"It's real and it's not alchemy or alkahestry," Edward added after Winry said that magic was real. It had been a hell of a thing to discover. He hadn't seen magic preformed before his eyes. Oh, he had seen the things the witches brought forth upon the city but he hadn't actually seen the spells cast or whatever it was that they called magic. It had him wondering if magic allowed them to make something out of nothing or if they worked around it like Father and killed people to power their so called magic. He had lots of questions but no answers and no way to find them. It was frustrating to say the least.
When Al changed the subject to their different time lines, he avoided Winry's gaze and let her take that question. He didn't want to say that he had gone asleep at a doctor's place before coming to in Salem. He hadn't told Winry and he wanted to tell Al even less that he had been impaled on rebar during his fight with Kimblee. He'd shortened his own life when he'd patched up the wound long enough so he hadn't bled out before he'd been taken to a doctor. He was fine now so he didn't see the point in Worrying either of them.
"I work at the public library. Gotta make cash someway now that we don't have the military bankrolling us." He made a face at that. He hadn't relished working under Mustang but the money had been undeniably good. As for going to school, Ed had been attending but he'd recently made the decision to drop out but if Al was going, he'd have to go back. There was no way he was going to let Al go alone. "They probably have you enrolled in high school and I'm going there too. I'll help you figure it out, Al." He'd also make sure no one was going to give his little brother a hard time because of the armor. Al could take care of himself but he was a sensitive kid and Ed would be damned if he'd let anyone hurt Al's feelings.
He let out a breath and ran his hand through his hair. He was still happy about Al showing up but now that they started talking, the happiness was dampened a little when he really thought through what Al had been forcibly signed up for. This place was different from Amestris and things weren't black and white.
"You can put off school for a few days. We'll get you settled in Salem and when you feel more comfortable, then you can go."