The Tragedy of Adrin Valic
You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain antihero.
Since @sm-writes-chaos expressed interest I’m going to do what I always threatened to do and get emotional about my boy.
*There are some spoilers for TFE in this post if anyone cares*
Adrin: The boy who dreamed big, tosses his plans aside in order to support his family. He doesn't see it as a bad thing, just a sign that some things aren't meant to be. When his sister dies, that all changes, and he believes failing her is the reason he can't be happy. He blames two people for her death: Himself, and Lieutenant Oliver Rothe of the High Guard.
Oliver: The boy who loved too much and threw it all away to save his own ass. He is the poster child for sloth (the sin, not the animal or person). Fucks, smokes and drinks his pain away and doesn't care who he hurts.
During the events of ToL, Adrin and Oliver are forced to confront their shared history as well as their own shortcomings. When they are introduced to magic, Adrin sees it as a way to protect the people he loves while being able to explore new things like he always wanted. Oliver gives zero fucks. He doesn't even want to be there.
Unfortunately, things have to get more complicated for them, and they realize that the problems with magic are too complex for four very sad people to handle alone. The MCs each react to this realization in different ways. For Oliver, he finally sees how inaction can be more damaging than action, and he decides to break the cycle. For Adrin, he...gives up. He does the easiest thing possible to cope with the situation which also happens to be the worst thing.
Somewhere along the way, Adrin became the person he despised. I can name the exact moment it happens (Ch. 12 in case anyone is curious).
In TFE, you will see Oliver go from a passionless asshole to a man worthy of his family name and legacy. In the one year between ToL and TFE, Adrin has become the passionless asshole.
One of my absolute favorite, favorite lines in ToL: "If you are going to treat blood like currency, you might as well give it value."
Adrin can't give it value right now, he just can't. If he did, he would have to face who he has become. (What actually makes him an antihero is a huge spoiler but it’s…not good).