During his short time with one of his hosts, said host met Carol Malus Dienheim, who was still attempting to learn what her father's words really meant. As she hadn't burned away the meaning of his last words, she had yet to go on her frenzy like she does in GX.
The host took an interest in alchemy after she used it to save his life (using Wind Alchemy), and became her apprentice outside of the job of a Phantom Thief. Dark retained the knowledge learned and practiced while his host was asleep as an alternative to using magic. He would meet Carol one more time, before GX, and thank her for teaching him how to use alchemy so long ago.
(This would later result in Carol entrusting Dur Da Bla to Dark post-XV, as no one else was worthy to inherit the Faust Robe but a fellow Alchemist in her eyes.)
Unlike his mentor, however, Dark doesn't need to burn memories to fuel the power of alchemy. He's been able to use it without that drawback since first starting to practice it.
Sorry for the lack of posts! Some more sketches I’ve done for Inktober. Did the chitoge one last night and I hope that the level of quality I have starting from Megumin stays the base level so I can improve from there. Two nights ago I tried to draw Kumiko from Hibike Euphonium but I got the proportions and everything wrong so I’m not posting it 😅 I need to actually learn techniques as well but I’m using inktober to motivate myself to draw at least something.
I think I figured out why Carol is my favorite villain in synphogear, she's not being manipulated by anyone. She knows exactly what she's doing and she does it without remorse. She is not even morally gray (at least not for the season she's the antagonist for) and on top of that she's incredibly powerful
Today it is sketch dump day have a bunch of Symphodraws
I'm a firm believer in Elfnein getting the biggest growth spurt as she gets older because it is mildly funny and also very angsty (lmao imagine eventually trying to move on from your other self but her body reminds you of her at every opportunity)