ROY MUSTANG
RM
The Flame Alchemist. Colonel. His gloves create a spark through friction and the arrays on them do the rest. Useless in the rain, which the show remembers at the worst possible moments. Ishvalan war veteran who burned people alive on orders and has been climbing toward the Fuhrer's office ever since on the theory that getting there is the only way to make it mean something. Uses the Elrics as pieces in that climb. Genuinely cares about them. Both things are completely true and the show never lets either one cancel the other out.
ROY THROUGH THE ARCHIVE //
STORY & ARC GUIDE //
Open page →The State Exam Gives Ed the Key and the Leash
Open →Episodes 5–6 · Mustang gets Ed inside
Mustang engineers Edward's chance to take the State Alchemist exam because he recognizes both Ed's talent and how badly the brothers need access.
The State Alchemist System gives Ed exactly what he wants: archives, contacts and permission to chase research ordinary children could never reach.
The State Alchemist System gives Ed exactly what he wants: archives, contacts and permission to chase research ordinary children could never reach.
What changed
The brothers' quest becomes institutional. From this point on, almost every discovery about the Stone is entangled with the same military that gave Ed the means to search for it.
Episodes 14–16 · Ishbal enters the story
To Edward, State Alchemist means access. To Scar, it means the people who were sent into Ishbal with alchemy powerful enough to turn military policy into extermination.
Marcoh and Mustang's histories make it impossible for Ed to dismiss Scar's hatred as simple villainy even when Scar is trying to kill him.
Marcoh and Mustang's histories make it impossible for Ed to dismiss Scar's hatred as simple villainy even when Scar is trying to kill him.
What changed
The military stops being merely the annoying institution Ed works for. Its past becomes part of the cost of every privilege the silver watch gives him.
