It requires the usage of materials and transmutation circles. We can't create from nothing, nor can we render something into nothing; it all adheres to the principle of Equivalent Exchange, which basically states that we can only work with the materials we have. While this principle can be defied, it comes at a cost; whatever toll the forces of the world deem acceptable will be taken from either the alchemist directly, or the surrounding area. It's not uncommon for people to lose body parts, their lives, or the lives of others in the rebounds they've created; it's something we want to avoid, and as such it's always better to underestimate than overestimate your abilities.
However, once you have the suitable materials, you draw your transmutation circle in the general vicinity of what you want to work with; the more advanced circles are always personalized, with various symbols that hold meaning to the alchemist and represent what it is they're trying to do - alchemists have to have a deep understanding of the process they're trying to undertake, before they even attempt. But once they're prepared, it's just a matter of activating the circle and performing the transmutation - that's done using a combination of will and one's own life energy.
It sounds complex, but it's incredibly easy once you're accustomed to doing it.
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It requires the usage of materials and transmutation circles. We can't create from nothing, nor can we render something into nothing; it all adheres to the principle of Equivalent Exchange, which basically states that we can only work with the materials we have. While this principle can be defied, it comes at a cost; whatever toll the forces of the world deem acceptable will be taken from either the alchemist directly, or the surrounding area. It's not uncommon for people to lose body parts, their lives, or the lives of others in the rebounds they've created; it's something we want to avoid, and as such it's always better to underestimate than overestimate your abilities.
However, once you have the suitable materials, you draw your transmutation circle in the general vicinity of what you want to work with; the more advanced circles are always personalized, with various symbols that hold meaning to the alchemist and represent what it is they're trying to do - alchemists have to have a deep understanding of the process they're trying to undertake, before they even attempt. But once they're prepared, it's just a matter of activating the circle and performing the transmutation - that's done using a combination of will and one's own life energy.
It sounds complex, but it's incredibly easy once you're accustomed to doing it.