BTW, if there are any grammatical errors or misspellings (probably because I type so fast), feel free to point them out. Also, any other updates about the story's progress and all that jazz will be in my profile. It takes up too much space here. Ja ne.
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"...'nii-san?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm ready."
Edward gave a friendly squeeze to his younger brother's shoulder before they confidently walked up the grey marble steps. However, when they arrived at the imposing metal doors, the younger boy faltered again.
"...'nii-san?"
"...yeah?"
Alphonse swallowed nervously. "Do we really have to...?"
"Yeah."
The young boy took in a deep breath before steeling himself once more. "Okay."
Edward took a deep breath himself before rapping his knuckles against the door. Nothing happened for about a minute or so, until the door slowly creaked outward. The boys stepped out of the way and peered inside.
A man with a balding head and a very feeble mustache came out, his chest swelling. "You're late!" he yelled loudly, startling them both.
Edward scowled heavily, stepping forward. "Your so-called transportation broke down and we had to walk."
The man sniffed indignantly through his beak-like nose. "That is no excuse! Just wait until I tell the principal-"
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat and the man, pale enough as it was, paled even more as he turned around. "Oh, Principal Bradley, sir, I was just going to see you." He wrung his hands, cowering in place.
"That will be enough, Yoki. Please, let them inside," said a deep voice.
The door opened even more, showing a vast lobby glowing with fluorescent lights. The two brothers stepped in and the snivelling Yoki closed the door behind them. Alphonse was looking the place all over, unconsciously moving closer to his brother, but Edward was carefully watching the man in front of him.
He was tall, elegantly dressed in the blue military uniform, a sheath strapped across his torso, the sword balanced against his hip. He had slicked-back black hair and a painfully-maintained mustache. A black eyepatch covered his right eye, and the other remained closed. He was smiling politely at them.
"You must be the Elric brothers."
Alphonse looked up at him and nodded, speaking for them both. "I'm Alphonse, and this is my older brother, Edward."
Edward said nothing, just watched the old man. He looked like he was in his fifties, maybe sixties, but despite his grandfatherly appearance, his aura was extremely powerful. Ed couldn't quite put his finger on how this man made him feel, but he was more than a little uneasy.
"You are a little late, but that would be our fault. The other recruits are in the assembly hall, and you haven't missed anything yet. Follow me."
Alphonse immediately followed after, relieved that this man was so friendly. He looked around the bleak hallways curiously. Edward was right up behind him, but he didn't take his eyes off of the principal.
'What is awaiting us here... at Central Military Academy?'