Halfmetal Alchemist: Chapter28

'Blodhar Emera' and 'Blodhar Narque'

"Another Philosopher's Stone?" Ilia asked. Leroy nodded and swallowed hard, shifting the necklace from one hand to the other. "I don't think Dad had any idea when he bought this for Mom, no idea at all. And who could tell? We sure wouldn't have if Maes didn't carry it around all the time, right?"

Faris had her chin in her hand and was staring at the necklace with all the intensity she could muster. "Does this... 'Philosopher's Stone' do anything else? Have you tried anything else?"

"We tried, but all we can do with it is heal. Maybe it's just Maes and I, and it's all we can do." Leroy picked at the necklace. "What do you think, Faris?" Faris stared intently at him. "Try your flames, Leroy. With the stone, you could use it without the transmutation, right?"

"Perhaps... do you have any gloves without the circles on it?" Faris shook her head, but Ilia waved a pair at him. "These are Maes's, so you have to give them back, okay?" Maes said that he'd better give them back or he'd bite him every day for the next three years, and Leroy didn't doubt that he would.

He held the necklace in one hand, and slipped the ignition cloth gloves on the other. Normally, without the circle, they could create sparks and nothing more, but with this it should... he concentrated and snapped, but the necklace only gleamed faintly and receded back to being nothing more but a gold and emerald chain. Leroy sighed in disappointment, but Faris cried out happily, taking the necklace from him.

"This is no 'Philosopher's Stone'! It is my father's Blodhar Emera!"

"Er... Come again?"

Faris looked at him quizically, then remembered who she was talking to. "Oh! It means 'Blood Emerald'. The Philosopher's Stone, or 'Blodhar Grastin', Blood Stone, came from Rivant. The knowledge of it the Ishbalans had was the incomplete, or flawed version, it was imperfect. The Blodhar Emera is the peak of healing alchemy; it can heal any ailment imaginable!"

"Anything?" Leroy queried. Faris nodded, clasping the necklace to her chest.

"Yes! When my father was a boy, it was the Blodhar Emera that saved him.

"In Rivant, in the years of my father, there were devestating plagues that claimed many lives each year: my father's five older brothers had succumbed to it in previous years, and in my father's twelfth year he fell ill. My grandfather was beside himself with grief, for if my father died, there would be no heir to the throne, since he was beyond age for children.

"He then took an ordinary emerald, and drained his life-blood into it for the sole purpose of healing, and with his last breaths healed my father of the disease. After my father was well again, his mother took the emerald around the country to heal anyone who was ailing of the plague, and no one has fallen ill from it since.

"Because forging this stone took my grandfather's life, my father named it 'Blodhar Emera', and has always kept it in the castle for use to the royal family for the people. But now that it is here... I fear of the condition my homeland is in..."

"But you said the... the Blood Stone, that it was imperfect! What of the so-called perfect stone embedded in the Homunculi?"

"It is far from perfect, in fact, there is no such thing as a 'Blood Stone'. Instead, the royal family created many stones with perfect singular powers, instead of one with many imperfect ones. The ones that you Amestrans craft is not only dangerous but costly; in essance, it is far from worth the price."

"So in Rivant... you sacrifice people for these, these stones?" Leroy asked, rage rising in his voice.

"No, Leroy, that we don't. Most of our Blodhar Stones are created by the royal family. There have been several instances of them sacrificing themselves for the creation of a stone for the good of the kingdom. It was the way that three of my brothers chose...they gave themselves up willingly to create the most powerful stone; Blodhar Narque."

"Blood Night, the stone of complete darkness. It is this that I think the Apocolypse possesses, that which he calls the Dark Emerald. In that stone, he possesses the power over the blood and souls of my three brothers; it makes me feel unclean."

"Faris, what was the Dark Emerald created for?"

"It was created to absorb all darkness, but to what end I know not. I only know that if it was what my brother's sacrificed themselves for, it was not going to be used to destroy."

"Any properties we should know about?"

"As you've seen already, shape-shifting is one, which includes the regeneration of all wounds. Second is power of The Void, in which we Rivantians believe comes all shape and matter, and the third is..." she faltered and he took her hand. "The third, Faris?"

"The third is mastery over all elements and their creations. This includes anything forged by alchemy. Because three were sacrificed, this Dark Emerald has three of the most deadly powers known to man. My brothers... this they would never have wanted... to be used for such destruction."

"I can't help but wonder why such a destructive stone was created in the first place."

"Even in my youngest days it was obvious that my father's advisors were planning to overthrow him, but it was impossible to actually peg them down in their guilt. To this end, for our family's protection, my brothers, Rohan, Ren, and Baldor forged the Blood Emerald. It was said that there was to be a fourth power, that my youngest brother, Duron, would also give himself up, but that my brothers refused his participation. Because of this, he took it as a shame, renounced himself as an heir to the throne and pledged his life to guarding my father and the stone. But if it is here... then my dear brother Duron is dead also."

"Do you think that Ultimus has a hand in causing unrest among the advisors, shaping their plans for usurption?"

"I do."

"The sensible course of action would be to search for any more of these 'Blodhar Stones', but my priority would be to go back to Aquorya to heal your father, Leroy," Gracia said. Leroy looked at her and nodded. "Thank you, Auntie Gracia."

"I know you think you're all grown up, Leroy, but you still need some adult guidance from time to time. Go heal your dad, and then you can think about those stone, alright?"

Leroy nodded again. "Yes!"

Ilia kicked him in the shin and pouted. "There's no way you're leaving me out this time! If I can learn to heal with that necklace, you're going to need my help too." Maes piped up and jumped up and down. "No Maes, you can't come. You're too little!"

Maes pouted and asserted that eight years old was not too young, but Ilia refused anyway. "You're staying here, let the big kids take care of this."

Ilia had anticipated this and tossed her luggage down the steps and stood by the door. "Well, are we leaving or not?"

Leroy laughed and put his arm around Faris's shoulders. "We sure are, let's go!"

The print is kind of weird for this chapter, but I don't know if it'll show up on the real thing or not. I don't have any idea why it's weird like this, so please don't ask!

It seems we have... a new reviewer, maybe two. Forgive me, but sometimes I just don't look at the names.

We have Jazmine Hawkeye-Mustang, who has been nice enough to drop new reviews, and FMA 4eva, who I'm not so sure about, but I think is a new reviewer. Thank you two so much, I love new reviewers, even if you've been reading from the beginning.

Thanks to Apparition7 and all those who give me constant reviews on every chapter, review guys, we're close to the 100 mark!

I'm pleased with all the fans Halfmetal Alchemist has garnered, and I'm sorry to say that the story will probably end in the near future... or... uh... ten chapter near future, I procrastinate like that T.T

After this story is finished, you can probably look for another Action/Adventure type from me, maybe a sequel to Halfmetal Alchemist between Leroy and Faris. Maybe. If you guys give me ideas, I'm sure I can do something with them, so tell me if you'd like a sequel, and between what characters! - T A