Roy Mustang, 18 years old, attends a military boot camp. After encountering a group of seniors being cruel to an Ishvalan recruit named Heathcliff, Mustang takes an interest in Hughes, who is supposedly friends with them. When Mustang catches the seniors picking on Heathcliff again, he gets into a fight with them, and Hughes backs him up, having the same beliefs as Mustang. The three become friends and discuss their reasons for joining the military. Later though, during the Ishvalan war, Mustang ends up fighting Heathcliff, who is killed by Hughes for shooting at Mustang. Mustang then falls into despair and is confronted by Hughes, who has to hold in the pain of his sins so he can smile in front of his wife. After returning home, Mustang sees Hughes with his wife, and envies his strength.