Book I: The Alchemist from Xing
150 years after the Amestris Civil War-
Since the collapse of the homunculus rule in Amestris, the railway that once connected Amestris and Xing began to undergo restoration. Since, it has reduced the travel time between the two countries by 200%. Now, one taking off from Amestris' Eastern Station will arrive in Xing's Western City Station in 15 days. The railway increased trade between the two countries, as well as the mixing of the two types of alchemy present in both countries. This is where the story begins:
A young man wearing traditional Xing costume arrives at the East City Station in Amestris. He looks up and glares at the sun. The sun was bright. Suddenly he noticed something shiny in the centre of the square in the train station. It was a statue dedicated to a military hero. He walks up to take a better look. The inscription on the bottom of the monument read:
The Flame Alchemist: East City's Guardian…
Just as he was reading on, he was interrupted by a street seller.
"Mister, you don't look like you're from around here."
"Yes, I come from Xing."
"Really! Would you like me to recommend you with a hotel?."
"It's ok."
"I insist sir, come along now."
Just as he was being dragged by the vendor, a pair of police shows up. They look in his direction and points at them with their Billy sticks.
"Hey you! Stop right there!"
The street vendor vanishes as soon as he appears. When the policemen catched up, he was the only one who remained. One of the policeman takes out a pair of handcuffs and lock his hands up.
"What are you doing?"
"We're are arresting you on charges of smuggling firearms into the country."
"What?! I'm just a traveler!"
" That's what they all say. You are coming back to the station with us."
"Geez.."
A police van arrives and the two policemen accompany him into the back. They arrive at the local police station in a couple of minutes. They get out, and he is put into a room lit up by a single light bulb.
"Sit down!"
The young man picks a chair out of the two that are there. He puts his hands on the old, dusty table that is in the center of the room. The policemen leave the room and close the door behind them. He rests his head on the table thinking about what had just happened, when he heard:
"Ma'am! The suspect is in the room."
A mature female voice responds.
"Thank you Richards. You can leave now."
The door is opened. A tall, blonde-hair woman with a strict-look enters. She puts her metallic clipboard on the table and sits down on the chair opposite to him. She takes out a pen and readies herself to take notes.
"Name"
"Jin, Jin Li"
"Nationality"
"Xing"
"Do you have a passport?"
He struggles to take out his passport from the inside pocket of his jacket. The woman reaches over and helps him take it out.
"Thanks."
The female officer didn't respond.
"What is the purpose of your trip?"
He froze at this question. He now remembered why he began this journey in the first place….
~Flashback~
It was a stormy night; a dark shadow entered his room. The shadow blew out the candle in the room. He reaches under his bed for his short dagger that he keeps in case of intruders. The shadow places his hand on the arm Jin is reaching the dagger with. The shadow takes off his ninja mask.
"Lang Yao!"
"Yes, it is me."
"What are you doing here? Do you know the consequences if you are discovered?"
"Yes I do, and I know it well. But I have come to you, my childhood friend, the only one that I can trust."
"What do you need this time?"
Jin knew that Lang often asked him for favors. Lang Yao, being the prince and heir to the throne was almost always confined to the palace. He often asked Jin to bring him new and exotic things from foreign lands for him to amuse himself with. But Jin takes a look at Lang's face. Something was different this time. Lang's eyes bore depression and sadness.
"I want you to go to Amestris."
"What?! Are you kidding me? No."
"Please, you can also use the travel to learn about the Amestris alchemy that you've always wanted to learn."
"Ok, but why do YOU want me to go."
"Listen, we both know that my uncles and the Grand Bishop want to take the throne after my old man. I don't want that to happen. That's why I want you to go find out what my grandfather used to attain and secure his throne. And bring it back to me."
" You mean the legendary Lin Yao? How do you expect me to do that? He went to Amestris over 100 years ago."
"I know it's hard, but you have to try. You know that my uncles are planning to wipe out the Li clan, and if they gain the throne, it will happen."
Jin thought about the task given to him and finally decided.
"Alright, but I need a few accessories and a lot of travel funds."
Lang knew that he had done the most difficult part, convincing Jin to go to Amestris. So he responded with a half-smile.
"No problem."
~End of flashback~
Jin snaps out of his flashback and respond to her question.
"Leisure."
The female officer checks his passport one more time and makes a call. He guessed she had mad it to the Xing embassy in Central City. When she put down the phone, she gave him a smile and said:
"I am sorry, there has been a mistake. You are free to go."
Jin is led out of the police station by the female officer. He walks out onto the sidewalk and looks up at the sky. The sky was dark and starless. Only the moon shone in the center of the darkened sky. The moon was bright, a bit too bright. A grumbling sound brought Jin into reality once more. He walked down the street to look for a restaurant.
End of Book I