Roy wishes it were as simple as lusting after his teacher's daughter: the story he offered Hughes back in the military academy to explain his disgrace in Master Hawkeye's eyes. Teachers did not live forever, after all, and someday, Roy knows, things might have fallen into place.

But Ishval hardens Riza's eyes to precious stones, bleaches her hair to white gold, turns the curve of her cheeks into forbidden fruit; and Roy, his heart full to bursting with love for the one woman he can't have, grits his teeth and looks away from her gaunt face.