Chapter 163 - State Alchemist!

A Year Later,

Miyuki was sitting on the grassy slope in front of the river, reading an alchemy book.

Although they mainly came to this world for Tatsuya, it wasn't too big a problem for her to learn something.

There were good and bad parts.

The good was, they didn't have to start from the beginning. Both could salvage theories from their world to create Alchemic Abilities.

The bad was, the strength of some spells wasn't like it was in their world. Even if they controlled the flow of energy, there wasn't enough energy to make a powerful effect.

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange.

Because of that law, it was hard to create a powerful attack with just the items present in the surrounding.

While reading, her right hand's finger was drawing the transmutation circle, again and again on the grass.

Other than the flow of energy, drawing a transmutation circle was always important was for alchemy.

The transmutation circle could be made with chalk, pencil, pen, ink, paint, thread, traced in the dirt, etched on metal or drawn on hand. There were still other ways to make that circle.

Tatsuya had one on his right hand that used the principal; by using all the knowledge, gained from all the worldline. Onii-sama used Elemental Sight to read all of them. To reach the highest realm of Yin-Yang Creation in the shortest time. All so that he could recreate himself and turn all those powers into his, making them one with his DNA. If possible, in the essence of his being.

Rather than something mixed with his DNA, it became something that was a part of his DNA. The hierarchy of things changed after that. Tatsuya's gene came at the top, while all others were suppressed deep inside. Like making a pedestal with those genes that constantly strengthened his original ones.

Yin-Yang Creation allowed Onii-sama to create something out of nothing, even life. That allowed him to Re-Create himself without killing himself.

She hadn't come up with something that was so...outrageous.

That was one of the reasons why she was so invested in studying Alchemy here.

"Miyuki!!!!"

Her fingers stopped after hearing the voice in the distance. There were sounds of two footsteps coming from the distance.

One sounded heavier than it should be, while the other, the lighter than it should be.

"Miyuki!!!"

She turned her head to glance in the direction of the sound. The child's voice was coming from that metal suit of armor running towards her. Behind him was a small boy with an expression as if the whole world owed him something.

A smile appeared on her face as she waved at them, "Al, Ed, You are back!"

The giant armor came and sat on his knees right below her, on the slope with a silver pocket watch in his hand, "Miyuki, look! Ed became a state alchemist!"

Miyuki scrutinized the pocket watch with an Amestrian dragon circumscribed in the form of a hexagram.

Miyuki raised the watch against the sun, appreciating it, "Ohh...this really is nice." She patted Al's armor, "Good Job Al."

"He-he..." Al fidgetted in the place where he sat.

"HEY! that is my watch!! Why is Al getting the praise?!!" The smaller boy came running and huffing.

Miyuki gestured with her hand with a smile on her face, "If you want a pat, then sit down."

Ed pointed his finger at her, "HUH!!! Who would want a pat from you!!" He looked away. But after a while, he sat down, complaining, "I am not sitting down for a pat or anything!! I AM Sitting because I am tired!!"

Miyuki curled her lips and patted his head, "Yes, Yes, Now that you are a State Alchemist, you are a big man."

Ed peeked at her with the corner of his eyes, "Yes! and always remember that!!!"

"Hmm..., So how was central... tell me all about it." Miyuki had always been curious about central, but Onii-sama was adamant about avoiding it. It wasn't like she never understood, there was something wrong with the Alchemy of this country, and the source was from the Central.

Onii-sama didn't want to come into their sight before they were ready.

While Al told her everything they saw in the central, Ed's face turned grumpy before he got up and left.

Miyuki could only inwardly sigh about it. It seems he was reminded of his mother.

The most she could do for them was smile and listen to Al talk for now.

Sometime later,

Tatsuya was working on an automail with Winry beside him. The old woman was standing on the wooden box, puffing smoke as she watched them work, "really, the two of you are getting better and better."

Winry grinned while playing with the ranch, "of course I am getting better; I am a genius!"

Pinako knocked her head with the pipe, "don't get too complacent!"

Tatsuya glanced up at Winry, smiling, "don't listen to her... you did really well, you should be proud."

Pinako jumped up on the table and knocked Tatsuya's head, "don't go encouraging her!"

Winry giggled even more after seeing Tatsuya beaten, "Onii-sama! Pinako! Winry! Ed and Al her back!"

Winry widened her eyes, "Ed and Al are back?!" She put down her ranch and walked outside.

"So the boys are back...huh." Pinako jumped down from the table and walked outside.

Before leaving, she glanced back at Tatsuya, "are you going to tell the boys?"

Tatsuya saw her, "It's better if they find their answers themselves."

Pinako puffed a smoke, "Well, that may be right. But..."

"Pity won't do them any good, not at the road they walk."

"Hah... You young people..." She walked out of the room. He stood up, walking out the door. Outside, Ed had a big grin on his face as he showed off a Silver pocket watch.

"Al didn't become the State Alchemist?"

Ed stood in front of Al defensively, "He doesn't need to become the dog of the Military!"

"Heh-Heh, I am not as talented as big brother Ed," Al said, rubbing the back of his helmet.

"You don't have to worry about it; sooner or later, your memories will come back. Then not only would be more talented than Ed but also taller."

"HEY!! I am not a runt!! I am still growing!!!" Ed jumped up angrily at that comment.

With the laughter of people echoing in the room,

Miyuki clapped her hands together, "now come, we should celebrate Ed becoming a State Alchemist. I'll cook!"

"Yes! Miyuki's cooking!" Winry raised her hands in happiness!

"Al, come inside, let me see how you have been doing!"

"Ah...Yeah!"

Al walked inside the room, following Tatsuya. Ed stood behind, staring at the closing room silently. Miyuki patted her head, "don't worry, Al will be fine."

"Winry, come help me with dinner."

"Yes!" Winry walked behind Miyuki while her eyes kept glancing at a now-closed door.

Tatsuya put his hand on Al's armor, "so, how is the armor holding up?"

"...It's good..." Al said in his soft childish voice.

"And?"

"...My senses are starting to become dull again."

"Is that so?" An orange light covered Al's armor. Once the light faded, Tatsuya asked again, "better?"

"Uh...huh...Yeah!"

*Clank*Clank*

Sounds of his moving his arms and thumping his legs on the ground echoed in the quiet room. The heavy armor was light from the inside, telling the story of its own.

"This should hold for a few months, do come back to see me every few months."

"Yeah...I will..."

Tatsuya clapped his armor hard, "don't be so worried about it. I know you will find a way to get your bodies back."

"Of course!! I will find a way to get Al back to normal!" Ed slammed open the room with his loud declaration.

Tatsuya glanced at him, "first learn to drink your milk."

"Ughh!" Ed's face twisted with disgust written all over his face.

"THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!"

Tatsuya mildly smiled as he walked over and patted his shoulder "trust me, Ed, there are reasons as to why you should eat and drink more. You may not understand the reason why now...You will be thankful for it later."

Orange light flashed past on Ed's shoulder before disappearing.

After Tatsuya left, Al called out to Ed, "big brother?"

Ed was standing there, clenching his fist, his teeth gritted, "that bastard!!"

"Big brother! you should talk about Tatsuya liked that!"

Ed glared at him, "what are you talking about! That bastard definitely knows something but won't tell us!!"

Al hesitated after hearing that; he also felt that was the case. Soon, he shook his hands, "Tatsuya must have a reason for that!"

Ed grunted, just thinking about it, "whatever!"

And so, Three days passed,

Tatsuya walked to the upper floor after hearing heavy thumping sounds from above.

With the creak of the door, he looked inside, "Miyuki?... what are you wearing?"

"Eh...Onii-sa-ma?" Miyuki was completely surprised after seeing Tatsuya.

Tatsuya's eyes roamed on her body, or rather the black skin-tight suit she was wearing. It was skin-tight, with a mask on her face, "Like a Ninja?"

Although her mouth was hidden by the mask, Tatsuya could see the smile on her face from her eyes, "Onii-sama...talk later, first help me!"

She opened the window and jumped up, with every step she took small ice formed as her foothold.

Tatsuya glanced at the books and items inside the room and sighed. His eyes went to the photo of Ed and Al, "I see..."

After all, they had plans for burning their house.

He stepped out of the window following her.