Warning: SPOILERS ahead forOnyx Stormby Rebecca Yarros.In Rebecca Yarros' recently releasedOnyx Storm, several new signets are introduced to the storylines, helping to expand the magic system found within the Empyrean Series novels. Signets are abilities or powers that riders can channel through a bond with their dragon. These abilities are always unique to the rider, based on their relationship with their dragon and their overall deepest needs, making no two signets exactly alike. While severalFourth Wingcharactersalready have powerful signet abilities, Yarros makes sure to increase this number inOnyx Storm.
Some signets inFourth Wing’s magic system are thought to be more common, with a select few signets achieving a truly rare status among the riders. Where at first both Violet andXaden’s powerful signetswere thought to be the exception, Yarros makes sure to give her othercharacters inOnyx Storma power boost as well.Some of the new signets found inOnyx Stormhave also been alluded to in previousEmpyreanbooks, while other signets have evolved past their known abilities, becoming stronger than ever previously recorded.
8Precognition
Aaric Greycastle’s Signet
For most ofOnyx Storm, it’s assumed that Aaric — a first-year rider also known as Cam Tauri — has not yet developed his signet ability. However, once he’s revealed to have the power of precognition, there are several moments throughout the narrative in which his signet’s presence is evident.Precognition grants Aaric the ability to see into the future, and while this is very similar to General Melgren, who has the specific ability of battle foresight, Aaric’s signet is less limited in what he can see.
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The use of Aaric’s precognition signet can be seen during several scenes in the early narrative. The first is when Aaric pulls Lynx out of the way of an opened door, and later when he instructs Violet to protect the Dunne Temple in Aretia, provides Violet with the weapon to kill Thehiophanie, and sends Sloane to help save Mira. These moments before his signet reveal felt incredibly random, but looking back, they were cluing readers into his signet manifestation and what he can do. Yet this is likely just the surface of what his precognition will accomplish in future novels.
7Rock Wielding
Imogen’s Second Signet
Rock wielding is one of the signets that is incredibly rare, and in Chapter 7 ofOnyx Storm,Sawyer even tells Violet that he “can’t think of a single rock or earth wielder in [their] history”. This ability has barely been discussed throughout the narrative, so the full extent of what the signet can do is unknown. However, the signet’s early mention inOnyx Stormhappens to help set up Imogen’s second signet reveal.Onyx Stormfinally confirms that those with a rebellion relic have the ability to wield a second signet, and rock-wielding just so happens to be Imogen’s secondary one.
This is the only moment Imogen’s second signet is displayed, but it’s assumed to operate as other elemental signets do, giving Imogen the ability to transform or manipulate rocks, or the earth, at will.
DuringOnyx Storm’s final battle, Imogen and Dain are readying to attack a venin from behind, but the dark wielder turns around and sends a blast of fire straight at them. It’s at this moment that Imogen’s rock-wielding abilities are seen asImogen transforms a normal shield into a rock that can withstand a fire blast. This is the only moment Imogen’s second signet is displayed, but it’s assumed to operate as other elemental signets do, giving Imogen the ability to transform or manipulate rocks, or the earth, at will.
6Air Wielder
Garrick’s First Signet
Garrick’s signet was kept under wraps throughout bothFourth WingandIron Flame, and it’s not untilOnyx Stormthat Yarros officially confirms what Xaden’s best friend can accomplish through his bond to his dragon.Garrick’s officially recorded signet is air-wielding,giving him the ability to manipulate the air in strong gusts of wind.
This can be seen when he helps to train cadets during Xaden’s signet sparring class. On multiple occasions, Garrick is depicted using his wind to blow weapons far out of another person’s hands and counter other strong elemental signets, like fire and ice-wielding. Violet first confirms this during their conversation in Samara, noting Garrick’s air-wielding signet still couldn’t have gotten him to her location as fast as it did.
5Distance Wielder (Walker)
Garrick’s Second Signet
However, like Xaden and Imogen, Garrick is one of the many riders known as “the marked ones,” or in other words, a child of the Tyrrish Rebellion. Thus, his rebellion relic also grants him a second signet ability. Garrick’s second signet is distance wielding, providing him with the ability to “walk” from one place to another hundreds of miles away, in only a matter of seconds. This is first revealed during Garrick and Violet’s interrogation with thesilver-haired venin, Theophanie, during which she calls Garrick a walker.
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InOnyx Storm’s later chapters, Garrick is seen utilizing this ability as he walks to both Cordyn and Basgiath to retrieve Jack Barlowe and bring him to Theophanie in the Rybestad Chest.Iron Flamealso alluded to the potential unveiling of this signet. When Violet is attempting to guess what Xaden’s second signet could be, she brings up the possibility of distance wielding.This is another signet that Xaden claims hasn’t been seen in centuries,making it incredibly rare and powerful.
4Dream Walking
Violet’s Second Signet
Violet’s second signetwas debated for over a year, the duration of the hiatus afterIron Flame’s release, especially after Rebecca Yarros let readers know it did manifest in the second Empyrean book. Thankfully,Onyx Stormfinally confirms the power Violet has been gifted by her second dragon, Andarna.Towards the end of the narrative, Violet and Xaden both discover her second signet is dream walking, lending her the power to enter into other characters' dreams and witness their worst nightmares. This is discovered when both characters awake from a nightmare, and Violet’s just so happens to be the exact description of Xaden’s.
This signet is the type that others cannot shield themselves from, and Violet would be able to enter someone’s mind in their most vulnerable state.
The dream walking signet is also considered to be a type of inntinnsic ability,as it is a mental power that gives Violet access to another’s mind. However, Xaden believes Violet’s is even more dangerous. This signet is the type that others cannot shield themselves from, and Violet would be able to enter someone’s mind in their most vulnerable state, likely without their knowledge. Her power also allows her to “meddle,” which is why she is able to speak with Xaden, and alter his dreams throughoutOnyx Storm.
3Storm Wielding (Evolved)
Theophanie’s Signet
Storm wielding is not necessarily a newly introduced signet, but, the level of power shown through Theophanie’s abilities proves the signet has evolved. Violet’s mother, General Lilith Sorrengail, was also a storm wielder, and an incredibly powerful one.Storm wielders are typically given the power to manipulate the weather, and bothFourth WingandIron Flameshow Violet’s mom creating powerful rainstorms.
However, Theophanie’s signet has evolved past the rudimentary basics of storm wielding, and she possesses abilities even Violet’s mom did not have. Theophanie, in addition to the typical skills of a storm wielder, can conjure massive tornadoes that can toss dragons and their riders from the skies, and enact mass levels of destruction. AftereverythingOnyx Stormreveals about the venin, including their agelessness and immortality, it’s clear Theophanie has had decades to hone her signet abilities into what they have become, making her signet more powerful than those with mortal lifespans.
2Ice Wielding (Evolved)
Ridoc’s Signet
Ridoc has the signet ability to wield ice, gifting him with the power to freeze, melt, or wield ice as a weapon at will. This signet is considered to be one of the more common abilities that rider cadets will manifest. However, inOnyx Storm, Ridoc’s power seems to have grown immensely. This is first seen early in the book, asRidoc, in a passionate attempt to relay to Violet why he needs to be on the “quest squad,“extracts all the water from an orange in his hand, and cracks it in half.
While Violet and her friends are stunned, Ridoc admits that he’s been attempting to hone and evolve his skills, clearly testing out every possibility that comes with being an ice wielder. Ridoc eventually gets to put his new skills to the test during the final battle inOnyx Storm, in which he pulls all the water out of a wyvern’s body, cracking it in half, and kills it. This is the only other signet ability aside from Violet’s that has proven to work effectively against the venin-made beasts.
1Agrarian
Kylynn’s Signet
Kylynn, also nicknamed “Battle-Ax” by Violet, is a member of Aretia’s assembly and a leader in the revolution. While her character is briefly introduced inIron Flame, and it’s known she’s a rider, her signet was never revealed before. However, during a brief interaction between sisters Mira and Violet inOnyx Storm,Yarros adds another unique signet ability to the Empyrean Series' magic system — that of an agrarian.
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Violet’s response to Mira’s revelation confirms that an agrarian is someone who can manipulate plants and nature, although the extent of this ability has yet to be seen.Onyx Stormcould be foreshadowing Kylynn’s power to have a more utilitarian use, such as speeding the growth of crops to provide supplies, or she could just use plants as actual weapons. Knowing Yarros doesn’t drop details like this without a reason, it’s expected the agrarian signet ability will play a larger role in afutureFourth Wingnovel.
Onyx Storm
Violet Sorrengail faces new political intrigue and battles old enemies while uncovering the secrets of her second signet. As she strives to save Xaden from venin corruption, her relationships with allies and dragons are tested, leading to intense confrontations and unexpected revelations in a world of dragons and magic.
