A Life Borne of Life

 

“Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return.  To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy’s First Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one, and only, truth.”

- Alphonse Elric, Full Metal Alchemist

     Science, as we know it, is based on a firm foundation of empirical data.  I remember reading somewhere that Science is the result of a series of calculated mistakes, in the same fashion that walking can be seen as a series of calculated falls.  It is an endless balancing game of facts and ideas, the result of which would ultimately be beneficial to humankind.  An interesting take on Science however, can be seen in what one of my favorite writers postulated in one of his works…

“Science in its very essence is anti-intellectual. It does not encourage man to think. The true nature of science encourages man to be empirical - to believe only what can be seen, measured, proven by the senses. Philosophy on the other hand, strives for usage of rationality to explain and reveal the possibilities with mental postulation. Philosophy is the eyes that visualize and science is the feet that bring one closer to what he sees.  To achieve great things in life, one must be more than just a scientist; one also has to be the perfect philosopher.”

- Redkinoko, The God Protocol

     And here, I believe, is where Alchemy comes into the picture.  The practice of alchemy has always been obscure.  It has been described as heretical, more leaning towards augury and enchantment than empirical science.  As such, early practioners have been branded as lunatics at best and spawns of the devil at worst.  The sacrifices that seekers of knowledge had to make at earlier times were almost abhorrent.  And I believe we are all lucky to be living at a time wherein the world is more open and accepting of things that are foreign and things that are new.

     I have always had a fascination for alchemy.  I guess Paulo Coehlo’s novel can be blamed for my initial interest.  And perhaps, human curiosity is naturally drawn to something that is not so easy to comprehend.  So, imagine my enthusiasm when my favorite MMORPG came up with a job class precisely delving into this surreal world.

     And thus, my first alchemist was born.  Followed by another one in quick succession.  Admittedly, I was disappointed in the job class for a time, for it lacked the multi-faceted dimensions of real alchemy.  Alchemists in game were relegated to being potions masters at best and vendors at worst.  And so I, along with a handful of other alchemical enthusiasts, sadly watched as the passion turned into disillusionment.

     And then came Lighthalzen, which signalled the dawn of Biochemical passion in Midgard.  The massive destructive power of Acid Bomb and the life creation capabilities endowed by Bioethics lured many into the halls of the Institut du Alchemie.  This development both pleased and saddened me.  Pleased - because of the renewed interest of many in a previously set-aside character class.  And saddened - because many have joined purely to harness the newly-found power of the class, and not to devote time into furthering the studies thereof.

“The world isn’t perfect, and the law is incomplete. Equivalent Exchange doesn’t encompass everything that goes on here. But I still choose to believe in its principle: that all things do come at a price. That there’s an ebb, and a flow, a cycle. That the pain we went through did have a reward and that anyone who’s determined and perseveres will get something of value in return, even if it’s not what they expected.”

- Alphonse Elric, Full Metal Alchemist

     Yes, many have heeded the call and utilized the capabilities of the class, yet only a few have heeded the need to continue the ebb and flow and cycle.  Only a few have chosen to further delve into the potentials of the class.  As with energy, wherein there is kinetic and potential, static and dynamic; so is the case with the Biochemist class.  And sadly, as Acid Bomb gained fame and inspired awe, Bioethics paled in comparison.

“The Philosopher’s Stone: those who possess it, no longer bound by the laws of Equivalent Exchange in Alchemy, you gain without sacrifice, create without Equal Exchange. We searched for it, and we found it.”

 —Edward Elric, Full Metal Alchemist

     A life borne of life… a life borne of itself.  This, for me, is one of the most amazing things about alchemy, be it in Midgard or the in real world.   In reality, this is only possible through God, who is omnipotent and omniscient, Father of all.  In Midgard, biochemists have been endowed with the power of life creation, which is perhaps, one of the most intriguing skills in the game.  Being an alchemical enthusiast, I have attempted to harness the potentials of the four homunculus types.  But my Biochemists have found their kindred allies in the dynamic vanilmirths and stalwart amistrs.

     Homunculi can be valuable allies during WOE. A Lif’s Urgent Escape can get you out of sticky situations fast, a Vanilmirth’s Caprice and a Filir’s Moonlight provides added firepower, an Amistr’s Castling and Bulwark can toughen up your defense. SBR44 and Bioexplosion are effective last-options for clearing out enemies as well.  It is so great that people like SniperAngel  have taken the tomes of complex equations and derivatives and broken all these down for alchemical novices to understand.  His Basic Homunculus Guide can help both biochemical veterans and alchemical enthusiasts understand the possibilities borne of Bioethics.

“Science has been, for all its lengthy and obscure existence, an evolutionary path that man has taken in his unending quest of improvement. Long since abandoning the original goal of survival, evolution is leading him towards a completely new destination - the attainment of perfection, the attainment of Divinity.”

- Chancellor Bertrand Orin, Chronicles of Alchemy Vol. VI

     While perfection and divinity remain to be elusive dreams for many, the Biochemists of Midgard are slowly advancing forward to reach out for this goal.  For within alchemy lies the beauty, the almost-perfection, and yes, the near-divinity of having life borne out of life.