002 ☣ In Dreams
It starts with two boys. Same height. Nearly the same hair. Gold and gold and that's what for which they were known. The Elric brothers. Not like anyone else around. Different.
Different in so many ways. Different because they were blonde. Different because they were orphans. Different because they were alchemists.
They're in a room. Something below ground maybe. Without windows. The walls are lined with bookshelves, work tables covered in scientific equipment, and instruments of all kinds. The only space free along the wall is occupied by two old sets of armor.
The boys step forward, pouring something from various flasks into the center of an elaborate circle hand-drawn on the floor.
35 liters of water
20 kilograms of Carbon
4 liters of Ammonia
1.5 kilograms of Lime
800 grams of Phosphorus
250 grams of Salt
100 grams of Nitrogen
80 grams of Sulfur
7.5 grams of Fluorine
5 grams of Iron
3 grams of Silicon
and 15 other elements.
The recipe was supposed to be perfect. It was perfect. All the components and elements that made up one adult body.
They knew the laws, the rules, the guidelines. But not the consequences.
Their hands slap on the stone floor, pressed against chalk lines which begin to glow with a sickly yellow light. Air and energy whips around them, as the mixture in the center of the circle dances, as if alive. It is alive, moving, changing, growing into something almost recognizable. Almost.
But then the youngest starts to scream. From the center of the circle, where their precious concoction had began to shift, something was breaking him apart. It didn't hurt, really. Not like one would think. But how often does one have their entire body disintegrate before their very eyes?
He reaches for his brother. Reaching and reaching and while can't he reach? He was almost there. Almost. Their fingers almost touching as his disintegrate too. Everything is disappearing into the dark double doors behind him. Eating him and breaking him and what is that laughter? So many eyes and laughter and then TRUTH.
And then there is nothing.
Different in so many ways. Different because they were blonde. Different because they were orphans. Different because they were alchemists.
They're in a room. Something below ground maybe. Without windows. The walls are lined with bookshelves, work tables covered in scientific equipment, and instruments of all kinds. The only space free along the wall is occupied by two old sets of armor.
The boys step forward, pouring something from various flasks into the center of an elaborate circle hand-drawn on the floor.
35 liters of water
20 kilograms of Carbon
4 liters of Ammonia
1.5 kilograms of Lime
800 grams of Phosphorus
250 grams of Salt
100 grams of Nitrogen
80 grams of Sulfur
7.5 grams of Fluorine
5 grams of Iron
3 grams of Silicon
and 15 other elements.
The recipe was supposed to be perfect. It was perfect. All the components and elements that made up one adult body.
They knew the laws, the rules, the guidelines. But not the consequences.
Their hands slap on the stone floor, pressed against chalk lines which begin to glow with a sickly yellow light. Air and energy whips around them, as the mixture in the center of the circle dances, as if alive. It is alive, moving, changing, growing into something almost recognizable. Almost.
But then the youngest starts to scream. From the center of the circle, where their precious concoction had began to shift, something was breaking him apart. It didn't hurt, really. Not like one would think. But how often does one have their entire body disintegrate before their very eyes?
He reaches for his brother. Reaching and reaching and while can't he reach? He was almost there. Almost. Their fingers almost touching as his disintegrate too. Everything is disappearing into the dark double doors behind him. Eating him and breaking him and what is that laughter? So many eyes and laughter and then TRUTH.
And then there is nothing.