(A/N): Hello everyone. This marks the introduction and beginning of the chronicles of the Silent Alchemist. I came up with my character while reading various fics and after having watched FMA of course. I will be showing you his beginnings here and developing his character into the man you'll be reading about later, if you keep reading. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Noise

It was dark here, but that was the same no matter what. Light never reached me here, but the noise never ceased, and no matter how much I wished it, I could never see in this darkness or cease to hear this noise. I didn't understand what the noise was, or where it was coming from, but I knew that someone was making me hear it. They were forcing me to hear the noise and to never have a moment's peace apart from the noise. I knew this because I could also hear them when they are near my…room…cell…cage…what was I in?

Something told me that my life wasn't always like this, but I couldn't remember anything apart from the noise, and maybe that's the way that they wanted it. I couldn't remember silence, or even a pleasant sound. I do remember what light was, otherwise I couldn't possibly miss it, could I? How long have I been here and how long will I remain here? I couldn't decide if I wanted to be out of this place for the silence, or for the light. Maybe it was for both. I have decided to ask and find out why this is happening.

I reached toward the area that I would hear the voices and felt cold metal under my hand. I began to knock on it so that I could hear it, that way other people would surely hear it as well. I had never thought to knock before, had I? I heard footsteps nearing me and I continued to knock. Maybe they would acknowledge me and answer my questions. The steps stopped outside of the door and then I heard creaking coming from the metal. Then a dark red light poured into the room and I was blinded despite how dim the light was.

My eyes were in pain, but I was overwhelmed by the sight of light and now the noise was leaving the room, so it wasn't as loud. I could only make out a dark figure between my poor eyes, the poor lighting, and the tears streaming from my eyes. I would be able to leave this room, and I would see light and I would hear silence. As I looked at the figure, I could make out liquid dripping from the figure's hands and I was confused. What could be on his hands?

"What is…t-that?"

I pointed at the figure's hands and they moved to look down, then looked back at me. I couldn't see anything of the person in front of me, but I knew that they were staring at me. Then the figure suddenly swung its arms and I cowered, fearing the attack that was sure to come. Why would the door open except to offer me more pain? However, no pain ever came and then I realized that the noise had ceased. The sounds were set in my mind, but now they were softer and my ears felt better. I looked up at the figure and smiled brightly.

"T-Thank yo-you."

"You poor child. What have these monsters done to you?"

The voice was the most beautiful sound I could ever remember hearing and I drank in the new sound with bliss. It was a kind and melodic voice, one that I could relate to a woman. I was smiling more brightly than I knew was possible of me, but then who wouldn't when they were freed? I shakily got to my feet and hugged the woman's hips and rubbed my face in her warmth. I could not remember the feeling of another person, or the comfort of a hug. I was more blissful than I knew I could be.

"Will you come with me? I will take you away from here."

I looked up and nodded my head fervently.

"Yes!"

The woman took my hand and I felt the liquid run onto my hand. It was warm and thick as it ran through my fingers, but I still didn't know what it was. She began to lead me through hallways all lit in the same dark red, so I still couldn't see very well, but every now and then I saw dark masses against the walls, on the floor, or in the corners. The woman told me to keep walking and ignore the masses, so I did. Despite my freedom, the noise was still ringing in my mind and when I wasn't focusing on the sound of my breathing, or of the woman's steps, it would consume me and I would feel like I was still trapped in the room.

"Are you okay?"

"I just h-hear the noise. I-It won't g-go away."

I had released her hand and curled up with my hands over my ears attempting to rid myself of the dreadful noise. I began to shake as the noise grew louder and I began to fear that I was imagining being free. Then I felt the woman's hands, pulling my face to look at her.

"Listen to my voice and ignore the noise. Allow my voice to block out the noise."

She then lifted me up and cradled me against her chest. I could hear a thumping sound coming from her chest. I leaned inward and realized it was her heart and as I put my ear to her chest, the sound of her rhythmic heart beat droned out the noise and I began to calm. She carried me the rest of the way with my ear against her chest. It was some time later that I realized there was a brightness washing over me more and more. I turned and saw a blinding light ahead of us. I was about to see the light I had dreamed of, and I would be free of this place.

"It's so b-bright."

"Yes. That is the sun. Once we pass through that door, you will never have to see this place again."

"But w-what about the p-people that h-had me inside?"

"They will not ever bother you again. You are free."

She passed through the doorway and I was blinded by the bright sunlight. My eyes were squeezed shut for several minutes as she continued to walk. I slowly eased them open and they slowly focused on the world beyond. I couldn't make out more than blobs of colors and light at first, but as my eyes grew more accustomed to the light, the colors began to form shapes. The woman stopped and I looked up at her face.

"Can you see properly yet? Look in front of us and see the beautiful world you are in."

I rubbed my eyes one last time and looked in front of us. We were standing on a large hill and before us stretched land beyond my line of sight and it was full of so many bright colors and things. I did not have names for all that I saw, but I was stunned by the beauty. I turned back to the woman and could finally see her face. Her hair was long and black and she was as beautiful as the world she had shown me. Her eyes were a deep grey and they glittered in the sunlight. When she looked down and smiled at me, I was filled with warmth and joy.

I was finally and truly free, and I could see it was no dream. The woman set me down and then I heard another beautiful sound that came with the feeling of the wind. The air rustling along the grass and flowers was the most melodic and musical sound I had ever heard. The noise was nowhere to be heard as I ran around and listened to the sounds of the world around me.

"What is your name?"

"My n-name? I d-don't know."

"Then I guess you need to give yourself one until you can think of it."

"I don't know w-what name to p-pick."

"Can I pick one for you then?"

I nodded and waited for her to think.

"How about Vox?"

"Vox?"

"Sure. It's unique, like you. I don't think I've ever met someone with that name, and besides, it's just until you remember your real name."

"Okay. I'm Vox."

"My name is Elaine. Shall we go to my home now Vox?"

As I nodded, I remembered the strange liquid I saw on her hands and I looked at my own to find that the liquid was red. Now it had dried and was browner, but I could see that it was red. Her hand was covered in the liquid as well, but I couldn't name what the liquid was. I felt like I knew what it was, but I couldn't remember. As I stared at the dried liquid, flashes of images started to fill my mind and sounds that I couldn't name filled my head. They were memories, but I didn't understand them and I could feel so much pain with each memory that passed through my mind. I fell to my knees, clutching my head and crying out in pain.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"It hurts s-so much. W-What is t-this stuff?"

I held up my hand and stared in horror as more images filled my head. Then they suddenly stopped and my head was filled the noise. The noise dissolved all of the pain and sounds from the memories and I was ignorant once again. I couldn't understand what was happening, but the noise slowly subsided and became a soft background noise once more.

"Are you okay?"

"It's g-gone. The n-noise made it g-go away."

"What happened?"

"I started t-to see things and I-I think I w-was remembering s-something, but the noise m-made it all go away."

Elaine's face was full of concern and questions as she led me down the hill and back to her home. Her home was in an inn, which was when I found out that she was really staying only temporarily, but we would go to her real home the next day.

"Vox?"

"Yes?"

"I know you don't remember anything, but how would you like it if I were to teach you?"

"Teach me?"

"Yes. I'll teach you about the world and how things work. You can't live in the world and not know anything, so will you allow me to teach you?"

"Why would you teach me?"

"I can't let you go out on your own after having taken you from that place. That would be irresponsible and cruel of me. I owe it to you to at least teach you how to survive. So what do you say?"

"Okay. You can t-teach me."

I smiled and nodded as she rubbed my head and smiled back.

I was unaware of how old I was when Elaine found me, but it was another four years that I spent learning the ways of the world under her. I discovered the existence of alchemy less than a year after Elaine began to instruct me and became obsessed immediately. Elaine promised that my education would be redirected to include alchemy once she decided that I was knowledgeable of the regular world. It was at the end of the four years that my journey into the world of alchemy began. Elaine was, herself, an alchemist, but not one who used it for the military like the State Alchemists I had learned about.

As Elaine began my instruction, I began to wonder why she wasn't a State Alchemist, but never actually asked. Another thought which constantly recurred to me throughout the years was why she was at that place where she took me from. Her life did not explain why she was there or why she was covered in blood when she found me. I later pieced together my memories of my liberation and realized what the dark masses were in the halls, but that only opened a door to more questions which I could never ask.

My studies in alchemy drifted toward that of the field of energy alchemy, and the more I read about it, the more I was drawn to it. From my studies in the general sciences, I knew the basic mechanics and science behind my greatest obsession, sound. My time in the place had a lasting effect on me and the noise never left me. It was when Elaine taught me about sound waves and the like that I began to develop my obsession. I had always had an affinity to sounds and now there was something I could do with that affinity.

Energy alchemy was dangerous and not very well developed, but that was where my sound existed due to its nature. After spending three years learning the basics of alchemy, I began to study and research anything and everything I could find on the subject of energy alchemy. The texts I had to use were mostly old, but I still managed to slowly develop my theory for sound alchemy. Elaine assisted me with anything I needed and with each passing day, my obsession grew.

"Elaine, look I think I know what I have to do."

"To do what?"

"To transmute and manipulate sound waves. You know how the Flame Alchemist can manipulate fire?"

"Yes."

"It's the same idea, though the properties would be different considering it is sound waves compared to fire. I also realized that the best way to execute the transmutation is using gloves like the Flame Alchemist."

"So you're weaponizing sound. Sounds like military alchemy to me."

"I could use it that way, but it's something else as well. I can distort, alter, and cancel sound using this technique. The use of the energy to create a force that can deal damage was a side effect of my research. I was never looking to make a weapon, not after what you've taught me. I know how you feel about martial alchemy."

"It's disgusting and it is an adultery of the pure art of alchemy."

"I was just looking for a way to control sound. I never meant to make a form of martial alchemy."

"I know. Go on and show me what you've found out."

I smiled and brought out the gloves I had developed. The transmutation circles were on the palms of my gloves and were carefully designed based on all of the research I had completed. I was aware of the great danger involved with mishandled energy alchemy experiments, which was why I made sure to go over my research and notes several times. I put the gloves on and turned on the radio. Music came through the speakers and I stepped back to aim my gloves at them.

My palms began to glow and transmutation sparks crackled from my palms as I began to manipulate the sound coming from the radio. At first, the sounds became contorted and warped, then they slowly faded to nothing. The sound was completely gone.

"That's amazing. You're able to counter the sound waves and cancel them."

"Yes. By absorbing the energy within the waves, I can create a counter wave and send it back to the source, cancelling the sound. I can flux the energy and distort the sound based on how I generate the counter wave."

"You really have done it. I'm proud to call you my pupil. Who would have thought a teenager would create a new field within a blocked field like energy alchemy? Did you do all of this to cancel the noise Vox?"

"Yes. I have devoted the last three years of my life to this. After your teachings I had a hope that was buried in this discovery. I have so desperately clung to the possibility of eradicating the noise, and now I believe I can."

"I hope that you can. Now, I'm going to get some things for dinner tonight, so you make sure you finish up and be ready for dinner in an hour."

"Okay. I'll be ready."

Elaine was gone for over an hour before I began to wonder what had happened to her. I decided to go and check for myself. I headed into town and looked around for Elaine. That was when I found a large area blocked off by the military. I was curious and wandered over to see what was going on. The area looked like there was some sort of alchemic fight and the onlookers were nervously talking.

"Hey, what happened here?"

"Some woman was fighting with some soldiers when a State Alchemist showed up and then they started to fight. The State Alchemist killed the woman."

"Who was she?"

"No one knows. We couldn't get a good look and we haven't seen the body."

"Who was the State Alchemist?"

"Brigadier General Basque Grand. He's the Iron Blood Alchemist."

"What's someone like him doing here of all places?"

The people shook their heads and I redirected my attention to the scene. I decided to get a closer look and moved inside the boundary and around the corner out of sight. I finally figured out where the body was and worked my way toward it. As I drew nearer, I started to get a bad feeling about the situation. Once I got a look at the body, I ceased up and couldn't breathe. Beneath the blood and wounds, I recognized the face of the woman on the ground. It was Elaine.

"Why? What the hell is this?"

I rushed forward and cradled her head as the soldiers rushed forward to stop me. I was fighting them off when a deep voice called out over the commotion.

"What's going on?"

It was the Iron Blood Alchemist.

"This civilian came running in sir."

"Who are you?"

"I am Vox. Why did you kill her?"

"Well Vox, this woman was a wanted fugitive and she resisted capture, so I had to stop her before innocent people were hurt. Who are you to this woman?"

"This woman is Elaine Zephyr, and I am Vox Zephyr, her son. You are a liar, she never did anything wrong and you murdered her."

"I was unaware that she had a child, but nonetheless, you don't know what you're talking about kid, now I suggest you get out of here."

It took all of my strength to separate myself from Elaine, but I knew that she would not want me to get into trouble with the military like this. My hands were squeezed so tight I was shaking and as I walked away, I carved both Elaine's face and the general's face into my mind. I would not allow this to go without consequence. Elaine's teachings allowed me to think clearly as I left that place, and I knew what I had to do next. I had to discover whatever I could about her alleged crimes and find out why she was killed.

I couldn't allow myself to fall into despair, but the tears flowed without my consent as I returned to the empty house. I didn't hesitate to begin collecting my things and to formulate my next plan of action. No matter how much thought I put in, I arrived at the same answer every time, the military. I had to go against my teacher's ideals and wishes and become the very thing she despised. I had to become a State Alchemist and discover the answers that I was after. I stepped out of the front door and felt the brisk wind of the night. After a short moment, I moved forward and never looked back.

(A/N): There it is, the introduction to the deeper plot and greater goal of the story. I hope you guys enjoyed the introduction and next time we'll be getting into some fun FMA times. The character development will continue through the next few chapters, so don't think that this is it. Please review and let me know what you think thus far. Until next time, see ya!