It's Cold

“It does have to do with our bodies…yes.” Alphonse folded his hands on his lap while Ed shifted uncomfortably beside him. 

“I’m Edward Elric, and this is my younger brother Alphonse.” Ed finally spoke up, using his right hand to gesture to himself then to his brother. Golden hues then shifted to Silky. “It’s…nice to meet you.” His uncertainty showed on his face, fae weren’t normally really fond of them so he wasn’t too sure what Silky thought of them. 

“It’s nice to meet you, miss Silky.” Alphonse’s tone and the change in his eyes showed he was smiling, more open than his older sibling. Al’s gaze then shifted to Edward. “Do you want to explain, brother?”

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         While the brothers voices filled his ears, Elias was silent. Observant. As they explained their situation, a gloved hand came to rest under his skull. Elbow proped up on the arm of the chair. These two had commited something of taboo. Similarly to how it was forbidden to bend the rules of this world with magic, they had tried to take back what death claimed with alchemy. Certainly, if one were to bend the rules something could be done for these two. However, that would not be possible. The reprocussions were not worth it... This being said, magic was an evolving practice. The bounds of it were not truly known. Perhaps, there was hope for these two in such practices. 

        “...It is a pleasure, Elric brothers. Your situation poses both a challenge, and instigates my curousity. So I feel compelled to take it on. Firstly though, I should explain that just as alchemy has taboo, so does magic.” Retrieving his tea from the table, he merely held it in his hands for a moment as he spoke. “Your practice relies on the laws of equivilant exchange. The practice of magic, relies on the laws of the world. The unspoken rules that you cannot bend. Theoretically, you can make anything from the miracles mages congur. You can change a stone to gold, water to wine, etc. However at the same time, you must tread carefully as to not to alter reality. Otherwise, the reprecusions on your body will be vast.” In order to drink his tea, the mage pulled back his veil to expose the maw of his skull. 

        “Ah, this isn’t to say that I’ve attempted it. Frankly, if I had known of your arrival I would have taken a much more comforting form for you. My apologies.” Crossing his legs, he rested the tea cup atop his knee. “Given that we cannot bend reality, there isn’t a quick answer I can give to your pardiciment. This being said, there still may be an answer within the realm of magic. You see, the world of mages is an ever-evolving one. However, it is a dying breed. Which has slowed its progression drastically. Many mages died searching for answers-- my teacher said long ago. You two might succumb to the same fate, but you also might find exactly what your looking for.” 

        “While a thought comes to mind of where to start for you Edward, we’ll need to search much more in terms of your brother. Where there is flesh, you can make more of it. However when there is but a soul, it is hard to regain something that is not present... Although, this is also assumeing your ethics are along the lines of normal humans... Since you have gone and commited a taboo however, I shall still tell you the more unethical route you could take regarding the younger of you two.” 

        “The body has been described as but a vessel. In the same sense, your suit of armor is a vessel. It is possible, without bending the laws of this world-- to transfer a soul to another body. However, you would have to find a pre-existing body for your brother to take. Understandably, I can see why humans would not go this route. So for this I’ll continue to look for other means. Contacting the college may be nessisary with your pardiciment.” 

It started Alphonse a bit that Elias was taller than him, he wasn’t used to that. “U-um…we’re from Berlin, Germany, sir. At least thats where we were born….we travel a lot. Red eyes widened slightly at the sight of the skull…maybe Elias knew more than they had been told. 

“Thank you, sir.” The boy gave a small, respectful bow before leading the way inside. Taking a seat on the longer couch so Ed would have room to sit beside him.

“Yes…um…there is. We’ve been told you’re one of the best mages out there, Mr. Ainsworth. We really messed up when we were younger and if you can help us, we could really use it.” The Elrics hadn’t told anyone other than two close family friends what they had done, reaching out for help like this was a desperate act from the two boys. 

During this entire exchange, Edward stayed completely silent. He still wasn’t sure about all of this….especially telling this stranger the extremely taboo thing they had done. Nevertheless he took off his red coat to expose his automail arm and sat beside his younger brother.  He wouldn’t admit they needed help, but he also wouldn’t deny they had hit a dead end. 

         From Berlin? They had made quite a decent trip to get here, then. Which only proved to raise the male’s curiousity. Elias knew his name had spread far, but for someone to actually seek him out from that far away was something. Closing the door behind them, he followed them and took up a seat in the smaller matching armchair. They had messed up? Could they per chance be talking of a training mistake, similar to Angelica’s? Suspicoun of this certainly rose as the shorter of the two revieled his limb, which had been replaced with mechanical parts.

        “I see. I’m assuming it has something to do with the state of your bodies?” Elias had noticed the hollow, odd tone that range from the suit of armor. While unknowing to the cause, it certainly did raise suspicoun. “Mistakes in childhood are to be expected. Humans are creatures that require them to learn. However, when playing with more dangerious elements-- no allowence can be made for learning.” With his hands in his lap, the mage learned foward a bit. As if to make his intimidating height less apparent. “While I cannot say I am the best mage out there, I have been wandering these lands for quite a long time. I certainly am amoung one of the older mages that remain. The only older one than I that is an ally, might be the man who cares for the rarest of beasts. This being said, I know not if we’ll require his help for something like this.” 

           The male paused, as Silkey entered the room. A tray within her hands, that held a tea kettle as well as cups placed upon saucers. As per normal, she did not say a word. However, she gave the two brothers an odd look. However, it was not one of hate or disdain. More so, pity. She then looked to Elias, giving a worrying look.

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“Alphonse why are we here? Isn’t this someone close to the church? You know I don’t like churches.” He wasn’t a fan of religious people, he really wasn’t. His experiences had all been fairly bad. Why the hell did Al drag him here if he knew that then?

“Brother come on, Mr. Ainsworth is supposed to be one of the best mages in Britain! I’m sure he would at least have some books we could look through, or tell us about someone who might be willing to teach us.”

“I don’t know…..it’s like these people can smell the alchemy on us! What makes you think this guy will so much as listen to us long enough to ask him?”

“Ed come on, he might have some information that could even help us get our bodies back to normal. We’ve got to at least ask” After a grunt of agreement and resignation from Edward, Al knocked on the mage’s door.

         As the knock came, a sharp sound against hard wood, dark robes shifted as the male stood. Elias hadn’t been expecting anyone during this time, so a wave of confusion came and went in his subconcious. Perhaps it was merely another lacky of the church, chasing after his heels? Or perhaps it was a lost individual, that strayed to far from the path? Certainly what the male hadn’t expected when he opened the door, was a tall suit of armor accompanied by a shorter boy. Unseen, confusion continued to burn within his pinlight eyes.

        “... A suit of armor, accompanied by a young man. Forgive me, but because of your absurdity I can’t place where your from. However for that same reason, I know your here with purpose. At least, I know most humans dislike hiking in steel.” Crossing his arms, Elias called behind him, and as he turned his head-- a small bit of his skull could be seen behind the viel.

   “YOURE NOT YOU WHEN YOURE HUNGRY, ELIAS”