Is the Transmutation Gene Recessive?

How do I justify my assertion that Lyle was not the only dragon-knight aboard Alisa III? There are two pieces of evidence that prove Lyle cannot be the only person aboard Alisa III with this shape-shifting power.

The more convincing proof comes in the form of legends told by the people of Endora. During the third generation, a woman in that village says:

The legends say that a dragon will help those trying to cross over the sea to Techna.

Clearly this legend cannot originate with Lyle. For one, it is doubtful that a legend would arise from a single occurrence that was not witnessed by anyone except for those directly involved in it -- Lyle, Thea, Ayn, and the others. Secondly, there is the fact that the area where dragon Lyle appeared was already called "Cape Dragon Spine." And third, this legend is mentioned even if Rhys married Lena and the scene where Lyle carried Ayn and friends across the sea never happened.

The fact that dragons have been seen near Endora over many years even if Lyle was never in the area proves that there have long been dragons other than Lyle aboard Alisa III.

So where do the dragons come from? This is the other piece of information that helps to prove that Lyle is not alone in having this transformation power.

Despite what Orakians say, I do not believe there is or ever was any magic or magic users aboard Alisa III, except, of course, for Dark Force himself. The reason I believe this is because, for one, Lutz was the last magic user alive in Algo during the time that Alisa III left Algo. And secondly, no magic users are ever seen anywhere in Phantasy Star III. The Layans, despite possessing great skill with techniques, are never shown to possess magic of any kind.

So, if the Alisians had no magic, then the ability to change into a dragon which some Alisians have must be the result of bioengineering. This makes a great deal of sense. We know that Laya's armies were composed mostly of monsters, and we know from Phantasy Star II that the Algoians had the technology to produce thousands and thousands of organic construct creatures. If the Layans did do much work in bioengineering, that could further explain why the Alisians of Phantasy Star III believe that the ancient Layans had magic. Most Alisians, except for those in a few isolated locations, have little or no understanding of technology. Therefore, the ability to create countless monsters could be seen as little else but magic.

And, if the ability to transform into a dragon originated with Layan bioengineering during the Devastation War, it simply follows that Lyle could not be the only person with the power. Surely the Layans would have given many people the ability; what could be better than an army of extremely powerful and intelligent dragons? And even if only one Layan was ever granted the ability through bioengineering, that person would be bound to have multiple descendants, many of whom might have the ability. Lyle would be one of these people.

No matter how you look at it, Lyle cannot be the only dragon-knight aboard Alisa III. Therefore, Thea's rescuer does not have to be Lyle, and when Lyle's poor health is considered, it becomes probable that her rescuer was not Lyle.

All of this could be refuted depending upon how something said by a man in Endora, also during the third generation, is interpreted:

A long time ago, I saw a wounded, one-eyed dragon fly out from Cape Dragon Spine toward the sea.

It could be argued that this wounded dragon is Lyle. The notion is supported by the fact that this particular dragon had only one eye, as did Lyle. However, there is another explanation. I will answer to this apparent contradiction to my theory in the next section of this essay.

But all of this leaves an obvious question. If Lyle did not save Thea from Lensol, then who did? There do not appear to be any likely candidates until one considers further the matter of facial scars...and the peculiar history of a very special buckle known as the Twins' Ruby.

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