The Man of Hours

[marsoupial they/them]

So, I recently got a signed first edition of Shadows of Self, and a day or so ago I began a reread. 

I noticed some things, one big thing in particular.

On page 58, Marasi is interviewing some urchins on the street, who, aside from making some suggestive comments and making her blush, mention a character from "nursemaid tales": the Man of Hours. From what I've managed to gather, the Man of Hours was a storybook figure who lives "at the edge of dusk". From the way Marasi reacts to their mentioning of this man, he is a commonly recognized figure in Basin culture, but in the vein of kid's stories rather than mythology. 

As I read it, an idea struck me: the Man of Hours, at the edge of dusk (presumably far, far away). 

I think that this "Man of Hours" is Kelsier, in the Cognitive Realm, during the events of Secret History. Kelsier walked to the edge of the lands he knew, all alone, for hours and hours and indefinite amounts of time. He then returned to Luthadel, and hung around while the world ended and begun anew around him, and now we assume that he is still around, making mischief and such. He then began consulting Spook (the Lord Mistborn) as he ruled. We know that Spook had children, so perhaps Kell told Spook of his journeys, and Spook passed those stories on to his children, and so on and so forth. 

Perhaps this is one of the examples of Kelsier's influence in Era 2 that Brandon referred to? We'll have to wait and see.

So... Thoughts? Angles? Impressions? Input would be great. 

Thanks.

[Rogueshar]

I think this is a really cool theory.

[marsoupial they/them]

Thank you very much!

[A Budgie she/her]

Agreed. I had forgotten about this 'Man or Hours;' but since he's mentioned and so well known, he must be fairly important. He's not at all mentioned in the original Mistborn books, so he would have to be something a bit more recent. And since we know a lot of what happened in the Mistborn books became the stuff of legends, and even if it's more 'fairytale' than 'mythology' so it was almost certainly someone who actually existed. Kelsier certainly seems like a good bet for this 'Man of Hours.'
Makes me wonder who else is hiding in fairytales and legends...

[DarkJester]

Nice one bleeder. I love theories like this that just add a little more depth to the story. Is this theory correct? WHO CARES?! From now on, when I reread that part, this is gonna come to mind and it will just make that part that much more special. Thanks for this.