The following day, Edward sits next to Major Alex Louis Armstrong on the train lamenting his new companion's presence. With his automail arm destroyed and his brother immobilized, it was decided that Edward could not be allowed to travel to his hometown of Resembool without an escort while Scar is still on the loose, but as no one else is either free or willing to accompany them, the Major agrees wholeheartedly to chaperon the Elric brothers on their journey. After Lt. Colonel Hughes comes to see them off and the train begins to pull away, Edward explains to Major Armstrong that Resembool is a small eastern town whose growth was stunted by the damage of the Ishval Civil War and that the automail specialist there is a surgeon with weaponsmith experience as well as a close family friend. But