My name is Vayne Aurelius.

I think that's redundant to say, knowing the high price on my head. I am an alchemist, graduated from Al-Revis academy.

Al-Revis is an academy that focuses on training alchemists. It's a school situated in a floating island far above the earth, to prevent anyone from going in or out without being noticed. It's a safe haven for us alchemists, though it has its downsides at times.

Alchemists - people with an understanding of the true nature of life and everything in it - are often thought as practitioners of witchcraft in the world, so we have to be cautious wherever we go. We're misunderstood and I don't think the views are gonna change soon.

I never knew that the moment I stepped out of the academy, but I knew immediately my presence would mean danger no matter the situation. So I opt to travel around, never staying in one place for too long. I never get lonely, because I know Sulpher is always around.

But I know, I'm only safe when I'm with him and my friends.

It all started when I fled to the north, after a church fellowship gave a warning of a Homunculus walking the streets. They meant the Homunculus as me.

It was snowing that night, the only thing lighting the path being a lantern that Prof. Zeppel gave me. I can barely keep walking straight because how deep and soft the snow is, my legs felt somewhat numb in the cold.

But it wasn't long until I spotted a village, just outside of a forest and across a small lake.

I was relieved, because I knew someone who lives in this village.

I walked to the edge of the lake, it's frozen. I didn't know how solid it was but I can't risk breaking the ice, since taking the road around it will be deadly.

Sulpher tugged on my coat, even if he couldn't speak to me anymore I knew he thinks something is wrong. It's tempting to turn back, but we'll freeze to death if we don't cross the frozen lake.

" Don't worry, " I said. " It's safe to cross... I hope... "

I could almost hear his exasperated sigh. He knew I was trying to convince him and he didn't believe any of it.

So I picked him up, carried him in my arms and slowly walk on the surface of the ice.

Slip!

I almost fell down, the surface is somewhat wet. The lake was newly frozen, but it's strong enough to hold a man with 60kg worth of supplies and a cat. I knew I have to meet with her soon.

I wasted no time, I walked across the lake. The blowing wind prevented me from hearing anything, but I felt a faint cracking below me. Sulpher gets anxious.

When I glanced down, large cracks had formed below me. Even when I'm near the other side of the lake, I knew I'm in deep danger.

Before long, water started leaking out the cracks and the surface begins to cave in. Sulpher screeched and jumped from my arms, to safety in the village's edge.

I was about to follow but it was too late.

The ice below me broke and I fell in.

I'm drowning in cold, freezing water.

I didn't remember much in there, just the deep darkness of the lake's bottom and ice flakes sinking with me.

I remember trying to swim up, but I was too heavy. My supplies are too valuable to lose and my clothes are heavy with the water it absorbed.

And then, I passed out underwater.