Chapter III: 1909-1910
The end of the Ishval war had been good for Rosembool – the small village was in the East after all, and they had a few of the flocks that supplied military-grade wool. As such they had suffered from several attacks over the years, and now were finally free of the fear.
The three Elric siblings helped around as much as they could, which was a lot more than before they went to train with Izumi – and they worked day and night on creating a circle that would work to transmute a human being. And even though she disapproved, Ari still helped, because she'd rather help and be there to rescue them if – when – needed that let them go through it alone and come out of it having paid a far too heavy price.
Still, because her disapproval was so obvious, tension grewhigh between her and her brothers as time went by, even sweet Al starting to snap at her as their studies took more and more time. So when tensions sky-rocketed, Ari would retreat for a while to the Rockbell's house, where she would study a bit with Winry – she was of course far less skilled than the older girl, but she still knew the basics about automail by now, as her friend was always happy to talk about it and brag about the progress made around the country, or the famous mechanics.
Most of the time, Al was the one to calm down first and would help Ed and Ari to talk again – which often ended in a three-way all out brawl between themselves before they got back to their studies.
One unexpected consequence of studying to craft an alchemy ritual to bring back their mother was that her Hallows skill had started to progress.
And this really didn't sit well with Ariana – after all, she had died at only thirty-three year old as Sinclair Kazami precisely because her Hallows skill had leveled up too fast, which in turn had put a strain on her body since that skill was Chaos' Game interpretation of her divine powers, something not made for the Mortal Realms.
Just like she had easily mastered Soul Art in her previous life when it had been speculated she would need at least two life to learn it, Blood Art was coming naturally to her – and in two years, she had gained 5 ranks of it out of the 25 ranks she could learn.
Yet, just like in her previous life, she already knew that if she had to, she would use it to help her brothers – even thought using godly powers in this world so thoroughly cut off from the Immortal Realms was much more dangerous than it had been to use them on Earth.
Another thing Ari concluded was that her unique way of doing alchemy was probably linked to the way she had come to this world – as her soul wasn't wiped clean at birth like normal humans were, she had seen the gate between the other realms and this one, though at the time she hadn't linked it with alchemy - but between Von Hohenheim and Izumi's non-answers about the Gate they talked about, she was starting to think it was one and the same thing.
And that alchemists that tried to mess with human life found themselves metaphorically knocking at said door and left with a bit more knowledge – and a heavy fine; just like their teacher. Which would explain why no amount of explanation could help someone who hadn't seen that door to understand how circle-less alchemy worked. They still lacked "True knowledge" as Izumi had put it when Edward had asked why she could use alchemy without circle.
Finally, by the fall of 1910, Edward clapped his hands resolutely "Done."
[Goal complete! +10XP
Goal update: activate the human alchemy circle]
[Level up! You are now level 23!
+1SP]
Ariana acknowledged the quest update with a sigh. While she loved her two brothers more than anything else in this world, she keenly missed Tsunayoshi, and the easy acceptance toward her strangeness, because in her previous life, she hadn't been the only one to play Chaos' Game.
But Ed and Al were alchemists before anything else, and knowing about this gift would be met with skepticisms and a plethora of uncomfortable questions – and anyway, the Party System was still locked.
Loneliness was strange in that it could be felt even when you weren't alone...
As if reading her mind, Padfoot and Tempesta – the name given to the fox Mason gave her – were suddenly by her side, leaning fondly against her while she watched her boys celebrate the completion of years of hard work with a bittersweet smile.
They had used the basement of the house to prepare the ingredients and make space for the large and complex circle, which was checked for errors several times, and finally – all too soon– they were ready.
[Goal complete! +10 XP
Goal update: survive]
[Level up! You are now level 24!
+1SP]
Ari gulped, as the alchemical flash glowed an unearthly dark purple, energy swirling around them...
¤.¤.¤
"Brother!" stammered Al "Something isn't right!"
The next moment, their three animal companions howls were heard, as Ed's eyes widened "A rebound." Then, came pain, and the feeling that their bodies were torn apart.
Whiteness, and a tall gate inscribe with a large alchemical array was all Edward could see.
"Al? Ari?"
Cautiously, he approached the tall doors, wondering what was hidden behind – the next moment, said doors slammed open, and darkness and terror seized him, dragging him thought the door – and an unknown voice laughed as he screamed "Be quiet, ignorant fool! Isn't it what you wanted?" he could hear the smile in the voice "True knowledge!"
He felt as if an eternity had been spent into the darkness, knowledge crammed into his head and body feeling as if it would break. And suddenly, he was back into the whiteness.
"So, how does it feel?"
"Like true knowledge..." he admitted "Our theory on human transmutation wasn't wrong, it just wasn't enough! I just need to see more!"
"Ah, that's not possible laughed the nearly invisible silhouette not far from him "You can have only so much with this passage fee!"
"Passage fee?" he repeated blankly
"That right..." a terrifying smile "Passage fee. Equivalent trade you know, right, alchemist boy?"
Then there was pain, and he was back to their house basement – alone, and bleeding from the stump of his missing left leg, with an inhuman monstrosity twitching and covered in blood in lieu of their mother, his kind brother Al's clothing visible, but the boy nowhere to be seen, and not a single trace of his little sister.
"Al, Ari, Mom..." he whispered, already weakening from the blood-loss "It wasn't supposed to be like this..."
His eyes darkened, as he refused to cry – what right had he to cry when he was the one who started all this? what time had he to waste with tears when he had siblings to rescue from his own foolishness?
He forced his hand to steady themselves and drew an alkahestry circle, suddenly wishing that he'd spent more time on it just like Ari had wanted them too; the circle wasn't a work of art, but it did roughly close the bleeding stump.
He had no time to loose by passing out because of blood loss.
"My... fault..."
In his back, Padfoot, Paws and Tempesta were still howling and yowling, and he vaguely wondered if the planks they'd put in the way to prevent the animals from coming into the room and hamper the transmutation would hold. Looking around for his next step, his eyes fell on the old set of full-body armor. Refusing to hear his body's protests, he dragged the heavy iron parts to the ground, writing a rune in his blood before clapping his hands together.
"A leg or an arm, I don't care about the bloody price! Give me back my family! You can even have my heart if you want!"
As the alchemy glowed once more, Edward just had the time to see a few blurs come between him and the armor, then the white was back.
"That fool came back for more!" laughed the now familiar voice
"Don't talk about my brother like that." bit back an annoyed voice, far colder than usual "I told you he'd be back for us."
And indeed, Edward was back, albeit surprised to see both his sister and brother waiting for him by Truth's side.
¤.¤.¤
"I've come to take my family back!"
"Yes, yes," sighed the gatekeeper tiredly "The three of you really are tiresome, all about family taking care of each other and all that yammering..." then turning toward Al "Well, seems like your brother paid for your soul and your sister is ready to pay for the rest, aren't you a lucky lad?"
At that, Ed turned toward Ari, wondering what the invisible being meant – but then, the blurs of earlier were suddenly there, and the three siblings could only watch in awe as Padfoot, Paws and Tempesta were suddenly in front of them, growling at the gatekeeper.
"Oh," laughed said gatekeeper "Now, this is funny!" he turned back toward them "An animal ready to pay the price for a human's mistake, this isn't something I've seen before!"
"What!"protested Al "No! What's the point of trying to bring someone back if all we're doing is sacrificing others for it?"
"So you would put so much value in an animal life?"
Ed really despised how entertained the invisible being seemed to be with the situation – this wasn't a matter for laughing, this was his family's life that were at stake!
"I already told you I'd meet you price." calmly stated Ari before Al could answer "So don't involve them in this."
"Ah, but I can't you see... Every being that comes to the gate must pay a fee after all."
What happened next, Edward couldn't understand – as suddenly, power was whirling around his sister, giving off a feeling so strange it could only be compared to Truth otherworldly feeling.
"Stop messing around, Truth!" said being smile disappeared "State your prices."
"Well, if you're taking it like that, Shadow." he made a movement toward Edward – pain came, as his arm was suddenly gone "For your brother's soul." another movement toward Al and the same arm was gone "For seeing the truth, and your passage fee." another gesture, and it was the animals that were lacking a limb "As passage fee, and since equivalent exchange must be met, I'll grant you familiar link to your chosen master."
"You do realize that Padfoot already is my familiar."
"Of course, Shadow." answered Truth in a mocking tone "I've granted him knowledge too." at that, Ed startled – knowledge to a dog? But Ari merely nodded, and the next moment she was missing her right arm too "The arm as passage fee, and as for your brother's body..." his smile widened "20 ranks."
Edward and Alphonse shared a glance, wondering what he meant by that – but Padfoot whine informed them that it wasn't something good, as they had come to understand a long time ago that the dog was far more intelligent than he ought to be...
"Done." nodded their sister who visibly had understood what the strange being meant
¤.¤.¤
"Wait a minute!" protested Ed "What about Ari's return?"
"Oh, I wasn't keeping her here from the start." the gatekeeper informed him "She was just bargaining for your brother sooner than you." an amused laugh "After all, she already knew that your attempt was doomed, so she was ready for the consequences, weren't you, little Shadow..."
Edward head fell in shame – because it was right, Ari had spent years telling them this wasn't a good idea, and he'd seen the result; the thing that was lying dying in their basement wasn't even human, they hadn't even managed a correct body, not to speak of bringing their mother's soul back.
And all he'd done when their sister had tried to prevent them from making this mistake was getting angry at her countless times – yet she had still stuck with them and prepared to take care of the mess he'd been the one to instigate.
It wasn't right – why was she the one paying for his mistakes?
"Please don't sow anymore chaos in my world, Shadow." asked Truth before sending them back
Ariana answered him by an icy cold look "I'll saw all the chaos needed to protect my family and take them through their destiny."
As the whiteness faded, Edward briefly wondered what she meant by this – then Truth's voice echoed on last time "Ah, I can still give you a bit more of knowledge for your price can't I?" a second of amused silence "Between ten and fifteen years, alchemist boy. That's how long your sister has left."
With that, he was back in their basement, his family around him – but they were bleeding out, and somehow, they still couldn't do alchemy one-handed like Ariana could – so once more, he had to see her take care of his mistake, rushing between them to cauterize the bleeding wounds.
As for his sister – she was resolutely ignoring her latest notifications...
[Life Quest complete! +10 XP
3 beginner skill tomes added to your inventory]
[Hallows skills reached rank 50!
Blood Art unlocked!]
[Seeing the Truth Perk (+5 to all knowledge) Perk unlocked]
[skills updated!]
[Mystical Guru 2/4 (Mystic Knowledge 50): +2 Wisdom, Perk unlocked]
[Blood Mark (+2Intelligence, +1Wisdom) added to Soul Imprint]
[Level up! You are now level 25!
+2CP, +1SP]
Finally, she turned toward the remnants of the cursed circle that had nearly killed their little brother and crippled them all, and put her remaining hand to the ground, making it all go up in flames.
¤.¤.¤
The next second, she was brutally dragged by the collar of her shirt "What the hell did you do, you idiots!"
Vacantly, she noted that the man was wearing a military uniform and had a soul so familiar it hurts, especially with the fury she could read in those deep black eyes, so familiar yet not recognizing her.
Then the man stumbled and let go of her, and her brothers were in front of her, Edward standing proudly despite lacking a leg, using Al to keep upright "Leave Ari alone!" he shouted protectively
"Ari tried to stop us from doing it time and time again," added Al in a lower voice "yet we didn't listen, and now..."
"...now Ari has less than twenty years left to life and it's our fault!" shouted Ed, anger and self-loathing in his eyes – and his affirmation wasn't surprising Al either
"That idiot Truth," she muttered "He wasn't supposed to tell you that..."
The soldier's eyes widened at the affirmation, then he muttered, compassion replacing the anger "What were you thinking, really, doing something like that?"
"We only wanted to see mum again..." mumbled Al sadly
"I guess you know why human alchemy is forbidden now." sighed the dark-haired man
"Will you denounce us?" asked Ed wary but ready to fight however he could to protect his family
"What for?" answered the man back "All I can see is wounded children and a fire." a shrug "Hardly a surprising scene so close to Ishval..." a smirk "Beside it's not like it would be beneficial for me to give to put you in jail when I came all the way from East City to recruit you."
"Recruit us?" Ed snorted darkly "You do realize I'm the oldest with my 11 year old?" the military really weren't ashame of anything if they were trying to recruit kids now
The other had the decency to look embarrassed "Ah yes, this is a case of incorrect information I'm afraid. The file I had on you three said the Elric brothers were in their thirty's..."
"The Elric brother's?" muttered Al to Ari
"Well, I'm always wearing boy clothes..." muttered back his sister "So people out of the village must have mistaken me for a boy..." then she started to sway
"Ari!"
The next moment, their sister was falling unconscious, the Amestrian military recruiter catching her just before she touched the ground.
"Well," he sighed "Right now we should get you all treated." louder "Lieutenant Hawkeye, I could use a hand down here!"
"Granny Pinako's house is nearby." offered Al "She keeps an eye on us."
"Not well enough." muttered the man back, as the blond female officer arrived
"Don't go blaming other's for a mistake I was the one to make!" shouted Ed
The new arrival's gasp cut them before more could be said, and the dark-haired man said "Like you see we have a bit of a situation, if you could help me take these kids to their neighbor, lieutenant?"
"Of course, lieutenant-colonel." nodded the other
"I can walk." affirmed Al, pushing a grumbling Ed toward her before crouching to pick up Tempesta and putting him on his brother's stomach, then putting Padfoot with his unconscious mistress and taking care of Paws himself
"I can't believe even the pets got caught in it..."
"They tried to save us." admitted Al, unable to really feel much of what was going on around him
¤.¤.¤
It was a somber procession that made it's way to the Rockbell's.
Seeing the bloody children the two soldiers were helping to her door, she ushered them inside quickly, taking them to the bathroom immediately.
"Do you need any help?" asked Riza to the small and old woman
A pair of piercing eyes gazed at her a moment, them granny Pinako harrumphed "Not right now. Come tomorrow if you really need to talk to them."
"Well, we were going to stay in town," she admitted "East city is a bit far for making it back in the same day."
"Then come, I'll need to clean them up." then glancing at Mustang "As for you, just don't stay in my hair and we'll be alright."
With that, the bathroom's door was slammed. A few moments latter, Winry came back – she had been sent to get medicine as soon as Pinako had seen the three Elric's state.
After knocking at the bathroom door and giving the medicine, she turned toward the man, then after a moment hesitated than stated "You're here to take them away, aren't you?"
Roy raised an eyebrow at the statement, and she continued "You'll take them away, just like you took my parents away in Ishval. I don't like the military."
He snorted "You're just a whiny kid." he answered back, gaining a glare from her "Merely saying you don't like the military and doing nothing about it won't change anything!" he affirmed "I don't like the military either, I despise it!"
"Then why are you a part of it!"
"How else am I suppose to change it to something better?" then looking at her seriously "As for your parents, just blaming the military for their death, isn't it insulting to them? Wasn't it their choice to go to Ishval?"
Winry eyes widened – because he was right, of course; because she remembered her parents smiled as they explained to her that it was their duty to go and save as many people as possible; because she remembered how much they had loved being doctors...
"You sure don't sound like a good recruiter for the military." stated a weak but amused voice
"Ari!" Winry jumped out of her siege to take the smallest girl in her arms
"Sorry for making you worry, Winry... and well, I have something to ask you..."
"Yes?"
"Make me automail."
"What? Me? Don't you mean granny?"
Ari shook her head "No. You." a smile "You've been practicing for years now, you'll need to have your first customer one day or another. I'll be your test subject!" and thrusting Padfoot froward "And for him too!"
"Automail for a dog?" couldn't help but parrot Roy, dubious
"Padfoot isn't any mangy mutt." stated Ari fiercely "He's my familiar and has been following me since I was born!"
He gave an unconvinced look at the puppy who didn't look old enough to be one year old, but Pinako, who was coming out with Ed, Al and Riza confirmed "That he has. Padfoot really is one special dog. Even if he is taking after Ed in term of growth."
"Who the hell are you saying is so small a puppy could walk on him without even realizing it!"
"Well you're the only Edward in the room, aren't you!"
¤.¤.¤
At that, Al and Ari shared a small smile – Pinako always knew best how to make them feel better. Making small talk, they were soon seated in the kitchen, and Ari finally asked the question that had been burning her lips since earlier "So, since you clearly have no love for the military, what's your real reason for coming all the way out from East City to recruit three new talents, mister alchemist?"
At that, Ed and Al spluttered, and finally noticed the silver chain of the State Alchemists pocket watch.
"Who said I wasn't just doing my job?"
Ari snorted "Yeah, right. You just said to Winry you wanted to change the military, so I don't see you acting for its current benefit."
Riza and Roy shared a glance, surprised at the youngest Elric sharpness – prodigy they may be, but even genius child were still children.
Yet this one – she had eyes far older than the other two.
Finally, surprising even himself, Roy admitted "Changing the basis of a whole country isn't something I can do alone."
"So you're gathering allies." mused Ari, before her eyes darkened "And what if things are far worse than you think?"
"I've already started on this path." shrugged Roy "If thing are worse, then I'll just fight harder."
"Why are we even considering this?" asked Al "Right now, we can't even do normal things, let alone alchemy."
"I've already asked Winry to make me an arm." shrugged Ari "I've no intention of spending the rest of my life mopping around."
The affirmation put a damper on her brothers mood, then Ed suddenly turned toward the lieutenant-colonel "So, what does it mean, being a State Alchemist?"
Roy smirked at the newly lit fire in the eldest eyes "I would be your sponsor to take the State Alchemist national exam, then if you pass you'll be put under my command. State Alchemist have access to more resources than anyone else: the military library, research labs, a yearly budget for bettering their skills and developing new techniques..."
"Brother..." started Al
"So if there is any way to extend Ari's life, it's there that we'll find it."
"Don't." even Roy was startled at the cold tone "I've said it for years when you tried to bring mother back, and I'll say it again since you don't seem to be able to bring yourself to understand: playing with life is the domain of the gods!" her brothers were taken aback by her vehemence, and guilt crept up as they saw tears finally gathering in her eyes, even though she hadn't cried when they lost their limbs, nor when she lost most of her life "I don't mind having a short life as long as we're together! I don't want you in the military to search for a cure for me! I want you in the military if you want to change this country!"
And suddenly, Ed understood.
"You know something about this don't you?" an hesitation "But then, why wouldn't you say anything about it?"
She let out a shuddering breath.
Somehow, it was only logical that it came to this,wasn't it? She had been born their sister because their destiny was tied to that of their country after all...
"This is why dad left." she finally admitted, stunning Elric and Rockbell alike "I told you didn't I, that he didn't up and left without a good reason..." a sigh "Someone is meddling with the whole country, and that person needs to be stopped."
"What kind of meddling are you talking about?" asked Roy
Ari paused a moment, turning toward Pinako and Winry "If the wrong people come to know about this, you'll be in danger. Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"If you're in the middle of something dangerous, we'll be in danger anyway as the closest thing to family you've got left." shrugged Pinako "Talk."
"And," added Winry, the young girl having found her resolution too "If we want to do anything about it, then we have to know, don't we?"
And so, she told them what she knew of Von Hohenheim's story.
"This is..." muttered Roy, not having expected something of this size, not wanting to believe it – yet not able to bring himself not to believe it
"After dad left, I looked a bit more into it. There are a lot of books in his studies, some of them the last remnants of Xerxes." she said "I don't speak the language, or well, I know only a few words... But alchemical diagram I can read." her eyes darkened "He was right. Our whole country has been born and expanded to become a giant circle."
"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Ed
"Would you have believed me?"
He closed his eyes, feeling the guilt welling up once more – because of course he wouldn't have listened to her nor believed her. Standing before that gate and that bastard gatekeeper had changed them all, and he wouldn't have wanted to hear her out before.
"So..." asked Al "What do you want to do now?"
A smile "Our father is an idiot who thinks he can save the world all alone, which is stupid even if he does have four centuries of knowledge as an advantage, the enemy has the exact same advantage, and the military of the country working for him." she stated, making Ed stumble – he was the one dissing their father usually "So let's see what we can do from the inside."
"You do realize that automail surgery takes years to recover from." pointed out Pinako
"Don't underestimate us Elric." smirked Ari, her brothers soon echoing her
"One year!" added Ed with a determined smile "One year, and we're taking this damn exam!" he shouted to the man that had come to recuit them
"So don't slack off on your own goals during this time, and don't get yourself killed." completed Al, resolve growing stronger too
Ari smiled this time, as a new notification appeared
[Life Quest! Join the Army, they said...
Goal: Get outfitted with automail
Bonus goal: get through rehabilitation in a year
Reward: +25XP per goal, 1 Soul-Bound token upon completion
Bonus Reward: +50XP, 1 beginner characteristic tome upon completion]
It was as they were getting ready to leave that Roy suddenly turned toward Ari "There's one thing I don't understand... Why would you father share his story with a three year old kid? For all that he knew, you didn't get a word of his story..."
"Ah..." for the first time, she looked a bit uncomfortable, intriguing both him and Riza, while her two brothers shared a glance behind her, wondering the same "That's because I'm the only of us three that wasn't born... normal." she admitted
"What do you mean?"
"Because father hold the philosopher stone made from the sacrifice of his own people within him, he consider himself a monster, and was afraid of what would happen when he had children. But soon, with Ed, then Al, it became apparent that whatever he had become, it wasn't transmitted to his kids. But then, I was born."
She threaded her only hand in her hair, soon finding the silver Soul Link "I was born with this." she stated, surprising both soldiers and her brothers "This, and eyes too old for a newborn." a shrug "Biologically, there's no doubt about it, I'm one hundred percent human. But I can feel things that I shouldn't. Like souls. And father has a lot of suffering souls within himself. It doesn't feel great..."
"So that was why you always tried to get away from him when you were a baby." realized Pinako
"That's not possible, is it..." mumbled Ed "Something like that, it doesn't have any scientific basis."
¤.¤.¤
"And what's the scientific basis of the gate?" she asked back, before smiling "But well, it's because I knew that would be your answer that I didn't tell you." a shrug "We inherited our genius mind from father, and so he knew that I could feel and see more than I let on. So eventually, I just asked. And he told me..."
"Is that how you always know who's coming near you even without seeing them?" asked Al, amused – that ability had made her nearly impossible to surprise or prank when they were younger
A confirmation nod, and soon, lieutenant-colonel Mustang and lieutenant Hawkeye were gone. They had decided not to keep contact while the Elric did their surgery and rehabilitation, not wanting to attract attention too soon – but they would discretely inform their team of what they had learned, and would try and find more about the situation without getting themselves killed.
Knowing that the danger would come from within was a good forewarning, one they wouldn't waste.
After that, days went by quickly, Winry and Pinako wanting them healthy before starting the first part of the automail surgery – the ports installation.
Only one more surprise was waiting for them – and Al found first, as he was woken up the next morning by Paws, who wanted to be fed "Yes, yes, I'm up you spoiled beast." was muttering the youngest boy, still half asleep "Yes, I gathered that you're hungry..." another insistent meow "No you're not having fish you... er..." and suddenly it dawned on him "Ah! Ed, Ari! Paws' talking to me!"
"What the hell are you talking about?" grumbled Ed, barely awake
"Well, of course he's talking to you." nodded Ari as if it was an everyday occurrence, gaining a pair of disbelieving look "What did you think the familiar bound was about?"
"I don't know! Not about Paws asking for fish a six in the morning in any case!"
She snorted, and said sagely at Padfoot "See, this is why canine are so much superior to feline." the dog barked his agreement, and Al suddenly realized "Wait... You said to Truth you already had a familiar bond with Padfoot... Does this mean you've always understood what he says!"
A nod, and Ed turned back to bury his head in the pillow "It is way to early in the morning for you to be yet again defying the laws of physics, little sister... Wake me up in a couple of hours..."
"Er... Guess I'll relay Tempesta proposition latter then." she shrugged before starting to get out of bed
As for Ed – he was already back into dream-land.
As such it was only several hours later than he remembered "You were saying something about Tempesta earlier?"
"Oh, right! She's proposing to become your familiar."
"I thought she would be yours?"
"Well yes, but she says that since I've already have Padfoot," cue happy bark "she could keep an eye on you."
"Keep an eye on me?"
"Think about it, we're talking about a natural predator who only you could understand guarding your back." explained Ari
He nodded – even if his mind still had trouble wrapping around the idea that animals were talking to his brother and sister, he could see the advantage of it, if you accepted that those animal were much more intelligent that normal specimen, which he already knew...
So, Tempesta choose Ed as her partner – and now that they could understand each other, the fox and the boy spent most of their time bickering, to the rest of them everlasting amusement.
Since Ariana was the only one who could do alchemy one-handed, she still went around town to help people – and the news of their accident had soon circulated around town, with the false story that it was a few straggling rebels that did it, but that the Elric managed to take care of them with the help of the recruiter that had come to meet them.
Even though most didn't really like the military, they knew about Ed stubbornness, and the three's talent, so when they heard that they wanted to become State Alchemist, they weren't met by resentment but cheering – as they did believe that if someone could better the reputation of the State Alchemists, it was them.
Thanks to the helping around she did which always translated in daily or weekly quests, she was soon on the cusp of leveling up to level 26 – except she didn't, and was instead met with an unexpected notification.
[System Log: Class Available!
You are now eligible to select a class. Note that each class has a specific requirement to choose it, and will offer specific bonus and skill set.
You will not be able to level up above level 25 as long as you haven't selected and gained your Class.]
Well, that was different...
With that, she hadn't wasted any time and jumped to the new log entry that expanded on the different classes and their requirements. There were eight different classes, all giving a Class Perk to be chosen, a boost to one main characteristic each five level, and requiring two skills, varying in function of the class, at 50 and 25 respectively.
[Artificer Class chosen!
(requirement: any alchemy skill over 50, any fighting skill over 25)
You will now gain +1 Intelligence each 5 level
Class Perk available:
- Art is a Bang: +5 to Fire Affinity, +10 to Fire Alchemy, double range skills growth rate, unlocks Fiery Temper (1/10) Ability (creating explosions in the battlefield is your favorite past time: each successive Fire Circle activated does 5% more damage)
- Chess Master: +5 to Earth Affinity, +10 to Earth Alchemy, double ground skills growth rate, unlocks Battle Seer (1/10) Ability (your mind works so fast in the battlefield that you feel like others actions are slower: time dilatation:1.5 at rank 1)
-Mermaid Wonder: +5 to Water Affinity, +10 to Water Alchemy, double survival growth rate, unlocks Bubblehead Charm (1/10) Ability (when fighting, damage bounces off you with your +20% defense)
- Wind Dancer: +5 to Air Affinity, +10 to Air Alchemy, double weapon skills growth rate, unlocks Cutting Edge (1/10) Ability (you instinctively weave an alchemical array with any weapon you use on the battlefield, giving them +15% to damage dealing)
unspent: 1]
Ariana settled on the Wind Dancer Perk faster than reasonable – Air Alchemy was perhaps the one she had made the less progress with, but the Cutting Edge ability appealed to her far too much to let it slide.
She had started branching out into all four elements of alchemy while her brothers and her were still researching the homunculus ritual, and had progressed surprisingly fast with fire alchemy, perhaps thanks to her previous life where Flames had been the basis of her powers and high Elemental affinity with fire, and was already adept at water alchemy since it was the basis of alkahestry, but air had been the hardest element to get a handle on with its volatile, invisible and untouchable nature.
Taken advantage of the fact she was alone, she started to play around with air alchemy, trying to orient a gust of wind toward a line of small figurines transmuted from the ground to make them fall or float.
Neither of which were easy.
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"Wow, what is this!" breathed an impressed Al, Ed's eyes alight too with interest as her brothers finally came to see what she was doing
"Air alchemy," she explained "Since our alchemy is based on manipulating the earth's energy, and alkahestry uses fluids, in other word, the water element, it stood to sense that there must be fire or air based alchemy too."
"Do you have notes on it?" asked Ed, already interested
She nodded "At home, I'll give them to you so you can start studying them. And you can start thinking about the way you'll harness the energy too.." a groan "Because I just can't get a handle of air for some reason..."
Al laughed at her frustration, plopping by her side while Paws went to play with the one figurine she had finally managed to float a few centimeters off the ground.
"And fire?" asked her eldest brother
A smile, and she negligently pushed her hand on the ground – the next moment, one of the stubbornly standing figurine was bursting in flames under Tempesta excited yips.
"Show off." grumbled Ed, amused in spite of him
"Fire is easy." she shrugged "There's oxygen everywhere and heat and fuel are easy enough to find in the ground."
"And if you want to burn something that isn't on the ground?"
"Heating oxygen particles, and a spark."
"Ah but then you'll have an explosion, not a fire."
"True. I'll need more fuel for fire only. But that can be found easily enough, be it in gas or in solid matters like wood."
After that, the three of them found a new burst of interest in the differences between the four elemental alchemies, and the innovative ways each could be used. Their studies were of course mainly focused on theory, but they also make it a habit to try at least once a day to feel the different energy sources around them.
And that's how several months after they lost their limbs, and a few days after they had finally been fitted with automail and were trying anything to but their mind off the pain, they realized something.
"There is something under the earth's crust that doesn't allow us to go too deep when using earth alchemy." muttered Ed "And it doesn't make any sense according to the making off of the planet's depths!"
Of course, his affirmation sparked th interest of his two siblings that soon confirmed his findings. Then, Ari paled, having focused all of her senses toward the obstruction and brusquely found what it was...
"Ari!" shouted Al as his little sister tumbled, looking nearly sick "Ari, what is it?"
"Souls." she answered finally, after having taken a few deep breaths to settle herself "Thousands of souls..." she stumbled again "I feel dirty."
And she did – there had always been some kind of background noise she wasn't aware of since her birth; except now she had honed on said background noise, and it was the cries of souls asking to be freed, everywhere around, just beneath the surface. She felt ashamed of herself for not having caught on this sooner...
Padfoot, her loyal dogfather now outfitted with a metallic limb too, whined and trotted toward her to comfort her, and her brothers scouted toward her, sandwiching her in a brotherly hug of human and metallic limbs.
After that, it took months for her to learn back how to ignore the uncomfortable feeling, because she couldn't free those souls – experimenting around a bit soon revealed to her that these were part of the missing souls not currently stuck inside her father; in other words these were part of the homunculus that was their enemy, and to free them she would have to face the homunculus himself.
Which only comforted her in their resolution of taking the State Alchemist test.
Now that they had their limbs back, the three siblings and their partners spent most of their time rushing through rehabilitation.
They spent many nights coughing blood as their bodies protested against the harsh treatment, all of their nerves ending feeling on fire as they adapted to the port and metallic limb – but they did it, and nine months after the fateful day that changed their life, Ariana received a new notification...
[Goal complete! +25XP
Goal update: pass the State Alchemist written exam
Bonus Goal complete! +50XP
Bonus goal update: be ranked in the first three in the written exam]
[Level up! You are now level 27!
+1SP]
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When the folder on the three Elric brothers found it's way on his desk, Roy Mustang's eyes widened : if he could recruit those three, it would be a guaranteed boost in his reputation, even better since they were so close to Ishval, they probably would be amenable to ally with him if he played his cards correctly!
As such, he didn't waste any time, and soon, Riza in tow, he was in a carriage for Rosembool, still compiling the profiles of the three alchemists.
Then, came the coach's driver comment "Boy, the Elric kids are going to be surprised that such an important member of the military is traveling all the way to Rosembool to see them."
"Kids?" he raised an eyebrow at the words, getting back to his files "Edward, Alphonse and Harry Elric, aged 31, 30 and 29?"
"Ed is 11." corrected the driver – then he dashed his hopes further "And he is the eldest. Al is 10 and little Ari is only 9."
A sigh, and he could see Riza repressing an amused smile "Well, lieutenant-colonel, it looks like the guys at the Information Service messed up."
"It does indeed. Ah well, it's not like there's an age limit to pass the State Alchemist test is there?"
"Still, do you really think they have what it takes if they're so young?"
"We're already on our way to Rosembool anyway, so we might as well check. Who knows..."
He didn't want to admit it, but he was having a gut feeling – something that had been screaming at him even since he got his hands on those three files, telling him to go and check these three brothers.
The driver left them at the Elric's door, indicating that the town wasn't far, and they knocked – and realized that the door wasn't even locked. After calling a few times, they entered and started to look around, a bad feeling rising within both of them – and if Ishval had taught them one thing, it was that guts feeling were usually right.
So Riza went to search the first floor while he found the door to the basement.
There were sound coming from that basement, so he slowed his steps down and pricked up his ears, recognizing animal whines of pain, and the shuffling of someone light but moving around unevenly.
Then, there was a familiar rush of heat, and the all too familiar smell of burning flesh and he rushed into the basement.
He didn't expect to find three children and three animals, all mutilated, a few steps away from what definitively had been a human transmutation circle, with unidentifiable remains burning.
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What followed had been confusing at best, chaotic at worst, but as he finally managed to get his mind together as Riza was helping the old granny take care of the children, he knew that indeed, those kids had all the skills necessary to go through the State Alchemist exams.
They had also already seen hell, which was good – well, not good, he wasn't heartless, but better if they intended to enroll, because they would have less innocence to loose.
Then came Ari's revelations about the country and the military, and the fact those three were living Xerxesians. Well, half-Xerxesian. With a four centuries old father. Somehow, Roy wondered if he hadn't stepped through a looking glass when he wasn't paying attention...
With all that had been thrown at him and Riza, it was nearly expected that one more strange true was imparted to them before they left – a child who could feel souls? He didn't even have the strength to be surprised after that long day. Then, he was back in a carriage with his aide, and suddenly realized "Riza..." it was a testament to how chaotic the day had been that he called her by her name while they were in uniform "I just realized that I'm not the only flame alchemist anymore..."
And it was a testament to how tired she was that her only reaction was to raise an eyebrow.
"The youngest kid. I'm pretty sure he used flame alchemy in the basement..."
Roy didn't understand why this statement provoked a full out laughter from the young woman, as she had stated years ago that she didn't wish for anyone else that Roy to use the dangerous alchemy her father had spent his life researching but decided it probably was nerves, or weariness.
As for Riza, she had just realized that her superior officer and friend still believed the three siblings to be brothers...
And she decided not to correct him, deciding it could potentially be a source of amusement the next time they met the three young alchemists - and after the day they had, she felt entitled to a bit of fun, even if it was at the expense of Roy.
Within all the chaos of the day, it was only once in his bed that Roy finally realized something important.
That nagging feeling that followed him through every moment of his life had disappeared for a few hours when with the three Elric siblings, only to reappear as soon as they left the Rockbell's house.
He groaned in his bed – was whatever he was looking for with the kids? Or worst, one of the kids themselves?
He had a hard time falling asleep that night – and not only because of the homunculus dictating the country's fate in the shadows...
