Au revoir~

[noitar_arat]

As Valentine's Day has passed over silently for me (or else it would have except comrade surprised me with strawberry pocky treats...I have to...think up of White Day gift...) I got to thinking as I usually do about one of my favorite conundrums in relation to Mabinogi's storyline. I came to the realization that as of now, BB is the closest thing to the Milletian having a full on (dark) romance arc with a main storyline NPC that neither ditches them for a lesser npc *portiacoughs* or has the memory of a goldfish *aodhan/eavancoughs. So, I think is about time I transfer over my rabid rants from Discord into proper essay format since that is literally what this blog was originally intended for.

 

A-hem
In the long and intricate narrative of Mabinogi, few relationships are written with the emotional intensity, ambiguity, and sustained development that characterize the dynamic between the Milletian and Vayne (later who is revealed as Balor Beimnech). While many NPCs interact meaningfully with the player character, Vayne stands apart as the closest the main storyline comes to constructing a fully realized romance arc.

Unlike more static or one-sided affections, Vayne and the Milletian’s relationship unfolds gradually, layered with curiosity, tension, betrayal, and longing. From their earliest interactions, the narrative emphasizes mutual intrigue. Though Vayne attempts to maintain emotional neutrality, the narrative repeatedly empasizes that he cannot help but be drawn to the Milletian. His composure frays not out of just scheming necessity, but from personal fascination. Importantly, that fascination is reciprocated: the Milletian, too, is written as being equally curious towards to him (even going as far to ponder what sort of puzzles Vayne may like just from observing him while he looks over the relic they are both supposed to be figuring out). This mutual gravitational pull sets the foundation for something far more intimate than a simple hero–villain rivalry.
 

Vayne initially treats the Milletian with mostly mild curiosity but overall keeps a neutral composure(He will not respond to much if you try gifting him items nor states much of anything talking to him outside of the quest objectives). When he and the Milletian venture inside the Tech Duinn and he witnesses the Milletian get knocked over by enemies he considers trivial—Tathlums, of all things—he moves to shield them. And mocks them. To him, these are beneath notice. He stands firm while the Milletian is knocked around, and there is a clear gap in experience and power.

But then something shifts.

Instead of responding defensively, the Milletian reacts with curiosity. They are not embarrassed. They are not angry. They are intrigued by the technique Vayne used to remain unmoved. That curiosity changes his tone almost immediately. The mockery fades. In its place is something quieter—engagement.

This moment is important because it is the first real bonding point between them.

Vayne does not just brush off the question. He entrusts the Milletian with a personal memory. Inside the broken horn he carries—a fragment that later strongly implies it once belonged to his original form—lies the story of how he developed Iron Will. He shares with the Milletian how he learned to remain unshaken, how resolve became literal strength.

That is not just casual exposition the narrative is portraying. Here, Vayne is also demonstrating vulnerability.

For someone who prides himself on control and distance, giving the Milletian access to a formative memory is significant. It establishes something foundational: the Milletian does not simply oppose him. They understand him. And more importantly, they want to understand him.

From that point forward, the narrative builds on that initial thread of curiosity.

The turning point arrives with the grand revelation at the end of Generation 22, when Vayne’s true identity as Balor Beimnech comes to light. The betrayal is narratively devastating for the Milletian despite all clues pointing to the very obvious (even BB himself states it), yet what follows is even more telling.

In Generation 23, despite knowing the truth, the Milletian mistakenly refers to him as “Vayne" at first before switching over to calling him Beimnech. This detail is subtle but profound. In the Milletian's POV they still see the other as "Vayne" first before fixing their slip up. It is a strange feeling to BB on his end as he admits to hearing his true name spoken from the Milletian. The names signifies not merely as just being alias, but the two versions of himself that exist. The emotional weight of that recognition suggests that what they shared was not erased by revelation.

From this point forward, the dynamic shifts. BB no longer distances himself; instead, he actively seeks the Milletian out. His confrontations grow more charged. He challenges them, counsels them, and observes them with an intensity that borders on jealousy. He even seems to be jealous of the Milletian being surrounded by loyal companions—perhaps projecting his own history of betrayal among the Fomors, perhaps grappling with the realization that he is not, and may never be, the Milletian’s priority. His aggression in Generation 24 feels less like political escalation and more like emotional unraveling.

Nowhere is the romantic subtext clearer than in their private confrontation in Bangor. BB ensures they are alone, incapacitating others to create an intimate setting devoid of witnesses. The tension is palpable. In a moment that transcends standard villain theatrics, he reaches toward the Milletian in a gesture that can either be accepted or rejected by player choice. If rebuffed, he reacts with visible offense—an emotional response rather than a strategic one. He speaks openly of one of his desires: to live alongside the Milletian. It is, in essence, a love confession.

Yet BB is not naïve. Even in this vulnerable moment, he reins in sentiment and reminds both himself and the Milletian of the inevitability of their opposition. Their ensuing battle is charged with exhilaration rather than hatred. For him, combat becomes intimacy—the closest he can come to connection within the confines of fate. The fight is not merely ideological; it is deeply personal.

Generation 25 reinforces this dynamic through absence and yearning. Circumstances force BB into a position where he must hold himself back, almost restrained from further pursuing the Milletian. Though he regains some composure, the longing remains evident. The Milletian is physically near yet emotionally distant, preoccupied by world-altering events that deny them any true opportunity for rest. Meanwhile, BB confronts the looming end of his own existence, anxious and increasingly aware that time is running out.

Their final confrontation distills their relationship to its purest form: just the two of them. BB ensures the rift responds only to the Milletian, crafting one last private arena. He is no longer at full strength; he knows he will soon fade. After his defeat, the choice to deliver the final blow—or not—rests with the player. Regardless, he appears almost content. 

There is something lingering—unfinished, but not resentful.And as Noitar Arat begins consuming everything, he offers the Milletian a final choice: leave… or stay with him.

That invitation speaks volumes. It reframes the entire conflict as something that could have been different under different circumstances.

Afterward, the narrative confirms the emotional impact. NPCs comment on the Milletian’s expression shifting when he is mentioned. Melwyn brings him up, and the Milletian experiences flashbacks. Even imagining him in connection with Vertrag causes visible disturbance. The story explicitly shows that the Milletian was affected.

Other characters in the story may orbit the Milletian, and some may express admiration, loyalty, and/or even affection. But none are given a relationship arc that evolves so deliberately across multiple gens—beginning with friendship, escalating through betrayal, transforming into obsession and confession, and culminating in an intimate, choice-laden finale. Vayne is written not simply as an antagonist, but as a near-equal counterpart—someone who sees the Milletian fully and desires not merely to battle them, but to stand beside them as equals and lifetime partners.

This can be further backed up as we go back to g24 we meet the Incubus King, who brings up his past over how he fell in love with a Dannan woman and reveals that Fomors have one love in their lifetime. You could even argue this is further backed up since C1 with Kristell and her attachment to Tarlach that is still prevalent to this day( just a different sort of love towards the pint-sized version). If we put this to BB, his behavior towards the Milletian correlates.He even says so at the end of the chapter when we are given a peek into his POV of events showing his first meeting with the Milletian. To him, the Milletian is "the One" for him.
 

In that sense, he represents the closest the main storyline has come to a canon romance: not a declared love, but a sustained, emotionally charged partnership defined by tension, choice, and yearning.