The alchemist path 3 Where am I?

"Dammit girl! Still crying?!" A voice that should be described more like a shriek sounded as the figure unrolled the binders on the window to let the light in.

It was a woman, a very plumb one with the heaviest make up Lazuli had ever seen, her clothes seemed old, without shape and not to clean, maybe it's just the color she thought as they were a murky brown.

"You should have made your peace with it already, you are to travel and try your luck with the entry exam as everyone else as only a few are directly scouted among the population, surely you had studied, meditated and cultivated properly this days right? Come on up you go the coach will be here at midday and there's too much to be done" said the plumb middle aged woman with a more soothing tone than the one used when opening the door.

Lazuli just stared a her stifling her sobs trying to comprehend what was said, travel, exam, study, meditate, travel where? What subjects would be tested? Meditate? What was going on? She thought about her situation an remember the novels Jasper loved to read on his spare time, where people transmigrated, got reborn or simply lived in worlds where people got powerful by cultivating their inner power. Please no resounded on her mind, those worlds are extremely dangerous.

But as they say gods love to laugh at the pleas of the mortals, oh boy and laugh they will at her, because this world was as dangerous as she dreaded.

"Are you well pumpkin?" Not receiving the usual tantrum the old lady got worried, maybe it was to much for the girl, not everyone is suited to join the path towards power, alas that was the way of these lands and her was powerless to change it. Lazuli's 16 birthdays was this month and law dictate she should be tested, her affinities checked and enrolled in the corresponding school or returned in shame to home if none would take her. Sadly the woman knew the family would make her just another servant if proven unworthy.

Schooling was free and law imposed for all those with talent as they would latter become the pillars of the empire, so people used to "adopt" orphans raise them till 16 and then decide if they where truly adopted as family or as part of the service. This was Lazuli's case, not that she knew of course as she was still in shock trying to understand her situation.

After an uncomfortable long silence Lazuli made up her mind to ask "excuse me madam, who are you? Could you explain to me what you said? I am unable to recall anything."

The face on the woman face turned dark, was this a new way of throwing a tantrum? But maybe, just maybe, her pumpkin was in so big shock after yesterday's news that affected her mind?

"Are you kidding or truthful?"

"I'm not lying, I can't remember a thing" a short exchange was all it took, as she new her girl and realized it was not a joke, as she was never one to be that good acting.

"The name is Mina, not madam, your clothes are inside that chest, get dress, wait here, I'll bring the medic" Mina turn around an leaved a still trying to suppress her crying, quite confused naked girl.

Chapter end