[Ed's staring wide-eyed at his screen with that raven thing. From where he's watching, that could have somehow been a slight-of-hand trick like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. However, the spell she had shown him earlier where she sang was enough to at least allow Ed to give her the benefit of the doubt.]

I don't know, which is part of why I posted this in the first place. Just a couple days ago I was arguing with someone that magic was all nonsense, since where I'm from, it's just people under the misunderstanding that something can't be explained through scientific means when it really can. I guess right now, 'magic' is something I can't explain based on what I already know.

[He shrugs.]

To be honest I still feel kind of silly talking about it. I guess that's my bias talking.

[He's thankful that the whole Philosopher's Stone subject was dropped. Talk about awkward.]

[Ed laughs.]

You say that now. You didn't talk to me before that conversation!

[He gives her a nod.]

That's right. I'm a State Alchemist back where I'm from. You've been plenty of help so far, though if you're up for it I wouldn't mind seeing some of your skills in person.

[Oh no. She's said the magic words.]

Quite a bit, probably. You've already mentioned it though, so why don't you start telling me what you know about it and I can go from there?

Great! I'd be happy to demonstrate how alchemy works if you'd like.

You've got part of it right. Maybe it works differently where you're from, but for my world, you don't need a Philosopher's Stone to change one kind of metal into a different kind. That includes things like lead or iron to gold. I wouldn't advise doing that anyway though, since you have a chance of screwing up whatever economy you do that in. That's why transmuting gold is illegal in Amestris.

The first thing to understand about alchemy is 'equivalent exchange.' You can't obtain something without sacrificing something first. The laws of conservation of mass and natural providence fall under that umbrella.

[He pauses, wondering if he should mention the whole human transmutation now.]

Alchemy is a tool which can be applied to a lot of different things. You have to be careful what you're doing with it, and there are some things that shouldn't be messed with at all.

[Ed blinks in surprise. Perhaps he shouldn't be. She was the one that brought up the Philosopher's Stone, so why wouldn't she also know something about homunculi? He flounders a bit.]

Uh, well...

[This was a bit of a pickle. It was clear he knew something, but he just as clearly didn't want to share that information. Having your loved one's lives threatened for doing so would do that. For all he knew, he was the only one from Amestris stuck here, but could he really risk it? He tries to take it in a direction he might have more control over.]

There are theories about homunculi, but just theories. Making one would fall under human transmutation, which isn't something you should dabble in. My brother and I attempted it.

[He waves at her with his automail.]

There was a rebound. I haven't heard of a single attempt where the person performing the transmutation wasn't maimed or killed. I'm not familiar with golems though.

[Just wait until you hear what happened to his brother.]

Necromancy? What makes that any better than any other method of trying to raise the dead?

[He tilts his head at the comment about the Queen. It's meaning is lost on him.]

Queen?

[Ed laughs. He's been just a rude, not the he's one to actually care much about that.]

Edward Elric. Thanks for answering my questions. You've been a big help!