Summary:
The chapter opens with Izumi asking the boys what happened to them since they left her training. The result is a flashback to when their father left, when Winry’s parents died, when their mother died, when they tried to bring her back with alchemy, and finally when Ed enlisted in the army.At a young age, Elric’s brother showed an affinity for alchemy. From the books their father left behind when he left them and their mother, the boys began to learn alchemy. Their mother, who was very proud of their achievements, encouraged them to continue. She died unexpectedly and the boys were forced to come to terms with that death. Unfortunately, they failed and made a pact with each other to one day bring their mother back to life through alchemy. Grandma Pinako becomes the boys’ guardian, and as they live with her and Winry, they work harder and harder to educate themselves, but eventually realize they can only go so far to educate themselves. During a freak storm that caused catastrophic flooding that threatened their village, Ed and Al decided to try using alchemy to create a barrier to keep the floodwaters out. However, before they could attempt this, Izumi appears and creates a huge barrier blocking the flood water and saving the city.Seeing this, the boys decide to get Izumi to take them on as apprentices. He initially refuses their request, but eventually relents if they prove themselves worthy during a month-long trial period. The boys, Izumi, and her husband Sig return to Dublith to begin their trial training. Izumi takes the boy to a small island in the middle of Lake Kauroy. This island, Yock Island, is where he spends the next month surviving with nothing but a knife. There is no shelter, no wells, nothing to facilitate their stay. They are also forbidden to use alchemy. During the first night, they are awakened when a gigantic monster attacks them in their sleep.