Van Hohenheim's Confusing Freedom: A Tale of Slavery and Unexpected Kindness

Twenty Three… or rather, Van Hohenheim, as he reminded himself… he was so confused.

'Mast - Ed told him he was free from now on. But he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. The thought of not being a slave, making his own decisions… it was…'

What did it feel like, exactly? Hohenheim couldn't help but wonder, because honestly, he was clueless. He had never imagined being a free man before. Usually to earn something like that, slaves had to work their hardest for years, repetitively proving their loyalty, and only then - if they were lucky - would they officially be made citizens of Xerxes. But this…

He hadn't done anything to deserve this, he realized with a start. 'Mas - Ed, he only just bought him from his previous Master. Did he buy him for this sole purpose? To give him a name and free him? But why?'

Yes, 'why' was a good question. Twenty Three (No, my name is Van Hohenheim… right? It's going to take a while to take used to all of this…) decided to focus on that for now. Why did the boy do that? What did he want from him?

It wasn't a matter of if 'Ma - Ed, he's supposed to call him Ed!' If he wanted something. What were the chances that he didn't? Right, nonexistent. Hohenheim was born and raised in slavery, and for a slave, nothing was simply given. It had to be earned.

But Hohenheim was certain that he had never seen this boy before. Was it possible that he unknowingly did something in the past, that benefitted the strange rich kid? He doubted it. Even if that was the case, who for the Holy Majesty's sake would waste such a huge amount of money, just to show gratitude to a slave? Not to mention to one who couldn't remember what the reward was for?

To put it simply, his head was a mess.

Hohenheim walked by the mysterious boy's side, in his state not paying any attention to where they were going. He almost bumped into him when they suddenly stopped. He hadn't noticed that they arrived at the market already.

'What's that?' Ed asked him, pointing at a woman with a cauldron. Wonderful sweet smell was filling the air. Although Hohenheim had never tried this dish - he ate only porridge most of his life - he recognized the scent immediately.

'That's pomegranate soup.'

'Is it good?'

Hohenheim didn't respond. He didn't know if it was good, and making a guess was risky - what if Master ate it and didn't like it and accused him of wasting his money…?

…Oh, right. He was forgetting himself again.

Fortunately, Ed took his silence as a yes. With much enthusiasm, he walked up to the vendor and said:

'Could we have two bowls of that, please?'

Hohenheim looked at him curiously. Two? Those bowls were huge. Apparently Ed wasn't kidding when he said he was starving earlier.

The middle-aged woman smiled and filled the first bowl.

'Here you go, dear boy.' When she handed another to Hohenheim, she added: 'And here's one for your brother.'

Both boys froze. For a second, Hohenheim was too terrified to look at the other. A member of higher society, no doubt rich and influential, mistakenly associated with a slave? Just how mad Ed was going to be? Slowly and fearfully, preparing for a big blow, Hohenheim turned his head to see Ed's reaction.