Edward Elric stood in the center of the empty room, surrounded by alchemical circles etched into the floor. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for another session of transmutation practice. His automail hand twitched slightly, a reminder of the metal limb that replaced the one he lost in his failed attempt to resurrect his mother.

Alphonse, his younger brother, was absent today, getting maintenance on his armor body. It was just Edward and his thoughts, alone in the echoing chamber.

With a clap of his hands, he activated the alchemy array beneath him, channeling his energy into the array. Blue light crackled around him as he focused his mind on the task at hand.

He was determined to master this, to become a true alchemist without the need for circles or incantations. With each attempt, he pushed himself further, refusing to let his past mistakes define him.

As the energy surged through him, he closed his eyes and visualized the object he wanted to create. It was a delicate balance of concentration and control, one that required both skill and intuition. For Edward, transmutation wasn't just a science, it was an art form. And as he continued to practice, he knew that one day he would achieve mastery over it, just as he had promised himself and his brother so long ago.

"C'mon dammit!"