Oh, Edmund was considering it. Just from the other side of things. Bed, books, a room to themselves, and Al just a couple feet away. This was surely prime cuddling opportunity? He was a little disappointed when Al stayed a safe distance away facing him, but maybe he just had to warm up to Edmund a bit more.

He contented himself for now with paging through the books and paying close attention to Al's explanation, clarifying them with a few questions, coming up with his cover story of a philosophy student studying privately in the city and coming out to Xing for some extended research on alchemy. Edmund was a serious student when he wanted to be, and he absorbed all the information readily. It was almost a shame this story about himself wasn't real. It would be a nice life...

His eyebrows went up at 'the gate'. "One to another world?" Edmund tapped a contemplative finger across his lips. "What do you know about this gate?"