Szeth's highspren might actually be Auxiliary...

[Ninth of the Night]

I know most of us dismissed this idea since Szeth's highspren is uh, well, he's a jerk. While Aux as we know him is a wonderful person, one of the greatest cosmere characters around.

Now take into consideration that we only have that impression of him based on who he is at the end of his journey. Long after he's already gone through much growth and change.

Quote

What’s life about, if not growth? I don’t like the person I was back on Roshar either, before we knew each other.

I like change, Nomad. My kind were too static for too long, particularly we highspren. And sometimes the way you talk makes me think you believe, or can pretend, that you are an entirely different person now.

If Aux didn't like who he used to be, then chances are we won't either. Regardless if he is Szeth's highspren or not, he's not gonna be a likeable person when we finally meet him at the beginning of his journey.

Now granted, the ONLY reason I think these two might be one in the same is Szeth specifically noted he still didn't know his spren's name. Sure this could mean nothing, but it could also be foreshadowing. That gives us two options, either it's just a random highspren and his name will mean nothing to us, or it's Auxiliary. Take into account that we would only have the first option if Sunlit Man wasn't released and intended to be read before WaT, which increases the likelihood.

I know this isn't much of a "theory", I just wanted to prepare myself and perhaps others. Aux is legit one of my favorite characters after only one relatively short book. Sad to realize he won't be as charming once we meet him in the present timeline.

Edited October 21, 2024 by Ninth of the Night

[BinarySecond]

auxiliary

/ɔːɡˈzɪlɪəri,ɒɡˈzɪlɪəri/

adjective

 

1. providing supplementary or additional help and support.

    

   Szeth already has a sword...that would make his Shardblade auxiliary by definition? If you were going to be strict about it. And the highspren are!

[elihaun]

Szeth is not Nomad though?  Isn't nomad Sigzil?

[listerfeend]

1 minute ago, elihaun said:

Szeth is not Nomad though?  Isn't nomad Sigzil?

I think the implication is that Szeth, in the time of The Sunlit Man, is no longer bonded to Aux, and that sometime between SA5 and SA6 Sig actually bonds Szeth's former Highspren

 

[Ninth of the Night]

2 minutes ago, listerfeend said:

I think the implication is that Szeth, in the time of The Sunlit Man, is no longer bonded to Aux, and that sometime between SA5 and SA6 Sig actually bonds Szeth's former Highspren

 

Possibly. I think even if he is Aux, it doesn't mean Szeth's bond will be broken yet. Sigzil stumbles upon Aux after he obtains the dawnshard. These events might not take place until the back 5 Stormlight books. Sunlit Man occurs some time after those I believe.

I mean, Szeth could be dead from old age in the time of Sunlit Man honestly.

[BinarySecond]

17 minutes ago, Ninth of the Night said:

Possibly. I think even if he is Aux, it doesn't mean Szeth's bond will be broken yet. Sigzil stumbles upon Aux after he obtains the dawnshard. These events might not take place until the back 5 Stormlight books. Sunlit Man occurs some time after those I believe.

I mean, Szeth could be dead from old age in the time of Sunlit Man honestly.

Or otherwise unavailable 

[coolsnow7]

1 hour ago, Ninth of the Night said:

Possibly. I think even if he is Aux, it doesn't mean Szeth's bond will be broken yet. Sigzil stumbles upon Aux after he obtains the dawnshard. These events might not take place until the back 5 Stormlight books. Sunlit Man occurs some time after those I believe.

I mean, Szeth could be dead from old age in the time of Sunlit Man honestly.

Correct. 

This theory falls squarely into the “hey, could be, who knows” category.

That said, I like it more than almost every other theory in that category because a) it doesn’t draw any crazy conclusions or rely on new whacky Cosmere mechanics; and b) because it is noteworthy that Brandon is hiding Szeth’s spren’s name from us.

Oh and c) because it adds a very satisfying layer of development to know that Szeth’s current spren develops from being kind of an insufferable idiot to the heroic Aux.

Edited October 21, 2024 by coolsnow7

[Ashbringer he/him]

I always thought Auxiliary was a name given once he became somewhat more industrial or was partially consumed - it's a strange name, and the other named highspren is called Winnow.

It's possible that Aux is Szeth's spren. (It's also possible he's Nale's spren, although honestly either losing their bonds this book in a way that Sigzil could bind them would be somewhat odd.)

[Shacharma]

I think that Szeth's spren is displaying an attitude common among the highspren in general (e.g. Nale bowing to accept his spren in the memory), so Aux may well have had this emotional journey and change without the need to claim he is a specific highspren which we already know....

[Through the Living Shadow he/him]

On 10/21/2024 at 12:49 PM, Ashbringer said:

I always thought Auxiliary was a name given once he became somewhat more industrial or was partially consumed - it's a strange name, and the other named highspren is called Winnow.

It's possible that Aux is Szeth's spren. (It's also possible he's Nale's spren, although honestly either losing their bonds this book in a way that Sigzil could bind them would be somewhat odd.)

Wowowow… but what if Szeth dies this book? He could sacrifice himself! 

[Treach]

On 10/21/2024 at 8:47 AM, BinarySecond said:

auxiliary

/ɔːɡˈzɪlɪəri,ɒɡˈzɪlɪəri/

adjective

 

1. providing supplementary or additional help and support.

    

   Szeth already has a sword...that would make his Shardblade auxiliary by definition? If you were going to be strict about it. And the highspren are!

Yeah, I've been thinking along the same path. However, I think it may be more likely that Aux is Nale's spren. Reasoning being its more 1 for 1 in terms of "additional help or support" since Nale is already a Herald, and also that he and Sig are seemingly going to be in the same location. 

[RefusesToElaborate]

On 10/22/2024 at 1:01 AM, elihaun said:

Szeth is not Nomad though?  Isn't nomad Sigzil?

I think Szeth is pretty strongly earmarked for death in the near future.

[Ninth of the Night]

Yay! My prediction was correct!