Chapter 1: A New Testament

I was awoken by the sound of a raucous voice.

"Listen closely everyone, if you want to make it home safely from this train ride I suggest you cooperate with my cohorts and I!"

The man pulled out a revolver, evidently of a low caliber judging by the size of the gun as a whole. As if I wasn't annoyed by this thug's unnecessary outburst, his appearance didn't help when I tried to find a reason to like him. The stubble ridden face of this rough man was scarred, portraying the results of a very rough life. His generic trench coat was torn around the stitching of the arms, that shown he has worn it out from years of use, along with a rag wrapped around his neck to lift up for easy maneuvering to cover his face. His entire get-up just screams mugger. Yet, the lousy security at the East City train station let him pass, with a hand gun. His "cohorts", all looked very rugged and similar to him. All of these thoughts and accusations going through my head, I almost forgot about the situation at hand. Until a civilian had the urge to ask a question that most everyone on the train knew the answer of.

"What the hell is this?" The man said, voice cracking with fear.

"Whats it look like pal?" The thug asked as he aimed his revolver level to the head of the frightened civilian. The civilian jumped back slightly, trying not to make any other sudden movements. The entire situation started to irritate me.

"Clark? You awake?" A quiet, matter of fact-like voice questioned. With all of this commotion, I nearly forgot that I was sitting beside my friend and fellow State Alchemist, Espen.

2 Years Ago, East City Library

Espen and I had moved to East City so we could use its resources in preparation of the State Alchemist Exams. I was reading up on a theory by a legendary Western Alchemist by the name of Basil Faust. Before I could finish my study, Espen signed in and walked over to the table where I was sitting, books opened and closed, scattered around.

"What are you doing in here alone? Lets go out and enjoy the city, thats why we moved here right?" Espen suggested.

"No, I'm pretty sure we moved here to prepare for the Exams in a year." I corrected him. "Let me tell you about this theory by Basil Faust. Come on." I insisted. "Here, I'll let you bore me to death with this theory if you take a walk with me afterwards. Deal?" Espen said, setting the terms.

To which I responded, "Alright sure, but sit down and listen." I agreed to his terms, as he took off his jacket and pulled up a chair across from me.

"I'll paraphrase this whole chapter. A few hundred years ago, Basil Faust had travelled the globe searching for insight on alchemy as well as alkahestry. The theory was based on a discovery during his time as an alchemist and philosopher. After a meteorite had been discovered by a Cretian settlement, the reigning President of Creta who was an ally to Faust, sent him to examine it. Faust travelled to the ground zero of the meteorite and began running tests. Extracting various minerals from the meteorite, Faust attempted to transmutate the substances. He tried with every transmutation matrixes he knew: basic transmutation circles, Cretian pentagrams, Xingese hexagrams, etc. Faust was determined to learn the properties of these new minerals. He was shocked to discover that these alien minerals weren't alien at all, as he eventually figured out that the meteorite was composed of 87% rock, 6% iron, and 7% nickel. Some of the same minerals that are the foundation of the very tectonic plates we inhabit. What do you think about that?" I asked, looking at Espen excited to hear his response.

"Is that all? I expected you to say he discovered an entire new element. Whats so exciting about rock, iron, and nickel?" Espen asked, slightly irritated that I had wasted his time.

"Nothing is special about rock, iron, or nickel, and thats what is crazy to think about. This was the first meteorite examined by a scientist, let alone one of the most legendary alchemists of all time. Disappointed by his findings, much like how you are, Faust came to the president empty handed, until he realized he may have made his greatest discovery. Faust theorized that if a fallen stone from beyond the stars was composed of the same components that compose our planet, perhaps there are other planets out there that are inhabitable, much like this one. Which is the most prominent evidence ever discovered that we may not be alone in this universe. Who knows, maybe there are beings just like us out there studying the very science of their own world, looking to the stars for answers much like humanity has since the beginning of its existence. That, Espen, is what is so special." I elaborated.

"I didn't look at it like that. Thats cool. I already felt deep down that we weren't alone in the universe. Now lets go, you said you'd come with me if I listened to the theory." Espen persisted.

"Yeah I did, let me put these books back first." I said.

"Come on, look at all these books! That'll take forever!" Espen yelled, only to be berated with numerous shushes and scowls.

Present Day, Transit to Central City

We were not identical in terms of looks. I had light brown hair that was cut short, almost buzzed. Espen had dark brown hair that was much thicker. I'm 6'", broad shouldered, and out of shape, but I can hold my own. Espen is 5'11", lean, and is in good condition. To add to our usual banter, I prepared myself for smart remarks.

"Does it look and/or sound like I'm asleep?"

"Don't be a dick Clark, should we do something about this now or wait till they come closer?" The latter seems more efficient.

"Wait till they approach us, then we over power them." I stated in my gruff throaty voice.

Espen nodded in agreement. I knew he had a similar idea in mind, as I shoveled my arm bands out of the pockets of my dark gray cargo pants. After cautiously taking my black jacket off, I slowly slid the bands up my arms; each band displaying various transmutation circles, some pertaining to reactions of materials such as wood and metals, or even some fabrics. I shot another glance at Espen, who was also prepping himself by acquiring his knives, which had a transmutation matrix carved into each blade, from the various pockets in his red and black striped jacket. During this moment of preparation, a thug with malicious intent slowly walked towards us, triggering me to lean out of the seat and place my left hand on the surface of the train floor.

"Hey! Hey you with the freaky sleeves, what are you doing over there!?"

A blue light illuminated the train car, before I unleashed my attack.

2 Years Ago, East City Construction Site

-Espen's Perspective-

Clark and I walked through the streets of East City, until I came to a stop near a construction sight that was empty.

"This is where I'm going to prepare for the State Alchemist Exams." I said smugly.

"How so?" Clark asked curiously.

"Fight me. I'll show you." I recommended.

"What? Why?" Clark questioned.

"Reading books is good and all for learning more about the science of alchemy, but knowledge alone isn't going to impress the examiners, especially if the Fürher is there." I said.

"I don't know man, I don't like to fight unless I have to. You know that." Clark responded.

"Do you want to be a state alchemist or not? State Alchemists don't sit around reading all day, they enforce the laws of the state, by force. They don't prepare to enforce the law by expanding their vocabulary, they learn to fight. So lets spar." I divulged.

"I just don't think its the best idea Espen." Clark stated.

"I understand it now, you know I'm the better fighter and don't want to be beaten and embarrassed. Its alright we can head back to the library." I added, trying to trick him into not backing down. I could tell he knew what I was trying to do, but he entertained the idea anyways.

"Alright, but don't be complaining when I knock you on your ass." He remarked, while rubbing his index finger into the dirt. He used the dirt to trace transmutation circles on the back of his hands.

"Thats the spirit. Now get ready." I uttered before pulling out a pen I had in my pocket and drawing my commonly used transmutation circles on the inside of my wrists, below my palms.

We stood there, staring each other down. I knew he wasn't going to strike first, so I took it upon myself to run towards him to begin the assault. As I charged towards him I could see that he was faintly torquing his right shoulder back to set up a right cross, so I ducked underneath it until I was behind him. He spun around with a right back fist nearly making his mark before I dashed backwards avoiding it. I only backed away a few steps before he was closing in on me, throwing lefts and rights at me relentlessly, and managing to land a few of them into my chest and forearms while I was defending. I planted a front kick on his sternum which nearly floored him but he succeeded in maintaining his footing. Before attacking again he waited to see if I'd attack first, but I preferred countering much more. He started towards me again, but I planned on taking out his left leg with a right kick. Clark seen it coming, as he kicked my leg away, to which I followed up to with a right wheel kick, only for it to be blocked and caught. He pulled me in further before sweeping my other foot out from under me, and I knew that if he got on top of me the odds would be in his favor considering his size advantage. He attempted to slam himself downward into me but I managed to kick him in the chest, knocking him backwards seeing as he gave up his footing attempting to fall on me. I tried to get up and grapple him while he was dazed but he had already sat up and risen, ready for me to strike first. I knew he would be expecting kicks, but would he be expecting an environmental attack? I placed both hands on the ground and began a transmutation sending a stone wall straight towards him. He rolled to the side avoiding the wall. At this moment I realized I left myself open. Placing his hands into the dirt, I saw a flash of blue light, and multiple stone pillars heading straight towards me.

—

Present Day, Transit to Central City

-Clark's Perspective-

I began an Alchemic reaction which warped the floor into metal pillars being launched towards the group of delinquents. After it made contact and swept the gunmen off their feet, the many civilians riding the train sprinted in a panic to the exit opposite of the gunmen that transitioned into the next cart. When the isle was clear and everyone was safe, I quickly shot up out of my seat and shuffled into the isle. Espen simply jumped over the seat in front of us and into the isle, as nimble as he is.

'Why do we always have to deal with the moronic criminals?' I thought to myself. Espen quickly pinched the handles of his knives in between his index finger and thumb, prepping himself for using his knife as a projectile. The best course of action was to reason with the leader, or take him out. I called toward him to see if reasoning with him was an option.

"Now whatever it is that you need; money, food, shelter, I'm sure you could have gotten it some other way. The State Military, we can help you get back on your feet, ALL of you." To no surprise, the man's retort was not savory.

"Who do you take me for? Do I look like some scum that lives on the street? I'm robbing this train cause its passengers have big pockets. I'm not desperate, in a way I'm just greedy...wait...Did you jus...just say...THE STATE MILITARY!" He clearly understood the situation at hand.

"Speaking of robbing this train, you really did a shitty job of that, didn't you?" Espen thought out loud.

"Why you..." The man spoke with a clearly visible amount of rage, but also exposed some nervousness. I had one more chance at reasoning with this man.

"Put the gun down before I fuse it to your hands!" The thug yelled, "Gah...Goddammit...You BASTARDS!"

I extended my arms at an angle in front of my chest and readied myself for combat. The thug leveled his revolver in my direction, then a faint flash emerged from its barrel.

[End]