Sebek and Baul

Sebek says, “My reading, my learning the fae tongue, my studying under Lilia…it was Grandfather and the rest of my family’s support that shaped me into the person I am now.”

Sebek explains to Baul himself, “My maternal grandfather very much disliked humans. Loathed them, even. When his only child wed a human, well… You can imagine how much they fought. Even now, my grandfather and father’s relationship is strained. But despite all that…my grandfather never once shunned his grandchildren. He’s a taciturn man, always scowling. He’s never offered words of welcome when I visit. But he always had the latest children’s books at his house. And he always kept candy and sweet drinks on hand, the kind he never consumed himself. I genuinely respect him.”

Sebek says that, while he knows how to use a dagger, he never learned how to use a kitchen knife because Baul would look displeased whenever he entered a kitchen as a child.

According to Lilia Sebek has been close to Baul since he was little, and Sebek is now the perfect picture of his grandfather: from the way he acts to the way he thinks. 

After standing up against an overblotted Malleus, Sebek’s first reaction is, “What would Grandfather say if he knew? He’d be furious, no doubt…”

In a flashback we see Baul go to Lilia about him becoming Sebek’s trainer, explaining that his other two grandchildren (Sebek’s older sister and brother) are uninterested in martial pursuits the 7-year-old Sebek has “voiced an interest in training to join the royal guard.” 

Baul approaches Lilia for this favor rather than training Sebek himself as “it’s a bit trickier…with family…” and Lilia assures him that Sebek will not be getting any special treatment: “I’m going to run him ragged.” Baul responds, “That’s just what I want, sir.”

Lilia comments that Baul seems to have mellowed out after his only child marryied a human, but Baul assures him that he hasn’t accepted “that frail human man. It’s just…my grandson’s done nothing wrong.”

Sebek elaborates on the situation between Baul, his daughter and son-in-law during Halloween, saying that his mother is constantly sending letters and photos to her father telling him how happy she is in her married life in her efforts to earn his blessing.

Sebek says, thanks to his mothers tireless efforts, there has been some progress: whereas Baul would previously turn Sebek’s father away at the door and to this day he still refuses to meet his eyes, they have now reached the point where they meet in person about once a year.

Sebek says Baul gave him “an enriching education” and taught him “the joys of reading,” as well as how to speak a dialect of fae (along wth his mother).

Baul has always told Sebek stories of the past in general (“I still remember how captivated I was”) and of Lilia in particular.

Sebek will mention how his grandfather has “often regaled (him) with tales of (Lilia’s) bravery on the battlefield,” of Lilia’s magearm, and many tales of heroics around both Lilia and the Draconia family, “but he never spoke much about Lady Maleanor…or about the passing of Malleus’ parents.”

Sebek reflects on why Baul never told him the “awe-inspiring tale” of Malleus’ birth and Lilia reveals that he had asked Malleus’ grandmother to keep the secret. It is possible that he asked the same favor of Baul as well.

Sebek gets to meet a dream-version of his grandfather in his youth during Book 7.

Baul is opposed to the group at first, insisting that he and Sebek look nothing alike and that their sharing of a surname must be coincidence (Grim: “He looks just like Sebek!”)

Sebek insists that he carries fae blood and that his mother has the same “signature Zigvolt scales” as Baul himself, but refrains from explaining his father.

Baul refuses to eat what Sebek and the others cook for the warriors and Silver reminds a distressed Sebek, “this is all a dream. The real Baul still cares about you.”

Baul is consistently opposed the presence of Sebek and the others, and is suspicious when they express interested in the location of Maleanor’s egg.

As they progress across the land Baul’s attitude can be seen to shift very slowly: he calls a for a break to eat when Sebek’s stomach growls and declares that Lilia may have made the right call in keeping Sebek with them, as Sebek is extremely familiar with Briarland geography and having him on the human side would be troublesome.

(Sebek: “I assure you I would never share such knowledge with people who despoil these lands.” – Baul: “…you’d better not.”)

Baul also offers Sebek one of his rations: smoked salmon, which Sebek says is his favorite, and that his mother (Baul’s daughter) makes an “especially exquisite” salmon carpaccio. Baul says he, too, enjoys salmon, and especially when it’s steamed.

Sebek: “Oh, I see. That’s…quite a coincidence. Heh heh.”

When Lilia comments on how Sebek’s fighting is improving Baul gives credit to Lilia as Briarland’s finest fighter, but Lilia says his fighting style reminds him mores of Baul’s: “I know you’ve been looking out for him as he follows you around.” Baul insists that he “would NEVER look after a human” and Lilia responds, “Sure, whatever you say.”

After Lilia is injured in a trap at the citadel Baul orders Sebek and the others to surrender to the enemy to save their lives, but they refuse. Baul responds, “Suit yourselves, if you value your own lives so little,” but he is smiling at the time.

It is Sebek who comes up with an idea for getting the remaining Briarland troops safely out of the citadel by utilizing Silver’s affinity for animals, asking Baul for his permission to take the lead. The group then does so despite Baul’s refusal, and he gives orders to his men to protect them.

Afterwards the group discovers magical sparkles in the shape of an arrow that Sebek recognizes as Baul’s magic: “He’s pointing the way for us. He has faith that we’ll catch up.”

They find a badly injured Baul facing down over a dozen Silver Owls by himself (Lilia having gone ahead with the egg at Baul’s insistence). Baul refuses to retreat in order to protect Lilia and the egg, sending the rest of the group on without him. Sebek, however, refuses to leave him behind, telling Silver to go to Lilia: “Protect what you hold dear! And I’ll protect what I hold dear!”

Sebek explains, “My fighting here won’t change what happened in reality. Nonetheless… There are some things I will never yield,” and takes down the remaining Silver Owls and their armored excavator on his own.

Baul compliments Sebek’s fighting and refers to him by his name (instead of “human”) for the first time, and blesses him “to honor the birth of a new warrior.” Sebek is then magically knighted with Briarland royal guardsman armor and the magearm of a fallen ally, as well as a crocodile mask.

Baul explains, “Among those in our squadron, only I am permitted to wear a crocodile mask.” He dubs Sebek a “half-fae warrior” and encourages him to continue fighting as well as he has been.