Apen Shephard

**Apen Shephard** is one of the main protagonists of *The Silver Eye*. The exiled king of Cedulan, Apen is on a quest to take his country back.

## Biography

Apen Shephard was born in Cedulan to Joshua and Isis Shephard in the year 858. His father had been hoping they would have a boy to inherit the throne, and he was given a very thorough education. His studies were encouraged with bribes of chocolate. Isis Shephard died a year after his birth for unrevealed reasons.

He meets Bhatair Hollingsworth for the first time at not quite two years old, but thanks to his father's rigorous training, he innocently one-ups Bhatair by reciting all of Bhatair's ancestors starting from the time of Augustine.

Later, after he shows kindness to the heartbroken king of Bellingrath, Bhatair tells him that he could end the conflict between the Shephards and Hollingsworths and become a great ruler.

When Apen is nine, "Bhatair" is killed in an attack at an amphitheater, and just a few weeks later Joshua Shephard is killed in a library.

    Apen is crowned king in Cedulan when he is still nine years old, but he doesn't reign long before he gives up his kingship and country for unconfirmed reasons and is executed by being thrown into the Deadlands to be killed by Weavers. The Weavers don't kill him, however, and he survives a journey west along with his horse, Ansam.

In Gallitan, he is taken in by a farming family called the Alvarados, and is slowly nursed back to health. When he regains consciousness, he is angry and depressed at the discovery that his horse has been sold and the discovery that he is now in a completely different country where no one even knows his name. He adopts the alias of Joshua Alfero, and although the Alvarados try to help him, he falls into despair, and tries to take his life multiple times.

One day, Apen enters Greenway, the capital of Gallitan, and discovers that Ansam was bought by the ruler Velvare Bamidele, who is actually Bhatair Hollingsworth. The two have a long conversation in which Bhatair encourages Apen to move on, and restores his hope for the future. However, he also forbids him from entering the Greenway, explaining that if he disobeys three times he will be executed. When Apen returns to the Alvarado house, Joe Alvarado gives him a puppy, whom Apen names Melly.

After Apen was imprisoned for a number of months for entering Greenway a second time against Velvare's orders, Joe brought back a sword from Preble so Apen could defend himself.

Four years later, in the comic's opening scene, Apen is chasing after Melly and sees a kid named Enel. Apen mistakes Enel for someone he knew in Bellingrath and tries to kill him, destroying a priceless book. Enel is really curious about who Apen is, because he has no sense of self-preservation. Apen spends the next two years running away from Enel, but unfortunately for him Enel is relentless and finds him as soon as he sets foot in Gallitan again. The fact that he made himself famous by saving a ship from Weavers probably didn't help.

## Physical appearance

Apen has black hair that shines blue in the light and brown eyes. His eyes turn blue and his hands and feet glow blue or black when experiencing extreme emotion, as he is a descendant of Melete and Syllor. Apen is described as "part caucasian, part south asian" and has a darker skin tone than the rest of the main cast.

As heir to the throne of Cedulan, he has a tattoo across his upper back and shoulders, like the rulers before him.

## Personality

Apen is a perfectionist. He tries to be quiet and controlled but can get frustrated when he is not listened to. He really loves the people he is close to, but he has a cold civility towards people he does not like. Apen's Catholic faith is very important to him, and because of it, he is always striving to become a better person. He hates that he is unable to reach perfection. Due to his devout faith, Apen does not approve of the use of Nedarian curses, since in his view they are an unnatural use of power over creation. Nevertheless, he would like to meet his immortal Nedarian ancestor, Melete Dolan.

Apen was trained by private tutors and is incredibly smart. He has whole lineages and ancestries memorized, which is what all Shephards do with their own family (Dolan descendants), but Apen takes it to a whole new level. When he was only a few years old, his father, Joshua, made him memorize all of the kings of the neighboring country Bellingrath just so Joshua could one-up Bellingrath's king, Bhatair Hollingsworth. Apen is also obviously good with geography, and drew eight hundred and fifteen Deadlands landmarks from memory... after navigating across it by the stars... despite being "mostly delirious through the second half".

He is generally prepared, wary at times, and a bit germaphobic. He is an ISFJ personality type and would be a Ravenclaw.

## Relationships

* April Shephard: April is one of Apen's sisters, and she is said to be his favorite sister.

* Joe Alvarado: Joe took Apen in after he found him in the Deadlands outside Gallitan. He cares about Apen a lot. He saved Apen from jumping off the Greenway bridge.

* Berlyne Alvarado: Berlyne is Apen's love interest in the story. Apen considers her "the pinnacle of self control and the sweetest person I've ever met", so he's obviously blinded by his affection. Although Berlyne is three years older, it is clear that they both have feelings for each other, though neither have yet admitted it. Berlyne became rather bitter after Apen tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.
* Chara Alvarado: Chara is Berlyne's younger sister, and she and Apen seem to have a friendship like that of siblings.
* Enel Lanum: Enel thinks that they are best friends. Apen disagrees.
* Melly: Melly is Apen's beloved dog that Joe gave to Apen. Apen loves Melly a lot.

Nathan and Delaney Hollingsworth at Apen's baptismApen as a young king, with the Silver EyeApen accidentally uses Syllor's curse1. ↑ Q and A 14: Has Apen ever been hugged, except by Chara?
2. ↑ Q and A comic: Where did Apen get the sword he has in Chapter 1?
3. ↑ Laura: "[Ruya] is mixed race, part caucasian, part south asian (like Apen's family is)."
4. ↑ The Silver Eye - 9x24 (also see Laura Hollingsworth's comment below the page)
5. ↑ The Silver Eye 10x07
6. ↑ Myers Briggs Personality Types
7. ↑ Laura: "Mod privileges let me track down the list: Official character Hogwarts houses"
8. ↑ The Silver Eye 9x30
9. ↑ Q and A 26