Riza's thoughts didn't seem to be moving as quickly as usual. She knew what their brief but telling exchange implied, and there was no room to doubt it, but it was her acceptance of it that stalled her.

She didn't know exactly what it meant, but she knew there were fundamental differences between humans and . . . homunculi, and that those differences had somehow compromised him . . .

But the colonel had imparted none of this to her, for reasons she would not speculate, and there was little, if anything, to say of it. She instead turned her gaze to the product of his alchemy, briefly appreciating it before she lifted her eyes to his. "Will you need to rest, sir?" She appraised his condition, ready to help if he required it.