Sebek and Silver

Sebek and Silver have known one another for “about 10 years” because they trained together under Lilia from the time they were children. They say that there weren’t many children their age back home Sebek says that Silver was the only boy his age that he knew at all, but he insists they are not friends.

Sebek has an angry voice line about Silver giving him dumbbells on his birthday, assuming that Silver is trying to insinuate that Sebek does not train enough.

When Kalim asks if Sebek knows Silver Sebek explains, “I was taught by Lilia, alongside Silver. As loath as I am to admit it, he is my fellow pupil”.

Silver leaves the campfire alone during Vargas Camp to help a missing group of students because no one volunteers to go with him. Ruggie asks Sebek if he is sure he doesn’t want to go with Silver since “you two are always together” and Sebek insists they are not. “We simply happen to work together often as Malleus’ guards. He makes for a more competent guardsman than the rest of the rabble, at least.”

This is a very rare instance of Sebek making a comment that almost sounds like he is complimenting Silver, as—in general—Sebek seems to never not be competing with him. When they are reunited during Spectral Soiree Silver says he is relieved to see that Sebek is largely unscathed and Sebek responds, “I could hardly allow myself to fare worse than you”, and during Vargas Camp he agrees with Silver’s decision to complete their most time-consuming task first. Sebek insists, however, “Silver’s argument did not persuade me. I had the same idea from the start.”

Silver says, “Then we’re on the same page” and Sebek yells, “We most certainly are not!” Silver compliments Sebek repeatedly during Vargas Camp, telling him he does “nice work” getting mud out of his clothes and he has a “good eye” but Sebek always follows with “I wasn’t expecting praise from Silver” and “That’s the very least one should expect of Malleus’ personal guard!”

Sebek is often trying to scold Silver, telling Silver that he needs to work on his attention to detail during Vargas Camp. This scolding often comes in reaction to Silver complimenting Sebek, such as when Silver says that Sebek always does so well in class that he should “take a leaf from your book”. Sebek responds, “If I graced you with a leaf from my book you’d probably just fall asleep on it. These facts are rudimentary in the extreme.”

When Silver thanks Sebek for during the event and volunteers to take over Sebek’s cleaning duties so that Sebek can rest, Sebek responds, “At least you show proper respect…I suppose I can trust you with some menial chores.”

Sebek blames Silver for how often they lose Malleus, saying, “Do you not understand the gravity of your duty as a guardsman? You are lucky the he and Lilia took you in and raised you despite your humanity. Don’t you dare forget it!”

Silver sighs and responds, “I think we’re getting off track.” (There is a rather amusing continuity error on EN where there is a player option wondering why Sebek is referring to someone as “Master”, but the word “Master” was actually removed from Sebek’s dialogue, the EN player option is reacting to something that is only being said on JP.)

Silver often scolds Sebek, as well, but Sebek tends to pick and choose when he will listen. Silver tells Malleus that if he ever finds Sebek’s presence stifling then he should tell Sebek as clearly as possible, and Sebek responds, “I wouldn’t dream of stifling my liege”.

When Sebek says he will never remove his ceremonial robes again after Malleus compliments him Silver responds “That’s disgusting. Get changed.” (Sebek refuses until Lilia orders him to.)

Silver sometimes also apologizes on Sebek’s behalf for Sebek’s conduct, such as during Halloween when he apologizes to Malleus and Lilia for having to see Sebek yelling at visitors. Sebek insists that Silver is “too soft on them”.

Sebek will not listen to Silver at the start of Spectral Soiree, refusing to calm down and declaring he will dig under the gate of the school in order to escape. When Silver declares he is going to check on the other dorms (Diasomnia is often described as being “insular”, so it seems that Silver’s ability to take other dorms into consideration is rather rare), Sebek argues, at first, but Silver is able to convince him to “save the self-pity for later”.

We also see Silver successfully scolding Sebek during Beanfest (“Who are you to trouble (Malleus) with your personal desires?”) and Sebek’s labwear vignette (“—all you’ve done is compensate for your own mistake. It’s nothing worthy of praise.”) When Silver says “let’s get the wounded somewhere safe” during Leona’s overblot Sebek responds with “Do not presume to order me around, Silver!”, but we can assume that he does as he is told.

During Halloween Sebek says, “I know (Silver) is incredibly capable in a strictly physical sense…but I must rescue him too, if worse comes to worst”, but when Deuce points out that he sounds worried about Silver, Sebek insists, “I never said I was worried!”

In his birthday vignette we learn Sebek is jealous of Silver’s ability to enjoy coffee because Malleus enjoys it as well, but Sebek himself hates it.

Sebek explains, “…sometimes I see the two of them basking in the joy of a freshly bewared pot…IT REALLY GRINDS. MY. GEARS.”

Sebek goes on to explain that he refuses to be “the odd one out, drinking something different” by adding cream or sugar because he refuses “to let Silver outshine me in a matter so trivial! If I am to share the same experience as Malleus, it is IMPERATIVE that I conquer my aversion to black coffee posthaste!” In order to compete with Silver’s coffee-drinking Sebek is trying to “inure” himself to coffee, Malleus concurs that “(Sebek) can get rather worked up at times”.

We also learn from Jamil of a time when Sebek brought a cookie that Malleus had gifted to him to a flight class, keeping it in his pocket because, “he didn’t want to ruin the gift by eating it.” When the cookie inevitably broke Jamil says “(Sebek) was inconsolable. It was kind of heartbreaking to watch.”

To prevent Sebek from keeping the tea as a family heirloom Malleus says he will “give (Sebek) strict orders” to drink it right away, saying that, “at long last…I can endure a splash of coffee in my milk!” (Despite Sebek’s efforts Malleus is entirely aware that does not drink coffee. He gets him tea from Silk City because Jamil tells him that tea “can have a calming effect”.)

We also see Sebek competing with Silver during Glorious Masquerade. He insists that Silver compliment Malleus (Silver: “You were saying everything so there was no appropriate time to comment”) but when Silver does so Sebek tells Malleus outright that, of the two of them it is he, Sebek, who is more impressed by Malleus’ appearance.

Silver recommends that Sebek calm down because he looks like he might faint. When Malleus compliments both Silver and Sebek at the same time, Sebek declares that his outfit is actually one size larger than Silver’s.

Sebek seems to have very little patience with Silver’s habit of falling asleep just everywhere, telling him, “a proper retainer of Malleus should hold his head high!” and having Riddle take Silver away during Vargas Camp as “his blatant snorting is infuriating”. It seems that Sebek often becomes an impromptu pillow for Silver.

During the New Years event Sebek reacts poorly to Malleus referring to Deuce and Kalim as “true guardians”, and Silver holds him back while assuring him, “Your envy is understandable”.

Despite their surface-level frustrations with each other the two seem to agree when it comes to fighting, with Sebek calling for Silver during Halloween and to drive fairies away.

Silver will apologize on Sebek’s behalf, such as when Sebek refuses to assist the Fairy Gala IF group on the grounds that “fae knowledge would be wasted on greedy humans” and for insinuating that he and Silver would be protecting Malleus but no one else during the drama of Glorious Masquerade.

The fire lotus incident was an early example of Sebek and Silver getting along with one another, with the pair sending Malleus on to face Rollo while they fought off the magic-draining flowers alone.

At first Sebek insists that he could have handled everything alone and Silver responds that he could say the same, but then the pair come together with Sebek saying, “What could possibly be a threat when the two of us are united? NOTHING, THAT’S WHAT!!!”

The two seem to work well together in battle, and Sebek suggests a competition to see which of them can destroy the most flowers.

In a vignette Silver suffers from unflattering comments from his classmates due to his lack of emotional expression. Sebek offers to assist and declares that they will be training in the school’s courtyard, without explanation. 

Silver’s classmates are among the students who gather to watch them train and are successfully convinced that Silver is capable of emotion.

Sebek explains, “I figured if people saw you training, they’d never be able to call you expressionless. And judging by their reactions…HAAAH HAH HAH HAH! My plan was a smashing success!”

Sebek says that the next time Silver is given a hard time the ought to show them who he is and “drive them int submission so that they never dare to complain again!”

He follows with, “Your energies would be better spent on physical exercise than mental exertion anyway. You’re not cut out for the latter.”

Silver comments that Sebek’s phrasing leaves a lot to be desired, but perhaps he is trying to say that Silver does not need to change himself. 

Silver thanks Sebek for his help and Sebek insists that he only did it for Malleus.

Silver and Sebek also team up during Tsumsted, following up with Lilia and the Lilia-tsum’s pranks around the school.

When Sebek struggles beneath Malleus’ instructions on making his tsum seem less intimidating by patting it and poking it Sebek says, “I can’t keep doing this…oh, if only Silver were here…”

Silver and Sebek work together to knock General Lilia’s mask off in Book 7.

When Sebek is disheartened by his dream-grandfather refusing to eat the food he has prepared Silver encourages him with “This is all a dream. The real Baul still cares about you.”

When General Lilia begins to talk about all the reasons he dislikes children Sebek tries to intervene, saying that something might change his mind on the subject. Lilia is unconvinced, but Silver thanks Sebek for his kindness. (Sebek: “I need no thanks from you. I simply spoke the truth.”)

When Briarland guardsmen compliment Sebek on his skills Sebek decides, “I shall become a royal guardsman, serve the Draconia family, and devote myself to Briarland. Yes, that’s an ideal future course.”

This summons darkness that threatens to drag Sebek into a deeper sleep where he would presumably be placed in a dream that follows such a scenario, but Silver rescues him.

Afterwards Sebek says, “You look like you have more to say. Go on, then. I’m at fault for this, so I’ll listen,” but Silver merely expresses concern that he, too, might fall into such a trap. He asks Sebek to set him straight if such ever happens and Sebek assures him, “You hardly need to ask. I admonish you for any cowardly words or deeds as it is.”

Sebek breaks into tears upon hearing about Raverne and Maleanor, saying that he is not sad, he is furious, because if it were not for the Silver Owls then Malleus would have his family.

Sebek declares that he cannot stand being a bystander any longer and must join Lilia is protecting the princess with his life. When Silver reminds him that they are in a dream he asks, “Can we not simply stay here? If we don’t go back to reality, our liege will be able to live with his mother once he’s born here. And you can live with Lilia. What more could we ask for?!”

This summons the darkness once again, but while Silver orders Sebek to take out his weapon and fight, Sebek surrenders to it instead.

Silver saves Sebek a second time in Lilia’s dream, telling him to think about Malleus, crafting dreamworlds in complete solitude: “A retainer isn’t there to simply be a yes-man to their liege. Sometimes it’s important to speak out against them.”

Sebek concedes that Silver is correct, admitting that he has been second guessing his choice to stand against Malleus and haunted by the look in Malleus’ eyes, but his dream to become Malleus’ finest retainer cannot come true within another dream.

Afterwards, Silver admits that what Sebek said made him waver, and he too started to believe that staying in their current dream might make Malleus and Lilia happy. 

Silver is taken down by emotional turmoil of his own later on, with Sebek joining him in the darkness to save him. At one point Sebek threatens to tell an embarrassing story about Silver if he does not make his location known, but he later claims he has forgotten what he was talking about.

Upon discovering Silver, Sebek is forced into using his unique magic to save him, though he has not yet mastered it.

Silver is distraught over the thought of Malleus and Lilia hating him as the son of the man who murdered Malleus’ mother on behalf of the people who drove the fae from their own lands and Sebek declares, “I’ve always known you were a fool, but I never realized it was to this extent.”

He demands that Silver draws his weapon despite Silver’s refusals, as no amount of verbal reasoning is going to get through to him.

Sebek loses their duel, with Silver asking if Sebek allowed him to land the final blow on purpose. Sebek says that he sincerely fought with all he had, and Silver is simply that much stronger. 

Sebek scolds Silver for insulting both him and Lilia with the idea that he is hated, after Lilia invested so much time and effort into raising him into someone strong enough to stand against Malleus himself.

Sebek says, “Don’t you ever make a mockery of my—of OUR teacher again, Silver!” and collapses to the ground, sobbing.

(A significant moment in their relationship, as we see in a flashback that 7-year-old Sebek declared on his very first day of training that he would never consider Silver a fellow pupil.)

Silver promises to never lose his way again, and Sebek responds, “I’ll hold you to that!”

There is a rare example of Sebek complimenting Silver during Fairy Gala IF: he explains to Leona that Silver has a deep affinity for woodland creatures that makes obtaining their assistance a trivial task, and while he is human he has lived among fae from infancy and looks right at home amongst them. 

Lilia says that, when getting gifts, if he does not get the same thing for Silver and Sebek then they end up fighting, and they do seem to argue often.

After a long monologue on Malleus’ beauty Sebek encourages Silver to praise him as well. Silver says he couldn’t get a word in, assures Malleus that he looks truly handsome and Sebek interjects with, “I’m FAR more awestruck than Silver!”

After Malleus compliments Sebek and Silver both on their Glorious Masquerade outfits Sebek declares, “My outfit is one size larger than Silver’s!” (Trein: “What purpose is there in competing over clothing size..?”)

After their flower-slaying competition Sebek says he will be informing Lilia that he was triumphant, and Silver tells him that it is wrong to lie. They proceed to argue over who truly eradicated the most fire lotuses.

Sebek purchases a souvenir for Lilia in Fleur City and, upon learning that Silver has purchased one as well, says, “We’ll see which of our gifts (Lilia) likes better.”

After taking a picture with the Harveston group Sebek says, “Now I can show it off to Silver.”

Lilia says that he got Sebek and Silver matching T-shirts once, they both wore them on the same day by coincidence, and “they were NOT pleased.”

Sebek is delighted to be in the same group as Malleus for Port Fest, saying, “And Silver is in Class A? Ho ho, too bad, so sad!” (Silver: “What’s wrong with being in Class A?”)

After Sebek admonishes the prefect for referring to Malleus as “Hornton” Silver says he owes them an apology. Sebek responds, “I don’t need a lecture from someone who just stood there staring blankly, Silver!”

When Silver refers to Lilia’s magearm as a hatchet Sebek is scandalized, asking him if he is half asleep, but Silver is confirmed to be correct. Sebek asks, “Do you possess any critical thinking skills?! It clearly doesn’t look like something you’d use for everyday chores!”

During Lilia’s farewell party Sebek says he would kick the “disrespectful louts” that are Ruggie and Leona out of Diasomnia himself, but Silver forbids it. Sebek is not pleased.

When Silver calls for everyone to grab onto his hand to save them from an overblotting Malleus in Book 7 Sebek’s first response is “Why would I ever hold hands with you!?”

The two manage to work together to fight Lilia in his dream, but Sebek disapproves of Silver giving him orders. He also rankles at Silver expressing concern for him, telling him to mind himself, instead, is displeased when Silver encourages him to rest and when Silver tells him to be careful in the citadel.

Both Sebek and Silver have participated in hometown events for other characters, and both bought souvenirs for one another: Sebek buys cushions for Malleus and Lilia but decides not to get one for Silver, as “his dozing habit would get out of hand.” Instead Sebek purchases him a cuckoo clock, as it “could give Silver a wake-up call.”

Silver purchases a bookmark for Sebek in the Queendom of Roses, looking for a black one that Sebek would like as black is Malleus’ favorite color. Ortho recommends a bookmark made with blackberries and Silver agrees on the grounds that it both unique and looks tasty.

Silver discovers that the craftsmen of Clock Town also make horse riding gear and purchases gloves for both Sebek and himself.

Sebek is often insulting Silver: he brings up Silver’s sudden-onset drowsiness multiple times, saying during Book 7, “So you’re more awake when you’re asleep. That’s rich.”

Sebek has a voice line based on Book 7 about how he is so used to Silver following asleep without warning that his natural state is throwing hm off.

Silver has a voice line of, while Sebek may be loud, the prefect will likely never be bored around him.

Sebek will also tell Silver to shut up, tells him that he is not cut out for mental exertion and takes offense when Silver tells him to stay sharp: “It’s you who’d best not do anything stupid.”

When Silver goes to an experienced Sebek for Tsumsitting advice Sebek refuses because he managed even when he had no one to turn to for help, so Silver should do the same.

Silver apologizes for bothering him, saying that is a fair point, but despite his refusal Sebek then immediately tries to wake up Silver’s tsum as he had been asked.

After seeing a flashback of Sebek and Silver together as children Grim says that they haven’t changed a bit since they were kids but Sebek insists, “Don’t compare me with Silver! I’ve grown plenty more than he has.”

When Lilia tells Sebek not to rescue a baby bat from a tree because if it falls and gets hurt it can just heal up again Seek reflects, “Silver…for the first time in my life, I think I respect you.”

During Book 7 Sebek says that Silver has easily faced foes many times worse than the darkness and he will be perfectly fine.

Sebek will often be strict with Silver, telling him that he had better not do anything that would reflect poorly on Malleus and Lilia during Fairy Gala, and occasionally Silver will return this energy in kind, reprimanding Sebek for not being ready to act when he is truly needed if he gives in to paranoia and giving him orders during Book 7.

It is occasionally hinted throughout the game that Silver is actually the stronger of the two apprentice-guards. Silver calls Sebek out on his slow footwork during Glorious Masquerade and Sebek loses a mock-battle they have in the school courtyard, with Sebek assuring Silver than one day his progress will soon outpace Silver’s own. 

Sebek also fights Silver and loses when trying to protect Malleus at the beginning of Book 7, and we see a flashback of mock-battles between the two when they were children, when Sebek would lose to Silver.

Sebek admits that he has only ever beaten Silver a handful of times.

In another flashback we see a young Silver using magic before Sebek, and when Sebek attacks Silver in earnest in an attempt to save him from his own despair, he loses again. Silver suspects that Sebek actually lost the fight on purpose in a bid to save him but Sebek retorts with, “I fought with all I had! But I couldn’t win, confound it! Do you know how frustrating that is?!”