Chapter 17 The Stone That Changed Hands
The district they reached did not appear on Central's tourist maps. Narrow streets, old lampposts that barely illuminated the damp cobblestones, and buildings that seemed to stand out of sheer habit. It was a place where the city lowered its voice, where people learned not to look too closely and not to ask questions. There, far from the noise of downtown and the official buildings, the Silver Alchemist walked alone.
He never heard the footsteps behind him.
A hand seized his shoulder and slammed him against the wall before he could react. His cane hit the ground with a dull thud. The old man tried to turn, but something in his captor's gaze stopped him cold. Envy, in humanoid form, watched him with a smile that promised nothing good.
"Tell me where you stored the Philosopher's Stone," Envy said bluntly. "The one Kimblee gave you."
The Silver Alchemist was breathing heavily, more from shock than pain.
"What are you talking about?" he replied. "The last time I saw Kimblee was when we were heading toward Central City. I don't know anything about a stone."
"Don't lie," Envy growled, tightening his grip. "You have no idea how little I like repeating questions."
Before the situation could escalate, a familiar voice broke the alley's silence.
"Come now, come now… no need to be so rough."
Kimblee emerged from the shadow of a building, as if he had been there all along. His white suit contrasted absurdly with the filth of the place. He walked calmly until he stood before the old man, tilting his head slightly in a gesture that was almost polite.
"Silver Alchemist," he said. "It's been a while."
The old man's eyes widened in surprise.
"Kimblee…"
"Do you remember the day I healed you?" Kimblee continued. "After the wound you gave me in the torso."
The Silver Alchemist took a moment to process the memory, but when he did, he nodded slowly.
"Of course I remember," he said. "Thanks to you it didn't get infected. Here in Central it was easier to treat."
The tension seemed to ease a little. Envy clicked his tongue, annoyed by the sudden calm. Kimblee seized the moment and spoke in a more relaxed, almost nostalgic tone.
"After I healed you," he explained, "I left something in the coat you were wearing. A crimson stone."
The old man frowned.
"That was… a Philosopher's Stone?"
Kimblee smiled, genuinely surprised.
"I thought someone with your knowledge would know. The weight, the shine… the power it radiated. It wasn't an ordinary gem."
The Silver Alchemist lowered his gaze. His expression changed. There was no longer confusion, but a slow realization.
"I thought it was just a beautiful stone," he admitted. "I thought Kimblee—even you—wouldn't carry something so dangerous without protection. I turned it into an earring… I gave it to my daughter."
The silence fell like a soundless bomb. Envy froze, and for the first time, even Kimblee stopped smiling for a second.
"Your daughter?" Envy repeated, with a low, dangerous laugh.
Kimblee closed his eyes briefly, as if weighing every possibility. Then he opened them, his smile returning—sharper now.
"Then," he said softly, "I think it's time to look for your daughter."
The Silver Alchemist went pale.
"No," he whispered. "She has nothing to do with this."
"That," Envy replied, "depends on how quickly you cooperate."
Kimblee turned away, adjusting his gloves, and walked toward the end of the alley.
"Don't worry," he added. "If something goes wrong… at least it will be memorable."
And in that forgotten district of Amestris, a simple piece of jewelry became the center of a tragedy that had not yet begun to scream.
(End of Chapter)