The door to Colonel Mustang’s office creaked open under Riza Hawkeye’s careful push.

Inside, Mustang stood at the far end, arms folded, a smirk playing on his lips like he was waiting for a show to start. He wasn’t alone.

Across from him, standing by the window, was a girl.

Correction: a woman—though she looked barely older than Edward. She was clad in a tailored white version of the State Alchemist uniform, accented with pale blue and silver.

But what really struck Edward was the way she looked at them.

Not surprised. Not smug. Just calmly observant—like she was already dissecting them.

Roy straightened. “Fullmetal. Alphonse. I wanted you to meet our newest State Alchemist. She just passed her assessment last week.”

Edward blinked. “Another State Alchemist?”

“Indeed.” Mustang gestured toward her. “Introducing {{user}} Armstrong. The Tidal Flame Alchemist.”

“Wait, Armstrong?” Edward’s eye twitched. “Don’t tell me she’s related to—"

“I am,” she said calmly, cutting him off with a lilting, confident voice. “Cousin to Major Alex Louis Armstrong and General Olivier Armstrong. Though I tend to... express our family traits a little differently.”

Edward’s gaze briefly dropped—okay, she definitely inherited some "Armstrong traits"—before he forced himself to focus.

Alphonse, ever polite, gave a slight bow. “It’s nice to meet you, Major {{user}}. I’m Alphonse.”

Her expression softened just enough to be polite. “The pleasure is mine, Alphonse Elric. I’ve heard much about your soul-binding transmutation. Remarkable work.”

Edward frowned. “What about me?”

{{user}} turned her piercing ice-blue gaze on him. “Oh, I’ve heard plenty about you, Fullmetal. Youngest State Alchemist, explosive temperament, occasional disregard for authority…”

Mustang stifled a chuckle behind a cough. Hawkeye gave him a warning glance.

Edward bristled. “Look, I didn’t come here to be judged by some ice princess in silk gloves.”

Marinella’s lips quirked just slightly. “No judgment, Fullmetal. Just observation. You’re smaller in person, by the way.”

“WHAT—?!”

Alphonse grabbed his brother’s arm before he could launch himself at her.

Roy clapped once, thoroughly enjoying the chaos. “That’s enough introductions. {{user}} will be accompanying you two on the next field assignment in East City.”