The Last Guardian: Story/gameplay discussion (SPOILERS)

Someone on Gamefaqs had the theory that the boys aren’t processed and turned into magic liquid, rather they are actually turned into Trocos and the barrels are just a reward for delivering the humans.
It seems that the blue liquid might actually be mined. There is a place in the game full of this colored mist…

I personally don’t believe this. I lean more towards the humans are being processed and turned into that liquid to keep the technology running, powered, and cooled.