Vanore Arlin Shepard's Links
Vanore and Eric met long after either were supposed to be in bed. Vanore had worked up the courage to approach the library for the first time in their life, quietly creeping through the monastery to reach the knowledge they so craved. Imagine their surprise when they peeked in, seeing light still spilling from within, and met eyes with an heir. Vanore crept away as quickly as they could bear, breaking into a sprint as soon as they were out of earshot with their heart hammering in their chest. Vanore only dared venture back a week later, barely biting back a groan when they laid eyes on the same man. In the spirit of diplomacy, they stepped out from the shadows and introduced themselves. The scream was unexpected. The welcome to come back, even moreso. Vanore fell into a quiet routine with the other student, slowly adjusting to the fact that they were truly allowed to stand in the presence of someone so... Surface-y. She would consider them friends. Maybe her only friend on the surface, honestly.
Vanore and Eric met long after either were supposed to be in bed. Eric, who had taken to reading records long after everyone else had left the library, shifted his eyes towards a dark and gloomy figure leaning in from the doorway. He blinked once, twice, and did not accept that some kind of ominous silhouette had appeared while he read. Assuming it to be some kind of late night hallucination, he went to bed shortly after. He locked the door to his room that night. Not out of any excessive fear, of course. Maybe a slight fear.
The next week, he turned to see the same figure advancing upon him in the dead of night, and shrieked at such a volume he was sure half of the monastery had woken.
In the end, it turned out that this night time visitor was relatively harmless and something of a student, just like himself. They exchanged names and shared spaces, becoming rather close over time. If Eric occasionally notices one less book on the library shelves, he doesn't tell. Maybe a phantom moved it...
Vanore believes Abaris to be a good friend of theirs. They're both practitioners of dark magic, and explorers of the hidden knowledge of abyss - They've worked together on little projects often, crafting and honing the spells that have fallen into the forbidden library. Vanore doesn't feel the need to keep up the facade of ever-helpful, ever-guiding authority around Abaris, which is a comfort. On the surface, Vanore spends all her time in hiding, meeting with others as a necessity only. In the Abyss, Vanore runs around completing tasks, teaching, distributing resources, and doing a hundred other chores to keep the underworld running. With Abaris, Vanore feels like they have the opportunity to be normal. It's... Fun.
Abaris enjoys Vanore’s company, cooped up in the forbidden library honing their spells and scrounging for more and more knowledge to pour over. Vanore is a quiet yet comfortable presence and he lets a ghost of a smile cross his face whenever he catches them hiding about in various places. He recognizes how much they do for the Abyss and he really appreciates it, bringing them mugs of tea in the library to share while they read and chat about the new things they learn. He doesn’t sleep much or very often, roaming around at night restlessly in his fits of insomnia… it’s kind of a relief and a bit of respite when he stumbles upon Vanore and can pass a few hours with them.
Vanore was the first student under him who made him... consider things. He observes her now and then, wondering what drives her, what makes it so worth it. Whatever the case may be, he senses their dedication. He offers help where he can. After all, if one is so dedicated to making this sickly dungeon of a home a better place, why should he not do what he can? A blossoming mind, a strong will, should always be supported.