"It's a science," Lust said again, her attention on her breakfast. At least she enjoyed food. "The art of changing one thing into another. Its ruled by laws, as all sciences are, and requires precision and acute attention. You cannot create something greater than what you begin with, for example. That is the law of Equivalent Exchange - Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. This is the first and most important law of alchemy."

Though there were ways around it, of course. Not that she needed to delve into that at the moment. She was simply explaining by rote, a beginner's guide, so to speak.