Try it out to finish his work for him.

If Mustang were being honest, he had no time to fret over a blank book, however mysterious it may be. He was already up to his eyes in work and, while he would have loved to embrace a distraction right now, he had not the luxury. It would look bad on him, if he left and things were not properly documented, filed and organised. He couldn't let his ambition be jeopardised by his boredom.

He put the book down somewhere across the room to keep out of the way while he continued working. He was trying to write like a well-oiled machine, but his train of thought kept being drawn back to the object across from him.

Thinking back, he remembered seeing all of the documents being brought to his office. He could not recall seeing a thick, black leather book being brought in with them. He had not left his office since they'd been placed there. Hell, he'd barely left his desk. No one had come in, either, so no one would have slipped the book down without his knowledge. Even if someone had snuck in to place a book down, how would it have ended up underneath a pile of folders and files.

No book just randomly appears from nowhere.

On top of that, the book just felt... odd. Like it jutted out obnoxiously, no matter where it was placed, as though it didn't... fit anywhere. Mustang looked to where he had left it and, while it looked like a normal black book, it was still undeniably strange and rang out alarm bells in the Colonel's mind.

After only thirty minutes, the hankering curiosity proved too much and the Colonel caved, getting up from his desk and reuniting with the book.

"Why 'Reality Book?'" the Colonel wondered out loud again, "Why would someone carve that into the front cover?"

He brought it with him as he had down in his chair, staring at the carved title thoughtfully.

"Maybe it's a magic book that changes reality or something," he said, although that was followed by a scoff. He was a pragmatic man, an officer of the military and an alchemist to boot. He liked to think of himself as a logical thinker and was hardly going to entertain that as a possibility. Leave it to others to believe in magic but he did not take all that stuff serious.

Still, a magic, reality-altering book...

It sounded like the sort of dream Grumman would have. The types of lucid dreams where he would do anything he wanted and live out all of his wild, perverted fantasies. He would go into great detail about those imaginary escapades to him on occasion, unless the Colonel was quick to divert the subject to something else. Mustang wasn't a saint by any means, especially considering his upbringing. He was aware of his reputation as a womaniser, which he had utilised to his advantage. Still, the General can be a bit full-on and it had only worsened with his increasing age.

A reality altering book... A tool to get everything he could ever ask for...

The idea must have taken root in the Colonel's mind and was growing rapidly. Somehow, it sounded less and less far-fetched by the moment. Not only that, but the ideas that came to him felt... good.

Maybe... A test couldn't hurt. No one would know anyway, and, if it really was just a normal book, then it wouldn't hurt to have an extra journal.

"I've finished my work for today."

That was it.

He glanced up for a moment and nearly fell out of his chair, when he saw all of the papers across his desk neatly tidied and organised. Mustang took one to check and, sure enough, it looked legitimate. It even shared his handwriting. Furthermore, the pen in which he had used to write had less writing ink, as well. It was as though he had indeed done all the work himself.

"Colonel," he heard his door being opened, followed by the voice of his 'Queen'.

Straightening himself up sharply, he tried to appear as nonchalant and normal as possible.

She had walked in, holding a coffee cup in one hand. "We've just got the coffees brought in. How's it going in-?"

She paused when she had only walked halfway into the room, catching sight of the Colonel comfortably standing at his desk with piles of categorised documents filed and organised around him.

"Ah, Lieutenant. Good timing. I've actually just finished. Could you have these sent off for me?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Sir, if I may be so bold..." began the Lieutenant, "How can you be finished already? It's not even lunch time, yet."

"Is it really still that early?" the Colonel feigned surprise, while he was internally brimming with excitement, "I guess I was just focused. How're you guys doing in the next room?"

"We've still got a lot left. The extra hands has made it quicker but... well, clearly not quick enough, it seems. Are you sure these were all done correctly, Sir?"

"You can check for yourself," Mustang invited her to validate and, after peer reviewing a few random files, she seemed convinced.

"I've got to say I'm impressed, Sir," Hawkeye complimented, "It goes to show how effective you can actually be, if you keep yourself focussed."

Mustang's smug smile turned into a disapproving frown at the backhanded compliment, but it wasn't the worst thing the Lieutenant had said about him.

"Well, who knows? I may make a habit out of it," said the Colonel, "Productivity will be invaluable to us in Central."

He heard her hum in affirmation.

"What's that you're holding, Colonel?" asked Riza suddenly and Roy followed her gaze to the book, still firmly locked in his grasp.

"Oh, this?" he answered, "Just a - just a new book I bought. Just something to write a few notes in, you kn-"

"It's weird," she interrupted,

"W-what do you mean 'weird?'" he inquired, suddenly growing nervous.

"I don't know," she responded, her gaze still locked on the book, "It just seems... strange. I... don't really know why."

She must have been experiencing the same that he had. That strange undeniable believe that the book was somehow... wrong or, more accurately, doesn't belong. Was that somehow a quality tied to the book?

"I think you may be working yourself a little too hard, Lieutenant," said Roy, moving the book out of her view by blocking sight of it with his body, although it still didn't leave his hand. As soon as she lost sight of it, the woman blinked and righted herself.

"Y-yeah, you're probably right, although you're the last person who should comment on someone working too hard today," she said, before picking herself up and collecting all of the Colonel's 'hardwork.'

"Anyway, Colonel, I'll take these down to the office," said Riza, "If you get too bored over the next few hours, you could always help out your men, as they've still got a while to go yet."

"Yeah... Maybe," said the Colonel, only half listening as his thumb brushed against the leather of the book held behind his back, "Good luck, Lieutenant."

"... Thank you, Sir," she said, awkwardly looking back at him as she made her way to the door. The Colonel could have sworn that she was trying to somehow peer behind him. "Enjoy your writing."

With that, she was finally gone and Mustang exalted in relief and excitation. He brought down the book to the desk fiercely and opened it to the page in which he had written on.

It was real.

He didn't know how but it was undeniable. This book was magical. Anything written would become a reality and, with it, Colonel Roy Mustang could get anything he wanted.