Many thanks to WargishBoromirFan, who has been so kind in beta reading some of my earlier chapters.

This might be the last chapter you will get, I haven't gotten much response and gives me the sense people do not care about this story.

"Brother"

Scar and Miles turn around, both quite surprised seeing Shade come trotting over to them. "What is it?" Scar asks him, wondering what has caused his brother to leave the town just to find him instead of waiting for his return at evening like he usually does.

Shade takes a deep breath, Scar recognizes it from when his brother was about to speak something that has been bothering him, which once again is proven correct.

"This has been annoying me for weeks now, and it's driving me insane!" Shade exclaims to the two men, both staring dumbfounded in what he's talking about. Well, they are about to know what has been bothering him. "I keep getting episodes every time people mention books, and if we don't solve this mystery right now; I will do something more worth my brother's behavior."

Scar sends his brother a look for has used him in his way of speaking, but it does make its point that these thoughts have been spinning inside Shade's head for too long.

"Episodes?" Miles asks confused, and Scar quickly explains, "it's when he remembers something but cannot grasp what it is."

The Major nods and both turn back to Shade who continues. "I don't know where, but I think I hid some important books somewhere."

Scar blinks by that statement. "Aren't you sure you simply think about the books you had in your former home?" His brother did after all have the whole house filled with books and scrolls. Which probably all are destroyed by now.

But Shade somehow doubts it has anything to do with his alchemy books back when he created this hybrid alchemy of his. His brother might not believe it, but he does find other things way more important than alchemy, and this gives him such a sense. "I highly doubt it, " He answers his brother and urges him. "but, you better check my old home for clues to this mystery." And he better do it soon for he has more than considered of taking his horse and go to Kanda himself. The only reason he hasn't gone there is that he, first; does not know the way and second; is a bit afraid of what horrible memories might be released if he steps into that city.

He gets the feeling the importance of this subject to his brother, it's a wonder he hasn't left to check it up by himself. Scar's though glad his brother didn't and will make sure this book mystery is his first priority before Shade does decide to solve this himself. "I will check your old home," he replies his brother, whose whole posture drops in relief. Yeah, this must've been bothering him for quite some time.

Miles agrees too, and the two men go to Kanda in search of whatever books that keep bothering Shade's mind. "It sounded like he would've gone himself if you haven't agreed." Miles remarks

"He would," Scar replies knowingly. "if something keeps bothering him; he will go almost any length in solving it." And after a moment of silence. "Last time this happened, he went through the Respected families lineage; got more read on it than our father." But he has no idea what his brother got out from those dusty old scrolls, only that it made him very unpopular by one of the scholars at the university, got so bad that their mother had to step in and stop the hostilities. "No one can really stop him when he sets his mind to it."

"Not even his younger brother?" Miles asks, he has taken notice in how those two are around one another but does wonder if Scar here has as much effect on his brother as Shade has on him.

"I think I'm the only one." Scar muses, pretty sure his brother never did any alchemy in the past because he hated it so much. He wonders if things might have been different if he hasn't loathed alchemy. Would things have ended differently? He'll never know the answer to that question.

Miles watches Scar quietly, seeing the man frowns from his thoughts, makes him wonder what Scar is thinking about. The curiosity gets the better of him. "What's on your mind, Ishvalan?"

But Scar doesn't tell him.

In the Kanda district, Scar brings Miles towards the place where Shade's former home is presumably located. The scarred man does slow down slightly in the area where not only the most destruction occurred but also where they found the most skeletons of the deceased. Scar never told him, but Miles has a feeling that this is the spot where he became the scarred man he is today.

Scar seems to be walking down memory lane for a moment, then he leaves and Miles quietly follows, well aware that it would be disrespectful in talking in a moment such as this.

They arrive at a street that has its fair share of damage but not as much as the area further down, here Scar walks inside a building and Miles follows. It looks to have belonged to Shade, but there isn't much but rubble, ruined and unreadable books lying around this place. Miles takes one of these books but can't read more than a few lines from how withered the book has become from being exposed to the weather and animal life. "Like many of the other houses, it looks like your brother left in a hurry." He voices, this scene of a home that still held the objects of the owner, only destroyed by the weather and wildlife showed that time has moved, that has been something Miles has seen a lot in the three years working in Ishval.

Scar looks around the room, for a moment thrown back to when he has been watching his brother study his alchemy; remembering the many books lying around and his brother sitting before the table, deeply engulfed in his work. He blinks back to the present and takes notices of what is missing of this destroyed scene. "There are not enough books," he says. There is only about five, maybe ten lying around but that is nothing compared to the piles and crates of written work he saw his brother having around. He checks the rest of the rooms but finds not a single trace of paper of any kind.

Stranger still, the shelf his brother used to store his books is completely empty except a metal box.

There's nothing significant about this box other than it seems to be the only thing that has survived. Scar reaches out to take it and blinks when realizing that this box won't budge from its spot. Taking a closer look, he observes that the arm transfer hasn't been the first time his brother used alchemy, for this little box has been transmuted into the shelf. Scar opens the small box and blinks in finding a family heirloom in the sign of a ring, the one their father gave his brother when it was decided he soon would take a few responsibilities as the future head of the family. Shade had been so proud, but also nervous when he got the ring.

This ring holds the family crest, the holy scarf flowing around the Ishvalan icon of god, below the symbol is three flowers uniquely to Ishval as they are one of the few florae able to grow in the desert. This ring- this crest is a reminder to all Ishvalans that this family line is part of the Respected families, for only those are allowed to bear such a personal crest and according to his brother, their family is one of the oldest still in existence. But that's all Scar know, he never understood the importance of their lineage and feels silly about not having read up on the importance of their family history. All he knows that his family was known to produce monks, be well-connected traders and revealing one's family name to other Ishvalans will make ones words hold significant influence. Scar wonders if his family name had been what made so many of his people rally behind him at the Promise Day, maybe, for why else would they have followed a nameless killer of vengeance such as him?

Scar takes the ring and hears a small click from the box. Before Scar can check what click was for, a loud creaking sound makes him turn around. Miles remove his foot from the floor, being just as surprised as him. Both eye one another before Miles kneels down to checks the spot and the mystery to what the ring activated gets solved. It proves that this hidden panel only would loosen up when the ring gets removed from the box.

Miles reaches down to this small panel and pulls up several books. Scar makes a quick look and realizes that the reason to why there weren't many books lying around was because his brother hid them down in this secret panel.

"This must be what Shade's mind kept bothering him about." Miles voices his thoughts and takes up the last book from the hidden spot.

Scar thought so as well, that until he noticed a notebook that didn't have his brother's neat handwriting. He blinks confused to see his cousin's crude scribbles. It is one of the better ones for this time he can read whatever she wrote. But what is one of Shireen's notebook doing among his brother's research books?

He opens the notebook and has to take a moment to decipher her scribbles. When he does, he freezes up. These notes aren't about whatever deal she and her parents have made from their many stalls or what goods the traders brought, no they are names on Ishvalan books and writings. Every single page holds lines upon lines of writings the Ishvalan people no longer have. Most of their writings got destroyed during the war. Is this what his brother's mind kept bugging him about? "What were you planning?" He muses in wonder and wises he could ask Shireen but like his parents… she died from Kimbley's attack. The only solace was that when they found her bones and some doctor did an autopsy, it revealed that she died quickly from a blast that took out most of her upper body. Scar is glad that she did not suffer.

Miles turns to Scar, watching him stare at one messy written notebook, "Anything interesting?"

Scar slowly nods. "Yes, this notebook was written by our cousin, Shireen."

Miles faintly remember Scar mention that name, back in the start of rebuilding Ishval, they spent the first year on the simple but straining task in gathering all of the dead and figure out the name on each skeleton. Dr. Knox was a great help, and the Ishvalan people were very grateful the doctor did this for them, but everyone could clearly see that it was hard for the survivors.

It had been hard for Scar as well, back then he thought he was the only one left of his family and Miles had helped him in properly burying his parents, uncle, aunt, cousin and even several family friends. All those people died during the massacre. Miles remembers how distraught Scar had been when they couldn't find his brothers bones. But none really found it overly strange, it wasn't unusual that would happen and even to this day; a lot of the deaths hasn't been found or named. There was just too much destruction and dead to knowing each name of the bones they found. It had been one of the few times Scar had told him about his family, explained, although briefly on each of his family members as they buried the bones. One of them had been Shireen.

Scar had told that she was a hardworking, extremely loyal but scatterbrain to a woman. Miles could hear that Scar loved his cousin and hated her life to have been cut short, all because she refused to leave her family behind.

"Any idea to why one of her belongings are here?" Miles asks his comrade.

Scar has no idea. Yes Shireen cared deeply for everyone in the family, even his brother, hence why she would help him get books about alchemy and get in contact with Xingese traders for the alkahestry scrolls but Shireen could not for the life of her understand what his brother was talking about and that made it hard for both to have a proper conversation. His brother loved to get down into details while Shireen wanted things to be simple, so the only reason they spoke with one another was that they were family. "No, Shireen did not have any interest in brother's studies." But looking through the notebook, it seems she and brother have been working together on some sort of project; involving many of their writings. The reason why Scar is not sure— hold up. Scar flips to the last page, instead of names on books, there are instead small sentences with a question mark.

He frowns at this as this does not make much sense, all except one of these written questions.

'do Tanvir know good places?'

He tries to think back to past conversations with her, anything to do with books. He can only think of one.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He had just left his brother after yet another fight about alchemy, it had put him in a sour mood. He went down the streets of Kanda, at first he was too angry to hear someone call for him, only noticed when Shireen practically ran into him and dropped a lot of scrolls she held onto the ground. A lot of people began to stare at the scene.

"I'm sorry!" She apologized embarrassed and began to gather up the scattered scrolls, he helped her and wasn't really surprised to see her here, Shireen did spend a lot of time at the market, writing down the prizes on each ware for her parents own business.

"I only meant to tap on your shoulder, but I miscalculated my speed and—"

"It's alright." He interrupted her, trying to be kind but he was still angry at his brother. He noticed she gave him a nervous stare and he assured her. "It's not you I am angry at."

Shireen face drops slightly. "Got into another fight with him?" She asks while correcting her hood, this took him off guard, if she was aware of the tension between him and his brother, then their arguing must've been worse than he thought.

He nodded slowly but did not speak of what their recent fights were about. Instead, he asked his clumsy cousin. "Something you need my help with?"

She jumped as if she forgot about it, typical her. "Oh! Yes, yes, I was hoping you could help me with something. You see, I am trying to find a good spot, one filled with memories to our people but eh, I don't really know… I asked your brother, and he told me to ask you, but if you're too busy, I guess…"

He raised a brow at her river of words but had long decided not to question why his cousin did what she did. It was like asking seeds for the fields to land in a straight line. "What kind of place are you thinking about?"

Shireen stops her blabbering and replies to him with a shrug. "Not sure, I was merely thinking about a place most Ishvalans would know about. Like the bed of Ishvala."

Ah yes, for the Amestrians, Shireen's last words wouldn't make a lick of sense but for their people, it would. He nodded slowly and after some thinking about a place both holy or just significant for their people. "What about the rock formation that is the playground for every child of Kanda?" They weren't sacred or essential for others than the children of Kanda, yes even he and brother had spent their childhood playing on those rocks.

Shireen blinks a few times to then gasp out loud. "Of course! That's a perfect place!" She hit her own palm with her fist and beamed up to him. "Thank you cousin!" and ran off, she did stop and turned to him with that known face she just had remembered something. "Oh, would you mind I borrowed some of your books?" She called, "I don't have them yet in the collection."

He had no idea what she was talking about, Shireen wasn't known to hoard books like his brother. "Why are you collecting books?" He asked her.

"Well, Shahill and I talked about the war— he said he was too busy so asked me to handle this for him and dear lord it's quite some task, but he had a point. We cannot let it peris— oh which reminds me; I should ask your mother if I could get some of—"

He had to stop her there before his scatterbrain cousin really got started on that river of hers. "You can take whatever book you like, Shireen. Be sure to return them in good condition." He didn't have as many books as brother, mostly those he got was used for his monk training and those he would be really miffed if they got ruined.

"Of course, thanks again for the help." and with that, Shireen ran off to do whatever she was doing.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Scar stared down to Shireen's scribbles of books, he noticed that in the middle of the many notes are the scripture of Ishvala and scroll every monk got during their training.

Could this be what she was collecting? It does not sound like her to do such a thing. Shireen was a woman who didn't think much about the future- at least he never got that impression from her. Perhaps he was wrong.

Checking on the note to question him, Scar realizes that his cousin perhaps asked about significant locations because she was planning on hiding something there. And looking at the many books written in the note, Scar has a feeling she might have hidden a very big box. Perhaps several from the number of books in her notes.

"This might be what brother was talked about," he tells Miles after he explained what Shireen's notes were about, he does not blame Miles for being unable to read his cousin's crude writings. "She must've hidden all of these books somewhere and asked my brother to keep these notes safe."

Scar might have a point, this does seem to be very important, but these notes only say what might be hidden, not where. "Now the question, where did your cousin hide them?" Miles wonders out loud, finding these books will be a great aid in restoring Ishval religion and give Scar a break in sharing his knowledge about it.

Scar ponders only for a moment, Shireen wasn't known to be a brilliant planer and his second last memory about her proves that. She wanted a location, one he gave her, and she revealed perhaps a second location to him as well. She must have made a map or something to remember those locations, better ask some of her friends.

Scar know at least one of Shireen's friends have survived, so he, along with Miles headed over to where traders unload their wagons with goods for people working here in Kanda before moving on to the other cities. As hoped, they find one of Shireen's friends. Scar greets him, and after having exchanged the usual 'how are you' talk, Scar asks the man if he remembered his cousin.

The man nodded that he indeed did and Scars asks him, "did she ever speak about collecting books to you?"

The friend pondered for a minute before he replies. "Well, not really. But I remember she was weirder than usual when the talk about the military destroying everything in their path really started to swirl among us. She gave us all gifts and…" He walks over to his horse's saddlebag and pulls out a large scroll. He hands this to Shireen's cousin. "This: she told us it was incredibly important we kept it."

Another of the mechanist hears the conversation and join with; "are you talking about Shireen? I have one of the scrolls as well." She pulls one out, unlike the male friend, hers is quite torn.

Scar unrolls the one the male handed him and his eyes wide in seeing a map of their holy lands, at several essential locations for their people, crossed along with Shireen's scribbles. One of them is the children rock formation, one somewhere on Ishvala's bed. Another at where their biggest temple for Ishvala should've been, one at a known oasis most of the traders are passing when crossing the desert between them and Xing. The last is located at a well-known spot for his family.

"Can I keep this?" He asks the man, the trader friend of Shireen nods and with thanks, Scar leaves; thinking that he had greatly underestimated his cousin, but also his brother.

If his memories serve him right, Shireen did mention his brother in that talk about collecting books.

Scar gets the feeling that his brother might be right in that he knows something about books, he must've at some point helped Shireen in hiding a large stash of their written works. And it seems both wanted to be sure that those books not only will survive but that only an Ishvalan will be able to find them.

Scar brings Miles to a hill not far away from the city of Kanda. On the way up the hill, Scar explains the soldier. "This place does not hold much significance for our people but for my family." He walks over to the lonely tree, something which is a rarity out here in the desert. It got quite the beaten during the onslaught of the war but like any Ishvalans; this tree has endured. "Our parents and grandparents proposed to one another at this tree." Scar puts his right hand onto this tree, feeling relieved to see it is growing leaves again. Last time he saw the tree, it was when he became Scar, and he thought, like anything else, it had died. Glad he was wrong. "Father wouldn't stay quiet in his wish brother and I would do the same."

Miles chuckles faintly at Scar's dad hints. "Sounds like your dad wanted you to keep the tradition."

Scar merely nods and begins to search the area. Miles does as well, he spots what looks to be a grave and calls for the scarred man. The stone there has the same crest as that ring Scar took from his brother's house. "Any family you have buried here?" He asks.

He knows there aren't any family members buried here and this stone is not a gravestone, the text is wrong. The usual text is wishing the deceased to find peace with God is lacking. Instead, the message says: 'Ishval only fall when last of its people forgets who they are.'

It sounds very much like something his brother would've said.

Scar translates the text to Miles and the soldier asks just to be sure. "You don't write that on gravestones, do you?"

Scar shakes his head. "No, we write; 'may this soul be welcomed and embraced by Ishvala; the creator of all. Those they left behind find comfort in one another.'" He explains and turns to the fake grave. "This is not a grave. We better get some shovels." For if he stands correct, then everyone in Ishval wants what is buried down there.

They head back into the city and not only get the needed tools but also two Ishvalans to help with the excavation.

The four starts to dig away the dirt. After about an hour of digging, Miles's shovel hits something. The soldier puts down his shovel and removes the last dirt with his hands. He blinks when the top of a very big metal chest appears. Removing further the earth and slowly the whole chest is visible.

Scar stares at this metal chest for a moment, remembering how deeply he frowned when he saw it inside his brother's house and how his brother had made an excuse he needed more storeroom for his books, but now Scar sees it wasn't really to store his own books.

He opens the chest and like the two other Ishvalans; is quite surprised see it filled to the top with scrolls and books.

One of the men takes one of the books and gasps after he has read a few lines. "This is our holy scrip of Ishvala!" he exclaims shocked, like many thought it has been lost thanks to the war.

The other one says after have read the scroll he has taken, "and this one is the poet of Thalia. It must be the only copy left." He muses awestruck that the poet of their ancient city in the east has survived.

Both turn to him and the youngest of the two asks their nameless comrade. "Did you save our writings?"

Scar shakes his head, very happy that both his brother and cousin had been scheming together. "No, my brother and cousin did all of this,"

That pretty much explains everything for the two others, and they chuckle with one of them saying. "Thinking about people this far out, yeah that sounds like Shahill alright."

Scar tries not to let it show that hearing his brother's name affected him, but it's hard, more so when his brother currently bears a name so unworthy of him.

Miles stop checking the chest filled with writings and turn to the two chuckling Ishvalans at the name they said. "Shahill?" Could that be Shade's name? The Ishvalan who spoke the name said it in such high respect, like the soldiers of Brigs would to General Armstrong.

The youngest of the two Ishvalans blinks and turns to Scar with: "Haven't you told him?"

"No," Scar replies and refusing to meet anyone's eyes. "I'm not worthy of speaking his name."

The oldest of the Ishvalans nods slowly in understanding and after a moment, asks the younger brother of the man. "Would you mind if I tell him?"

Scar shakes his head but does request the man. "Don't mention my name."

The Ishvalan nods before he turns to the bit confused Miles.

"This man's older brother name was Shahill; he who guides."

Miles blinks, he knows from some of the elders that Scar's last name is Adel, but from how the Ishvalan said the previous sentence, it sounds important. "He who guides?" He repeats confused.

"That was the name our priests gave him when he became a scholar and used his knowledge to guide our people to a better future." The man explained, turning to his comrade when he speaks: "That's why most of us were alright with him studying alchemy."

The man glances to Scar before turning back to Miles. "Although many wanted him to use his alchemy to fight against the State Alchemists, we all knew deep down that Shahill wouldn't have done it. He never believed that violence would solve anything, but that teaching would. He was a pacifist and a scholar who did his best to help people to reach an absolute understanding," dropping his head slightly. "His death was a great loss to Ishval…"

Scar feels like it would be best to tell them that Ishval hasn't lost the head of the Adel family. "My brother is still alive," Scar tells his fellow Ishvalans, both turn to him in shock.

"He's alive? How did he survive?" One of them asks dumbfounded

"He was saved by a fleeing family, they sought refuge in Xing." Scar explains them, and he hates to break their joy, but it has to be said. "Unfortunately brother has lost his memories, forgotten his entire life in Ishval." The memories are slowly returning, though, which brought; not only for his brother but for him as well, several headaches.

The two men's faces drop, the oldest muses. "That's too bad, but even so, it's good to know that he's alive." and turns to the stash of books, "we should bring them back. Not only to save what remains of our writings but copying them will give our people some much-needed work."

That Scar can agree on and is happy that the memories of his family are still helping out their people in returning back to their former glory.

On the way back, Miles has to ask Scar now he knows Shade's actual name. "I can speak it to him." But it seems it's not that easy.

"My brother is determent; it will be me revealing his name." Scar replies sullenly and in a tone of hopelessness.

Miles frowns, this is one of the things he does not understand about Ishvalan culture; the whole naming thing, which has made it a pain in the ass for everyone not Ishvalan. "You two are really making this a bigger deal than it is. You're bothered by the name he currently has and yet you are refusing to tell him his real name out of misplaced respect."

Scar shoots him a sharp stare and his next words did sting a little. "You may bear the eyes, but you do not know the importance of our god or the name he gave each of us."

However, Miles is quick to return fire by asking hard, "and you think that gives you the excuse in withholding your own brother's name?"

Scar did not answer, much to Miles annoyance.

Why do Ishvalens have to be so darn stubborn?

Think it's about time I reveal my headcanon name of Shade. I don't think it's a real name as I did create it out from the name Shadi.

I can be wrong though and if you know if this is a real name, do tell me where's it is from and what it means.

I am very interested to know.

The 'name of the people' title is headcanon of mine. I have long kept on the one I gave Shahill and even has one for Scar as well, and I do hope in time I can reveal this title for Scar.

comments and such will be a great, as it will tell me if you guys like this story or I should simply keep it to myself.