• ❁Alchemic Scars [Editing]❁ •

• ❁ Chapter 3 - The Crimson-rose Alchemist ❁ •

(the picture displayed belongs to me. Additionally to the drawing, Elleah also changes out her uniform jacket for a coat and hood at times.)

Chapter 3 - The Crimson-rose Alchemist. 

Elleah: 16

"Look at my little Elicia!" Hughes exclaims, wiggling from side to side as he shows the group another photo of his precious daughter, ignoring the fact that all of them are sitting with either board or annoyed expressions.

I sigh a gust of air and continue to scribble down on the page before me.

-

About two years after my 'accident' as a child, I left to seek purpose and help to get my siblings back. Soon into that journey, I was adopted by the Lieutenant Colonel, Maes Hughes. I now live with him, his wife Gracia Hughes, and their little girl Elicia Hughes.

After spending time in the place they call home, I applied to become a state alchemist. At the age of 14, I went for my State Alchemist examination. I got the title not too long after that, earning the name of the Crimson-rose Alchemist. I am now working in Central to protect the people of Amestris and most of the world from harm.

I've become close with most occupants of my workplace. Most of them come off as lighthearted, down to earth, and ready to fight. I say most because there are still those jackasses and pompous prats lurking the halls, but those people are the ones I try to avoid.

I've grown particularly close to Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and - surprise, surprise - Colonel Roy Mustang, who fight by my side when needed. Obviously, I don't count Maes as he is my father now, so he already tops the list.

-

I silently Listen to the cohort, sat a few feet away at another table; far apart from the usual meeting group. I sit in silence as I work and write a report on my latest assignment.

The bickering between the officers and the Lieutenant Colonel cease once I get up, having had enough of their rowdiness. The noise they are making is driving me up the wall, preventing me from focusing.

I trudge over to Maes and place a hand on his shoulder before speaking.

"Yes, Hughes," I say with a straight look. "We all think your daughter is lovely, adorable, sweet, all of the above. But I think we all need to get back to work." I turn my attention to the rest of the officers now. "Right?"

"R-right," they chorus out, afraid to contradict my words.

Maes quietly chuckles and slings an arm over my shoulder, pressing his deadly stubble on my cheek.

"Oh, lighten up Elle~!" He says with a goofy grin. "And how many times do I have to say it; call me Dad." He continues to wiggle and squeezes me tighter until my oxygen supply is substantially depleted.

I attempt to back away, out of the grown man's grip, but to no avail - the leading cause of this being that I am trying not to hurt him. My cheeks grow warm and sweaty from the constriction of this unwanted embrace. I feel a twinge at my lips. A smile.

As I scan the room for some form of escape from this death grip, I watch as the officers' faces soften just slightly at my unwanted, yet pleasant expression.

I eventually pull myself out of the bear hug of my father's arms and turn to my desk.

"Alright, I've had my fair share of death squeezes today," I announce while my head is turned. I place a hand to my chair before turning back to my father. "I suggest you all go back to work. Who knows what Mustang will do to you if he finds you all slacking off - or Hawkeye for that matter."