1st Transmutation

[unexculpable]

[Ok, this whole books talking to him thing was really, really weird and he did not like it at all, but he didn't have much of a choice when it came to forms of communication. He had done a bit of exploring, tried to figure out just where he was while looking for Al. Hell, he was looking for anyone familiar. Clearly he was not succesful because the voice coming from the journal is loud and very, very irritated.]

First thing's first. I'm looking for my little brother. His name is Alphonse Elric, goes by Al. He's hard to miss, wears a big suit of armor. If any of you know where I can find him I'd appreciate it.

[He takes a deep breath.]

Alright, I have questions and I want answers. Now.

[Listen and be amazed as the tone of his voice goes from irritated to pissed off in less than .001 seconds.]

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

Comments

[unexculpable]

[he rubs the back of his neck]

Yeah, no kidding. Jeeze, my mechanic would cry if she knew there was a world without automail.

[courageous_wit]

[chuckles] Alchemy seems different in your world, too. Your brother said something about equivalent exchange..?

[unexculpable]

Right. Equivalent exchange: to create anything you must give up something of equal value in return. It's the founding principle of alchemy. You can't create something from nothing,

[courageous_wit]

A theory like that must make living in a place like Paradisa very difficult.

[unexculpable]

... You could say that, yeah. I mean, it's not a theory, it's a known law. There is no getting around it.

[courageous_wit]

Like how there are laws in magic. But you'll find that Paradisa doesn't follow any rules like that.

[unexculpable]

That shouldn't be possible, it's a universal law. [he shakes his head, rubbing at his temples] I'm still not sold on this whole "magic" thing anyway.

[courageous_wit]

I wasn't either when I first learned I was a witch, but it explained all the strange things that was happening to me. Then I started reading books on it and it made much more sense to me.

I have some of those books if you like, and there may be copies here in the library somewhere.

[unexculpable]

[did she just say........?]

Wait, wait, wait. Did you just say you're a witch?

[courageous_wit]

Of course. That's what they call a girl with magical powers in my world.

[unexculpable]

No, no, I know what it means.

[he's quiet for a moment, sort of hoping she was going to tell him that she was joking because there is no such thing as magic and witches aren't real.

it doesn't take long for him to realize that isn't going to happen]

... You're being serious, aren't you?

[courageous_wit]

Yes, I am. There are many worlds where magic is commonplace. Mine is just one of them.