I Am CONVINCED This Is Violet's 2nd Signet - Onyx Storm Predictions | Fourth Wing/The Empyrean

HUGE POTENTIAL SPOILERS. Make sure to click away by the 1:00 mark if you want to discover what Violet's 2nd Signet that she'll get from Andarna turns out to be by reading the Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros
I fleshed this theory out a lot but it is largely based on a partially baked version of it I learned about from this Fantasy Fangirls podcast • What is Violet's Secon...
If you're interested in the fanfiction I'm writing that retells the events of Fourth Wing from Xaden's POV, here's the link to the text version archiveofourown.org/works/516...
Or there's also an audio version of the first few chapters at least here on my KZbin channel • Fourth Wing -Xaden's P...
Edit: This video ended up getting a lot more attention that I expected, click here to see how it ended up having a major impact on my fanfiction and might even end up being the catalyst that will hopefully allow me to become a full time author one day • How/Why my 'Fourth Win...
0:00 Context
0:58 Foreshadowing
1:43 The Theory
6:18 Summarizing
6:54 Really Speculative Theorizing
10:14 Check out my Xaden POV Fanfic!
Here's the link to that second video about what I think all of this implies about how the series will end. Again, I won't make it public until all the books are out (or maybe before the last book?) so it's still private for now, but when the time comes • Video

[@sabrinab6991]

Your Yin/Yang theory fits how I’ve heard the author using white/black picture when she released into on 3rd book.

[@EwokEmma]

This is so interesting I feel like nobody else has discussed these theories or mentioned having the plot of the next books figured out

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Thanks! There is a decent amount of speculation out there on her second signet specifically, but otherwise I think(?) I've figured out a decent number of endgame things but I'm guessing most of them would happen in the last book...

[@elenav608]

Another thing to consider is that the author gave us Violet's birth month as July. She could be either a Cancer or a Leo. Leo's are ruled not by a planet but by the sun itself.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Ooh, I didn't know that, but I feel like it definitely fits!

[@TheDragonstar2]

that makes so much sense conjuring light i bet that's the cure to the Venim

[@LaurenMilla]

I haven't loved any of the other theories, but I love this one

[@rbear882]

I agree with the sun/light significance. It's in her name - Violet (Ultraviolet light)

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Oooh! I hadn't thought of that one, but yes, absolutely!

[@michellemichaels7308]

RY said in an interview she picked violet because she wanted the nickname Violence

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@michellemichaels7308 True, but that doesn't necessarily preclude the possibility that there is more than one layer to it...

[@rbear882]

@@George_RR_Sagan Yes I was thinking this too. It could be both - a figurative nod to her ability to wield light AND a fun nickname for Xaden. But if both are true, she'd only be able to confirm the latter at this stage for the sake of not spoiling future books.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@rbear882 Totally, just like how she gave us chapters 9 and 16 of FW from Xaden's POV in the special edition but had to be very careful not to tip us off about his inntinnsic signet in those because it came out before IF

[@Laila.pachau]

WOW! This was so well put together, I can't wait to see more of this!

[@George_RR_Sagan]

I did make that other video I mentioned that I won't make public until all the books are out, but I don't have any plans to make other prediction videos at the moment at least. I am also writing that fanfiction though, and lots of people are asking for more of that too, so if you liked this I might recommend that... archiveofourown.org/works/51670834/chapters/130620541

[@youtopea]

I realized when you put the connections up with tiran and violence and andarna and light, RY said in an interview on yt that she chose violet because of the violence nickname. If light is her 2nd signant shed have 2 nicknames violight and violence. Matching with all the other pairs we see themed throughout, 2 dragons bonded to 1 rider, 2 riders with an inseparable bond because of their 2 dragons, the yin and yang dynamic of xaden and violet making them 2 halves of a whole that balance out, 2 sorrengail daughters, 2 originally thought to be dead sorrengail men, violet being tirans second rider( i strongly believe naolin turned venin forcing tiran to break their bond nearly killing him).

[@dreamcatcher4631]

Omg you’re onto something! Some of the best theories I’ve heard

[@libbysparks3590]

I love this!! I also think the worlding of the quote from the big bad venin is interesting. "you could harness the power of the skys". Key word: could... insinuating that she hasn't used it yet ??

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Maybe, though Rebecca Yarros has said in interviews that the 2nd signet has already manifested, but I get the sense that it's akin to how she probably caused the 'thunder snow' the first time she and Xaden kissed way before she first used it intentionally during War Games.

[@poizonali]

This makes so much sense, thank you for sharing!

[@kjH2H]

Great theory you also have a perfect xaden voice and great writing style love your work!

[@johanaalvarez7004]

OMG! I'm only halfway through and already I'm like YUP! THIS IS CANON! Amazing!!

[@sydneyszmuc5196]

For sure canon! The other theories have felt lack luster, obvious. These feel well though through.

[@alexismateu4950]

A very, very good job Marco. So happy to have discovered this channel. Please, keep working like you do right now because it is incredible. I am not refering only to predicions, which I have to admint that he information you share is very deailed, but for Xaden's POV book also. I hope you have a large "youTube" life.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Thanks @alexismateu4950 I'm very excited about the next video I'll be putting out in the next few days regarding that, so keep an eye out if you're interested.

[@alexismateu4950]

Of couse I will waint until you release the new video@@George_RR_Sagan.

[@debbieturk9241]

Love this theory! I was very close to this, not as close and thoroughly thought out as you, though! Great figuring it out.👋⭐👋

[@divya8684]

okay but haven't seen so many notice this but in Fourth Wing in the first stretch of chapters Mira asks Violet if she's good with daggers and Violet replies something like "Yes I'm quick. Lightning quick." See... that's way before we knew anything about dragons and signets. And ofc Violet was not bonded. That was an easter egg acc to me. In the very same way (I'm sorry I don't remember the chapter) somewhere around the first half of FW I swear I came across a line something like " The sun overpowered me" and since I was re reading a few months ago I kind of looked through the lines. Gosh I know I sound so crazy but till this date this lives in my head rent free . Will update this with Ch no once I reread FW. Do tell me about what y'all feel about this and try to look out for the wording and please update here if you're re reading FW/IF.

[@Jelly-sk2ry]

Omg, I love this!!!

[@emanuellafreitas4602]

I saw a theory that Violet's second signet would be extract the truth. As mentioned in the opening of chapter 35, "The only seal more terrifying than an instinctive one is the one that tells the truth, nd yet we left them alive" . In addition to nothing involving her being common, like being chosed by 2 dragons, it makes sense for her to also have a rare and powerful second signet, as is wielding lightning. And we have the scene where Violet accesses Xaden's mind after the throne scene, capturing the truth of his feelings. I think it would make sense, as the seals are linked to what the knight is and needs in his essence, what she always seeks is the truth at all costs. I think if the truth is truly his signet, it would help in the search for a cure for Xaden.

[@pheberebe2430]

That is my theory too. She is so hung up on knowing the truth about things. I even thought she was unreasonable in wanting Xaden to tell her EVERYTHING. It's a big part of her personality.

[@kinzakuroi]

And little old me was like „I‘m sure it’s resurrection because of Andarna‘s name“ 😂

[@christinelegrange]

And I thought her second signet would be to see the future. As she saw in her dream what would happen to her but it was actually what happened to Xaden at the end of Iron Flame.

[@mmmmmm-ko4gr]

GENIUUUUSSSS

[@u.v.s.5583]

Andarna, coming out of a dark cave, her tail stinger dripping dragon blood (not hers) and very lethal poison (hers): Yes, I am the light! Tairn: She indeed is. I am only from the Earth, I could never kill a dragon. Sgaeyl: I chose to protect her for her ruthlenssness. Deceased Solas: I must have fled from the wrong dragon. (Why do people always underestimate Andarna? She is very much of an extremely lethal dragon. Tairn has built things in his life. Tairn has built things working together with humans who are not his rider such as the wingleader - how many dragons have ever done anything like that? He uses the threat of destructive power to avoid killing. What has Andarna built if we do not count her wing musculature and, of course, the reignited flame over the wardstone? She solves problems by solving them the "now that you are dead we can rest" way. Your theory works, but there are significant countercurrents which can be addressed). To me, Andarna's way goes towards a massive confrontation with the Empyrean. She is like Glory of Wings of fire for lack of better analogy in my very limited knowledge of fantasy literature. She is deadly, poisonous, can shift her scale colors and is on the rise towards domination over more than just her own dragon tribe. Having said that, there are elements in Your theory that I love very much and feel that they must be true. The six planets and the one. It is difficult to be more explicit than that.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

You might be completely right and I'm just wrong, my conviction in a lot of this is much lower since most of the responses I got to it on my fanfic were basically "hmm, interesting, maybe?" Though I would mention that a lot of what you're saying there actually lines up pretty well with some of the other predictions this led me to about the endgame of the series that I'm not going to put out there yet... Basically, you're totally right that Andarna has some darkness to her and Tairn has some light, but I think it's a lot like how Violet is mostly light with a little darkness and Xaden is mostly dark with a little light. Together Tairn and Andarna give Violet a ~50/50 split that puts her in balance

[@George_RR_Sagan]

You had some great examples of Andarna's darkness, but I think it's worth pointing out that whenever she's ruthlessly lethal like that it's always against pure evil like Solas or venin. An example of what I mean about her and Violet being MOSTLY being associated with goodness/light and their reverence for innocent life is from near the beginning of Ch 28 of FW when Violet finds out that Mira is still alive after the gryphon attack... "I nod, fighting against the swell of emotions to keep my control... I will not show weakness. Not here. There's only one place I can go, one person who won't chide me for crumbling... I skip breakfast and miss formation to head to the flight field... where I drop to my knees. 'She's all right,' I cry, my head falling into my hands. 'I didn't leave her to die. She's alive.' There's a ruffle of air and then the hard feel of [golden] scales against the backs of my hands. I lean forward into Andarna's shoulder, sagging against her. 'She's alive. She's alive. She's alive.' I repeat it until I believe it."

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@George_RR_Sagan Good points. RY is a good writer in that she does not make it easy to interpret things. In the beginning Violet would completely trust Markham, and later she would completely trust the good Nolon. She trusts the young Aetos, and his very fine father too. Right here she completely trusts Andarna. If RY wanted to estabilish that whomever Violet trusts is a completely and utterly good individual, she would have written very different books. There is a meaning in the title of the series, Empyrean. In the end, the choice of the dragonkind will be of utmost importance, it is about who will have the say in dragon matters. If Andarna will end up being the Dragon Queen and will have to wield Violet and her boyfriend and their other dragons to do what has to be done, she will. She is not trying to protect Violet out of pure altruism, there is a reason why she waited for her arrival to finally hatch. I am really looking forward to what RY wants to do with all of this. Also, I like Your fanfic very much, thank you for sharing your talent and hard work. I love the conversations between Xaden and Sgaeyl :)

[@annorandom9066]

Okay, I just found your fanfic and... can we get another chapter? I just pulled an allnighter to read it and I NEED another chapter (or 50 of them) and am ready to stay awake another night to read it

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Haha, well thank you, that's very flattering! I just posted the last chapter a couple of days ago. I am working on Chapter 22 but I think it'll generally be a little over a week between most chapters going forward, maybe a little less for shorter ones and a little more for longer ones

[@annorandom9066]

@@George_RR_Sagan I meant what I said 😁 It's amazing to read the story from Xaden's POV, it recontextualises his character in a great way. Violent's POV has shown a lot of moments that were important to her in Fourth Wing, but we dont get to see a lot of Xaden's, which can very well be different or even some that she doesnt mention but were a lot more important to him. I also like that we get to see him interact with his friends, while he's actually being *him*, not just the facade he keeps. Iron Flame has shown a different side of him entirely, and it was kinda difficult to connect the 2 different sides of him in the two books, but your writing helps that a lot.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@annorandom9066 Dang, I've only ever gotten a few comments that make me realize something that I must have been aware of in the back of my mind but I'd never consciously thought about, and it always blows me away. I've only read through Iron Flame once (not counting all the times I've referred back to specific parts for my story) so I'm nowhere near as familiar with it as FW. I keep worrying that I'm making my version of Xaden too vulnerable or straying to far from that ruthless facade which is pretty much all we get to see of him in FW, and that people aren't going to like that. But the feedback about that has been almost universally positive and you helped me realize that maybe it's not just people being nice or liking my 'different' version of the character, but that there's a decent amount evidence in IF that he really is a lot softer underneath all that so maybe my POV isn't quite as far from canon as I keep worrying. Anyway, thanks 😊

[@annorandom9066]

@@George_RR_Sagan I listened both (audio)books way too many times in the last month (work's too boring otherwise), and I picked up on it a few times. He makes slips in FW too, but they are rare. After first round of War Games, after Violet finally wields lightning, he gives himself away, kinda. When in her room, he tells her that she can cry, punch, do whatever and feel whatever within the walls of her room - but not outside them. I think he does the same thing Violet does, when she's in pain - picture a box around the pain and then close it (probably why she's so good with her mental archives and shielding) - but with emotions. He feels whatever he wants, but shows only to his closest friends and within his walls. Otherwise, he keeps the emotions in the boxes (except around Violet, who actually manages to open them). He has weakness and he is vulnerable, but portrays confidence as much as he can. And when he cant, he chooses to hold onto some anger, because that's how he survived after the Apostasy. Because anger worked where other emotions didn't. After Violet almost dies in the end of FW, the fear doesnt stay in the box tho. I dont think it did before either, but he also hadn't had anything/anyone to be too afraid for. But in IF he does. And it rules him for most of the book, he mostly just chooses to mask it with anger, if he can. Xaden is vulnerable. He's just as broken as anyone else.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@annorandom9066 Wow, that is such a good interpretation of his character. It's more or less how I've been thinking of him for my story, but never bothered to stop and put it into words like that and I'm not sure I could have done so as eloquently or with as much of the evidence from IF to back it up. Definitely going to try to channel some of those vibes into the interaction I'm writing right now between him, Sgaeyl and Tairn. I hope you end up liking it.

[@tanyam8610]

I did not read the book but listened and i might be missing something but the is a prophesy where three brothers: dragon rider, griffin rider and evil one. And then there is a prophecy of one from sun to fix everything. I wish i had a hard copy of the book.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@tanyam8610 ooh, you're starting down the rabbit hole I went down that led to my endgame predictions...

[@dancesmokesmile344]

10:04 Jesinia is gonna survive, it says so in the first page of the book

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Totally agree, but there are at least a couple of others for whom I think the writing is on the wall...

[@patricianaomisiminic8864]

PLEASEEEEEEE ❤❤❤❤❤

[@JB-mw7zt]

I have so many ?s now that I’m listening as well as reading. Xaden means light - where we at on that? Is he a fallen angel - when he saves Violet and her bedroom, she makes this exact comment that he’s an avenging angel sent by the queen of the gods And what about the gold in his eyes - - is he part dragon? Tairn makes a very pointed comment calling him human like it’s an insult. As if he wasn’t always human.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

You haven't happened to read/listen to my fanfic by any chance have you? It's my imagining of FW from Xaden's perspective and it addresses my thoughts on a lot of those Q's you have... kzbin.info/aero/PLDW1bM67Cu_tk32qqwn-QNYeVZrYW568L

[@JB-mw7zt]

@@George_RR_Saganno but I’ll check it out. I rarely read fiction. This is a quirky rabbit hole for me. Def a novice.

[@patricianaomisiminic8864]

Please post the next chapter❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Took a week off to go on vacation during my kids' spring break, but back at it now, hope to post Ch 21 in a few days

[@sydneyszmuc5196]

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Omg! What if? Omg, yes it’s balanced!

[@gloria.l.geiger_]

The sun is solar power aka nuclear energy. I think vi is like a nuclear reactor whenever in films the reactors are breaking down they always show lightning strikes where it is. I don’t buy “talking to the dead” or “talking to the gods”. But if we look at what you’re talking about, this makes more sense.

[@Danielledahlinger]

Question - what is the difference between Xaden pushing into Violets mind in the throne scene and Xaden pushing into Violets mind to help her bring her power the first day she weilds with Professor Carr?

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Ooh, good question. I'd have to reread both scenes again to be sure, but if I'm remembering correctly when he did it in FW to help her during the lesson with Carr, it seemed like he was sharing a memory, with the sights and sounds but I don't remember her actually being privy to his THOUGHTS, only emotions. And then in the throne scene it was literally like he was reversing his inntinnsic power, where she was privy to his thoughts/intentions. Just the first thing that came to mind...

[@Danielledahlinger]

I have many other questions for your thoughts - 1) thoughts on us not quite understanding the full level of xaden and Violets bond? Seems to be more than love 2) thoughts on the connection between the Venin of Violets nightmares saying “I’ve waited centuries for someone with your power” and Andarna saying she waited 600 years to hatch for Violet. And the references to magic likes everything in balance. 3) is Carr role bigger than we thought as an enemy ? He knows more than he says yet he doesn’t seems to train Violet well considering how much Felix accomplished in a short time. Ok that’s all for now.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@Danielledahlinger Haha, soooo many thoughts, probably too many to put in a YT comment, but it's clear that you've spent a lot of time thinking about all of this so perhaps you'd be invested enough to consider my Xaden POV fanfic where I really dive deep into a lot of that, for example... 1) I almost wonder if their love has anything to do with it, I think it's mostly just the fact that they have the mental link due to their dragons being bonded and then from Xaden's end it's intensified by his inntinnsic signet. For a good example of how I suspect this works I'd refer you to how I wrote their first kiss scene here kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWHCnoOla9eVqbcsi=GiiukIRh1h2e8H3A&t=3336 2) I suspect that in Onyx Storm or one of the subsequent books we're going to learn about something akin to a prophecy about the person destined to defeat the venin and restore nature's balance being a rider with the mind of a scribe. That's how Andarna knew it was time to hatch when she heard about Violet's characteristics. I highly doubt this is actually how it will come to light or that all of the details will be spot on, but to give you a more thorough idea of what my current head canon is at about 32 minutes into that same chapter I linked above, I have Liam describing to Xaden more or less what I think the prophecy will turn out to be. 3) I feel pretty confident that Dain's dad will turn out to be a villian, perhaps even a venin and I'm sure there'll be others in his posse and I feel like Carr would be a pretty strong candidate to be among them. He certainly did a shit job of training her but I'm not sure if there's enough evidence as to whether it was just out of ignorance or actual malice. Let me know if you have any other questions, or if you do look into my fanfic, what you think of it 😅

[@Danielledahlinger]

Oh I’ve read your fanfic from XAden POV multiple times. And other people’s interpretation of Xaden pov as well. in my opinion yours feels the most akin to how RY portrays Xaden while still capturing the fact he’s 23 and a developing man. 😅. I’m open to talking outside of KZbin if you’re willing too deep dive with me lol. Im obsessed

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@Danielledahlinger Well thanks for reading it, I'm glad you liked it! I feel like I've already put most of my thoughts (at least on your first two Qs above) into the fanfic already so I'm not sure how much more I'd have to say on those. Granted I tried to do it with a bit of a "show don't tell" approach, so if you wanted to deep dive things more explicitly I'd be happy to. You'd be more than welcome to join the chat about my fanfic on discord here discord.com/channels/1118551175587971123/1175494346578067536 if you aren't already a member I think you'd need to join the Rider's Quadrant discord channel first. I'd be happy to do so in the comments on KZbin or AO3 too (frankly I might prefer that over email or something since more of that kind of engagement helps bring in more viewers/readers, haha 😅)

[@JB-mw7zt]

Did u see how varrish seems to speak to Liam

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@JB-mw7zt I did not! Any chance you could provide a phrase or something I could search in my kindle version of the book to find that part?

[@JB-mw7zt]

I noticed when I listened to the audiobook after I read it- Varrish talks with Violet during the torture scenes. He is talking to her. Each of his phrases could also be read as responding to Liam.

[@George_RR_Sagan]

@@JB-mw7zt Ooh, I'll have to go back and read that whole series of chapters with that in mind then. Thanks for the tip!

[@eeshitagovil]

🤍🤍👏👏👏👏

[@shereechristine]

You should post your theory now! Waiting until after the series is over is asinine!

[@George_RR_Sagan]

Haha, I take your point, but at the same time a lot of it is like "here's who is going to die." I remember when The Half-Blood Prince came out and a few hours before I was even able to get the book I got a spam email with the title "---------- DIES on page ---!!!" I was sooo upset that it was ruined for me that way and I didn't get to read it without knowing that ahead of time. I realize that this would be somewhat different in that people would only click on MY video if they chose to, but I don't want to give some asshole the opportunity to do the same sort of thing with information that I put out there. One concession I'm leaning towards making is that I'll probably make the video public before the 5th book comes out since everyone will presumably be theorizing about that sort of thing at that point anyway