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Entry 1: (The First Questions)
Much of my life has been dedicated to pursuit of knowledge. That knowledge has guarded this world well. Not a soul doubts that. I am blessed with people's smiles and respect. But though I am called a sage, there are things I do not understand. I believe darkness sleeps in every heart, no matter how pure. Given the chance, the smallest drop can spread and swallow the heart. I have witnessed it many times.

Darkness... Darkness of the heart. How is it born? How does it come to affect us so? As ruler of this world, I must find the answers. I must find them before the world is lost to those taken by the darkness.


[(This is the first report actually written by ansem himself, the next following twelve were actually written by xehanort.)]

Entry 2: (The Experiment)
It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is. I shall conduct the following experiments:

- Extract the darkness from a person's heart.
- Cultivate darkness in a pure heart.
- Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.

The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle.

Some time later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight. Creatures that seemed born of darkness... What are they? Are they truly sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts in my experiments?


[( Xehanort, loyal to Ansem the Wise, agreed to be a test subject for Ansem the Wise's experiments, in the hopes that he would recover his memory. Ansem the Wise's five other students were involved in carrying out the experiments: Even, Ienzo, Braig, Dilan and Aeleus. During this experiment, Ansem the Wise noticed that Xehanort had "extraordinary", maybe even abnormal, abilities. The other students also experimented on Xehanort, hoping to help him get his memories back. Eventually, Ansem the Wise realized that he should not meddle with human hearts and stopped the experiments, but Xehanort continued in secret along with the other assistants. {Braig = Xigbar, Dilan = Xaldin, Even = Vexen, Lenzo = Zexion, Aeleus = Lexaeus)]

Entry 3: (The Heartless)
The shadows that crawl beneath the castle... Are they the people who lost their hearts, or incarnations of darkness? Or something entirely beyond my imagination?

All my knowledge has provided no answer. One thing I am sure of is that they are entirely devoid of emotion. Perhaps further study will unlock the mysteries of the heart.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of test samples. They are multiplying underground even as I write this report. They still need a name. Those who lack hearts... I will call them the Heartless.