One of the greatest mysteries that surround Vivi's life is just exactly what he is. Much to his horror, Vivi discovers he's part of a manufactured race borne from poisonous Mist for the sole purpose of acting as a weapon of war.

At some point in the recent past, Kuja discovers a way to utlise the by-product of the Iifa Tree's refining process — the Mist — to synthesize humanoid weapons that have the power of black magic. He appropriately names them black mages.

Soulcage § I cannot lie. Kuja used the waste product to make weapons. Weapons...like yourself.

The black mages are little more than puppets, able to be completely controlled by Kuja and others and forced to commit any atrocity their master commands of them. Like drones, they can be ordered to do the most menial of tasks without complaint. Even when spoken to, if ordered to remain quiet they will do so.

Vivi was of the first prototype envisioned: a powerful black magic user with a long life span. Vivi seems to be the only surviving black mage of this prototype. However, at the end of the game, a multitude of black mages of this prototype are introduced as Vivi's "sons". Vivi either found other black mages like himself, or created them.

The next prototype was the Black Waltz mage, of which three were made. Stronger than the first prototype, these black mages were given free reign of their personalities despite still being under command of their master and having the foremost urge to kill. Unfortunately, the last of the three — who was also the most powerful — was driven insane by the knowledge of his power after being seriously damaged by Vivi and the others.

Black Waltz No. 3 § You...You scum...! I exist only to kill!

The last and final prototype being actively produced was the black mage drone prototype. Capable of learning and speaking intelligently, these black mages were nonetheless restricted in what they could do. Kuja and Brahne cut off their ability to think beyond what they were told to do, and appeared to Vivi and the others as something similar to scarecrows: frightening, but inactive outside of their commanded duties. Massive numbers of these black mages were made, as Vivi, Zidane and Garnet saw firsthand at Dali.

Black Waltz No. 3 § Kwahahaha! Worry not about them: many more are being produced even now!

However, some of the black mages of this prototype actually become aware. When Vivi fights Black Waltz No. 3 on the Dali airship, he runs in front of the black mages working on the ship to protect them from the crazed Black Waltz. Somehow, the black mages understand that Vivi is protecting him, and when his own safety is threatened, they turn from their duties and begin to attack the Black Waltz.

Later, Vivi discovers that those black mages who have become aware have migrated to another contininent and set up their own town, away from humans: the Black Mage Village. There, they begin to discover simple events of life, from trading with the dwarves of Esto Gaza to protecting and warming a Chocobo egg until it hatches.

Vivi § They were talking! There ARE others like me!

This discovery is huge for Vivi: inside, he's felt completely alone, the only black mage with a conscience and thoughts and feelings of his own. The black mages of the Black Mage Village give him hope that he isn't the only one of his kind out there. But Vivi notices a difference between them and he: they are quite underdeveloped as a people. As they grow, the eldest begin to realise that their life span is quite short: the older black mages begin to "stop" for seemingly no reason. When Black Mage No. 288 reveals this to Vivi, it's quite a shock. Vivi worries that he doesn't have long to live.

Black Mage No.288 § You're very kind to use our words. But you already know what it means to live...and to die. You're asking about our friends who have 'died,' not 'stopped.'

Beyond that, Vivi realises that as being one of the longer-lasting prototypes, he has the ability to experience life on the other black mages' behalf. He has the time that they don't to develop into an individual, to experience a range of emotions and to travel the world. Though the others worry about him wanting to stay in the village, Vivi continues on the journey with them for not only his sake, but for the black mages' sakes, as well.

Seeing the village, seeing the black mages slowly progress into a people, inspires Vivi. His doubts about whether or not he exists, whether or not he's a person, are ebbed away by a tide of truth. He realises that Kuja had been controlling the black mages, restricting their progress in order to keep them ignorant of their right to be alive as a people, not as weapons of war. His doubt is replaced by anger and an unyielding will to live.

Black mage image ⁵

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