The Dwarf Inside the Flask
Homunculus 2: Sloth
1.
Sloth was such a filthy thing.
How could no-one see the bloated fat that pooled around the robes that glittered gold? It was disgusting. Flesh squeezing the metal bands around fingers, the belt around waists –
They could feel it. They were unable to walk the distance of their own palace because of the weight of their bodies.
However, it changed nothing.
The Emperor sat at the head of the dining hall as the slaves brought his meal to him. Plates upon plates of steaming foods, the coverings removed as soon as they were carefully placed on the table to reveal neatly cut pieces of bird, or skinned lizard.
Then they left, knowing that the meal that carried hours of hard work would be devoured in mere minutes.
2.
The bowl had undoubtedly contained fruit at some point, but somebody must have decided that the fruit was far superior than the bowl itself. After all, what did a flask need with an ornament?
So it collected dust for a time as it watched the world beyond it. The newly named Van Hohenheim polished it sometimes, but then…
'Could you open the flask for me, Van?'
Van Hohenheim blinked. He was still unused to being addressed by his real name, and it showed in the brief pause that came before his reply.
'Open…the flask?'
'Indeed. I wish to attempt something.'
The slave did not understand, but fulfilled the request anyway. He was happy to; the Dwarf Inside the Flask was far kinder than his Masters. It had a good reason for being unable to work itself, and it gave him knowledge in return.
That knowledge seemed, at the time, far more valuable than a roof over his head and enough food in his stomach to sustain him.
And so the Dwarf left the flask and sat in the bowl for a moment, before returning. No-body saw a change…but then, even the slave's quick polishes had not brushed against the sand at the bottom.