Traders are Alchemists

The proper application of alchemy requires not only a full understanding of chemistry and ancient alchemical theory, but also a sort of natural talent towards recognizing and manipulating the physical objects with energy, which require uncommon levels of intelligence and aptitude. Those remarkable individuals capable of studying and practicing alchemy are known as "Alchemists".

There are many paths by which alchemists can transmute the various substances of the world, with some alchemists being said to transmute by way of the Four Classical Elements (Water, Earth, Fire and Air) and some by way of the Three Essential Principles (salt, sulfur and mercury), but the basic tenet at the very foundation of all alchemy is that of Equivalent Exchange: "In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed."

Alchemists are like traders.

They have specific masteries.

They have their own crafts they've worked on to perfection.

There are alchemists employed as part of an elite government mandated program. They're subject to the government hierarchy and must obey the orders of their superiors as well as devote themselves entirely to the protection, advancement and well-being of the nation as a whole. Their skills are to be wielded as an extension of the government's power as opposed to means toward individual or popular gain. They are entitled to the use of research funds, unrestricted access to classified documentation, and advanced technology.

There are those who were previously part of the organization. Got fed up. And later realized that it would be better for them to go solo and pursue their own goals. After sacrificing a number of innocent Ishvalans during the Ishval Civil War to create new stones in Laboratory 5, he fled the military with some imperfect stone samples. He settles down in a small country town where he uses his stones to heal the sick under the identity of "Doctor Mauro."

Then there are those who believe that the organization is rigged. That it takes advantage of innocent people. And that no one stands a chance, even himself. But he still goes against them. Specializing in liquid-based alchemy, the Freezing Alchemist is a former State Alchemist in the military who is currently trying to destroy Central.

There are others who learned and mastered a certain type of alchemy under the tutelage of one of the best. Flame Alchemy is the brainchild of the master alchemist Berthold Hawkeye, who had spent several years perfecting it before his death from illness in 1905. Believing it to be the greatest and most powerful form of alchemy possible, Hawkeye refused to pass on the knowledge to Roy, who was his apprentice at the time, and instead entrusted the secrets of his search for knowledge to his young daughter Riza - tattooing the perfected array onto her back as the only physical record of its existence.

But there are also alchemists who are egomaniacs. They could be so desperate that they are willing to sacrifice, not only their own resources, but also of others in order to achieve their self-serving goals. Tucker had gained a bit of notoriety and earned his State Alchemist's License by producing a chimera capable of human speech. Ed and Al begin visiting Tucker at his estate to pore over his library of texts and forge a bit of a friendly relationship with the Sewing-Life Alchemist.

There are people who devote a great deal of time and effort building up a legion of followers as a type of cult leader through the work of divine miracles to create an army of religious fanatics large enough to overthrow the Amestrian government and place him as the country's ruler. Newbies would think that this guy is the answer to their prayers. That his calls are divine and never wrong. They're wrong.

Self-taught alchemists are strong. Because there are no limits to what they can do but their own understanding of it. They don't work for anyone and are not affiliated to anything except their roots. They are masters of their own craft and have worked hard to get to where they are. As a former warrior of Ishbal, Scar is quite adept at hand-to-hand combat, boasting significant strength and stamina, remarkable agility and reflexes and deceptive speed. As a fundamentalist opponent of alchemy, Scar does not consider himself an alchemist in the traditional sense, but the strain of alchemy that his arm itself allows him to produce is powerful, advanced and unique.

They could be ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Izumi Curtis is a master alchemist and skilled martial artist living in the southern Amestrian town of Dublith where she runs a butcher shop with her husband Sig. Though she doesn't usually take on students, Izumi accepted Edward and Alphonse Elric's plea to take them on as her apprentices and instructed them in alchemical theory and martial arts for six months. In that time, she grew to love them as deeply as she would her own children, becoming a long-term source of guidance and support for the Elrics' future endeavors.

Some are deserving enough to be taught by really good masters. Having apprenticed under Izumi Curtis, Ed was taught to condition his body through regular workouts and sparring as part of her philosophy, "to train the spirit, first train the body." As such, his slight frame belies a compactly muscular build that, in addition to his naturally high energy level and endurance, fuels his considerable strength and agility. Due to Izumi's Spartan training, Edward has become a particularly competent hand-to-hand fighter, able to hold his own against armed opponents and even skilled martial arts practitioners. Besides that, his steel right arm and left leg augment his fighting strength by adding to his defensive and offensive capabilities as well as his speed.

There are those who can manipulate everything without moving or twitching a finger. The whole world would move with just one word from his mouth. Father was created from the essence of the Eye of God, and thus Father's shadowy actual form greatly resembles the Eye. Father inherited much knowledge from the Eye, and, when it comes to amount, only those of the Eye and Truth exceed his knowledge.

Then there's me.