A young woman in her late teens was studying diligently in her study. Her knuckles resting on her temple, her sharp pen feverishly scribbled and scratched on her research notebook. Her icy blue eyes darted back and forth between her notebook, and the research journal she was reading from.

"All of the essential elements in the anatomy of a human life form can be easily bought in the local grocery... It kinda looks like humans are rather poorly made... But I still don't understand... Why is it forbidden? Why is Human Transmutation taboo?" Letting out an irritated growl as she anxiously laced her fingers through her chocolate tousled hair; the young woman appeared as if she was just about done with her research.

"We can't abuse of the intelligence God has given us; however, we can't let it go to waste either..." Letting out a much more relaxed sigh, the brunette let her icy orbs drift over to another item.

There, laying ominously on the corner of her desk, was a small tattered book. Curiosity getting the best of the young woman, she reached over and grabbed it. With a slick, refined eyebrow arched into the air, she read the cover, "Alkahestry?" [1]

Just as she opened the book, she noticed how small the book actually was, "There doesn't seem to be very much information... Maybe it isn't really relevant to Alchemy?"

The door to her study suddenly swung open, revealing a small girl that looked to be the age of eight. Her appearance was strikingly similar to the older woman, aside from the difference in the color of their irises. Her shortly cropped brown hair was let down, however, a small side pony tail held up some of the some girl's chocolate colored locks. Her brown eyes sparkled with innocence, but there was a certain air around her that said she had quite the independent streak, and was rather mature for her young age.

Jumping at her sudden appearance, the icy eyed woman dropped the book cradled in her hands, and looked to the small girl in slight irritation.

Oblivious to the frustration that was ventilating from the woman's form, the small girl smiled sweetly, raising a hand clad in a kitchen mitten, "The food's all done 'Sis!"

The irritation seemed to melt at the sight of her younger sister's cute expression, and, with a smile of her own - although seemingly weak - she got up from her seat, rising up and stretching her tired limbs.

Trotting up to the taller female, the small girl kept her glamorous smile. Taking her hand in her smaller hand, the little girl began to make her way out of the study, her older sister in tow, "Come on Amelia. I made quiche [2] this time!"

Amelia looked down on her little sister, her eyebrows knitting together in worry as they neared the kitchen, "Quiche? Are you sure?"

The small girl seemed to pout at her older sister's unintentional insult, her nose high into the air, "Hmph! It's gonna be good! Just you wait!"

Amelia chuckled at her younger sister's silly antics, entering the kitchen with the small girl still in front of her, "How can you be sure? The last time I tried your quiche-"

The little girl turned around, her expression determined as she placed her small hands on her hips; her small form countering Amelia's fully developed body, "It didn't explode in my face while I was mixing it this time! That's how."

Sweat dropping, Amelia decided that the proof of her achievement wasn't very reassuring... Hesitantly sitting down at the table, the brown haired woman gestured towards her sister, "Alright, alright. Lets give it a try."

With a broad smile, the little girl nodded vigorously, quickly taking the quiche from the kitchen counter and placing it in the center of the dinner table. Using the knife and plate that was placed there before hand, the petite female cut into the French dish, serving it on the plate and placing it in front of her older sister. "I hope you like it~!"

Grimacing at the plate, the older woman feared for her life. However, as she began cutting into it, she figured that it didn't look all that bad. Raising it up so it met her nose, she sniffed, realizing that it didn't smell all that bad either... She then opened wide, placing the fork in her mouth.

The little girl watched anxiously, her eyes sparkling in anticipation as she watched Amelia's expression. "Soooo? How does it taste~?" Seeing Amelia leave the fork in her mouth with no sudden movement, the brown haired girl pouted, "What? You dun like it?"

Amelia seemed to furrow her eyebrows bemusedly. Finally setting her fork back on the plate, she looked down at the remaining quiche. "No... That's not it; I'm just surprised." Looking up at her little sister, Amelia smiled, "Congratulations Valerie. This quiche turned out amazing."

Valerie squealed in delight, jumping up and down with a knife in hand. (Which is quite dangerous.) "Yay! Big Sis liked my quiche!"

Laughing at her reaction, the blue eyed girl nodded, "Mmhm." After that, she served herself another piece, while Valerie did so as well. Both eating in the pregnant silence, they enjoyed each others company as they sat at the table.

After a few minutes, Amelia placed her fork down, her movements of cutting and biting finally ceasing. Noticing her older sister's lack of movement, the small girl asked in worry, "Hey, what's the matter sis?"

With a feigned smile, Amelia turned her blue eyes to meet brown orbs, "How would you like to go to another country Val?"

Blinking in confusion, the small girl tilted her head, beginning to think about the question Amelia had asked her. Another country? From what the little girl had learned, countries are a rather large mass of land, and they all had different cultures and practices. So, a suggestion such as this was rather mind boggling for an eight year old. "Another country? You mean like Creta?"

"Yup, just like Creta. But it's even better!"

"Really?! What's this place called big sis?"

"The place you're going to is called, Xing."

Author's Note:

So, I'm pretty sure y'all are wondering what this whole chappie was about. So, allow me to shed a little light on the subject.

*pulls light switch*

This is basically a prologue. It isn't relevant to the upcoming chapters, but it will be an important part of Valerie-chan's past. In other words, its a flashback! Which is why the whole thing is in italics. Keep in mind that from now on, I'll have every flashback be in italics, therefore, you'll be able to tell it apart from the rest. Why I decided to start this whole series with this specific scene?

No clue.

But, I was actually a quite satisfied with it. Anyways, the real stuff will start in the next chapter, which will be published soon.

I hope.

And, as for the footnotes:

[1]: Alkahestry, also called Purification Arts, refers to the slightly different form of Alchemy used in the country of Xing.

[2]: Quiche is a baked flan or tart with savory filling thickened eggs. A rather popular dish that originated from France.

Well, I'll see you in the next chapter my lovelies~

-Suki-chan