Chapter 8: The Legend of the Five Alchemists.
Ed: Well Al, it's all yours. (Yawn!) I'm just sooo tired.
Al: Ok "niisan". Just go to rest.
Ed: Hum…Ok.
(Ed left the room)
And after a long time; I return to write our story. I asked "niisan" to write just some lines but he ended writing 4 big chapters (an incredibly hard work) he seemed to have liked this more than me.
I want to say something about the return of my memories. First of all, it was something that I can't describe as wonderful or something like that. This is what happened before I met "niisan", one day after we returned to our world.
I woke up; my head still hurting. I first saw my surroundings, trying to recognize where I was. A colourful place: two beds, one chair, with "niisan" sitting-sleeping on it, and Ton resting on the other bed.
My head ached again. I've a sea of things in my head and I felt incredibly older comparing to how I felt the day before. I felt really rare. It was as if I'd recover more than five years of my life; and everything in one single night. (In fact, that was what really happened)
I remembered then: Dante, Gluttony, me immobile, and "niisan"……..he was killed! Killed by Envy, or at least severely injured. I then turned to the chair, just to make sure that he was there, and then I continued remembering. I also recalled that I had decided to sacrifice myself in order to heal him, as I thought my life doesn't meant anything if he wasn't there, and that it wouldn't have any sense by living in that suit of armour. With the power of the stone, I managed to heal him; also retrieving his lost limbs. After that, there was the life I lived, thinking my last memory as the human transmutation we performed, while everyone said that five years have passed since then and Ed was…..well, they never told me what they though about his fate.
I needed air; I needed to fresh my head, so I left the room, trying to not wake up any of them and headed to the bathroom. I looked myself in the mirror. There was really a change. My body; it didn't look like a 13 year old boy's body anymore; but it also didn't look like the age I was supposed to have. It seemed I was 15, but as if I was used to do a lot of exercise. I really hadn't worked out so much the time I was alone in this world; and I hardly did any exercise in the other world (there wasn't an opportunity between working and fleeing the riots) so, why was I toned at that way?. I remember then that with the trauma I suffered before seeing the gate's eye, caused by remembering a lot of things, it also came a great physical pain, which's results I was seeing then.
As I was in underwear at that time, I decide to return to the room to put my Fullmetal Alchemist disguise and to go downstairs to greet the owners of the house (yeah, it wasn't difficult to me to realize we were in the Rockbell's house) Winry was in the living room. She strongly hugged me when I appeared there.
- AL! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU IN TWO FEET. It is a relief that it was only an impression and not a serious illness.
- Don't worry, I'm well now. And thank you for letting us stay at your house, granny Pinako
- Don't say foolish things kid – she replied – you know you can count this as your house, since the day you burned yours….
Winry suddenly stopped talking when she saw my eyes. After sometime she spoke again.
- You …have remembered, right – Winry's voice was slow and quiet, his face was also filled with sadness– everything concerned to those 5 years, have you.
- Why do you think that?
She turned, showing me her back- Well, Ed told me that it maybe was why you were so scared yesterday; it was like a nightmare when your brother came here carrying you. The fear that your face showed would have killed a normal human. And… your eyes…they aren't the ones of an innocent boy anymore. They're like as I suppose they should be after so much time of suffering; because… five years of not having a body don't leave without leaving a mark, do they?
I sat down it one of the couches, starting to talk about something very difficult – Well…you're right in someway. I remember now everything about those lost years. Hehe, how ironic; I expend a lot of time in my different two lives trying to recover my lost memories; and one of them provoked one of the most horrible fights I've ever had with "niisan"; and now that I have my life complete in my head, I really don't like it.
I changed my position to a more comfortable one, as the next would be even more difficult to me – but… is other thing what is really bothering me. I not only have the memories of my soul; I also have…the memories of my body.
Winry shivered – What…do you mean about that?
- Hmm… I am supposed to be a 17 years old teen; But now, I really feel older than that. And that's because I've two different sets of memories. First of all, there is the 5 years I spend in that suit of armour, but there are also those five years that I spend lost in that place; until the day he sacrificed his happiness for dragging me out there.
I remember that perfectly. I was all the time surrounded by dark creatures, but I couldn't feel their touch; I only could hear their words: words full of hate and wrath against the ones that live at the other side. I was their toy. They always asked me about how was living in the other world. I didn't answer but they could read my mind. And in exchange, they filled my head with lots of things; most of them unnecessary things: Tales of wars and massacres between men and stories of my world and of other worlds. It's supposed that I spent 5 years there, but it was an eternity for me.
I touched my neck. Those words were as sharp as knives. Winry spoke then – But Ed bonded your soul in your in that Armour, how could you have the memories of a soulless body?
- Please, don't talk that way. It wasn't only my body; it was me after all. I…I really don't know, but I'm starting to suspect that the seal that he made wasn't as perfect as we thought.
I stood up again, and tried to do my best smile – but that isn't the most important now. I'm happy to be here again; just thinking that I could have spent all my life on that hell that is the other world, just make me feel sick. I… just need some time to get used to this. I need some air; I'll be out for a while.
- Don't delay, breakfast would be ready soon
- Just send Ed when it is ready to call me. Please don't tell him anything about our conversation. I'll talk to him about that at the right time.
- Ok, I won't.
I went outside after greeting Granny Pinako and thanking her for everything. I just stood on the grass and started thinking about all the things I have on my head. I started to have some clues about the truth of Ed's sacrifice; and started to understand the knowledge I obtained at that place. In some way, I was able to feel the presence of everyone that was alive around me. I can feel the warmth of their souls; Animals, Plants; everything. Life started to have another meaning to me. I suddenly felt a just known presence. Anthony was heading where I was.
- Hi Anthony, how are you feeling today?
- Uh? Can you feel my presence?
- Yes, in someway.
- Awesome. Well, I'm fine; this place is just so nice and beautiful. It helps you to wash your soul.
- Yep, it does.
- But it's not important how I feel; the most important is how you feel. You know, you scared your brother a lot yesterday. In all my life, I've never seen such a worried expression.
- Anything can't be done. He's been always like that. He always had taken all the responsibility of our mistakes, although I have the same as him… oh, but I'm talking about nonsense to you.
- Don't worry, your brother had already told me about your past.
-Oh well, so then, could you say me something about yours?
With some difficult, he started telling me the same story that my brother had already written about. We kept them talking about things about this place, anecdotes of my and his past, like two friends. Then I felt Ed's presence.
- He's coming – let's stop talking.
And when he came there, something unexpected happened: he opened his heart as he'd never done before, apologizing for everything, no matter if it was his fault or not. Crying with him, I let him to do something that he wanted 4 months before, but he couldn't because my memories weren't with me at that time.
One more thing. I don't really completely transmute the house. That's too difficult even with my new crazy knowledge. What I really do is to rebuild our old house (nature have memory), but I modified it so that "niisan" didn't noticed. A good trick isn't it?
But I'm deviating from the story too much. Let's start from the point that "niisan" left.
I stood in front of them, with my new appearance, showing my state alchemist watch. The design had changed quite a bit. The dragon was looked like more to a dragon than before, and now the star was of 10 ends. It was also the symbol of the new state, a new dragon for the new times.
- The General wants to talk to you "niisan" – I said to a still surprised Ed, staring at me because the change of appearance, I couldn't say if he was approving or disapproving it then.
As he didn't move, I took his hand and dragged him into the office, I told Winry and Ton to go to the hotel and wait there.
There in the office, Mustang talked first
- Take Ed, this is your new state Alchemist Watch, since this month you can't use the old anymore.
- Humph… thinking that I'm going to be under your orders again just makes me feel so sick
- You'll be very far from here when I gave you your first missions. But before that, I want both of you to do some investigation. We've everyone trying to search who were the ones who'd attacked the HQ, but we've been informed that there had been also an attack in the National Library by two strange women. I want both of you to investigate that incident and try to find a connection between this and that incident. Now dismiss!
We arrived to the Central Library in a few minutes. They were two soldiers guarding the entrance. Both of us showed our watches to them.
- I'm Colonel Edward Elric, The Fullmetal Alchemist – He said, with an Authoritarian voice- and He's Major Alphonse Elric, The Soul Alchemist. We've come here to do some investigation about the attack that the library had suffered. You, keep guarding the entrance and you, bring us some soda.
- Yes sir – Both soldiers answered, as one of then went out to search what he was asked to bring us, as we headed into the building
- You are getting used to your new rank pretty fast, don't you think? – I said.
- Well, it has its advantages and I have to use them – He replied with a mischievous grin in his face.
We discovered that there weren't physical signs of an intrusion in any part of the building, and that there haven't been any murders only a very scared librarian who was supposed to have seen the intruders and a lot of books, some of them ripped at the floor of the main hall of the Library. We asked to be brought to the place where she was and we discovered that she was Scheska
-Scheska!- We both shouted at the same time, are you alright?
- Hmm… yes… only a bit scared and confused
- I'm sorry to pressure you Scheska, but we need you to say us what happened here…
The soldier finally came with our drinks, I offered mine to Scheska but she rejected it.
- I'm not thirsty, but thanks. Well, this won't be easy, but I'm going to tell you everything I remembered.
I was going to put some books in their shelves when I heard someone that was searching some books but was throwing them on the floor; and I can't stand when someone throw a precious book, no matter how many stars they have. So I headed where that person was saying "excuse me sir, but if you…" but there wasn't a general or anything like that, it was a woman, dressed with a black dress and with a long and silver hair.
"what a weird dress for this time of the year" I thought, and then I told her "sorry miss, but civilians are not allowed to be here until midday, and you can't…" but then she suddenly turned around and saw me, here eyes were white and she looked as if she was death. The only vision frightened me.
"Oh… But I'm not a civilian, you see." She answered me, her voice was as cold as ice, "maybe you can help me"
I Felt as if my soul was had been dragged outside my body. "You see… I'm searching about a legend, so I'm searching here in the history section, but maybe I'm wrong, could you please tell me where I can found the legend about the five Alchemists?
"The….five….Alchemists?" I asked, almost fainting
"Uh... maybe I overdid it" she replied "well, miss, where it is?"
"why…why you want it?"
"You really don't need to know that, do you? But let's say that we want to gave them a visit"
"I'm getting tired of these" another woman voice said, you please hurry up saying where that book is or choosing a way to die, maybe you'll want a painful and horrible disease, or you maybe want a new an exotic one".
I didn't have another choice, so I gave them the books then the first woman said "thanks miss, and don't worry about us, we don't exist", she moved her hand and I suddenly felt.
We thought for a while about what she'd just said. All of this sounded a simple stolen book for me. But the fact of two women that suddenly appeared without being noticed in a military facility was quite rare, and then my brother asked a question
- Scheska, I want you to say me if you saw some kind of tattoo marked on their skins.
- Hmm… yes… I remember that they have some kind of tattoo. Some kind of serpent, I think it's called Uroboros, but it was crossed with a sword with wings.
So that was the answer, the other two homunculi that appeared in the HQ before I attacked the two men were the ones who infiltrated in the library. So, when they said, that they had what they wanted, they were referring to that book.
- Hmm – "niisan" continued – well, you said "the legend of the Five Alchemists" don't you? But I suppose they were ten, not five.
- In our times, there is a group of 10 alchemists that are said to be the ultimate resource of knowledge about alchemy, but there is an old legend, incredibly old. That related the history of five alchemists so powerful that they were able to shape the world at will. It is also the oldest legend that talks about the philosopher's stone.
- do you still have a copy of that book? – I asked curiously.
- Yeah I think, wait here – she stood up with difficultly and after some time (I'll say a lot of time) she appeared with an old book, the front said "Alchemy Origins", she opened it at the middle and gave it to my brother, I read from above his shoulder the following:
"The Five Alchemists
I discovered, during my investigation of the Alchemy origins, the story of the most famous alchemists that have ever existed. Said to be capable to change their surroundings at will, they were considered saints in their time. They are also supposed to have been disciples of Nicholas Flamel, Father of Alchemy. According to the information I've dragged about them, they died over a hundred years ago; but there are rumours that say that they were able to create the Philosopher's stone and with the elixir they made with it, they still are living in our times. Their residences were in:
- "Paracelsus": Colvaria: Central Kingdoms
- Amelia Menderreidev: Garrdea: Fival Kingdom
- Horacius Ferrmat: Xanguei, Xing Empire
- Genare Fullcanel: Fardram, Dracamus Empire
- William Angelstein: Hissengard, Central Kingdoms…"
- Hmm, they said that they want to give them a visit but… excepting Xing, none of these places exist.
- C'mon Ed! – Scheska replied, severely offended, it seemed that life had returned to her. – I can forgive you about not knowing about the Dracamus Empire and the Fival Kingdom… But the Central Kingdoms are elemental history taught in school.
- Uh…well, we've never been so good at school, except for maths, that we needed for alchemy. And we left school at 10, so don't bother me if I don't know about such old events in the past.
- ARGH! I can't stand those who grab a book and don't even drag out even the tiniest benefit from them!
- Well, whatever. Can I take the book? I want to continue reading it. Surely there's more information here.
- Ok, ok. It isn't in the registry so there's no problem. It should be considered a relic because of its age; however, for some odd reason, all the librarians have forgotten about this book.
- How old is it? – I asked
- According to other history registries, it has 400 years more or less.
- Quite old, isn't it? Thanks for your help Scheska. Go home and rest. If you feel too bad, don't doubt and go to see a doctor quickly, I'll order the soldiers to let you go home now.
- Hmm… thanks, I think… - Scheska replied, still somewhat annoyed about the history problems.
We were heading out of the building when I remembered something important
- Please "niisan" wait me here for a while – I asked him – I have something to search.
- Huh? Don't you want help?
- I'll ask Scheska's thanks.
But before he could ask me another thing, I headed where Scheska was, hoping that she was still there. She was preparing to go home.
- Scheska, before you leave, could you please tell me where I can find a book that talks about the use of Alchemy in the reduction of pain?
- Hmm… let me see…let me see…Nope, I don't, I've never seen that type of book before; but I have only read a quarter of the books in the library, so maybe there's a book that talks about it between it's pages, but not as a main topic.
Disillusioned and knowing I didn't have the time to search for myself. I was going to leave, but another idea came to my brain.
- Oh, and is there a book that talks about the use of alchemy in torture?
- Huh? – Scheska looked very impressed about that question – well, there is one, I'll search it.
- Oh! And another one that talks about the nervous system.
- Ok, ok.
After a while, she returned with three books on her hands.
- I don't know if it is a good Idea to lend this book to you, it's banned.
- don't worry; I'm not planning to do anything bad.
She gave me two books, and then she added – Oh! And give this to your brother, say him to read it or I will kill him the next time I he asks something like that, how shameful really!
- Ok, he will – I promised Scheska. Then she took her bag and left the room.
Before heading to where my brother was, I gave a look to the books. The first one, one with a white cover, was titled "Ultimate Guide of the Human Nervous System", "Quite useful" I thought.
Then I looked to the second book, titled "Torture with Alchemy, methods used by the "Dunkle Wissenschaftler" Society"; "what a weird name" I thought; but that name was also a problem, what would happen if my brother saw it? I didn't want to think about it. So, just in case, I changed the name in the portrait with alchemy to "Advanced Arrays for environment transmutation", thinking that it would make some sense if he scanned its content. Anyway, I thought that with the help of both books I could make something that could help me with what I was really wanting.
Finally, I gave a look to the book that was directed to my "niisan": "History for Dummies" That was something he wouldn't take cheerfully. Well, he's the only one responsible of that. If he had taken just a little more attention to the history classes that we had at school; he surely would know that Amestris and Areugo haven't existed in the past, and that they were created by the alliance of a lot of small kingdoms called in those days "The Central Kingdoms"
I joined my brother in the corridor; then we headed to the exit. And after some words to the soldiers by the new "Great Colonel Elric", we left the library, books in hands, and headed to the Central HQs. Fortunately for me, he ignored my books when I gave him "history for Dummies", cursing all the travel to there.
- You're trying to say me that the responsible of both attacks were homunculi? And they're searching alchemists that have died 500 years ago? – The General asked, with the only visible eyebrow raised.
- Their tattoo is the proof of it – Ed, answered – Although is quite different, from the ones the Homunculi we knew had, the Uroboros is still there. I only have to investigate what that winged sword mean. But I still have to think about what they're really searching for.
- And you surely have seen the big one when he recovered his head after LC Riza made it explode- I added.
- ………………………That happened? I didn't notice that.
- And how could you have noticed that if you were peacefully resting on the floor while we fought for our lives?
- I wasn't resting, I fainted…….why I fainted? ... Oh I remembered, because I thought that I saw Al doing fire without sparking gloves, circles or anything …. But that's impossible, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! …………………. That's impossible, isn't it Al? – His voice sounded more like a prayer than a question.
- Sure, you surely saw one of the chimera powers, or the fatigue fight tricked you – I lied laughing.
- Well, that surely was, Er! – Mustang said, cleaning his neck and returning to a normal stance. Well, although we know that Homunculi should be the highest priority, the problem with the other countries is crucial to resolve. We have received our first written petition, from Areugo, saying that the abnormalities have become more often the last days and asked for the help of the experts of alchemy in this country; and who more capable than one who do alchemy with nor circles and one who can shatter his own soul at will, not mentioning the fight with homunculi. So this is your first mission: Investigate the Anomalies in The Republic of Areugo, Land of Blood and Iron.
We returned to Rizenbul the next day's afternoon. We would travel to Areugo in two days. I remembered the Next day that we arrived, that I and my "niisan" were resting at the shadow of the tree near our house, now alive again after a lot of time, as we used to do since we returned; resting my head on his shoulder. Ton, hyperactive as always, was practicing some of the alchemy we have taught to him.
Some time passed until "niisan", as if it was something that wanted to ask for a long time, started:
- Exactly what you can do with your new alchemy? I know you could shatter your soul before you recovered your memories, but you did more than that that day, that balls surely weren't parts of your soul. I also know that you haven't been sincere with Roy, maybe for keeping him sane? – He made a greedy smile after saying that – oh and why you still use your gloves since you could use clapping alchemy like I saw you there?
- Well, one at time please – I asked, feeling a bit of pressure with a lot of questions to answer at the same time – First, it's true that I can do more than shatter my soul. It seems that I've all the knowledge about Soul Alchemy, but I'm not really sure about it.
- Soul Alchemy? – He asked very confused, being the first time heard that term
- Well, in my stay at the other side, I learned that there wasn't only one type of alchemy, but five different types:
First is the Inorganical Alchemy, which is the most known and used form of Alchemy in our times, and the type where you've demonstrated that you're an expert (I think he blushed after I said that, but I'm not sure, it was a blink). I also have advanced knowledge on it, but I lack of experience using it.
Next is Elemental Alchemy, a quite advanced type of alchemy, and quite difficult to understand. It is based in the fact that the matter itself has properties that make it ignite, frost, charge and other things, with the influence of an alchemist. I can control Fire, as you saw that day, and ice. (I make a small demonstration then)
Next is Organic Alchemy, or Flesh Transmutation; somewhat used in our days, in the creation of chimeras, but completely forbidden in its main knowledge: Human Transmutation (he shivered when I said that part). I don't know anything about this.
Next is Energy Alchemy, completely forgotten, but it says that matter can be completely changed to pure energy, giving the user the power to make one of the most powerful weapons with anything that you have at hand, even a small grain of sand could be enough to destroy an entire building
- Emc2
- Huh?
- It's a formula that I heard in the other world; it says that if matter could be changed into pure energy, it would be equal to its mass multiplied twice by the speed of light. And that's really a lot of power, could you do that?
- No, I didn't learn that type of alchemy; they were teaching me Elemental Alchemy when you saved me. My mind encaged those memories, maybe because of the trauma of the return, until the day that we returned to this world. That's why I didn't know how to do how to do a lot of things that I do now.
He used some time to assimilate all the information I said him; then he asked
- You're missing one type of alchemy
- Huh?
- Soul Alchemy, you haven't said anything about it…
- Oh! I was leaving it for the end. Soul Alchemy is the last type of alchemy, not forbidden, but almost completely forgotten. I only know 7 examples of his use.
- Which?
- Two of them were two guardians of a certain laboratory, that we encountered trying to find the truth about Dr. Marcoh's investigations, Argh! – I shivered with my own memories, as one of the times where I've been more stupid than ever came to my mind. "Niisan" understood the reason and hugged me stronger.
- Another three were the Philosopher's stones, made by Dante and our Father, by Scar's brother and the last by Scar itself, that, if it wasn't odd enough to make a legendary artefact, I was that legendary artefact. Well, at least it served to heal you.
And the final example was some child that was saved from a complete darkness, by the sacrifice of one of his limbs. I don't have to explain who he is.
But all of these examples demonstrated a poor use of this type of alchemy…yes "niisan" even my soul transmutation, I can say this because the sixth example … is me.
My brother jumped, stood up and saw me, confused. I also stood up and started concentrating; I searched for the presences around, and dragged them close to me, I let them to become visible. I looked at him, preparing for a very dramatic explanation.
- I can say I really know a lot about this type of alchemy, I can't really tell you how much I can do because even I don't know that; I haven't explored all my memories yet. What I can say, is that it's crazy and powerful. You saw how I attacked those Homunculi there, that's only the beginning; but it's explanation…well, I really can't give you a good explanation; soul Alchemy is very metaphysical more than real science, you'll simply don't understand it.
- And why could you call it alchemy if it follows more over natural principles than real science?
- Because it's alchemy, believe me, there are other things, completely different that aren't alchemy.
-Huh?
- Another day please, "niisan", I'm just too tired now – I sat down on the grass again – I gave you enough information to keep you thinking for at least a week. I changed your way to see alchemy somewhat, didn't I?
- Um, yes you did…how much more do you know?
- Hmm, a little of Physics, a little of mechanics, and a lot of History, but more from the other world; weird, isn't it?
- Not really – then, changing his tone to a quite jealous one to make a very childish question – Why did you know more than me?
I really don't know if he was just teasing or if he was saying that on purposely at that time; the question just annoyed me a lot, I just answered – Well, maybe THAT's the difference between five years and five minutes. –
- Uh… I … didn't …mean. – But he suddenly shouted, as he realized that it was really stupid to do such a question anyway
- Don't worry, I'm not mad - I calmed him down and rested again on his shoulder, willing to fall asleep.
But before I could, I saw Ton practicing its alchemy again, as he stopped to hear our conversation. I then did something that I haven't done before: I looked to his soul. What I found completely shocked me: his soul wasn't complete, it was just a shard of a soul, and it seemed that that soul…was very old.
I was going to say that discovery to Ed when something incredible happened. At that time Ton was grabbing a ball that he'd just transmuted; a clap was heard and from the hands of Ton, lot's of waves of energy started to glow, disturbing the environment. Then, as if the ball was difficult to grab, he desperately launched it to the air, it was covered by light. It left a medium sized crater at the place it fell down. Then we went to the place the crater was; the ball was rusted. Just when Ed touched it, the ball became dust and the wind took it.
We keep the rest of the day interrogating Ton about that, but it seemed that he really didn't have any idea about how did it; and the next time he tried to do it, he only made the ball to explode, leaving us covered with dust and smoke. I completely forgot about the incident of the soul, I remembered it several months before, when the most incredible thing happened, but that, is another story.
A/N: I have presented one of the most crucial facts of my fic; just remember it for the next chapters of the fic, it's compulsory to understand the rest. And yes, there was something strange in Al's soul Trasmutation, what could it be.
Search for the meaning of "Dunkle Wissenschaftler", it would give you a very valuable tip about the fic.
Next Chapter: Hard Discoveries on the Trail.