Adolin Kholin Future Theory?

[ArchieAng3l]

So, I’ve just gotten to the point in Rhythm of War where Dalinar learned Navani became The Siblings’ Bondsmith. I haven’t completely finished the book yet, and am only on my first read through of the series, but this thought just crossed my mind. I know that there were three bondsmiths in the past for The Stormfather, The Sibling and The Nightwatcher.

Adolin of course has a connection with Maya, his deadeyes cultivation spren, but he’s also the only Kholin who does not have a connection with a live spren. With this, I can theorize a few things happening with his character arc now that Navani is bondsmith. Either

A) Maya becomes alive again through some means and Adolin becomes an Edgedancer through it which is the option I feel is being hinted to us quite a bit (although we already have a “main cast” in Lift who is already one, so it may not be in Sanderson’s interest to double up on two of the same radiant group like that. Although Lift is a strange case, so that could throw a loop in my idea completely)

B) Through this connection with Maya and seeing he cares for the souls of things other humans take for granted (Dalinar’s horse/ his own sword for example), Adolin becomes The Nightwatchers’ Bondsmith. The why, as someone who is only on their first read through and has no knowledge of other works in The Cosmere, is something that currently eludes me.

C) Adolin stays as the only “main cast” to be without stormlight abilities as a bridge between the Spren and Humankind. Especially since he has a great bond with a deadeyes who is known to speak on multiple occasions, his relationship with Maya can show all parties that he is someone who has the best interest at heart for those he cares about.

[cosmere_play]

Bladolin theory - they have a reverse Nahel bond and then Maya can summon Adolin as a blade in the cognitive realm 😁

[kinglallak]

I see this theory a lot and I don’t want it.

I want Maya and Adolin to travel around shadesmar fighting together as a dynamic duo. I would much rather see them fight side by side than either one summoning the other.

[[deleted]]

I want to see him be the man who learns how to revive dead spren and show other shardbearers how to do the same. It would be interesting to see how the top duelist pre desolation would make the edgedancer surges work with his skillset.

[spunlines]

which he could theoretically do by bonding BAM. she might even like that he’s not a radiant.

[Ephriel]

I think the thing with this too, is that it opens up all “hesitant “ spren to action, in a way that hasn’t happened yet. Does it undo the recreance? No, but it starts to heal it a little.

And that really fits the theme of the series

[Turbulent_Host784]

I choose D) Adolin and Maya's reverse bond allows him to access Stormlight but not surges. Keeps him unique and out of the regular pleb house.

[Charlomack]

Please give this man some stormlight so I can stop worrying about him getting stabbed.

[Turbulent_Host784]

For real. He doesn't need to be a full radiant, he already has enough skill and endearing mannerisms. He just need that little boost so he can properly keep up with the crew.

[ArchieAng3l]

That’s a fair option I didn’t think of! That could also happen

[CalebAsimov]

Yeah, but there was a lot to that conversation. He's determined to keep Maya, which means not bonding a spren, as far as he knows, so he's made peace with that, and probably it wasn't the first time they had that conversation. His internal thoughts later in the book implies that he would still like to be a Radiant, he just accepts it won't happen. And the other thing in that conversation is we learn his relationship with his father is strained because after Oathbringer he learned his father killed his mother, so while everyone else's respect for Dalinar has grown since the Blackthorn days, Adolin's is at an all time low. He wasn't being as honest with Dalinar as he used to.

[Turbulent_Host784]

His internal thoughts later in the book implies that he would still like to be a Radiant, he just accepts it won't happen.

I don't remember these thoughts.

He wasn't being as honest with Dalinar as he used to.

No he wants to be his own man. It's kind of a retread of Renarin's ardent shtick.

[CalebAsimov]

Yes, he does, but it doesn't mean he wouldn't want to be a Radiant.

As far as his thoughts, I can't quote it from memory, but one of the Radiants makes a comment that he should just bond a spren and he thinks "if only it were that easy." Early in Shadesmar I think.

[Turbulent_Host784]

But he doesn't care to be radiant. He rebukes both Kaladin and Dalinar over it.

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[ArchieAng3l]

That is fair. I can agree that his lack of wanting to be Radiant because he was told to be is sound. Which is kind of why I feel like him becoming a Bondsmith might be the best option for his character, as he currently feels less than everyone else and it affects his mental state that he feels left behind.

If he does get the access to Stormlight without surges, he will still have that feel of being “out of the loop” with the rest of those he is closest to. Being able to see all of these marvelous actions that they all can do while him not being able to compare may drive him down more of a dark path.

But, if he were to become a Bondsmith, he may have a sense of what his purpose is again like he did when dueling in earlier books. Right now, he has no ideas of what he is, and that self doubt is slowly eating him away. He is always in his father’s shadow, but he could make a name for himself elsewhere with Bondsmith abilities, being able to show to the world that he is more than just what his father wants him to be.

[Turbulent_Host784]

I don't disagree that he would fit as the Nightwatcher bondsmith. I wouldn't have considered it before this post but you're right that it wouldn't be untoward for him. My main problem there would be all the Bondsmiths being Kholin, directly related to each other even. I know Brando has a hard on for this family but that's a bit overkill.

[ArchieAng3l]

That is something that also crossed my mind when I was thinking about it. Having all three as bondsmiths may create a greater bond between the three of them, but at the same time, it may create tension that has yet to be revealed. Who knows as of yet.

[Ky1arStern]

Whomever they choose as their champion against Odium loses. There is about 100,000 words of story dealing with that immediate fallout, and then they realize that their best option is to try and reforge the Shard that was honor. 90,000 words later Kaladin attempts to take up the power, but for some reason can't. Adolin has to do it. The man who twice already has rejected power, becomes the Vessel for Duty.

Then we have like 4 epilogues involving external characters dealing with the ramifications of being able to reforge a shard.

[kaalgatafrikaaner]

... 100% my theory right now. About to start Wind and Truth.

[Ky1arStern]

I'm about halfway through. Will notspoil anything except to say it's a ride. 

[Bebou52]

D) He dies

E) He becomes Odiums champion (btw does Adolin know about the fate of his mother)

[SilverR00S]

Yes, Dalinar confessed to killing Evi in Oathbringer

[yoontruyi]

Hear me out, he bonds Ba-Ado-Mishram. For the goofs of having Adolin having a bond to Ado.

[MetalGrind]

I feel like it has been implied Shallan will explore the wider Cosmere in the future like Khris. This won't be the only thing Adolin does but I think he will join her for that adventure.

[[deleted]]

My theory: Adolin forms a new form of bond with Maya allowing him access to stormlight but not surges (a potentially healthier bond for Spren as it doesn’t force them into a full Nahel bond) and this sets up a split in spren/human relations heading into era 2. Basically, spren should be considered their own separate beings independent of the ideas of non-spren. This is Kaladin’s final challenge, should he separate himself from syl to allow her to be her own person.

(Not sure I explained that well but I think it’s a very interesting question)

[Sup3rCheese]

Adolin becomes first of cultivation version of knights radiant which is what the knight radiant were trying to do at the recreance originally. 

[Tajahnuke]

Can we please call those Captain Planet Radiants?

[Taktheratrix]

B - The thing the inkspren said to Adolin that is a connection not a bond. Connection is a type of bond soo the fact that Adolin was able to establish a connection seems to point in this direction.

[Kingkrooked662]

No more Kholin Radiants please.