but – for whatever reason – the man was predisposed to helping her out. Not willing to look a gift horse in the mouth, she demonstrated some of her alchemy ability. Taking out a piece of chalk, she roughly etched out a transmutation circle on a loose piece of brickwork on the ground. Even without using her Orb, she could transmute a simple carving of the State Symbol into the brick. It was an easy pattern to practice with and served as a great demonstration tool for precisely these circumstances. She did not need to worry that the result could be considered “defacing public property”; the State Symbol was almost sacred in the eyes of the public.
“My name is Tanya Degurechaff and, as you can see, I am more than capable of my position. I only wish to contribute to society to the best of my ability.”
The man, rather than being understanding, seemed moved to tears.
♦◊♦ “Oh! What disturbing words to be uttered by one so young! You should be enjoying childhood, not doing work. What do your parents think of this?” ◊♦◊
Annoyed by the patronizing attitude of the muscle-head, she bit back a scathing retort. While she was in this form, she found herself quick to uncharacteristic emotional outbursts. She was rational though, and so she calmed herself and instead gave him a neutral glare.
“The nuns at the orphanage were not pleased, that much is true. If it was up to them, I would be in a mediocre school and destined for a mediocre career. Thankfully they have little say in the matter. I’ve been hired by the State and so I’m legally an adult. I’ve had enough of a childhood for two lifetimes and wish to leave my mark on the world. Don’t you have something you consider worth working towards?”
For the first time since she met the man, he did not have a cheery and optimistic attitude. He hung his head low.
“I did… once. I suppose that I don’t have the right to determine what is best for others when I’m not sure of what’s best for myself.”
Shaking his head, he stood up tall once again. He looked down at her with a smile and pulled out the silver pocket-watch of a State Alchemist.
◊♦◊ “But that is enough moping! I wish you the best in your ambitions and ask only that I sit in on your demonstration. As a State Alchemist myself, there should be no trouble.” ♦◊♦
Tanya groaned. She had no choice but to agree, if only to avoid burning a bridge with an elite of society. However, she was getting the feeling that her carefully crafted presentation on her Orb Technology was slowly falling apart before it even began.
‘I only hope that he can reign in his exuberance… It is becoming more and more clear that my impression of State Alchemists was right. Any profession that would accept someone like Major Armstrong is something I want to stay far away from.’
With Major Armstrong’s issues surrounding her age resolved, the two made their way into one of the many wings of the building. Using a nearby map, she soon found herself in front of Auditorium #2 where a nervous-looking Giolio Comanche was waiting for her.
The Silver Alchemist looked between her and her would-be escort with thinly-veiled concern.
“Tanya! What has taken you so long? I hope that this oaf did not hold you up?”
Not wishing to damage a potential professional relationship with either Alchemist, she shook her head and attempted to mediate.
“No. Rather it appears that my child-like appearance has been the problem. Major Armstrong has been very helpful in comparison. It is likely I will need an escort to avoid unnecessary delays in the future.”
Major Armstrong frowned, looking down at his fellow State Alchemist.
“This is surprising Major Comanche. I had not expected for you to be so forgetful to not even hire a guardian for young Tanya here. That you even chose to hire someone as young as her is strange enough. Are you certain this has all been above-board?”
The Silver Alchemist gave him a frustrated glare and muttered something under his breath, but before he could respond, a voice sounded out from down the hall.
“Now, now, there is nothing to worry about Strong Arm, I can personally vouch for Silver’s actions so far.”
The two State Alchemists turned and quickly brought there hands up in salute. Tanya saluted as well, unsure what the social contract was in this exceptional situation, for none other than Fürer-President King Bradley himself walked towards them. With the distribution of portraits to every corner of Amestris and his unique eye-patch, it was a face Tanya could not be mistaken about.
The Fürer gave them all a kind smile and waved a hand in a dismissive manner. The three of them slowly lowered their salutes. He turned to her boss who in turned seemed rightfully nervous at having the full attention of the leader of their nation.
“Alright, no need to stand on ceremony with me. I’m not here on any official business. I just found myself curious about this little get-together. My secretary noted something out-of-the-ordinary about a new request coming through the Central Bureau and I just couldn’t help but stop by. This has already proven to be a wonderful distraction. What has really caught my eye is the capability of our young alchemist here. It would be careless of me to let such a hopeful talent slip through the cracks. I hope no one minds my sitting in?”
Tanya could not believe her ears. The ruler of the nation himself had come to see her demonstration. She did not hesitate to fall back on her knowledge. She would accommodate the CEO that just performed a surprise inspection.
“Of course not! I would be honored if Your Excellency were to sit in on my presentation! I am sure you will not be disappointed!”
He laughed, turning to go into the Auditorium.
“My, so eager to please. I look forward to hearing what you have to say.”
---
May 14th, 1908 – Auditorium #2, Central Command Headquarters, Central City – Tanya POV
It did not take long for the audience to take their seats in the small auditorium. The room was organized like a university lecture hall, with rows of raised seating on one wall facing another wall with chalkboards and a podium. Unlike most lecture halls, however, a large booth sat in the middle of the room where important people could sit. As expected, the Fürer, a half-dozen State Alchemists, Major Comanche and Major Armstrong all sat inside it. In the corners of the room, the Fürer’s bodyguard stood watch. Tanya bit back any nervousness about being looked down upon by the best Amestris had to offer and fell back on a long history of giving oral presentations.
‘Okay, think. The Fürer being here changes my audience completely. What do I need to fix in my presentation? While I shouldn’t ignore the others, he is my primary focus now. He’s a politician and soldier and so will not appreciate the finer aspects of alchemy. I need to wow him.’
With her approach set, she reluctantly left her carefully-made cue-cards on the podium and moved to an open space where she left her luggage. Taking a moment to open it, she set out the various alchemical ingredients. She stood up and presented her Operation Orb to the audience. The silver object was something like an armillary sphere made entirely of tiny clockwork-like gears and springs.
“Good Afternoon. Today, I am presenting to you my research regarding a radical new method of Transmutation. This approach takes the form of this, what I call an ‘Operation Orb’. With less training than standard alchemy, this Orb augments a user’s alchemic ability to allow them to perform a wide variety of tasks. I will showcase some of these by performing a number of Transmutations without the use of complicated arrays and outside of my typical skill level as a Trained Alchemist.”
Tanya bent down and sketched a perfect circle with chalk around a clay jug of water and plank of wood. Focusing on the mathematical formulas she desired, she inputted them into the Orb. The silver pieces spun wildly in the confines of its clockwork form and glowed brightly with energy. Audible clicks snapped several transmutation circles in-place an geometric designs began to form. Soon the circle followed suit, illuminating with light. The water, jug, and wood disappeared in a flash of lightning, replaced with a ream of parchment paper. If not for the rough texture, it would be impossible to tell it had not been pre-cut and assembled by a mechanical process.
Next, she replaced the paper with a block of tin and a block of iron. Activating the Orb, the objects changed and merged together forming a crude sculpture of the Fürer made of sections of tin and iron haphazardly strewn throughout.
Finally, she erased the chalk circle and instead focused a series of complex inputs into the Orb. After a few moments, a tiny flame burst forth from it, hovering in the air for several seconds before extinguishing.
“As you can see, with only a simple circular array, the Orb can do an assortment of tasks. While it is still not perfect, it is as good if not superior to what can be performed by a specially-made array used by a Trained Alchemist. Unlike those arrays however, this is far more flexible. The first example not only transmuted the paper, but also cut and assembled it in a single operation. This is something currently only possible when performed by a State Alchemist. While such a thing is obviously trivial for a machine to do, it highlights the potential of the technology.”
She handed out the paper to the audience before gesturing to the small statuette.
“Likewise, the sculpture showcases the potential of these automated circles. By keeping the form constant, but oscillating between composition, it is possible to meld multiple distinct elements seamlessly into one Transmutation. Using a normal circle, the transmutation would have alloyed the metals together, but as you can see, the metals have been kept isolated. While this transmutation is currently not of much use, it is also impossible to achieve with standard alchemy alone. It is my hope that such potential might drive new avenues of alchemic development.
“Lastly, I created a fire without any source of fuel using the orb alone. The water and carbon-dioxide in the air was transmuted into methane and oxygen and ignited. Using a normal circle to do this would be impossible for anyone but a State Alchemist. The rapid changes in the composition of the air would otherwise throw off any pre-made circle. However since the circles in the Orb are dynamic, it can change with time and adjust. If sufficient air and moisture is provided, it should even sustain itself indefinitely! While the need for a trained operator and the small volume does limit the thermal energy created, it is essentially completely “free”. It is enticing to consider if such a process could be expanded to an industrial scale.”
The demonstration appeared to produce the result Tanya hoped for and the various State Alchemists began to discuss the results.
Her hopes were dashed, however, upon seeing the Fürer frown and comment on her results.
“These demonstrations are all very interesting. There appears to be some potential, but it is not quite what I had expected when coming here. I am sure that these are very complicated feats of alchemy, but as a non-alchemist, I’m not sure how it compares to the miraculous feats I see performed every day on the battlefield.”
Tanya’s heart sank at the implication. Her dreams of being published and becoming a Skilled Alchemist were being crushed before her eyes.
‘Damn it! Of course! Things like rapid-fabrication and “free energy” would be industry-shattering feats in my former life, but it must seem like just another Tuesday for Alchemy. While I had hoped he could appreciate the potential, as a politician without a clear cost-benefit argument to justify the cost of a project to his taxpayers, there’s nothing to be done. All my effort so far has just shown that the Orb is just a neat little gimmick. Think! What could I do that would showcase just how radical this orb can be?’
She straightened her back.
“Fürer-President, sir. I think there is one thing that might show just how capable this orb can be, but I’ll need a small favor.”
The State Alchemists in the audience seemed affronted that she would dare to ask their leader for anything, but she had no choice. If she was to salvage the work and reputation she spent over a year developing, she needed to be bold.
The Fürer stroked his chin and smiled.
“Well, who would I be to refuse such an honest request. What is it?”
She pointed to a guard standing near the door to her right.
“Could I have one of your guards volunteer for something?”
The guard seemed to straighten-up at the sudden attention and spoke up.
“I am not sure that’s a good idea. We are here as the Fürer’s security and-”
The Fürer raised his hand and caused the man to immediately quiet down.
“I appreciate your concern for my safety, but I am surrounded by several State Alchemists. If Tanya or anyone could so much as lay a finger on me right now, the State would have far greater things to worry about. Now please, I would like to see what the young Alchemist has to show us.”
The soldier reluctantly agreed with his leader and handed his rifle to another guard. He walked over to Tanya who quickly scribbled down a list of instructions on a piece of paper and handed it to the man.
“Alright, I will need to you follow these steps to the letter. Just to be clear, you’ve never used Alchemy before, correct?”
The soldier rolled his eyes at her as he took the note. No doubt, he was not used to being given instructions by someone her age.
“I’m confident in my ability to follow orders, but yeah, I don’t have any idea how any of this science-y stuff works.”
Tanya nodded and moved to the other end of the room and watched the soldier like a hawk.
Reading over the instructions, he did everything as written; mainly it required him to imagine various things: numbers, patterns and the like. He took the Operation Orb from Tanya and held it out. For almost a minute, it seemed to do nothing. With little warning, bolts of electricity erupted from the ground indicating a Transmutation reaction was occurring. In front of the soldier, a fist-sized ball of stone was ripped from the floor. It hovered momentarily before dropping to the ground with a small thud.
Startled, the soldier dropped the Orb where it rolled into the empty pocket of ground created from the newly formed stone.
“What- what the heck happened?!”
Everyone began shouting over each other demanding similar explanations, but the Fürer quickly quieted them down. He gave Tanya a stern and formidable look.
“Now young Alchemist, I am only going to ask this once. Am I seeing this correctly? You did not secretly do the Transmutation yourself, did you? There would be severe consequences if you were lying.”
Tanya took a step back in fear and was quick to shake her head in denial and defend herself.
“No, no, of course not! Doing something so obvious in front of a room full of State Alchemists would be unthinkable. It is exactly like you saw.”
The Fürer kept his stern look for a few more moments before breaking out into a grin. He stepped down from the elevated booth and walked over to her. He slapped her back, almost causing her to fall over before laughing to himself.
“Haha! Alright then. I think I have all the definitive proof I need. Congratulations Tanya, I hereby grant you the title of State Alchemist.”
It was as if time stopped for Tanya.
““What?!””