Chapter Text
A major power that occupied only a small territory, yet managed to win a border war against Xing—the country holding the largest territory in the world and boasting an overwhelmingly strong military force. It was said that Xerxes, which possessed mysterious alchemical skills, used that power to crush Xing’s army in just three days without a single life being lost.
How was that possible? It began on the first night of the territorial expansion war. Xing had stationed over eighty thousand troops, preparing for a surprise assault. However, shortly before the attack, a miraculous event occurred. The desert floor suddenly turned into a massive pit, swallowing the invading army and leaving them in utter disarray. They sat helplessly inside the pit until morning, when they were finally disarmed by the Xerxes army and taken as prisoners of war. Left with no choice, the Emperor of Xing signed a peace treaty the following morning, exchanging it for the lives of those eighty thousand soldiers and the besieged border villages.
This story sounded much like a myth, but it was a truth recorded in the pages of history. Now, the desert country, which had once been quiet and relied mainly on trade, had established itself as a major power. While trade remained the same as before, they strictly closed their borders, withheld internal information, and sent out silver-tongued nobles to systematically collect alliance treaties. Centuries later, Xerxes was no longer just a country in the middle of the desert, but a center of commerce and a supreme hub of knowledge that everyone cast a covetous eye upon.
Roy Mustang, a Colonel of Amestris—a land bordering Xerxes—had been sent to this mysterious country to negotiate for assistance in the war against Drachma. He glanced at his highly capable assistant, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. She was dressed more restrictively than usual, wrapping a cloth around her face to shield herself from the scorching desert sun. However, he knew well that beneath those thick clothes lay numerous life-saving devices for venturing into this enigmatic nation.
“Who on earth thought it would be a good idea to send us out here to suffer?” another close subordinate, Jean Havoc, grumbled for the millionth time as he helped Riza unload bags from the car, since the edge of the desert now lay directly before them.
In the old days, they would have had to rely on camels to travel to Xerxes. But today, with advanced technology and the desire to connect territories, Xerxes had constructed a long road cutting across the desert for convenience. A long car was already waiting for them. “The higher-ups sending unfamiliar soldiers on a mission with us like this makes my spine tingle, sir.”
“Don’t talk so much,” Roy reprimanded his subordinate while glancing at the three strange soldiers behind them. He lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Even if we don’t know their purpose, don’t let your guard down under any circumstances.”
Amestris was just like any other military nation; the top brass were exalted but quite filthy, causing trouble for those at the bottom like them. In the past, Amestris had almost started a war of extermination against Ishval over a territorial dispute. Unfortunately, they were intercepted by Xerxes, which was an ally of Ishval at the time. Xerxes sent a negotiation message (a threat) stating that if a clash occurred, they would not hesitate to bombard and completely flatten Amestris’s borders. Roy’s country was not as proficient in the art of alchemy—which was considered a massive advantage in the modern era—and thus had willingly backed down.
He looked up from the ground and saw a woman stepping out of a black car (which was clearly more advanced than his own country's vehicles). Her dark, wavy hair was tied loosely with an orange cloth. She wore a jet-black, ankle-length dress that clung to her figure, covered by another layer of silk. Her pale red eyes looked intelligent but not harsh as she scanned the six guests once before speaking in a sweet voice.
“I hope you had a comfortable journey. I am Lust, the second child of the King of Xerxes’ younger brother.” The young woman curved her red lips into an enchanting smile that completely captivated Jean. “I will be acting as your caretaker for these three days. I look forward to working with you.”
The daughter of the King of Xerxes’ younger brother? Then that would make this woman a princess... right? Roy was not well-versed in royal matters or the customs of Xerxes. Even though he had done his homework, the deep insights were still too scarce to fully comprehend. “I am Roy Mustang, a Colonel of Amestris. I look forward to working with you as well.”
Strange. Normally, when naming a child, someone wouldn't name them after the sin of Lust, would they? Or perhaps it’s a tradition I've never heard of. But even so, it contradicts basic common sense. Roy thought to himself as he ducked into the car. “Uh, excuse me, but I am not very familiar with...”
“Ah, you must be wondering about my status,” she smiled sweetly while sitting next to the driver. Once everyone was on board, she signaled to head out from the immigration checkpoint. “Even though I am the daughter of the King's younger brother, I am not a princess like in other countries. You could say... hmm, I am one of the guardians of this country.”
The Guardians of Xerxes. Roy had heard that there was a group of people here who protected, drove, and looked after the nation. But he hadn't expected them to be of royal blood. What kind of blue-blooded nobles would exert themselves to thoroughly take care of a country like this? “The citizens of Xerxes are truly fortunate.”
Lust merely smiled.
As the car drove into the country, Roy finally began to understand how so many people could live in the heart of a land so hot it felt like it would burn to ashes. Due to some miraculous reason, Xerxes possessed green meadows that stretched as far as the eye could see. Various plant species from tropical rainforests and cold regions—like the ones he had seen in Briggs—grew to block out the sunlight, forming a chaotic dome that helped shade the sun. They didn't look quite like normal trees; they had different colors and were much larger, as if they had been newly crossbred to survive in this place.
Riza couldn't even hide her composure. “Even though it's in the middle of a desert, how is it...”
“Knowledge is a vast treasure,” Lust said as she led them down the street.
The left and right sides were planted with brightly colored vegetation. Young children ran around playing, and people engaged in trade, living their daily lives happily as if they weren't surrounded by the world's harsh, natural weapons. “Everything you see is the result of alchemy and science, which the people of Xerxes wracked their brains to create, making this country a paradise in a dreamscape. Now, Colonel, allow me to demonstrate something as a welcoming gift for our guests.”
In the blink of an eye, the flowers by the roadside burst into tiny seeds, spreading far and wide and weaving together until they formed a lovely sign spelling out the words: Welcome, Honored Guests from Amestris. At the same time, the soldiers standing guard along the path picked up paper rolls and pulled them, sending dyed scraps of leaves floating through the air. Fireworks—one, two, and three—were ignited, shining brightly to draw eyes, and looking incredibly friendly.
“It might look a bit untidy, but the people of Xerxes place great importance on life and giving a warm welcome,” Lust explained, brushing a piece of paper off her head. “This is our culture. Please understand that it is solely for the sake of goodwill between us. Now, I will take you to rest for a moment before entering the meeting, so you can relax at your leisure.”
Roy formed a smile, though his heart was beginning to feel apprehensive. What just happened was alchemy, but he hadn't seen a transmutation circle, nor anyone activating the craft. He couldn't underestimate them anymore—a country that welcomed guests by shoving their greatest strength right in their faces as a subtle threat.
They were put up in the royal palace, which wasn't too surprising. Some more hospitable nations often did this, but usually, Roy would stay in expensive hotels that offered more privacy. Even so, the incredibly soft, comfortable bed and the wide bathroom paved with beautiful plants tempted him enough to make him waver slightly.