Transmutation: For the Best of Humankind

[The Butcher]

Today I begin experimentation on live animals, in attempt to successfully alter them beyond their typical, natural means, yet without hindering their already existing ones. For the sake of ease, supply, and the infamy of the creature, I will be using rats in all of the following experiments.

Subject 1
Sex: Female
Weight: 450 grams
Length: 24 centimeters
Age: Unknown; ~1 year
Color: Brown

Subject 1 is a healthy female that has recently completed nursing a new generation of rats. Subject 1 is of astounding weight and size, making it easy for study and analysis, and it is also at an age where I feel it will not disturb the habitat from where I found Subject 1, by removing it.

The target areas of this transmutation will be Subject 1's esophagus, between its mouth and diaphragm, where I will attempt to shape its natural, simple purpose into something more advanced; adding something akin to the human's larynx. The desired outcome will be to successfully alter the rat to where it can purposefully manipulate sound waves in a large variety of sophisticated frequencies, also known as the ability to speak.


Experiment 1.0
The first attempt will be to try and outright shape Subject 1's flesh and structure with pure magic alone, albeit very carefully.

Results: Complete and absolute, abject failure. Whether it be my skills, or the magic itself, the transmutation was not delicate enough, creating a tumor-like knot in Subject 1's esophagus that was too thin to support its panicked breathing. The knot burst, severing the connection of Subject 1's esophagus from its mouth to lungs. Subject 1 died of suffocation shortly after.

-pg. 243 On Transmutation and Alteration, Ramza Xantheus, age 19

[The Butcher]

Subject 9
Sex: Male
Weight: 520 grams
Length: 23 centimeters
Age: 10 months
Color: Grey




Subject 9 is a strong male that I collected from a farmer's wheat mill. With the failures of the past eight rats ending in their painful, and not always quick deaths, I have decided to stop my attempts to alter the creature entirely with magic. Instead, I have taken some of the creature's skin and bone by severing its paw, after well sedating the poor creature of course, and transmuting the claw separately from Subject 9's body, to create the rat larynx I desire.

Experiment 2.0
The objective is to create the rat larynx outside of Subject 9's body, using a part of its body, without killing it, and then try and attach the rat larynx to Subject 9. This will be a mixture of surgery as well, on my part, as I plan on opening Subject 9's throat, to bring the rat larynx against its esophagus before trying a transmutation spell. I do not expect success, but I do suspect that I will make progress.

Results: N/A. Perhaps I should have given more thought into the surgical side of matters. The larynx was successfully created, though when taking a scalpel to Subject 9's throat, I severed a necessary artery. Subject 9 bled to death on the operating table, before I could fix it. This set back is only minor however, and I will continue with this experiment, though I imagine that I will need much more surgical skills to successfully complete this procedure. Fortunately, I already have Subject 10, 11, and 12's ready, so all I need is some time to rest, think, and prepare to do this all over again.

-pg. 252 On Transmutation and Alteration, Ramza Xantheus, age 19