In the early chapters, it is mentioned that Paracelsus was an alchemist-astrologer who triggered Babel. In the very first panel where he is mentioned, he is depicted with two, six-pointed stars.
Who else is shown with this motif? Teacher. His cane is shown to have two similar ornaments dangling from it.
I believe Teacher was actually a human who, by means of immense study and experimentation, was able to tamper with The World Formula. I believe him doing so upset the natural order of things and brought about Babel. Babel became the means for some humans to start manifesting as vampires, when one day their eyes turn red, in the same way that coal became astermite in Altus. This is best explained through what happened to Chloe. I believe the same thing led to Teacher becoming a vampire, and around the same time, Faustina and Luna came into existence. I believe Teacher did not want to be tied down to any royal duties, despite being Faustina's longest vassal, because he wanted to continue experimenting concerning The World Formula: the tragedy of Babel caused many portals between the human world and Altus to open up--and he wanted to investigate these. If Paris has its counterpart in Altus Paris, I think that every bit and coordinate of the human world has its own Altus version. This, or there are other worlds created from Babel. This is what Teacher is continuing to explore--different dimensions, different break-off realities which he has also been trying to tamper with to see how that can affect the Altus and the human world.
I believe Faustina and Luna were once human, but turned. Teacher presented himself as a way to make sense of Faustina's new-found power, and offered his service to her, hence, being held in great esteem, despite not mentioning his role in the cataclysm. I also believe Faustina and Luna were twins; Teacher, who has been manipulative and cunning from the get-go, may have organized a division between the two. This may where the so-called omen of 'twins being bad luck' may have originated. I think Teacher deliberately created conflict because he wanted to see what would happen if the two went their separate ways. Another example of him not trying to 'directly interfere' but 'working to trigger things into happening'? The story of Louis. Who also happened to be a twin.
While Teacher is a vampire now, and has been for eons, the fact remains that he was once human. This is why he does not take sides, and this is why he raised Noe with no particular affinity for one over the other. As a 'scientist,' he prefers to throw ingredients into a pot and see how things will turn out, he just wants to 'observe,' but he is never above preventing things from happening if he believes that it will spoil the fun. Case in point, when he beheads Louis, just as his grandson is about to drink Noe dry.
I think it's interesting that Teacher's brooch seems to be a broken mirror-like surface with feathers. Mirrors can be symbolic of gates to other dimensions or versions of reality, while feathers can be related to flight, and therefore, travel. Teacher detests Ruthven (the younger version) because he wanted to create peace between humans and vampires. When peace is present, when vampires 'go against their nature' and 'prefer to live harmoniously with people,' everything is predictable, safe. Teacher, I believe, has never liked either.
One other thing: I think it's poignant that Teacher refers to Noe as 'mon chaton' or 'my kitten.' Kittens get into all sort of mischief--and this is what he lives for.
https://www.reddit.com/r/vanitasnocarte/comments/12n1479
