#frugalkubabble

And then I chatted with some friends and I said that I think Cyran could be "Pride," but they said he'd be Envy. As such, my single functional braincell actually contemplated about both sides of Cyran as either Pride or Envy~ LOL

The rivalry with Merlin + the whole "classmates but Merlin was the one who got chosen/recognized/remembered" dynamic is very easy to interpret that as Envy. That kind of setup usually leads to a character who feels overshadowed or stuck in second place. But even with that in mind, I still lean more toward Pride, mainly bc of how Cyran actually acts, not just the situation he's in.

(Pls read the Cyran & Cass convo first)

Looking at that interaction with Cass, what really stands out is Cyran's tone and how he responds to Merlin being praised. He doesn't react like someone who wants what Merlin has. Instead, he subtly questions and downplays it. When the book is called "invaluable," he immediately challenges its relevance. When Merlin is framed as the greatest mage, Cyran doesn't argue directly; but he also doesn't agree. He creates distance. That's a really important distinction, bc it shifts the emotion from wanting to evaluating.

Envy is about wanting what someone else has.

Pride is about believing you already deserve it (or more).

Cyran consistently leans toward the second. His "Admire? Ha." isn't just denial; it sounds dismissive, almost like admiration itself is unnecessary or misplaced. If he were Envy-driven, you'd expect at least some sign of tension or fixation; something that shows Merlin's existence bothers him on a deeper level. But instead, Cyran feels… steady. Composed. Even slightly condescending at times. He doesn't orbit around Merlin; he stands parallel, like he doesn't see a real gap between them. Even that line where he questions why the world knows Merlin so well, he's not saying "I wish I had that recognition." He's basically implying that fame isn't a reliable measure of worth. That kind of thinking protects his own sense of value without needing to compete directly. It's less "I want what you have" and more "what you have doesn't prove you're above me."

For some reason, I feel like he knows that he's talking to Merlin and he's aware Merlin's amnesiac; and the reason they fell out of touch is bc he did something that Merlin wasn't pleased with. 🤔

Something like... time loop magic or memory-wiping magic. 😲 lol seriously though, I feel like he's the one behind the odd happenings after the festival.