Aren Rylin

Fitness: Aren is at peak fitness due to the rigorous training that he has been put through.

Agility: Aren's fighting style favors agility over strength, so he has worked to hone this at the expense of furthering his strength.

Body Shape: Lean and compact.

Right-Handed

Aren, due to his father's genes, is taller than the average Elf. Combined with the rigid agility training, this has caused him to develop a particularly lean musculature, which he incorporates with his fighting style. His arms are noted for being well-muscled, and his hands are calloused despite his upbringing. Like many elves of Mauribon, he is fair-skinned, almost gleaming in the sun, until he gets sunburned. However, he develops a nice tan after time outdoors, which contrasts with his red hair.

Typical of Elven culture, he has a sharper face and pointy ears indicative of one of the elder races. His stark almond shaped green eyes are one feature that identifies him as a member of House Rylin at first glance, though he has a mixture of his father's stark red hair and his mother's blonde hair, giving him a strawberry blond color. Previously, he considered growing a beard, but Crystal quickly nixed that idea.

He favors well-made yet simple tunics, particularly when he is out and about in the city. While exploring the countryside, his Uncle insists on a gambeson for protection. This bright blue chest piece is often worn with a short-sleeved shirt and arm guards. Regardless of where he is, he generally wears well-made boots in case he needs to act. His general belts have room for a bandage, a dagger, and the ability to equip Dawn's sheath as required.

Dawn - This is the ancestral sword of House Rylin, forged from Elven Steel; it is a strong yet lighter longsword.

Birth and Early Life

After a chance meeting between the future Crag Ulric Stormcrow and the lady Avena Rylin, the two fell in love and married after a year-long romance. They quickly conceived their first child and only child, Aren. For the first few years, the young elf was well-loved by his parents and extended family; both of his parents planned to raise him primarily in the Eldar city of Mauribon, where Avena grew up and was currently ruled by her brother Auralon Rylin IV.

When Aren turned seven, Ulric was convinced by many of his clanmates to return to the sea to continue gaining influence in the Raiders' culture. Avena gave her blessing, knowing that he had grown restless and longed to return to the sea, but made him swear to return to his family in the fall. Thus, Ulric and his crew set off south, while Avena and Aren traveled with her brother down the coast to spend the summer in the Rylin Family Estate.

The Orcish Ambush

The seven-year-old Aren spent a great summer with his extended family at the country estate, growing close to older Auradir II, whom he began to shadow and 'hero worship'. This is also when Aren recieved his first lesson on swordplay from his cousin and the first time he heard the call of Dawn, which marked him as the next wielder of the blade.

Due to storms to the south, Ulric was unable to join them for the last few weeks, and the Rylin clan began their trip back north when tragedy struck. An Orcish raiding group had made it through the Enclave's defenses and attacked the caravan from the front. This ambush resulted in the death of the 21-year-old Auradir II, and the death of Aren's mother Aven, whom he remembered holding as she passed. Auralon was wounded and ultimately paralyzed from the waist down during the assault.

Aren travelled back to Mauribon once reinforcements had arrived, and was immediately cared for by his aunt, Reilynn, who, despite mourning the death of her son, cared for and nurtured the young orphan. Soon, Auralon regained consciousness, formally adopted the young elf, and named him his heir since he now had no children to take his place. While word was immediately sent to his father, there was never a response, and it was not until the next spring that a trader reported Ulric's fleet had turned for the Clan Lands to the east rather than Mauribon upon getting the news.

Thus, Aren, under Elven law, became the official ward of Auralon and Reilynn.

Life as the Heir of Mauribon

The death of his mother and subsequent abandonment by his father weighed heavily on the young boy. For several weeks afterward, he barely spoke a word and withdrew from everyone. Raleigh, the newly appointed Captain of the Blue Guard, volunteered to take over the young heir's lessons to help distract him from the events and prevent something like this from happening in the future. Aren thus began a formal education from a private tutor hired by his uncle, and lessons in swordplay, archery, and other forms.

Despite attempts to teach him to paint, which was Reilynn's hobby, Aren did not have a knack for it. He did find enjoyment in playing his mother's ocarina, which his uncle promptly gifted to him. This prompted additional music lessons, and while he could play the lute and harp quite well, he preferred woodwind instruments.

Another source of comfort was the vast Rylin library, where Aren became fascinated with stories of historical figures. This both gave him something to aspire to, and also made him feel inadequate and reinforce the internal idea he had developed that he was just the replacement heir, and undeserving of the title.

Throughout the next six months, Aren would be mostly mute, communicating through facial expressions, grunts, and after a few months, a few soft spoken words. His friendship and lessons with Raleigh and the rest of the Blue Guard did distract him, and the events and recent memory of helplessness during the ambush provided powerful motivation for Aren, making it not just a duty and an expectation, but deeply personal. When dealing with his family, there was a cloud over them which he found suffocating. He struggled with a feeling of belonging and the need to prove his worth and his new position.

The Second Attempt and Meeting Crystal

At the age of eight, Aren had begun to recover, but a dark shadow still lingered on his young frame. Unbeknownst to them, Aneurin had arranged for a group of pirates to attack Aren while he was outside the boundaries of the Rylin Estate. When Aren traveled with his uncle to tour the Durstraid district, this provided an opportunity.

The chaos caused by the multiple attacks led to Aren being separated from his Aunt and Uncle, as well as the majority of the Blue Cloaks. The last guard near him sought to hold off three attackers, but the fourth chased after the young elf. Aren fled down the street and ducked into a weapons shop, Mauricear, owned by the Maucear family. It was here that he met their young daughter, Crystal. The young she-elf immediately declared him her new friend and sought to aid him in hiding from the pirate as he sought to enter the store. She then led them up into the rafters, where they hid until additional members of the Blue Guard arrived and the pirates were defeated.

As a result of this event, Aren and Crystal became good friends, with a strong bond forged between them. For Aren, who had recently lost so much, Crystal's immediate aid, declaration of friendship, and acceptance of him had a profound impact, making her his first true confidante outside of his guardians.

Auralon expanded the Rylin family guard and secured the Rylin Estate against further attacks. Aren was ordered to have a constant guard, including at least 2 Blue Cloaks, whenever he left the Estate.

Recovery and Further Training

Throughout the next few years, Crystal and Aren became thick as thieves, and she became a regular guest at the Rylin Estate, even joining Aren for some of his lessons. The second attack solidified Aren's drive to master physical combat, and he managed to become a young adept with a longsword, falchion, and daggers over the next few years.

Despite the traumatic circumstances of their meeting, Crystal provided Aren a glimpse of "normalcy" that he desperately needed. Her youthful energy and directness provided a much-needed contrast to the somber atmosphere of the Rylin Estate following the events of the past year. After several weeks of prodding, Crystal even managed to get Aren to start speaking in complete sentences again. Together, they both showcased a "mischievous streak" and got up to childish adventures and pranks.

While he felt like an outsider in formal court, he began to feel accepted by his adopted parents and less and less like a replacement for Auradir. Auralon's calm and steady presence, along with his reserved demeanor, gave Aren an avenue to handle the maelstrom within him. At his uncle's urging, the two began to have complex talks about whatever was weighing on his mind. Despite his busy schedule, his uncle set aside time for at least a couple of these conversations throughout the week as Aren needed.

During the few times Anuerin visited the residential wing of the estate for meals or special occasions, Aren continued to feel unease withhis uncle without knowing why. There was also tension with his cousins, Anuerin's children, who had limited contact with him.

Being Chosen by Dawn

After much debate, Auralon decided to travel south to the Rylin Family Estate for the first time in five years when Aren is 12 years old. It was here that Aren heard the call of Dawn, and once his guardians understood what was happening, they let him approach where the ancient sword had been held in its pedestal since Amis Rylin placed it there 800 years ago. Much like his cousin before him, Aren demonstrated that he had the purity of heart and the strength to draw the blade, and the bright glow and humming of the sword signified that he was not the designated wielder.

This became an early beacon of affirmation for the young elf, being one of the first signs that he was worthy, strong, and able to handle the destiny before him. Knowing the history of the sword, and of the prophecy that was made, Auralon realized here that Aren was the child of prophecy he was told of 61 years ago, and encouraged him to mentor further and help the young elf flourish. Even the seasoned Blue Guard looked at the young elf with awe as he brought the sword with him to training to learn how to use it properly.

Upon the family's return to Mauribon, Dawn's return to the city sparked much awe and gossip among the populace. It solidified Aren as the true heir to Mauribon. Aren's newfound confidence was put on display at the training field, where he managed to tag a member of the esteemed Blue Guard during a sparring match. Crystal, though, remarked that he shouldn't let the sword go to his head; he was still her dorky friend.

Exploration of Mauribon

After his 13th Birthday, Aren began sneaking out of the Rylin Estate to explore the greater city. Through these excursions, he met friends such as Alan Taylor, whose father was serving as the human ambassador from the Siorain Empire; other children Crystal knew from the Durstraid area, and even some merchants across the city. The young Elven Lord, who, upon officially being declared adept with the use of a longsword, was allowed to carry the Elven Steel Sword Dawn, developed a strong reputation in his city. He was known as being honorable and chivalrous, but with a mischievous streak. He could be found causing chaos alongside Crystal on their latest adventure one minute, and then comforting a crying child the next.

Return of Ulric and Its Aftermath

When Aren was 15 years old, his father returned to Mauribon for the first time in eight years, but was given a frosty reception from his former family and even his son. The young elf had a maelstrom of emotions regarding his absent father, from rage at being abandoned, anger and disgust of his father's excuses, longing for the father figure he remembered, and guilt as though he was betraying Auralon and Reilynn and guilty over the expectation that a boy should be able to love his father but he couldn't muster it.

Another curveball was thrown Aren's way when he was introduced to his roughly 7-year-old half-brother, who was born out of a fling his father had in a drunken state after the death of his wife. His father went for a strikeout pitch by demanding that Aren come back with him to be properly raised in his true culture.

Despite trying to emulate his uncle's calm and patient demeanor, Aren proceeded to confront his father outwardly and angrily, refusing to leave. "Despite you, I managed to rebuild myself after mom's death, and despite you, I will be someone she would be proud of."

The resulting verbal conflicts, followed by an attempt to force Aren to leave with him, led to Ulric being banned from Mauribon.

Champion of the Festival

In the wake of confronting his father, Aren threw himself deeply into his training and his elven culture, both as a means of escape and to spite his father. Crystal let him withdraw for roughly four days before she confronted him and forced him to deal with the issue. He formally mastered fighting with longswords, falchions, and rapiers during this time, and became proficient with an Elven recurve bow and the water-centered weapon, the trident.

This led Alan and Crystal to persuade him to enter the Quadrennial Conflux at the age of 19, a tournament held every four years to showcase new styles and methods learned, and allow Elves from each of the four provinces to compete against one another. While he managed to rank in the archery competition, the sword melee is where his skills shone, and he dominated the competition that was sometimes twenty times his age. While the alternative melee weapons were much closer, his use of a trident won him the day. His performance earned him the unofficial title of "Champion of the Festival" and even drew parallels to Auradir I.

Explorations in Late Childhood

Upon completing his second decade, his uncle allowed him to begin exploring other parts of Maiden's Enclave without a formal escort, but he was required to bring friends with him. Crystal and Alan were constant companions on these trips. Throughout the next few years, he was able to explore the limestone cliffs, the coasts south of Mauribon, and develop the elvish agility necessary to navigate the vast woods. This was in addition to his growing duties within Mauribon as the Heir.

Coming of Age

Upon reaching the age of 25, when Elves are considered adults, Aren was officially granted the family title of "Winter Warden," a historic position given to the heir of the Stewardship once he or she is of age. Through this, he has begun to learn the administrative side of his duties. Still, Auralon continued to be insistent that he has handled both roles for over a hundred years, and Aren needs to be free to experience the world and figure himself out before settling too much.

Relationship with Crystal

Once Crystal, who is a year younger than him, officially turned 25 herself, Aren obtained permission from her father to court his daughter, and the two began a formal relationship. This caused much gossip to spread and even some naysayers in court, particularly those who wanted the young heir to marry someone of noble blood to solidify his standing. Still there were others that expected them to wed when they became eligible to wed at 33.

Classical Education

• Reading: Aren was taught to read Elvish, English, Dwarvish, and Eastern.
• Writing: Aren can write in both Elvish and English
• Arithmetic: He learned basic arithmetic to administer his future land holdings
• Geometry: He was tutored in basic geometry.
• History: Mauribon has the second-largest library, which Aren had access to and was well-versed in the history of the Continent.
• Myths: Aren was taught the various myths of creation and the Great Storm
• Etiquette: He was taught how to conduct himself properly, though he doesn't use this as much
• Courtly Manners: Aren learned how to behave in a royal court.

Martial Education

Mastery: Due to extensive training, Aren has already 'mastered' four forms:

• Shortswords - This is the main sword used by Elves, and Aren was taught by his uncle's top advisors how to wield this weapon.
• Daggers - Another prominent weapon used by the Elves, Aren was taught to be proficient in knife work and throwing knives.
• Falchion - This curved and light blade is popular among elves who favor hit-and-run attacks. Aren favors this for its reach while horseback riding.
• Poanor - A prominent martial arts style amongst the elves, Aren was taught this style from a young age.

Proficiency

• Longsword - Due to the "bastard" nature of 'Dawn', Aren learned to be proficient in Longswords.
• Arming Sword - Mostly favored by Knights as a backup weapon, Aren was trained by a Water Knight to use it.
• Sabre — Another prominent weapon among the Elven nations, Aren was well trained to use it on the ground and while mounted.
• Rapier —The "Gentleman's Weapon," Aren is proficient and has participated in several tournaments. However, due to its limited function, particularly in tight spaces, most of the continent uses it only as a tournament weapon.
• Axes - Given the close relationship that Mauribon has with the Dwarves, Aren has picked up several axe techniques throughout his life.
• Archery: Aren has been trained using a traditional Recurve bow and is quite proficient, but he is by no means a master marksman.

Handling

• Broadswords—Due to its prominence, Aren was taught to use it, but he did not show any natural talent with it.
• Lances - Like many Elves, Aren has no natural talent for a Lance.
• Mace

1. Survival of Seven Assassination Attempts - Aren has become adept at survival and reading a situation due to the constant assassination attempts throughout his life.
2. The Orc Ambush at Age 7
3. The Durstraid Ambush at Age 8
4. The Reflecting Pool Ambush at Age 10
5. The Beach Ambush at Age 13
6. The Festival Ambush at Age 15
7. The Second Festival Ambush at Age 19
8. The Forest Ambush at Age 24
9. Mastery of the Flow of the Longsword - Due to Constant Training, Aren has mastered the use of Dawn and various other longswords in combat, a rare skill among the Elves.
10. Campion of the Festival - Won the Quadrennial Conflux at the Age of 19
11. Ranked in the Archery Competition
12. Won the alternative weapons competition
13. Won the Sword Melee

Political Novice

Despite his Uncle's natural talent for politics, it is not something Aren is gifted with, and it has caused him to run afoul of several political games started by Anuerin or his cousins.

His Father

This is a sensitive subject for him, and he has never found a way to address it properly when it is brought up.

Aren remembers both his mother’s death in an orc attack and his father’s subsequent abandonment of him. Both were difficult for a four-year-old to process, though his aunt and uncle sought to be there for him and helped him accept his grief alongside theirs.

Watching his mother’s violent death firsthand led to traumatic grief, which has made it hard for him to remember the few positive memories without further triggering intrusive images of her final moments. Aren has developed an idealized memory of his mother as a way to cope with the resulting anxiety.

On the flip side, Aren has demonized his father for abandoning him. This disappearance without explanation was taken as a personal rejection of Aren himself. As with many young minds, he was only able to take an egocentric look at the issue. This early experience of loss and abandonment fostered a deep-seated fear of further loss and insecurity, at times causing him to be emotionally withdrawn to protect himself from any further loss. Even when his father, Ulric, returned 10 years later, Aren could not bring himself to trust or accept him again. The lack of closure from Ulric’s abandonment had led to persistent questions and a longing to understand, further feelings of anger and resentment since he was not there for his family.

Being raised by his aunt and uncle, who accepted him as their own son, caused him to cling tightly to his remaining family and placed a great deal of importance on keeping the family that he had left. Even so, he struggled at times with a sense of belonging, particularly with his extended family.

His uncle craved the Throne, and thus he was dismissive of his nephew, something his cousins emulated to please their father. Further, being named the heir to the Stewardship at a young age did offer a sense of security and purpose, but also a significant pressure and anxiety. Aren developed a constant need to prove himself worthy, leading to perfectionistic tendencies and a pervasive fear of failure.

While he does make causal friends easily, he struggles to actually let people in and fears growing too attached to anyone. Emotionally, Aren has exhibited levels of anxiety and predisposition towards depression. This includes persistent feelings of emptiness and a sense of worthlessness.

In his relationships, he has formed a habit of insecure attachment patterns. This includes a deep-seated fear of intimacy and difficulty trusting others beyond the surface level. He regularly moves between having a strong desire for connection and an intense fear of being hurt or abandoned, leading to unstable friendships. Aren has struggled with being vulnerable and open in relationships, holding people out at arm’s length, fearing any judgment or betrayal. One could say that a disorganized attachment style has been developed with inconsistency approaching relations both seeking closeness and fearing it.

Aren has further struggled to develop his own sense of self being being the Heir to the Stewardship and the “Champion of Winter.” This has led to a lack of personal direction and feeling defined by external expectations rather than internal values. He internalized blame for his mother’s death and not being worthy of his father’s love, causing him to dive into training to cover feelings of guilt and shame.

Behaviorally, Aren has relied on his training as a coping mechanism to manage his emotional distress. He internalized the blame for his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment. He has thought on several occasions, “Maybe if I am stronger, faster, smarter, better, then perhaps, no one else will leave me.” Due to his emotions, Aren has not earned his family name or his status as heir; as a result, he has taken to impulsiveness and at times made poor decisions when it comes to risk-taking behaviors. He compulsively seeks to prove himself as attempts to regain a sense of control.

Despite all of this, Aren has become resilient and adaptive to life’s challenges. He has developed a strong sense of independence and self-reliance, making him appear emotionally distant and hesitant to depend on others. His experiences fostered a deep empathy and compassion for others who have also suffered loss, one of the driving forces of his early relationship with Crystal, who also lost her mother. Being raised as an heir instilled a sense of duty and responsibility, which has driven him throughout his life and helped him to rise despite his personal struggles.

• Adventure Seeking: Aren has craved adventure, as he believes that a mighty and heroic deed would prove himself worthy of his name and worthy of his title.
• Witty and Sarcastic: He has a very quick wit that gets him into trouble. However, he uses it primarily as a shield, rather than a sword.
• Honor: "Walking the Path of Honor is what makes one Honorable."
• Intuitive - Aren has all of his mother's intuition and, once given information, is great at putting the pieces together in his head and coming to the right conclusion.

• His Father and Raiders in General Aren's father is a sore spot for him after being abandoned years ago, and he is liable to get angry whenever the man is mentioned. When the story begins, Aren would be perfectly happy with never seeing the man again, and to setting fire to any raider's ship that came without a hundred miles of Mauribon. However, as the story progresses, Aren will have to come to terms with his parentage and with his wayward father if he wants to protect what he loves.

A Home of His Own

Aren is driven by a passion that even he cannot understand. A spark that was born out of the loss of his mother was fed by the loss of his cousin, the abandonment of his father, repeated assassination attempts, political judgment, and dozens of smaller conflicts throughout his life. This now raging inferno longs to be worthy of his legacy and deserving of his title and status.

A Tale of Changing Motivation

Aren is driven by a passion even he cannot fully understand, a fire that was born out of the loss of his mother and cousin, the abandonment of his father, repeated assassination attempts, and dozens of smaller conflicts throughout his life. This fire has given him a strong desire to prove himself, not just as a young elf, but as being worthy of the love he recieved, deserving of his title, and worthy of the legacy he will have to uphold. He has learned about former heroes in the world of Eldux his entire life, of members of his own house who rose above themselves and brought about peace for their people. He is eager to establish his legacy, not as a replacement heir or the undeserving orphan, but as the champion of a new age.

All of this is just a symptom of what he wants: a solid home surrounded by people he loves. To bring peace to them in a way that he never got.

Savvies

• Relic Adept: Aren has been well educated on relics throughout his childhood, and also possesses the ability to sense their power around him to a mild degree. The presence of hundreds of relics within the walls of Mauribon have allowed him to hone this further.
• Urban Navigation & Stealth: Despite his noble upbringing, his "mischievous streak" and sneaking out to explore Mauribon with Crystal and Alan would have honed his skills in navigating complex urban environments. He knows shortcuts, rooftops, hidden alleys, and how to blend into crowds. He might also be surprisingly adept at urban stealth, moving unseen even in populated areas.
• Problem Solving: The litany of experience, at a young age, allowed Aren to learn how to keep himself calm during a crisis. He can think clearly and decisively in high-stress situations. Rule one is never to panic. Rule two is to remember who needs saving.

Ineptitudes

• Subtlety in Courtly Intrigue/Social Manipulation: While he was raised to read people, his inherent honor and directness, combined with his distaste for deceit, have made him a poor player in political games and terrible at subtle manipulation. He is an elf of action, not whispers. He often misses hidden agenda in complex situations or struggle to use his cunning to his advantage in non-combat scenarios.
• Cooking/Domestic Arts: Raised as an heir, with servants handling daily needs, Aren likely has no aptitude or interest in practical domestic skills. He might be capable in a survival situation, but anything beyond the basics of campfire cooking or mending would be a mystery to him, perhaps even comically so.
• Animal Handling (Beyond Riding): While he can ride a mount, Aren might have a surprising lack of natural affinity for animals, especially those requiring patience or gentle persuasion like training hunting dogs or calming nervous horses. They might just seem to "not get" him, or he might lack the specific intuition needed to connect with them beyond basic commands.

Food and Drink

While Aren does enjoy a good Stardew Mead, he would prefer a good ale if he had to choose. His time exploring Mauribon has expanded his palette, and he is fond of some common street food, such as fried calamari. It is also a badly kept secret that he has a particular weakness for cream puffs and strawberries.

Clothing & Aesthetics

Aren severely dislikes overly ornate or restrictive clothing, only wearing it for state events (by the demand of his uncle). His presence is characterized by a gambeson or leather vest, paired with clothing that is easy to remove. He is also consistently wearing his Current Weaver Gauntlets and is dressed in blue like many water elves before him.

Unwavering Loyalty: Having experienced profound abandonment by his father and the security of Auralon, Aren holds loyalty as paramount, thanks to the subsequent devotion of Reilynn and Crystal. While his loyalty is hard-won, it is also unwavering once gained.

Profound Empathy: Whether he naturally has his mother's empathy or recieved it from Reilynn's nuturing, Aren has developed a strong sense of empathy. He doesn't just know what suffering is; it is an old companion. Thus, he tries to comfort those in need.

Intuitive Combatant: Aren has his father's uncanny battlefield intuition, and his own experiences have taught him to read an encounter at a glance. His extensive studies, both formally and through reading, have made him familar with many styles and their counters. His deep connect with Dawn makes it an extension of his own body allowing for fluid almost impossible maneuvers. He does not just fight, he performs the "Dance of Dawn" written about in legends.

Inspiring Presence: While still quite young by Elven standards, Aren radiates a sense of quiet confidence and inherent heroism. Those who know what he has risen above have further reason to look to him for leadership and guidance.

Overprotective Tendency: The losses Aren has experienced have caused him to be overprotective of the loved ones he has left behind and those he gains. This is particularly true for Crystal, who has been a lifeline for much of his life. He has been known to take unnecessary risks whenever they are in danger, without concern for himself.

Feelings of Inadequacy: As the "replacement heir" who couldn't save his mother or cousin and was abandoned by his father, Aren has struggled with feelings of inadequacy despite his accomplishments since then. He might constantly feel the need to prove himself, even when proof isn't needed, or quietly believe he's undeserving of his accolades, pushing himself relentlessly.

Prone to Recklessness (When Triggered): While generally honorable, a mischievous streak combined with deep-seated anger (especially towards injustice or abandonment) could lead to moments of impulsive or reckless behavior. He might take on impossible odds, or lash out in a tactically unsound way, driven by emotion rather than strategy.

Stubborn Independence: His strong will, forged by his past, has caused him to struggle with delegating tasks, particularly if they are meant to aid others. He often feels that it is his responsibility to handle certain burdens, which pushes others away.

Fiddling with Ocarina: When deep in thought, stressed, or needing comfort, Aren might unconsciously reach for or lightly tap the ocarina he inherited from his mother, even if he doesn't play it.

Subtle Hand Gestures while Explaining Tactics: When passionately explaining a plan or recounting an event, he might unconsciously use his hands to outline movements or trajectories, as if visualizing the action in front of him.

A "Mischievous Glint": When contemplating a prank or about to say something teasing to Crystal, a particular spark or glint in his eye might give away his playful side before he even speaks

Aren can best be described as an ambivert when it comes to social situations. When wandering about Mauribon, he seeks to be social and engaged with the common folk whom he will one day rule, but if the conversation delves deeper than pleasantries, he can quickly grow uncomfortable. This often lasts until he has a chance to get to know the person in question.

Reassuring Smile - Aren often seeks to keep a smile on his face, not because he is carefree or unafraid; he is smiling despite his fear, grief, or internal struggle. He seeks to smile, because as his mother told him, sometimes, a small smile can bring light to people on their darkest days.

Observant Glance - Aren has an almost unconscious habit of quickly scanning his surroundings when entering a new space or during a lull in conversation. His eyes flick to exist, scanning for any potential threats or advantageous positions for others. It is trained vigilance.

Fidgeting with an Ocarina or Dawn - When he is deep in thought, feeling stressed or contemplating a difficult decision, Aren often traces the markings on Dawn's hilt or absentmindedly traces the contours of his mother's ocarina in his pocket.

Thoughtful Pauses - Aren might have a brief, almost imperceptible pause where he gauze becomes distant when thinking through a decision. Others have remarked that they can see his mind working through the issue in those moments.

Mischievous Glint or Twitch of a Smile: When contemplating a prank, or about to deliver a dry, witty remark, or even just enjoying a moment with either Alan or Crystal, a distinctive glint appears in his eyes, or the corner of his mouth might twitch into a quick, almost imperceptible smirk.

Aren speaks with a medium-toned voice that often fails to hide the emotion within.