Aerin Valleros

Aerin, a character from the Blades of Light and Shadow series, is one of the Princes of Morella. Although he is first referenced in the premium lore tablet in Book 1, Chapter 2, and first seen in Chapter 7, his name is not revealed until Chapter 8.

Appearance
Aerin has black curly medium-length hair, hazel eyes, and light skin. In Book 1, he wears a gold crown, a red tunic with golden pattern, and a golden cape with a golden pendant. Baldur calls Aerin a "pipsqueak" possibly referring that Aerin has a smaller frame or stature than him. In Chapter 14, he reveals a Nerada Stone is fused into his chest. It is a red stone that absorbs the dark energy in a corrupted person, allowing him to mask his true nature. He states that it causes pain like his whole body is on fire.

In Book 2, Aerin wears a long green and brown short-sleeved coat with brown leather straps, a gray shirt with green sleeves and a brown leather glove, and black pants. He also wears a brown leather belt with a golden pattern, and with a beige bag hanging from it.

Personality
Aerin appears to be more meek and shy than his brother, and much kinder. He feels that he is unworthy to be king due to his older brother's popularity and having lived his life in Baldur's shadow. He is also well-educated and quick-thinking, and states that he wants to understand everything in the world. He says he loves putting things together and has a talent for solving puzzles.

In Book 1, Chapter 14, he reveals his true colors as a manipulative, power-hungry individual who has been spreading the Shadow Court's influence across the realm over a few years. He was a weak person, constantly bullied, doubted, and mocked, who found solace in his dreams invaded by the Dreadlord (speaking to him via the Onyx Shard in the Temple of Light). The Dreadlord promised him power, that he could rule as a King of Shadow.

Book 1

 * Chapter 2: Of Loss and Legends (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 6: The Cursed Isle (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 7: The Deadwood
 * Chapter 8: A Tale Of Two Princes
 * Chapter 9: The Queen, The Prince, And The Exile
 * Chapter 13: City of Wonders
 * Chapter 14: City of Horrors
 * Chapter 15: Into the Shadow
 * Chapter 16: Blade of Light and Shadow

Book 2

 * Chapter 1: Through the Looking Glass
 * Chapter 2: Coming Home (Determinant)
 * Chapter 5: Into The Woods (Determinant)

Your Character
You first meet him at the end of Book 1, Chapter 7, when he screams for help after being chased by a group of Drakna with his brother. You and your party help them take down the Drakna, and they agree to hire you for protection after Mal tells them that you are mercenaries.

You can choose to spend time with him in a premium scene and potentially kiss him. In this scene, he will give you a royal signet ring and tell you that if you find yourself in trouble, you can show the ring to indicate you are protected. He also tells you that he knows you are not mercenaries and that Lord Kelvin Gillbottle doesn't exist, but he believes that it's not his business to interfere. In Chapter 9, after you and your party escape the Drakna hive, you have an option to kiss him goodbye (if you kissed him in the premium scene) and to accept a lore tablet from him.

In Chapter 13, when you and your party finally reach Whitetower, Aerin welcomes you all to the palace. After your journey to the Temple of Light is revealed to be unfruitful, you and your friends return to the palace feeling defeated and unsure what to do with the shards and how to get your brother back. When you explain what happened to Aerin, he convinces you to show him the shards and that he knows of a ritual that can help. In reality though, he arranges the shards together to form the Blade of Shadow. When he reveals his true colors, you and your friends try to fight him but he is more powerful than you previously thought. Although he manipulated you to get closer to the shards, he admits that he did like you and the time you two spent together.

In Chapter 16, if you kissed him previously, your seduction skills will work against him as he falters in his attack against you. However, if you did not kiss him, your seduction skills will fail and he will see through your lies. Later, you have the choice to capture him in a premium scene or allow him to flee.

Baldur Valleros
Baldur is Aerin's older brother. Having been raised as the heir to the kingdom, Baldur is arrogant and boastful and his personality clashes with Aerin's. In Book 1, Chapter 8, when Baldur tries to shoot a unicorn, Aerin manages to catch the arrow and claims that life in his brother's shadow taught him to have quick reflexes. In Chapter 9, when your party is captured by the Drakna, Baldur suggests leaving Aerin to die because he believes that he is the one who got him in this mess in the first place. In Chapter 14, Aerin states he accompanied Baldur on his "stupid" hunting trips to travel the realm and spread the Shadow Court's influence. He then kills Baldur as revenge for the years of bullying and abuse he was subjected to. Their dialogue also implies that Baldur regularly beat him.

Lord Goffrey
Lord Goffrey was part of Baldur and Aerin's hunting expedition until the Drakna attacked them. He was killed by the Drakna.

Trivia

 * His crimes include murder and kidnapping.
 * He is one of the few love interests in a Choices book to end up being a villain.
 * In Book 1, Chapter 16, you have the option of capturing him so he can face justice for his crimes or letting him escape.
 * Aerin is a name considered of Hebrew origin meaning "Enlightened".