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Okay, both theories are very interesting, but I always thought of something completely different.
We’ve been told that Cale is unusual because he doesn’t absorb the soul fragments in ancient powers to make them his own. But what if this is what makes them powerful?
In most fiction, souls hold immense power, enough to rival ten suns, as a TV show I can’t remember the name of once said.
I know it doesn’t make much sense, but think about it: the reason one can’t use the full power of an ancient power is that they don’t absorb the remnants of the souls of the ancient bearers. If they did, the surviving will of these fragments would help the current bearer (Cale) unlock the full potential of these powers.
For example, purifying dead mana, controlling trees, tracking divine artifacts, alerting to danger (“Are you trying to sacrifice yourself?”), etc.
And the reason nobody knows this is that the surviving wills of the ancient bearers, if they decide they don’t like you, will do everything possible to prevent you from absorbing them while also refusing to give you any advice or help.
The only way to avoid this would be to have a very strong will and/or soul or to know this information beforehand.
That’s my theory.
Why were ancient powers in TBOAH not considered strong? Let’s talk about it.
What was that thing in the beginning of the novel that talked about ancient powers not being powerful? And despite people having them, they weren’t used very much in The Birth of a Hero because of that?
Cale had said it before when he talked about the fiery thunderbolt in tboah when Pendrick had gotten it, saying that it was of equal power to like a lighter or something, nowhere as powerful as what they needed it for.
But when Cale got it, it’s suddenly just gods damnation?!?!?? And it had the power to purify dead mana and black magic like this whole time?? That needs to be a topic for a whole other post (I mean seriously, that’s overpowered af, and no one would’ve ever known because only Cale can hear the voices of ancient powers, so Pendrick would forever have absolutely no idea it could do that)
I mean, it could be the way he spent all that money just to give it more power in a way Pendrick would never be able to do because they’re so non-materialistic.
But still, it’s just such a big difference????
The Sound of the Wind, Toonka in TBOAH never used it, again, maybe just because it might’ve been a bit too similar to magic, but he also called it weak and just never used it!
The Unbreakable Shield was just never used period, despite its usefulness and utility.
I have no idea about the Sky-Eating Water because I think it also never got used.
But why does something about Cale make these powers stronger?
They’re not even fully combined with his soul! They’re not at full power!! What the hell???!??
I have a theory about this, but you have to hear me out-
So TBOAH was the story about the creation of a hero through suffering and overcoming adversity, right?
Maybe his ancient powers are so strong because of a, “high risk, high return” type thing?
For example, referencing one of my past posts, every time he coughs up blood from an ancient powers recoil, he should be dying. His plate is weak, it’s made of glass, and every time he uses one last their limit, that glass will get closer snd closer to breaking, that is, without the Crybaby ancient power.
The Crybaby ancient power serves as a cushion, a shock-absorber, for every time one of the other ancient powers tries to recoil against Cale’s glass plate.
Just think of it as, every time Cale has ever coughed up blood, he should’ve been dead.
And of course, Cale, with barely any self preservation instincts, or those mental blocks in his brain that would usually be like “oh using that much would be too harmful, let’s not,” Mr, I can used Instant for 5 seconds and come out looking like I jumped into a blender, who is willing to sacrifice himself at anytime for the ones he loves, will always use the ancient powers past the safe limit.
For taking such a large backlash, one that would, should, be strong enough to kill you, you must be rewarded with something pretty powerful, right? Balance and all that shit?
Does any of this make sense? It’s like 1 am right now