"Every man was once a boy"

[Year 1901]

A year had passed since Berthold accepted Roy as his disciple. And Roy had to make a promise to his teacher that he wouldn't use alchemy to hurt people. Roy could now perform some basic alchemy like project objects out of transmutation circles made on the ground and fixing few broken things.

One afternoon Roy and Riza were sitting under the shady olive tree beside the lake as usual. Roy was showing some new transmutation techniques to Riza by creating some wooden figurine out of the broken branches of the olive tree, by placing the branches in the transmutation circle he created on the ground. He was struggling in the process, but Riza kept on encouraging him. Meanwhile, Riza saw 5 boys were approaching toward them, and it was impossible for her, not to recognize them. They were the same boys who beat Roy and killed Hikari a year back. After that incident, the three big boys who beat Roy disappeared for some reason but, now they were there once more. They were slowly approaching toward Roy and Riza, while Roy was facing his back to them. Roy understood that something was wrong when he saw Riza was not paying any attention to his alchemy and she was in discomfort. He turned around to find the reason and saw those boys standing right in front of him. Roy was startled when he suddenly saw those boys. The pain from a year back that Roy tried to forget, returned at an instant. Roy quickly stood up and watching his reaction, all the boys started laughing.

"Long time no see, Loser. Looks like you have recovered," the older redhead said while smirking. He continued, "Sorry we were not available to whoop your ass"

He was trying to provoke Roy, and it was working. Roy's eyes were full of rage, ready to burn all those five bullies standing before him. But, before he could do anything, he felt a soft palm surrounding his wrist. Riza tried to pull him by grabbing his wrist, in order to avoid any conflict.

"Let's go, Roy," She requested desperately

Roy was persuaded for a moment and turned around to leave with Riza. But, before he could leave, he heard something enough to hurt his ego.

"Go, Roy, go. Go and play with dolls with her," the older redhead mocked, and the remaining 4 boys laughed at the comment like a pack of hyena

Roy wanted to turn around and punch him, but he felt even a stronger grip from Riza, because of which he decided to let it pass. When the comment didn't work, the older redhead brought something out of the past.

"Wait a minute, if I remember, you had a dog right?" The older redhead said.

Roy couldn't control his emotions anymore when he heard the redhead speaking about Hikari. He freed his hands from Riza's grip which had already weakened as if she also wanted Roy to punish them for mocking Hikari. Roy turned around and charged toward the redhead boy to punch him. But he was caught by the gang before he could land a punch on that redhead's face.

Once Roy was held by the gang, the redhead boy punched hard on Roy's belly. Roy fell on the ground after the gang left him, and lied there holding his belly. The redhead then looked at Riza who was terrified watching Roy getting beaten. The gang walked closer to Riza and looked down at her.

"Hey, you are Riza Hawkeye, right? You weren't there when last time we beat the crap out of him, right? Let us show you how we did it." The redhead said with a grin on his face

He then turned toward Roy with his gang. Riza was weak in front of those big boys, but still, she ran toward the boys to stop them, and she was caught by the two small boys who were of the same age as of Riza. When the other three boys reached near Roy, Roy suddenly sat straight and placed both of his hands on the transmutation circle, which he created while the boys were not paying attention to him.

"Sorry master, I think I have to break my promise today," Roy said in a low voice.

Sparks of blue light started appearing on the transmutation circle he created, and the boys were unable to comprehend on what they were witnessing. And soon, three big distorted pillars, protruded out of the ground, near the 3 big boys and threw them in the air. The three boys flew to some height and fell on the ground due to which they got injured. The older redhead boy stood up quickly and pulled out a knife from his pocket and rushed toward Roy. Roy tried to protrude a wall between the redhead and him, but the wall was like 3 feet high. Fortunately, the wall protruded just below the legs of the redhead and hit him at the most delicate part of any man. Soon after that, the redhead fell on the ground.

The other 2 boys who were holding Riza were terrified. Meanwhile, Roy stood up and walked toward Riza. Even though Roy was coming toward them, the 2 small boys were holding Riza's arm even while shivering in fear.

"From now on, please don't bother us," Roy spoke very politely when he was close enough.

Even though Roy spoke politely with them, they could easily see the rage in his eyes. They left Riza and ran away from there along with their big brothers.

After few days, the older boys were caught by the military police and were taken to Central City in charge of thievery. The three of them had committed thievery at East City and were hiding in the town, but somehow military police got the information and caught them. Now, there was no one to bother Roy.

Time was passing, leading Roy and Riza to the stage of maturity and responsibility. Roy kept on learning practicing alchemy under the supervision of Berthold and kept on making a lot of happy moments with Riza.

Sometimes, Roy used to carry Riza on a bicycle's back to give her a tour of the grassy fields, while sometimes Riza used to make stew which Roy loved to eat. Sometimes, they made plans together to prank Matilda, which sometimes worked and sometimes backfired, still the joy remained same. Time kept on flying, and Roy was now 18 years old while Riza was almost 16.

One day a mail came to Hawkeye residence from the military. Unfortunately, Matilda fetched the mail and took it to Berthold. Berthold saw the envelope, and found that it was addressed to Roy. Berthold despised the military, so out of curiosity he opened the envelope to find out what the military had to do with his disciple. After reading the letter, Berthold went to the common study room where Roy was studying alone and closed the door. Berthold walked toward Roy and sat on the chair on the other side of the study table where Roy was studying. Berthold then put the letter on the table and asked with authority,

"Why didn't you tell me that you were going to join the military?"

Roy knew that Berthold despised the military, so he averted his eyes from his teacher and looked down at the table.

"I thought you will be mad," Roy replied with a guilty voice

Berthold sighed to let go of the little anger he had for his disciple, and asked the next question, "Why did you join the military?"

"I think that's the only way I can make some difference. Once I become a state alchemist, I can use alchemy for helping others like you always taught me," Roy replied.

"No matter what you become in the military, you will still remain their dog, and one day you might die like a dog, left to die like a trash on the side of the road, "Berthold replied in a raised voice. And soon after he finished off his sentence, he covered his mouth with his hand and coughed.

When Roy heard Berthold, he raised his head and looked annoyingly at his master, and replied with his voice raised, "It's better to be a dog and make some difference rather than becoming a great alchemist and doing nothing for this country"

Berthold looked at Roy surprisingly because of the way he reacted. Roy understood that he crossed his limits by disrespecting his master, and apologized immediately in a calm voice,

"Sorry Master"

"Hmmm," Berthold accepted Roy's apology by nodding his head. Then he sighed in order to calm down before speaking to his disciple.

"I think I told you what I think was right for you, rest is up to you." He coughed by covering his mouth with his hand, once he finished off his sentence.

Roy got concerned when he saw his master coughing, and asked, "Are you, okay Master?"

"I am fine, "Berthold replied

Roy could clearly see some blood on Berthold's palm when he removed his hand from his mouth. Berthold then stood up and left the room.

Soon Riza and Matilda got to know that Roy was joining the military and that he was leaving for Eastern headquarter for the training process after a month. When the time came, Roy wanted to meet his master before leaving for the station, but Berthold remained inside his room that day, locking it from inside, and Roy had to say goodbye from outside the door. Riza and Matilda, on the other side, went to the station with Roy, unlike Berthold.

The train was already at the station and was about to leave in the next ten minutes. Roy looked at Matilda and Riza and said, "I think we can't play games very often now." He smiled to hide his sadness.

"Don't get beaten there, because I can't go there to treat you." Matilda tried to lighten the environment by teasing Roy.

"Don't worry Ms. Becker, there are doctors who can treat me better than you" Roy responded by mocking her instead.

"You ungrateful boy. Take care." Matilda smiled and hugged Roy.

After hugging Matilda, Roy looked at Riza's frowned face. And before Roy could say a word, she hugged him tightly and started crying out loud on his shoulders. In order to soothe her, he gently rubbed her back with his palm, and said,

"Heyyyyy, why are you crying? You know how much I love your stew, I will be coming frequently. Just make sure that when I come, you have my stew ready"

Riza stopped hugging him and stopped crying. She wiped her tears, and said,

"Idiot." She chuckled while speaking.

"Well, this idiot will one day become a king," Roy replied.

"And who's going to become this idiot's queen?" Riza asked.

Meanwhile, the train started discharging smoke from the chimney and blowing the loud horns. Roy didn't answer to Riza's question, and said,

"I think its time to go"

Roy picked up his luggage and ran to board the slow moving train. He stood at the bogie's entrance and waved his hands at Matilda and Riza, to which they reciprocated by waving their hand. Soon the train left the station and Roy took his farewell from the Hawkeyes to join the military.