Summary
Izumi Curtis, formerly Izumi Harnet, serves as the formidable instructor to Edward and Alphonse Elric, agreeing to mentor the brothers in their alchemical pursuits following the death of their mother. Her rigorous training regimen encompasses philosophy, martial arts, and survival skills, reflecting her own unique path to alchemy. In the manga and the second anime adaptation, she survived a month in the harsh northern region near Briggs Fortress, a feat achieved by stealing supplies from the nearby fort, whereas the first anime depicts her being taught by Dante. Although she views the Elrics as her own sons, she cuts ties with them upon discovering their involvement in human transmutation and Edward’s enlistment in the State Military, yet she remains deeply committed to supporting them. Her harsh, often violent disciplinary methods during sparring sessions instill a profound fear in the brothers. Notably, her defiant declaration of being a "housewife" while confronting Greed was a personal favorite scene for creator Hiromu Arakawa. Before the series begins, Izumi and her husband, Sig Curtis, lost a son to stillbirth. Desperate to revive the child, Izumi attempted human transmutation, an act that resulted in the creation of Wrath in the first anime. This failure cost her several internal organs, leading to infertility and a chronic condition causing her to cough up blood periodically. Through witnessing the "truth," she acquired the rare ability to perform alchemy without the need for a transmutation circle. In the manga, her survival of the failed transmutation attracts the attention of the State Military. To evade them, she and Sig travel across Amestris, where they encounter Ed and Al’s father, Hohenheim. He rearranges her internal organs to alleviate her bleeding and convinces her to collaborate in a plot to dismantle the State Military.
