*Astrids POV (Flashback Cont.)*

When I finally finished my alchemy studies, I was able to slip away from the huge mansion-like house I was forced to call my home. I was a real treat to take a walk in the dark green, luscious forest. I barely ever left my home, due to my mother's strict orders not to.

I grinned has a inhale the fresh air. I choose my usually path into the woods, taking only my sharp dagger. I fancied the blade a lot, since my father had gave it to me. The metal blade was shiny and silver, not a spot of rust to be seen on it. It had a soft, black leather handle that always helped my help me get a good grip on it. Dante did know about my precious dagger and I did not intend on showing her. She never allowed me to learn any sort of fighting styles. She told my I wasn't ever going to leave her house so I didn't have to worry about it. It upset me when she said things like that; and it only made me long for knowledge in martial arts. Jealousy taught me a little bit: he was a lot nice than Envy. I guess it was because he was a Second Gen. Homunculus.

I despised the normal Homunculi. Envy was mean and cold, so I didn't even try speaking to him. Gluttony terrified me to the point I refused to be in the same room with, who wouldn't? Dante told me she was going to make more. I really hoped she wouldn't.

Anyway, I ran down the forest path, where I ended up near an old abandoned shed. This was my prime getaway spot, and the place I spent the most time in when I snuck out. I walked around the back of the grey shed and began practicing my skill in fighting. Shink! I pulled out my gleaming dagger. I threw the sword against the ancient build and repeated for at least a half an hour.

I was still thinking about Greed. Sure I know how homunculi are made. I just didn't know why she had to do this to him. Out of all the dead people on this planet she decides to experiment with human transmutation on him. It made me upset. I was really sick and tired of Dante's bullshit; her beatings, locking me up in that damn place, treating me like her slave, and treating me like I was weak and inferior. I wished I wasn't a human. Maybe then I could be stronger than her. I was so deep in thought I didn't see Jealousy come up behind me.

"Boo!" he shouted in my ear. I shrieked, whipped around to him, and impulsively stabbed him in the face. He screamed and backed up, falling in the grass. Small sparks lit up on his new wound and it healed in right in front up of me. I watched in amazement; I had only read about this phenomenon in dusty old alchemy texts, but never had seen it.

"Whoa! That was cool!" I said, my widened eyes looking down at him. Jealousy stood up, wiping the blood off of his newly healed face.

"Cool? You just stabbed me!"Jealousy said has he showed a slight grin.

"Yeah, well, that's what happens when you sneak up on people...Or me anyway." I stared up at Jealousy. He looked about four years older than me. He said that I would eventually be as tall as he was, considering the Second Gen., like the original Homunculi, didn't age.

"You better run back to your place." Jealousy told me.

I questioned him with a "Why?" because I really did not desire returning home.

"Dante's looking for you." was all he had to say to me and I instantly sprinted home, terrified of the consequences if I got caught.