Author's note: Still waiting to see thoughts on opinions on making those side-stories to the main series! Time to see what Dorothea's written about and learn more about the Children. Then it's the finale of the Teigu Games arc.

Chapter 21: From the diary of the alchemist Dorothea: Part Two

I have finally perfected the conversion process, as the revivals of both Syura and Numa Seika have proven, much to Schatten's satisfaction. There is still a final trio of subjects for conversion, but getting their bodies will take some time and planning, which has left me with some time to collect my thoughts and expand on my writings, so I've decided to concentrate on the rest of the Children and what I've been able to discover and theorize about them…better to keep this information close to me for future reference and consulting.

But before focusing on us Children, I must first make an attempt to document the phenomenon we all share and refer to as The Voice, given how vital it is to understanding our new nature and abilities.

The Voice isn't even a voice at all, but more of a presence all Children can feel and experience; for a while I thought it was a control system Schatten had conjured on us, but now I've come to the conclusion that it's not even under his control, nor does it control us at all. It doesn't speak or command us, but rather wraps around us and provides us with something invaluable.

What the Voice gifts us is clarity: The fundamental ability to see reality and its key components unfiltered and unaffected by the human mind of spirit; the Voice is a form of secondary consciousness that gently suggests to us Teigus to see beyond the material and the spiritual: in essence, it allows us to become unburdened and unaffected by our individuality, our emotions or our senses, all elements that distort reality and reinterpret it to fit in with an individual´s own and unique perspective.

Syura would be a perfect example of the effect the Voice has on a converted human; before being reborn as a Teigu, Syura was a vicious man child, his judgment and intelligence clouded by his obsession with surpassing his father and satisfying his own desires, all fueled by an inferiority complex that made him prone to act upon impulses and whims…but now, Syura shows almost none of those traits that encumbered and limited his abilities as both a teigu or a human being; his viciousness has been replaced by precision, his obsession with his father replaced with a fascination with Schatten and a deep desire to prove himself to him, and his inferiority complex is all but gone, replaced with an obsession with perfection regarding his abilities and the use of them; unburdened by his weaknesses as an imperfect human being, raised in an imperfect society and whose personality, traits and persona are all the product of nature, nurture and randomness, Syura has become something superior than he could ever be as a human. The Voice, in essence, cleansed him of the traits and emotions that affected his power and potential, and made him become as pure and perfected as he should be as a Teigu.

The same goes for me, I must admit. The Voice has allowed me to focus my mind and skills on my research on a level I would have never been able to achieve as a human; pride, ambition and desire would had gotten in the way of seeing things clearly of being able to link the processes and evidence that has furthered my research to unparallel new heights of genius; in essence, the Voice is what makes us true Teigus; we have all the emotions and feelings of humans, but without them burdening us or getting in the way of our functions and talent as its often and inevitably the case with them. Complete and utter clarity, thus giving us an understanding and comprehension of the world beyond human capability.

The Voice also gives us something else: It comfort us and keeps ups from shattering under such a worldview; like a mother's embrace or the warmness of a lover, it provides us with support, a lingering sensation of comfort and belonging. It doesn't control us or manipulates us, but instead, it shows us the way to our objectives, it guides us while allowing us to remain individuals yet connected through a feeling of belonging to a new species altogether.

However, make no mistake: The Voice is external to us. It is someone else's presence looking out for us, caring for us and providing us with both sanity and meaning as we leave our humanity behind. For that alone I dare say none of us children could even imagine ignoring or not following the Voice, even if we can…in the end, it is as much a part of us as we are of it.

It binds us together. It keeps us together. It makes us whole.

Schatten has made very clear that finding and releasing the source of the Voice will be both our reward and that of humanity's. I have no qualms in admitting I utterly believe him…and can't help but wonder who or what is behind it. I yearn to see that mystery revealed and bask upon its warmth and truth.

Now, my thoughts move to my new…companions, or even family, as if I would ever admit it so.

Schatten

My research and devices have proven the one suspicion I had about Schatten: He is not like us, yet he is one of us.

Improving on some of the theories and basic experiments of a fellow…teigu researcher I hope never to see again (unless it involves her suffering and perishing at my hands. I do not take kindly to rival researchers who see my work as "immoral" or "twisted"), I've been able to create devices capable of detecting the fluctuations and signatures emitted by a Teigu core, which we all have inside of us, regardless of our conversion level; it's essentially the source of our powers and our very soul/core.

Except for Schatten. He has no detectable core at all. In fact, he doesn't even seem to emit or show any core related fluctuations or signatures whatsoever; which means that he may very well represent a level of conversion even superior to the rest of us…or he might be another, unique kind of Teigu.

Or perhaps he is able to hide or control his core to the point of becoming invisible to my devices and experiments.

Either way, this only fuels my fascination with him, both as subject of research and a leader.

What kind of events would even be required to form or give shape to someone like him? Schatten is, for lack of a better word, unreal. His voice, personality and presence absolutely dominate everything and everyone around him, as if his natural state is one of dominance; when you couple this with the sheer extent of his powers and how he wields them, words like God or Demon fall shorter of defining him. Hel,l his very power defies all logic, as he doesn't control or create shadows or darkness…HE IS DARKNESS. And this darkness does not fear nor is vanished by the light.

But for all his power, ruthlessness and dominance, Schatten also emits an aura of humanity and humility that seems like that of a saint or angel. He can butcher thousands in battle and commit acts of incredible cruelty, yet he can also show incredible mercy, empathy or warmth towards those he cares about. He could easily rule us by fear or force, but instead, he rewards loyalty with kindness and care. He seems to take a special care for those he sees as innocent or abused, and he takes incredible care in not endangering civilians in his operations and when sending any of us on a mission.

He seems to truly, deeply care for all of us, specially Ardere, Relam and Harukore; he may sem annoyed or be strict with the others, but he is more of a stern father figure than a ruthless leader…even if his words and voice make clear that anyone interfering with his goals will be deal with.

I think Ardere, of all people, provided me with the best definition of Schatten I can think of:

"I've seen many men, women and even children call themselves noble, either because of birthright, power or wealth…but only Schatten truly lives up to the very meaning of the word. That's why I fear him and love him with the same breath. A true noble man in this corrupt world of ours…he is a paradox, and anomaly and an aberration; a monster of his own design, ready to lay not only his life, but his soul and memory on a mission of such nobility and selflessness this world and those who claim to control it cannot fathom or understand it. To be the enemy of humanity but also its savior. That is his destiny. That is his burden. And nothing will stop him from achieving it. His very existence is rejected by this corrupt world, and instead of surrendering and accepting his fate, he defies it…and chooses to wage war against all of creation in order to change the very nature of the world."

A burdened monster who wields powers unfathomable and incomparable, yet fully aware of what he has become and how further he will fall in order to achieve a noble goal. That is Schatten. And for better or worse, I will follow him to the very end, just so I can see if he truly can make what no conqueror, emperor or king ever has: To change the very nature of the world.

Ardere:

Passion.

That is what Ardere is. Pure, burning and bright passion.

Everything she does, every word she says, every breath she takes makes the air around her change and become thick and heavy with a heat unlike anything in this world.

For Ardere's spirit burns for release, to wrap itself around the world and consume it, leaving nothing but the ashes of ecstasy and satisfaction.

But Ardere burns for only one purpose above all: getting back her daughter, Esdeath.

I've seen obsession consume and drive men and women to insanity, but Ardere is different…she is fueled by it, becoming stronger and more dedicated to her goal of not only reuniting with her daughter, but with what he refers as "saving her".

They say nohing's stronger than a mother's love; having seen Ardere in action, I would say that some motherly loves are far stronger and scarier than most.

Ardere seems fixated with Esdeath to the point that she openly admits she follows Schatten only to get her daughter back…but for what purpose? And why is Schatten so supportive of Ardere's goal?

Truly someone like Esdeath would make for an impressive true Teigu, but Ardere has made no comment on this being what she desires…all we know is that she wants her daughter to become what she was meant to be. She almost seems disappointed and downright angry with Esdeath on a whole.

I usually do not pity my enemies or future experimentation subjects…but whatever Ardere has in store for her daughter makes me feel she would rather be better off dead…because if someone as powerful and deadly as Esdeath is not what her mother intended her to be, what else could she possible have in mind for her?

On a sidenote, while I've seen Ardere summon and control fire and explosions at will, nothing makes me certain this is the full extent or nature of her powers. I definitely need to investigate more on her, especially when she is on the battlefield or on a mission.

Relam:

Loyalty. That is the very essence of Relam, who can summon and control lightning at will.

Relam would and will do anything for Schatten. She seems to owe him not only her life and freedom, but her very existence. She lives, fights and kills for him, and would take her own life if he asked her to…yet he treats him with a special level of compassion and kindness.

My theory is that Relam was a living teigu once, which Schatten freed and gave full sentience at one point. However, this doesn't account for her personality and conduct; for a being given freedom of thought recently, she seems to be awfully human and experienced…almost as if she already had been in the first place.

Her obsession with the living imperial teigu known as Susanoo only deepens the mystery: is it possible that they share an actual connection or link beyond being living teigus? And if so, what does this mean for the true nature of living humanoid teigus?

Perhaps the golden age of the Empire wasn't as advanced as we thought…perhaps not even them could create living humans out of alchemy and magic.

Perhaps they could only convert humans into living, obedient teigus back then. If so, I can only wonder about two things: What kind of process would take to accomplish such a thing? And what kind of human being would even subject himself to it, and actually survive it?

Harukore:

Insanity. That is all there is to Harukore.

Fine, I am not being fair to her, but given how annoying and downright scary she can be, can you blame me? She does seem to retain some level of sanity and composure around Schatten, Ardere and Relam. I think she respects the first and fears the other two.

Harukore's origins are a complete mystery, and to be honest, I rather see them remaining as such. Even I shudder at imagining who or for what reason anyone would create someone like Harukore at all.

I initially though the little perverted and sadistic freak acted like this out of choice, but I soon stood corrected.

Harukore's real power as a Teigu isnt just the unbreakable, barbed chains that emerge from her body and wrap rightly around her, and that she can control at will. Her true power is her ability to become stronger, faster and deadlier the more pain she is in, which makes her a formidable adversary in battle…something even more twisted by the fact that Harukore seems to only be able to feel one and one sensation: Pain. And her body registers it as pleasure; whether she is the one suffering or inflicting it, pain fuels Harukore's power and makes her more and more unhinged in battle as she is overcame with lust and sensation.

Oddly enough, she doesn't care for torture or executions; to Harukore, pain is an intimate, almost personal connection between her and her enemies, and she thrives on it. She may not kill her opponent at once, but she will make them wish she had done so.

Her warped and limited sensual experience has also taken its toll on her mind; she has no concept of intimacy, personal space or even basic decency. Worse of all, she seems fixated on me as her plaything, which has lead to a constant and dedicated watch over my lab and personal quarter's security and impregnability. How she keeps getting into my bed at night vexes me to no end.

At least she also has a fixation on Syura, which takes her off my hair once in a while…he certainly seems unhappy with the situation, but then again, Schatten is amused by her antics and lets her roam free as long as she doesn't interfere with his plans. Perhaps there is more depth to the connection between the two.

It's getting late, and I should get things ready for the arrival of the new subjects. I will elaborate on the other Children after tomorrow's conversion.

Next Chapter: It's all out battle royal in the finale of the Teigu games!