Mon. Oct 20th, 2025

In the bustling town of Amestris, Edward Elric sat atop a stone crag, the warm sun glistening off his golden hair. He gazed into the horizon, burdened by memories of his brother Alphonse’s sacrifice. “I’ve made too many mistakes, Al,” Edward whispered, clutching tightly to his automail arm. As if on cue, Alphonse’s voice echoed in his mind, *’We all make mistakes, brother. But we can learn from them.’* Determined to redeem their lost chances, Edward decided to seek out known alchemists for guidance.

His journey led him to a famed elder alchemist named Lysander, who lived in a secluded forest cottage. Edward found him amidst conical flasks bubbling with ethereal liquids. “You’re the Fullmetal Alchemist!” Lysander exclaimed, eyes sparkling with intrigue. “What do you seek?”

“I wish to understand sacrifice better. To truly comprehend what it means to give up something dear,” Edward replied, a heavy silence lingering.

Lysander rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Ah, sacrifice. It is not just loss; it’s purpose, pain, and sometimes, rebirth. Are you prepared to learn, young alchemist?”

Edward nodded fervently. That night, under the light of a thousand stars, Lysander challenged him. “Create something without seeking immediacy for yourself. You must find an object to represent your sacrifices.”

Frustrated, Edward fumbled with his thoughts. He remembered the small locket of Trisha, their mother. The very symbol of their motivation. Taking a deep breath, he began drawing symbols on the earth. Tension filled the air as white sparks flickered around him.

Hours later, panting and exhausted, he revealed a delicate miniature rose, its petals shimmering like glass. “It’s beautiful!” Lysander exclaimed. \
when did it converge with nature?” Edward smiled ruefully, “At times, it felt like I was uncomfortably far from it.”

With newfound understanding, they moved on to philosophical discussions. The elder once said, “To win back something, one must be willing to lose something greater.”

Edward pondered aloud, “But what does one truly lose? Time? Memories? Or the essence of a bond?”

Lysander’s gaze remained steady, his voice low. “What you lose shapes who you are, Edward. But be careful not to let it bind you; instead, let it guide you forward.”

That very night, visions engulfed his mind. He saw Alphonse, not as a memory, but vividly alive, a figure of joy and laughter. *“Keep going, Ed!”*, Al said encouragingly. Edward awoke, initiating powerful resolve in his chest.

Days passed, and Edward had amassed knowledge unimaginable. His confidence grew; he delved deeper into practice without the shadows of regret wielding their power over him.

Just when he thought he’d finally grasped the aspect of true sacrifice, an unexpected visit arrived from the Scarred Alchemist, a reflection of what happens when vengeance intervenes with creativity. “Could you mend my scars, Fullmetal?” it asked, its voice murmured with bitterness.

Edward’s heart raced, confronting ghosts he’d battle since his father’s departure. “In every scar lies a story. Can I help?”

The Abomination paused, the silence heavier than any vessel. “Can you?” The question made Edward ponder back again — touching bittersweet reflections put him to the test again. Sacrifices brought connection, shaping paths and relationships. Thus, the choice set under the full moon aligned his purpose; not to heal scars but to empathize with their stories.

In efforts to rebuild lives and garner trust, Edward ultimately channeled knowledge, dedicating his craft to reincorporating mindsets of those creatively bound beyond their damage and arrest, generating art shaping Alchemical stylization. Thus the cycle of scars begun redirecting broken minds towards understanding, enhanced by a heart grounded in growth.

Through witnessing that beauty lies despite life’s deep pains, Engel discovered alchemy intertwining fate — animated by the essence allowing themselves to decide destinies unknown well beyond loss.