Summary:
This chapter is the first chapter of the Dublith Arc and begins with Ed reliving his early memories of both his father and mother. The story then continues from the previous chapter with Ed and Al meeting Sig Curtis. After exchanging pleasantries, Sig takes the boys to see their old teacher, Izumi. Izumi continues to abuse the boys to make Ed an army dog. After a thorough beating, the four of them retire to the house for tea and conversation. The discussion leads to the Philosopher’s Stone and whether Sig and Izumi know anything about it. They revealed that they know of a man who knows about the stone. It’s called Hohenheim. Al and Ed tell them that this man is actually their father. A father who ran away from their family when they were young, and Ed has no interest in seeking him out for help. The discussion turns to what Ed and Al have been up to lately. They also discuss how much they’ve learned and grown since leaving Izumi. They proceed to show Izumi their technical prowess in alchemy, during which Izumi discovers that Ed can perform alchemy without the need for a transmutation ring. Izumi asks Ed if he saw the thing and he reluctantly admits that he did. Before they can continue this discussion, local children run up and ask Mrs. Curtis for help fixing their train. Another local kid arrives asking Izumi to “fix” her cat as well. Unfortunately, the cat has died and Izumi claims she can’t bring it back. He goes on to explain that alchemy can only do so much and restoring life to something that no longer has is not something that can or should be done. This leads to Izumi revealing that she knows Ed and Al went against her teachings when their failed attempt to bring their mother back ended with Al in empty armor and Ed requiring automatic prosthetic legs and arms.