Zhāng’s body is controlled by two distinct but still connected personalities which are similar to each other in some regards but in others, are quite different from each other as well. The first of these is the host personality which is called “Zhāng” and the second is the alter ego that is referred to either as “Faustein” or simply, “Stein". The subconscious connection between the two means that, in some rare instances, each can be seen displaying traits that are largely the province of the other. The various traits which each of these two personalities possess are equally applicable both in battle and outside it as well.
The second personality, Stein, comes out to play when the host personality, Zhāng has been exposed to certain triggers and these are: scenarios with excessive violence, the prospect of egregious harm being done to the body he shares with the host, Zhāng; when the host, Zhāng, is ever exposed to the light of the full moon for more than 6 hours continuously; and finally, whenever the host, Zhāng, falls asleep for more than 3 hours continuously. Whenever this happens, Zhāng will experience a total loss of control of all body functions as well as completely sensory dissociation as well and as a result, he will always experience “missing time”, aka he can never remember the experiences his alter ego, Stein, has had whilst he was in control and is only aware of Stein’s existence due to the accounts he has heard of him from those around him. Unfortunately, there are only two ways in which he can regain control of his body and these are: through a near superhuman effort of will on his part, and taking someone else’s help to isolate himself from the triggers that have awakened Stein in the first place. So, Zhāng always lives with the niggling fear of Stein’s unexpected usurpation of his body and of any possible wrongdoings he may commit while having command of their shared body which is one of the reasons why he has those ever-present dark circles under his eyes.
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Zhāng:
Positives:
The most notable of Zhāng’s strengths is his virtually limitless curiosity about the universe around him and everything in it (whether mundane or magical). One of his two major life goals is to acquire and eventually master all the knowledge available about everything in the world (whether mundane or magical). Of course, this is only true if the knowledge he encounters is unfamiliar or otherwise intriguing to him. To this end, he can usually be seen training his powers of observation, analysis, inference, and deduction by directing them at the data which he constantly receives from his surroundings via his senses and this, in turn, affords him the ability to pierce through most common attempts at deception and lets him visualize & grasp the essence of most problems as well. His curiosity also leads him to always try to do things like acquiring ever newer research subjects & undertaking various research projects that involve these test subjects because this may eventually facilitate the achievement of the two biggest of his life’s main ambitions. He has set himself such a seemingly Sisyphean objective so that he may eventually accomplish his other major life goal which is the discovery and thorough exploration of the primordial, chaotic abyss which is the purported origin of all the nature and magic in the present day universe. He would be willing to do just about anything if it means he can achieve these two life goals, but most of these actions which would be considered unacceptable by the rest of society are usually forestalled to some degree by the consideration he gives to his heritage and social status.
Zhāng has certain other positive qualities that usually serve him well, not only because they help him move ever closer to the eventual achievement of his two main objectives in life, but also because they tend to keep him safe in most common situations by helping him cope with the challenges in them. First, there is his logical and temperate side which grants him resistance to the effects of anything going on around him (whether good or bad) and also lets him view his situation and the events going on in it from a purely factual perspective. This, in turn, lets him see & understand most of the angles that constitute his present situation, all the moves he can make in it, as well as most if not all the future ramifications of his present actions as a result of which he can pick the most optimal method for not only handling his present situation but also minimizing any future risk as far as possible. Then, there is also his cautious nature which serves to guard him against most threats by sealing most gaps in his defenses. This is because it leads him to always thoroughly research any situation he is about to handle and also to make at least a few backup plans to fall back on just in case his main one fails him before he even enters it. It is also helpful since it usually keeps him ready-minded and alert for anything strange or potentially problematic after he enters the scene of the problem. Meanwhile, his practical bent of mind keeps him from going too deep into a situation which has proven to either be completely without hope of salvation or to not be worth salvaging even if a way to do so happens to be available.
If none of these aforementioned positives can stop Zhāng’s urges from going too far, then there is always his general heritage as well as his status as the sole heir to his family, clan, and associated alliance. His family, clan, and the associated alliance is old enough to be steeped in ancient traditions and has enough fame, wealth, and social clout that it is usually enough to make him pause before he take any truly drastic, risky action. This is especially true since he has been taught from a young age to always keep his background in mind whenever considering his options in any situation, regardless of its nature and so, he makes sure to do this as far as possible. Thus, it allows Zhāng to keep himself in check and perhaps more importantly, it lets him avoid the unpleasantness that is inherent to the prospect of his body being taken over and used by his alter ego, Stein. The other benefit to this privileged background of his is the training that he has undergone in preparation to eventually enter high society. As a result of this, he always tries to be polite to others, especially if he knows that they are significantly stronger and/or more capable than him. This training has also inculcated in him from a young age certain other qualities in addition to his temperance which are also commonly considered among the seven heavenly virtues and these are: gratitude, charity, and patience.
These are beneficial to Zhāng in the following ways: his tendency toward gratitude ensures that he pays back his debts before they can become unmanageable. Due to this, he usually has a clear conscience which of course means that he can move ahead with the pursuit of his life goals without too much hesitation. His charity causes him to freely give out alms or aid to any who have proven to need it because of which they are usually amenable to helping him in return whenever he needs their aid. Furthermore, since he is just as liberal with his mercy to those who haven’t committed too many or too egregious transgressions against him (no more than 3), he can continue maintaining stable, strong connections with them. Finally, his patience not only creates capable students out of those whom he instructs due to his slow and steady approach, but it also amplifies his chances of success in his many and varied ventures. This is because it allows him to know when to bide his time which is very useful especially when he is in the process of gathering strategic intelligence regarding any situation that needs his attention. These along with his high self-confidence which is the result of his many accomplishments & skills make him at least tolerated if not well liked and maybe even admired in those circles which include him.
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Positive & Negative:
Among Zhāng’s qualities that aid him in his quest is his concentration which gives him a laser-like focus on his main objectives in any given situation (research related or otherwise). This keen focus is good because it lets him stave off most common distracting factors that attempt to get in his way at least until he has cleared all his objectives in the situation at hand. However, it can also be a significant downside because it usually makes him forget about many of the more common sense things that anybody else would actually keep in mind at all times. Consequently, despite his usually observant nature, he can never really grasp the bigger picture and as a result, he may not be able to resolve all the problems he encounters in a given situation. This is even more applicable in those circumstances which are usually riddled with finer nuances that are not immediately apparent, even to him. There is also the irreverent side of him which could be an advantage since it usually keeps him from baulking at the prospect of studying or experimenting on some specimen due to something about it such as its nature, social status, or rarity/value. However, this could be also be problematic for him in the long run because his disregard for such things about the specimen could come back to haunt him especially if the specimen happens to be the type that’s put on a pedestal, either by others of its kind or perhaps even the rest of the world.
Then, there is Zhāng’s steadfast nature which gives him the mental fortitude to persevere in the situation at hand until he has reached the end, even if the initial results happen to be insufficient or otherwise disappointing to him. Of course, the above only applies until the situation becomes so impractical that he is forced to abandon it in favor of something more feasible. On the other hand, his methodical manner of doing anything usually keeps his progress toward his ultimate objective steady and orderly regardless of most common obstacles in his path. Thus, both of these traits can be a godsend to him since they aid him in achieving significant success in most of his ventures. That said, his steadfast nature can also be quite the curse since it makes him so inflexible that he cannot easily adapt to any truly unforeseen difficulties which might crop up suddenly to impede his progress. This resolute nature of his can also be quite troublesome because the inflexibility it afflicts him with often makes him quite recalcitrant and unwilling to listen to most common attempts by others to get him to change his mind about his decisions in a particular situation. Meanwhile, his methodical approach to anything is also a curse because it makes him fairly easy to predict in most situations, given that there has been enough exposure to his methods and personality.
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Negatives:
Even though Zhāng has all of these positives, he still has his fair share of defects as does everyone/everything else in the world. The most prominent among these is his total obliviousness to all types of social mores, emotional ties, and other normal unspoken traditions which the rest of society tries to keep in mind in their daily lives. This utter obliviousness is a negative because it can often lead him to unnerve those around him, even if he does not actually mean to do so. It is also a downside because it makes Zhāng completely unable to compute a proper of action in those situations which involve any sentiment akin to love or affection, whether romantic or otherwise, because of which he may end up pushing those who seek to show him such attention away, albeit unwittingly. This extreme obliviousness of his is only rivalled and compounded by his equally blatant tactlessness which unfortunately causes him to address the proverbial “elephant in the room” without any hesitation in quite a few situations whereas the rest of those involved would try to avoid the topic like the plague. Sadly, this occurs despite all the lessons that Zhāng has had in proper linguistics and the effort he puts into trying to speak kindly and sensitively to others because of his inability to comprehend the emotional milieu of his surroundings in most cases. These two are irksome on their own, but since they are synergistic in most common circumstances and since their consequences usually feed off each other in a continuous, self propagating vicious cycle, the combined result of these two defects acting simultaneously leads many of those whom Zhāng interacts with to get annoyed if not infuriated with him should he push things too far, which he does more often than he realizes in most cases.
The third and final part of this unholy trinity of weaknesses is Zhāng’s almost incurable restlessness which manifests as a severe penchant for boredom as well as off and on manic energy. Zhāng is one of those who really crave mental exaltation, aka a thorough workout for their “little grey cells”. Naturally, because of this, he is usually most in his element and at home in situations which provide him with such stimuli. If he is ever lucky enough to encounter such a situation, because of the level of energy he displays and the remarkable results that he can achieve due to this energy powering his superlative faculties, he tends to astound his workmates, especially if they haven’t had much prior experience in working with him. Of course, this is actually a downside because his penchant for boredom usually causes him to become so depressed and pessimistic that he becomes a “stick in the mud” to his associates if he doesn’t have enough of such stimuli to keep him adequately busy. That said, the exact length of these dark moods can vary greatly depending upon the specific details of the situation. To make things worse, if these dreary moods last long enough, Zhāng can be tempted to even do crazy things like trying to procure artificial stimulants of dubious and questionable value even if they will be pernicious to him, but thankfully, his consideration for his family and social status may be enough to curb these dangerous cravings in most cases.
In addition to this, due to the many repeatedly tested strengths Zhāng has been blessed with due to heritage and the intensive training he has had to undergo since childhood, he has acquired a great deal of faith in his own abilities. However, what had initially started out as extreme faith in his own abilities eventually turned into arrogance which is why he doesn’t hesitate to be so irreverent in many cases. This faith in his abilities ultimately also gave rise to his fairly noticeable narcissism which, when paired with his arrogance, can result in a great many people becoming irritated with him. As if that were not bad enough, this narcissism and arrogance can also show themselves in the form of condescension towards anyone or anything which he may be interacting with at any time. Of course, the last of these three mostly only shows itself when he knows the other side is weaker, less capable, or less intelligent than him. As a result, if he were to face someone or something weaker than him, he usually makes the really stupid mistake of underestimating them and that causes him to dumb things down to their level or otherwise go easy on them. Due to this, if he is ever face to face with any who he knows are weaker than him, he can make most of them really angry at him or even worse, maybe even end up losing to them if the situation should lead to combat.
Then, there are Zhāng’s tendency toward detached behavior, his eccentricity, and his introverted nature. While these may not be so outrageous as the rest of his foibles, they are still significant enough to be counted among his many limitations because they can make him somewhat irritating to deal with for most people. First, there is his predilection for detached behavior towards the specimens and clients which he may encounter over the course of his research and/or work as a mage. This aspect of his is a problem because he usually views and even treats his study subjects as he would any common lab rat instead of the individuals they are in reality because of which they can be quite put off with him. He is even rude enough to forget the personal details about his clients after he has finished handling their case since he commonly thinks of them as mere factors in their problem, and not as the actually 3D entities they are in truth which can make them hesitant or even completely unwilling to hire him again. Meanwhile, his eccentricity makes him act in ways that are quite unconventional in the eyes of those around him, and because this behavior of his usually stands in such stark contrast to their standard common sense, it could rub them the wrong way and make them refuse to work with him. Finally, there is his introverted nature which makes him so reserved that he usually bottles everything up inside himself and tries to take on most problems on alone instead of asking others to help him and so, this can aggravate those few who care enough about him to try to assist him and may even make them want to give up on him completely.
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Stein:
Positives:
Since he was born out of the subconscious mind of the host personality, Zhāng, the alter ego known as Stein shares with him the two greatest of his strengths. These are, of course, his near boundless curiosity about the universe and all of its contents (whether that be phenomena or entities) and his high perceptiveness as well. Just like Zhāng, Stein is also driven relentlessly by the same ultimate life goal (i.e. the acquisition and eventual mastery of all the knowledge about the universe and its contents, whether that be phenomena or entities). Stein is also similar to Zhāng in that he too would do just about anything to achieve his goals, but in his case even the thought of bringing shame to the family, clan, and alliance wouldn’t stop him from immersing himself completely in his pursuits whereas Zhāng would actually be prevented from going all out by these aforementioned factors. As it does for Zhāng, Stein’s above average perspicacity also assists him by facilitating his attempts to approach the heart of any matter and lets him register all the pertinent details as well. However, he is also different from Zhāng who is a pure scientist at heart and who wants the knowledge solely for the sake of analysing it in order to unlock the primordial abyss that is the source of both magic and nature so he can explore it thoroughly. This difference lies in the fact that, unlike Zhāng, Stein chases this goal almost tirelessly simply because he considers the process of achieving the goal as a series of giant lifelong adventures, each of which is more thrilling and challenging than its predecessor.
Even though Stein is just as curious and perceptive as Zhāng, the way he approaches any situation is almost polar opposite to Zhāng’s modus operandi. Therefore, for the most part, each would be most effective in the type of situation which would require the particular mindset that each possesses, while the other would not be so effective and would maybe even have a hard time dealing with the same situation properly. Unlike Zhāng who would be better in those cases where there is plenty of at least decent if not actually top tier resources and a favorable situation to go along with them, Stein’s creative bent of mind lets him at least survive if not actually excel in those situations where the circumstances may be unfavorable and the resources available, low grade. As a result, he would be more suited to dealing with occasions that demand resourcefulness from the participants. Zhāng is temperate in his responses and decisions in most situations, but Stein immerses himself completely in the emotional ups and downs of any situation he happens to be in, making him far more aware of the general mood of everyone around him and of his current situation as well. This means that when the situation requires the ability to read the emotional milieu and respond accordingly, Stein would be more effective. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be most at home when the situation calls for the one dealing with it to keep a cool head and show restraint.
While Zhāng is a man of reason who lets logic be his guide in thought, word, and deed; Stein is more a creature of instinct who usually acts based on his “gut feeling” in any setting. Therefore, whenever there is a need to first gather data and process it into workable strategic intelligence before taking any action, Zhāng is the man for the job. However, sometimes, the circumstances are such that there is not enough viable data and/or not enough time to transform it into usable intelligence on which any participants can act appropriately. In these cases, Stein is the one who needs to go out into the field to handle the problem since he won’t be paralysed by a lack of ample, good quality data unlike Zhāng who would be somewhat more helpless. In addition to being a creature of instinct, Stein is also brave and will not hesitate to take risks as and when needed whereas Zhāng usually tries to err on the side of caution and solve at least the main problems in any given situation before even entering it. So, if/when the occasion calls for the undertakers to always keep their wits about them and plan before they enter the scene, then it would be best to deploy Zhāng to take care of the issues at hand. On the other hand, should the affair require those who can bite the bullet and leap headlong into the fray despite the danger present, then the smartest course of action would be to call on Stein.
Zhāng has had to undergo a lot of intensive training in the social graces from childhood due to the nature and status of his family, clan, and the associated alliance and has also suffered manipulation, betrayal, and exploitation by others in the past. Thus, over the many years he has been alive, he has slowly but surely developed into someone who is quite solitary and secretive even if he may be mostly polite and virtuous in nature. However, deep down, some part of him had always wanted to cut loose to just have fun while interacting with others while also having a decent level of freedom of speech which is exactly what Stein is like when dealing with social situations. So, if the task and the objectives therein would be better served by one who can operate in a clandestine manner and one who is able to safeguard the client’s secrets successfully, then Zhāng would be the go to choice. On the contrary, if the state of things require the handler to be one who is better at being the life of the party and/or a morale booster/entertainer, then Stein is the appropriate agent to be tasked with completion of the mission. The next difference between Stein and Zhāng is that the former has the charisma and persuasiveness which let him attract and command others while the latter merely has high confidence, but lacks the animal magnetism & silver tongue of the former. Therefore, when the situation requires a demagogue who can attract others and convince them to lend a helping hand, Stein is the best choice whereas if the mission is more of the solo kind, it would be best to send Zhāng to handle it.
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Positive&Negative:
Stein is just as irreverent as Zhāng, which means just like him, Stein is also unlikely to keep the client, target, or specimen’s status and/or nature in mind when interacting with them. This can be a plus or a minus for the same reason as it would be in Zhāng’s case, that is, because while it makes him resistant to hesitation because of the target’s nature, it also makes him more likely to run afoul of them. That said, Stein is still different from him since he has a flexible mindset, a holistic outlook, & quixotic nature while Zhāng has a steadfast mentality, a focused perspective, & a methodical approach. Stein’s flexible mindset grants him the ability to think on his feet and adapt to the changing tides of most situations he may find himself in at any given time. While this can be a potent perk because it lets him stay constantly relevant to the situation, it can also be a big drawback. This is because it makes him chafe when he is burdened with a whole lot of rigid rules and regulations and makes him hard to work with for any overseer or client if they are the type that prefer a prescribed, structured approach. Therefore, if the situation calls for someone who has the ability to improvise, then Stein can be the one to resolve it whereas if the occasion needs the handler to stick to a certain script, then Zhāng is the better man.
Then, there is Stein’s holistic view of any situation versus Zhāng’s focused perspective of the same. This holistic outlook allows Stein to be aware of all the salient details whereas Zhāng would only be able to keep track of the main target alone. Stein’s holistic viewpoint can be a big advantage because it always lets him keep track of the bigger picture, but it can be just as huge of a disadvantage because it makes him much easier to distract than Zhāng. After that comes Stein’s quixotic tendencies which make him the yin to the yang that is Zhāng and his preference for practicality. This predilection for melodrama and general theatrical acumen that Stein has can be a feather in his cap because it gives him the ability to blend in behind enemy lines and also the skill to distract others who may be trying to sniff him out. However, it can also be a limitation because this flair for the dramatic he has causes him to take his own sweet time to get to the point whereas Zhāng would be much more succinct and pragmatic in the same situation. So, if the issue requires the agent handling it to possess a holistic approach, the ability to mislead or otherwise distract others from their true intentions, & the skill to blend in successfully behind enemy lines, then Stein is the optimal choice, whereas if the matter requires a focused pragmatist, then Zhāng is the correct option.
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Negatives:
Even though he may be as eccentric as Zhāng, Stein is also different from him because his greatest weakness is his incorrigibly mercurial nature. In comparison, for Zhāng, the problem lies in his methodical nature making him somewhat predictable to those who have had enough experience with him, though this is technically not his biggest flaw. This unpredictable nature that Stein has is a big weakness since it makes him very tough to work with as those in his company can never know what he will do at any given moment or when he will suddenly change his mind. This in turn makes him quite unreliable as a comrade in arms for whomever is unlucky enough to be in his company. So, they can never really be sure about their future plans and probably will have difficulty trusting him with sensitive information which, if leaked, may cause them great losses. Due to this, if the issue needs someone who can change their spots at the drop of a hat and be unpredictable enough to throw off the other side’s game to some significant degree, then Stein needs to be the one directing his side. However, if as mentioned earlier, the job in question requires someone who can adhere to a predetermined, predictable plan instead of doing his own thing and being a maverick, then Zhāng is the appropriate candidate.
Then, there is Stein’s indolent attitude, devious nature, and vulgar mannerisms towards the world in general. In contrast, Zhāng can be quite energetic when there is sufficient stimulus to drive this side of him and usually has polite mannerisms as well, but the positive portrait these paint is often marred by his patronizing and arrogant mentality. Stein’s usually easygoing attitude to life which can border on laziness especially when he is truly unoccupied is a major drawback. This is because if anyone or anything comes to him for help or with some job while he is under the influence of this aspect of his personality, he will be very inertial and won’t put forth the necessary effort to complete it properly. If this happens during a time of conflict, then he may even cause his side to lose to their opposition simply because he cannot be bothered to lift a finger. His devious nature and vulgar mannerisms are also a big limitation because his tendency towards obscenity as well as his love of trickery and/or manipulation of others often ends up drawing the wrath and revenge of his victims upon him.Thus, if the situation calls for the one handling it to be well versed in fair play, politeness, energetic in his ways; then Zhāng should be called for, but when the issue needs someone who can be laid back and/or someone who can manipulate others easily, then Stein is the ideal agent instead.
The next several negative traits are merely weaknesses and would not be useful in any regard, either to Stein or to anything or anyone that may come to him for help in any matter. In fact, many of these are actually bad enough that they would be considered as part of the seven deadly sins by the rest of society. Of course, Stein cannot be bothered to rectify these parts of his personality since he doesn’t really care what others think of him. The first set of these is comprised of his vanity, envy, and gluttony and the only one among these three that he has in common with Zhāng is his vanity, although Zhāng has this sin to a lesser degree than does Stein. Stein’s vain attitude is just as big a weakness for him as it is for Zhāng because as in the latter’s case, it causes Stein to underestimate those who he knows are weaker than him and thus forfeit a potentially crucial victory. However, Stein’s envious nature stands in stark contrast to Zhāng’s tendency toward gratitude and is a limitation because this jealousy leads him to covet and even even try to acquire what others have, and so he may anger them enough to make them want to punish him for it. The last of these, namely his gluttony, is also a major flaw since it causes him to overindulge himself in all types of sensual pleasures because of which he might offend or even alienate those who are opposed to such boorish behavior and also because it could cause major health problems for him later on whereas Zhāng’s strict observance of the virtue of temperance would allow him to avoid these same hassles in most cases.
The second set of these negative traits consists of Stein’s susceptibility to avarice, wrath, sadism, and even outright psychotic behavior when a given situation causes him to become truly unhinged for some reason. His avarice would be a major weakness again for practically the same reason as would be his envy and this is because it would cause his tendency to procure and hoard the best things in life in his own resource stores to rub others the wrong way and due to that, they may want to punish him for such selfishness. Meanwhile, Zhāng would be at least be in the clear if not more favored due to his predilection towards charity. Stein’s wrathful behavior when provoked far enough would be a significant weakness too since it would cause others to be reluctant to team up with him. Here again, Zhāng would be different or perhaps be better off because he is usually patient with all that deserve it in his eyes and so, would reap the rewards therein unlike Stein who poses the risk of becoming unnecessarily violent especially when those around him least expect it. Finally, there are Stein’s sadistic and psychotic tendencies which are a limitation because they may even cause him to rebel against his own side and try to vent his frustration out on them rather than on the enemy/target which could make others afraid of the prospect of partnering with him for any task. However, Zhāng would have the upper hand over Stein once more here since he is actually reliable and usually very stable unlike Stein who tends to swim in such deep and dark waters as those mentioned above.
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Likes:
Zhāng:
R&D (magical or otherwise):
He likes this because he expects it to help him move ever closer to his life’s two main, long term goals and also since doing so could aid him in clearing more short term objectives that may crop up over the course of his daily routine.
Exotic/Unfamiliar Research Topics/Subjects (magical or otherwise):
He likes these because the study of such things helps sate his near boundless curiosity and also since pursuing these helps to quench his almost irresistible thirst for intense mental exertion that he has been hopelessly addicted to since childhood.
Collecting Good Quality & Exotic/Unfamiliar Specimens (magical or otherwise):
He likes doing this because they can act as durable testing grounds for anything new he may develop over the course of his research and also since they could hold valuable data which may help him to eventually achieve his life’s two biggest goals.
Mixed Martial Arts:
He likes these because after a long period of intense mental exertion, a moderately intense physical workout would help to clear his head and also since they would let him defend himself even if his magic gets shut down for whatever reason.
Feline Species & Associated Anthropomorphic Beings (magical or otherwise):
He likes these because they are mysterious as well as aloof creatures for the most part and also since they are too adorable & cuddly for him to resist spending time with them despite his intense dislike of succumbing to such emotions.
Miscellaneous (magical or otherwise):
He likes these since they help him relax on those occasions when he doesn’t feel like doing anything related to his life goals and also because being human causes him to like other things besides just his life’s two main objectives.
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Stein:
Thrilling Adventures (magical or otherwise):
He likes experiencing these not only because they help to quench his thirst for knowledge but also since doing so satisfies his craving for an intense adrenaline rush which is another thing he has been hopelessly addicted to since childhood.
Brawls (magical or otherwise):
He loves engaging in these since they not only help him relax after a particularly gruelling adventure, but also because doing so keeps his combat instinct sharp & feeds his lifelong addiction to adrenaline.
Torturing Others (whether humanoid or otherwise):
He enjoys doing this because it is one of the many ways in which he can glean valuable strategic intelligence from any POW, and also since this helps sate his craving for a powerful adrenaline rush which he has had right from childhood.
Hedonism:
He loves indulging this craving because it helps him relax after a long period of hard work, and also since it is the third element of the trio of hobbies that sate his intense need for adrenaline.
Manipulating Others (whether humanoid or otherwise):
He likes doing this not only because it could let him acquire pawns to use in his attempts to fulfil his various objectives or even in his hobbies, but also since doing so gives him a thrill that is only rivalled by his other three main guilty pleasures.
Miscellaneous (magical or otherwise):
He likes these since they help him relax on those occasions when he doesn’t feel like doing anything related to his life goals and also because being human causes him to like other things besides just his life’s two main objectives.
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Dislikes:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid in and out of battle)
Being Manipulated/Tricked:
Both Zhāng and Stein hate being tricked and manipulated by others even though they have no qualms doing it to others because this would make them feel inferior & hinder their pursuit of their life’s two main goals.
Anything/Anyone Unbearable:
Both Zhāng and Stein loathe anything and anyone too unbearable since these types would cause them undue stress by bringing unnecessary melodrama into their lives & also because they would just be annoyances on a daily basis.
Prejudice & Persecution:
Both Zhāng and Stein find these abhorrent not only because they both have suffered this in the past, but also because suffering such torment would impede their progress towards their life’s two biggest objectives.
Betrayal:
Both Zhāng and Stein cannot abide traitors because these types would cause them to waste their precious resources and also since these types may become security hazards to them by being intelligence leaks.
Inadequacy:
Both Zhāng and Stein dislike inadequacy since they know from past experience that when someone or something suffers from this, they are always exploited or oppressed by others & can’t protect themselves from this.
Miscellaneous:
Even though the aforementioned items are their main dislikes, since both Zhāng and Stein are still human, both have a great many other less significant dislikes, the most pre-eminent of which is each other.
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Motivations:
(The following information is applicable to both sides of his personality in addition to being valid in & out of battle)
All Knowledge in the Universe (magical or otherwise):
Zhāng wants to eventually acquire this since it will let him unlock the secrets of the primordial abyss of magic & nature while Stein wants this since he believes the pursuit of this will be the ultimate adventure.
Adequate Resources (magical or otherwise):
Both Zhāng and Stein want to acquire these because they know that having these at their disposal will grant them the power to pursue their two biggest life goals without any sort of interference getting in the way.
Adequate Power (magical or otherwise):
Both Zhāng and Stein want this since it will let them acquire more resources for the achievement of their life goals, and also allow them to maintain a strong hold over & protect themselves & their resources from any potential harm.
Miscellaneous (magical or otherwise):
Even though the aforementioned items are the most important of all their motivations, since both Zhāng and Stein are still human, each still has many other less significant motivating factors which drive them everyday.
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Fears:
Zhāng:
Lack/Loss of New/Potential Research Subjects (magical or otherwise):
Zhāng fears this since it would not only deprive him of the resources which would ultimately help him achieve his life’s one major goal, but also because such a loss could potentially lessen the level of power he has achieved till date.
Stein’s Unexpectedly Take Over:
Zhāng fears this since it could become a major impediment to the achievement of his life’s biggest goals, and also because during this time, Stein may do something that could hurt both of them in some way later on.
Stein’s Awakening Triggers:
Zhāng fears these since they are what let Stein take over command of their shared body and even though he hates succumbing to them, he can’t neutralize them completely since many of these are vital body functions.
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Zhāng & Stein:
Poverty:
Both Zhāng and Stein fear this because it could hamper the progress towards their life’s ultimate ambitions by depriving them of resources they need to achieve this goal & by making them too dependent on others.
Weakness (magical or otherwise):
Both Zhāng and Stein fear this because being weak means they wouldn’t be able to acquire the resources they need to achieve their life’s main goals & also that they wouldn’t be able to keep their resources safe from theft.
Dogs & Wolves and/or Related Anthropomorphic Beings (magical or otherwise):
Both Zhāng and Stein fear such entities since they had been attacked by them at some point in the past and also because these types of creatures are too unbearable for their senses in many regards.
Boredom:
Both Zhāng and Stein fear this the most since it deprives them of the mental workout they crave so much, and also because that it may leave them vulnerable to outside influence since their guard would not be up as high.
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Stein:
Permanent Integration/Separation:
Stein fears this because it means he would lose his freedom of action and also since this would permanently deprive him of all those nifty skills (both magical & mundane) possessed by the body that he shares with Zhāng.
Enclosed, Tight Spaces:
Stein fears these because they could potentially leave him vulnerable to any enemy and also since he was accidentally left trapped in one such space during his childhood and had great difficulty in extricating himself from there.
Anything/Anyone Stronger than Him (magical or otherwise):
Stein fears such entities since they could not only stop him from accomplishing his life’s two most important goals, but also because the superiority they have over him could tempt them into trying to subjugate him or harass him.
