Sybil's Links
They were "friends" for a while in college but their relationship was toxic. Sybil was bullied and Thalverne was her only social contact outside of her family. He found out she was a werewolf and threatened her to tell everyone her true nature. However, he didn't mind joining in the mockery and sometimes even encouraging it, even though he was one of the most popular children. He could have stopped this easily. He did not assume his friendship with her and made others believe that he was hanging out with her sometimes just to learn more and better attack her. He would tell her to "pretend to care so you don't lose your credibility". When they were alone, Thalverne confided in her a lot. She was loyal, blind and dependent on him. She had no self-esteem so it all seemed trivial.
In high school she was in a different school building than he was. At first totally dependent, losing him was a terrible pain for her and he became an obsession. He disappeared almost overnight, leaving her even more neurotic about her loss. However, after a while without him she finally realized that she felt more serene and was able to get out of this hold little by little. At the same time she became aware of her fear and hatred of others, whose presence she now willingly shunned.
The nature of her feelings was never love.
Thalverne has been "friends" with Sybil. In reality she was mostly a relational security for him. She was always there, listening to him, loyal. It was reassuring, soothing. This did not prevent him from participating in his harassment with the others, thus proudly keeping his place of leader, of "cool kid". More sincere when they were alone, he confided in her, always punctuating his confidences with "repeat that to anyone and everyone will know that you are a werewolf".
When he returned to school and suddenly found himself alone in a new place, he got a good slap of reality. Realizing his awful behavior and dying of shame, he didn't check in with Sybil overnight and vowed to be a good person and always learn from his mistakes. He then totally deconstructed himself, this time becoming the protector and not the bully, always being available to help, taking lots of initiative to improve things.
He experienced his own behavior as a trauma to the point that he buried it completely for years until he almost forgot it existed. He continually punished himself, preventing himself from developing real relationships, judging that he did not deserve anyone's friendship.
Until one night at a role-playing party with Blythe, Aether and Elina. He absentmindedly played with his fingers with a female werewolf figurine until he suddenly burst into tears. The others were immediately available, putting him at ease. He was then able to tell the whole story without a filter.
That night he understood two things: it was time to forgive himself and he had three real friends.