After a long streak of failures, my first real success occurred today. I found a young and promising child named Günter and could feel his magical essence flowing through his body, untapped and untamed. I charmed him using my usual spells and brought him to my laboratory where I tried the ritual once again. Thankfully my magic is strong enough to not wear off when the young boy took damage.
While I didn't succeed in transferring the child's life force into a new vessel, I did manage to suck it out of him without killing him. He is now cursed the same way as I am. A young mind in an old and fragile body, robed of his best years.
Once my magical control on the young boy faded, I erased his memories to avoid his incessant crying and screaming, not that anybody would believe him. The Gentleman will have to live with one less child for his own experiments, as per our arrangement.
I expect the next request from the Gentleman soon, so I will get more opportunities to perfect the ritual. I've recently made the acquaintance of a charming lady named Laida who seems to possess the marking of Fauseria. She would be the perfect subject to use the ritual on once I've mastered it.
Sadly, the body seems to have managed to escape. I searched the woods but couldn't find a body. Hopefully the wolves or other creatures will feast on him. Even if he somehow makes it to Malden, nobody will know what to do with him.