"By all the laws of being each individual born of another belongs only to themselves," Metal explained, keeping his voice low. "This doesn't apply to non-Gifted robots, of course, as the magic in birthing is what gives us our individuality. So that's why robots can be controlled by their creators. Humunculus, simulacrum, and non-gifted unbeings are bound to their creators and can--must--be controlled by them."
"I don't get it. If they need to be controlled, then why--"
Metal scowled. "Let me finish. If an unbeing is left to its own for awhile, even the gods couldn't stop it from developing a soul. And as everyone knows, things with souls can't be controlled by another thing with a soul."
Quick blinked in surprise. "So, if they're left alone for long enough, they become real things?"
"Yes. They turn from unbeing into being. That's why most sane mages destroy their creations before then."
"That's not fair," Quick said, anger in his clear blue eyes. "Just because they're not slaves anymore they should be killed?"
"Of course it's not fair," Metal replied evenly. "If life were fair, it wouldn't be so hard."