Editing User:Truthwatch3r/Syl

<pre>{{character
|image=Sylphrena by stinkypanda.jpg
|abilities=[[Nahel bond]], [[Windrunner]] magic, {{tag+|Splinter}} of [[Honor]]
|bonded=[[Kaladin]], [[Relador]] <small>(formerly)</small>
|titles=Ancient Daughter
|species=Honorspren
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}</pre>

{{quote
|I bind things, Kaladin. I am honorspren. Spirit of oaths. Of promises. And of nobility.
|Sylphrena speaks to [[Kaladin]] about her nature{{book ref|sa1|67}}
}}

'''Sylphrena''', or '''Syl''', is an [[honorspren]] on [[Roshar]]. She has a [[Nahel bond]] with [[Kaladin]], making him a [[Windrunner]].{{book ref|sa1|67}} She is a [[splinter]] of [[Honor]]{{wob ref|3017}} and one of the last eleven remaining honorspren created directly by the  [[Stormfather]]. Among her kinsmen, she's known as the '''Ancient Daughter'''.{{book ref|sa3|108}} At first, [[Kaladin]] believes her to be a [[windspren]]; she only reveals her true nature several months after the two first meet.{{book ref|sa1|67}}

== Appearance and Personality ==

{{image|Kaladin and Syl by Audrey Hotte.jpeg|side=right|width=300px}}

=== Appearance ===
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}

In the [[Physical Realm]], Syl can take on a variety of appearances, including a ribbon of light,{{book ref|sa3|5}} a flurry of leaves,{{book ref|sa1|23}} flame,{{book ref|sa1|40}} or a small cloud.{{book ref|sa1|27}} However, she prefers the form of a young woman about a handspan tall, with an angular face and flowing hair that fades into mist behind her head.{{book ref|sa1|2}} She usually wears a long, flowing dress, of a girlish cut.{{book ref|sa1|9}} She will often augment it with various other articles of clothing, like a cap, a jacket or an umbrella, or swap it out for similar attire, like a [[havah]] with a [[safehand]].{{book ref|sa3|46}}{{book ref|sa3|5}} Regardless of her clothing, however, she always goes barefoot.{{book ref|sa3|91}} In any form she takes, her entire form has a uniform, blue-white color, and glows with faint blue light. While [[Kaladin]] and [[Lunamor]] can always see her, to others, she's invisible unless she wills herself to be seen.{{book ref|sa1|21}}

Syl is also able to appear as a shape-shifting [[Shardblade]]. She occasionally appears as a sword or shield, but most often manifests as a spear.{{book ref|sa2|86}} Common between all these forms are a physical makeup of glowing, silvery metal and glyphs engraved on the surface.{{book ref|sa2|86}}{{book ref|sa3|10}} As a Shardspear, the glyphs are swirling ones engraved along the spearhead.{{book ref|sa2|86}} She is able to appear in varying lengths, but typically appears with a cylindrical grip, unadorned save for a foot long helical swirl of metal right before the tip. The spearhead has a single serration at the base where it connects to the grip.{{file ref|Call_to_Adventure_cover.jpg}}{{file ref|Windrunner_by_Felix_Abel_Klaer.png}}{{file ref|The_Next_Ideal.png}}{{file ref|Bridge_4_poster_without_text.jpg}} As a Shardblade, Syl typically appears sleek and beautiful, with a Windrunner glyph centered on the blade. Lines running off the glyph towards the hilt are reminscent of her hair.{{book ref|sa3|10}}

In [[Shadesmar]], Syl is incapable of changing forms, or becoming invisible.{{book ref|sa3|97}} There, she is human-sized, looking like a pretty girl with blue-white skin.{{book ref|sa3|90}} She wears a dress but, like with her Physical Realm form, she is barefoot.{{book ref|sa3|91}} This being said, while she is humanoid, she does not share human biology -- her eyes are decorative rather than functional, and she sees the world in the same way spren without human features, like the [[Cryptic]]s, do.{{book ref|sa3|97}}

{{image|Cloud-Haired Syl by clarinking.jpg|side=left|width=350px}}

=== Personality ===
{{quote
|I know this because I am intelligent and articulate. You should compliment me now.
|Syl{{book ref|sa2|9}}
}}

Syl is generally cheerful and mischievous, often making jokes and playing pranks on those around her. She's highly irreverent, and can be forgetful at times.{{book ref|sa3|10}} She's unflinchingly optimistic, always trying to see the best in people, and always believing that there's something good waiting in the future.{{book ref|sa1|11}} She does have a bit of a prideful streak, although she often plays it for laughs, calling herself a "tiny piece of god" and trying to trick [[Lunamor]] into building a shrine for her.{{book ref|sa2|9}} She's constantly curious about the world around her, particularly about people and how they look and act, often using her invisibility to spy on them at an uncomfortably close distance.{{book ref|sa1|17}} She has little sense of propriety in this regard -- at some point, she even sneaks in to observe people being intimate with each other.{{book ref|sa3|10}}

She has a very strict code of ethics, despising deception and lies, although she eventually becomes more willing to be cunning.{{book ref|sa1|34}}{{book ref|sa3|17}} Syl believes that being a [[Windrunner]] is not about finding justice, and that the use of their power is only justified when protecting others.{{book ref|sa2|22}}{{book ref|sa2|18}} She can be very assertive and even angry when she perceive someone as acting in a wrong manner.{{book ref|sa2|18}}{{book ref|sa2|16}} However, she also believes in the "us versus them" duality in the war against [[Odium]], and becomes uneasy and confused when the lines grow blurry.{{book ref|sa3|31}} She can be rather forceful in her attempts to do what she thinks is right, even when it could hurt the emotions of others. She despises people who wield dead [[Shardblade]]s.{{book ref|sa3|10}}

Syl is particularly focused on keeping [[Kaladin]] in a healthy mental state. She always tries to push him to keep going even when he's at his worst, and encourages him to let himself be happy.{{book ref|sa1|11}}{{book ref|sa2|86}} When he's in the depths of depression, she looks after him and tries to comfort him, often acting like his sounding board when he's unwilling to speak to others.{{book ref|sa3|91}} However, while her efforts are always well-meaning, she can sometimes try and force him to act her way, even when he's perfectly capable of disagreeing.{{book ref|sa3|10}} Eventually she turns her efforts towards her desire to understand Kaladin's feelings. After she asks [[Dalinar]] to help her, the [[Connection]] that results brings back Syl's past and causes her to sink into bouts of both grief and the depression naturally attendant to it.{{book ref|sa4|63}} This gloominess is exacerbated by the corruption in the tower at the time but persists after the tower's functionality is restored.{{book ref|sa4|114}}

== Abilities and Attributes ==
{{image|The_Next_Ideal.png|side=right|width=250px|As a Shardspear}}

Like other larger spren, Syl can change her form and choose who to show herself to, making her an excellent spy.{{book ref|sa3|97}} She can float or fly through the air, as well as walk sideways, and is particularly good at finding things.{{book ref|sa1|55}} She can also use [[Adhesion]] to stick things together. She generally uses this to play pranks on people, though she has also applied this ability to assist people.{{book ref|sa1|2}}{{book ref|sa3|77}} She is capable of giving small "pinches of energy." She's also, like all [[honorspren]], able to sense an oncoming [[highstorm]] days prior.{{book ref|sa3|20}}

=== Nahel Bond ===
{{quote
|I'm behind what is happening to you. I'm doing it. It's both of us. But without me, nothing would be changing in you. I'm... taking something from you. And giving something in return.
|Syl to [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|sa1|57}}
}}

As an honorspren, Syl has the capacity to bond with people, gaining higher sentience in the [[Physical Realm]] in exchange for granting her partner -- currently [[Kaladin]] -- [[Windrunner]] abilities, including the [[Surge]]s of Adhesion and [[Gravitation]].{{book ref|sa1|57}} Beyond that, once her Surgebinder reaches the Third Oath, she is able to transform into a living, shape-shifting Shardblade. In this form, she's capable of communicating with [[Kaladin]] telepathically.{{book ref|sa2|86}} 

However, there is a downside to this bond. When Kaladin strays from his Oaths and break them, Syl begins to lose her higher mental functions, to the point where she essentially dies.{{book ref|sa2|64}}{{book ref|sa2|69}} However, she is brought back once Kaladin returns to the path of the Windrunner and swears the Third Oath.{{book ref|sa2|84}}

Syl also protects Kaladin from the [[Thrill]].{{wob ref|11966}}

== History ==
=== Creation and Early Life ===
{{quote
|Sylphrena is both old and young. Old of form, but young of mind.
|[[Notum]]{{book ref|sa3|108}}
}}

Sylphrena was born some time before the [[Day of Recreance]]. She was one of the first [[honorspren]] to be created by [[Stormfather]] rather than [[Honor]].{{book ref|sa3|108}} Although she was too young to form a [[Nahel bond]], she did so anyway with a man named [[Relador]].{{book ref|sa3|95}}{{book ref|sa4|55}} He took part in only one battle before dying, which sent Syl into a state of deep slumber. This led to everyone assuming she had passed away, but it also saved her from becoming a [[deadeye]] during the Recreance, as befell with so many of her siblings.{{book ref|sa3|108}}

Over a thousand years later, she was found and reawakened. The Stormfather, not willing to let her come to any more harm, tasked [[Notum]] with keeping her safe in one of honorspren cities.{{book ref|sa3|108}}{{book ref|sa3|110}} However, she wasn't happy with staying put. Sometime around the year 1170, she felt drawn to [[Kaladin]], a soldier in [[Amaram]]'s army, and the way he treated children as a squad leader. Against the wishes of other honorspren, she ran away to bond with him. This led to her kinsmen posting a huge bounty for bringing her back to their capital, [[Lasting Integrity]].{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa3|108}}

=== Forming a Bond (1168 - 1173) ===

==== Meeting Kaladin ====
{{image|Honor is Dead by ThomasW.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Syl speaking with Kaladin for the first time}}

{{quote
|It seems that if you're worried about hurting people, you shouldn’t be afraid to help the bridgemen. What more could you do to them?
|Encouraging [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|sa1|11}}
}}

Leaving [[Shadesmar]] made Syl lose most of her cognitive ability. She became mostly mindless, acting much like her cousins, [[windspren]].{{book ref|sa1|2}}{{wob ref|4071}} However, she didn't forget her desire to accompany Kaladin, and followed him closly throughout his time in Amaram's army, during his battle with [[Helaran Davar]], and, later, as he was a slave. Initially, she only played pranks on him, but in time his proximity began to return her mind and intelligence.{{book ref|sa1|2}}{{book ref|sa1|57}}

She did not speak to Kaladin until he found and kept the leaves of [[blackbane]], a strong poison. Kaladin was initially unwilling to respond, thinking he was going insane, but eventually gave in.{{book ref|sa1|2}}{{book ref|sa1|4}} From then on out, she would accompany him everywhere. During his first bridge run, she urged him to get up and move, and as he spiraled further down, beaten by the constant battles, she tried to keep up his spirits.{{book ref|sa1|6}} Eventually, however, she stated that she was unable to see him in that state any longer and departed.{{book ref|sa1|9}}

Reminded of how Kaladin felt hope when he found blackbane, and unaware of its purpose, Syl left to look for more of the plant. By the time she returned, Kaladin was on the verge of suicide, and she found him standing on the edge of the [[Honor Chasm]]. When she finally managed, with significant difficulty, to bring him the leaf, Kaladin was initially amused that she'd thought a poison would make him feel better. In the ensuing conversation, she managed to convince him to give life another try.{{book ref|sa1|11}}

==== Bridge Four ====
{{image|Deathspren by Ashley Coad.png|side=left|width=250px|Keeping Kaladin safe from the [[deathspren]]}}

{{quote
|Soon you'll hardly be a spren at all. You’ll be a little translucent philosopher. We’ll have to send you off to a monastery to spend your time in deep, important thoughts.
|[[Kaladin]] to Syl{{book ref|sa1|30}}
}}

Though Kaladin's initial attempts to sway over [[Bridge Four]] weren't very successful, Syl continued to support him. He started using her as a spy -- initially, to keep an eye on [[Gaz]], though she eventually began looking after the other bridgemen as well.{{book ref|sa1|14}}{{book ref|sa1|21}} She continued to discuss various topics with Kaladin in hopes of understanding humans. It was during that time that she first noticed [[Dalinar]], and immediately believed him to be an honorable man, despite her partner's misgivings.{{book ref|sa1|21}}

Shortly afterwards, Syl and Kaladin discovered that [[Rock]], one of the other bridgemen, could see her.{{book ref|sa1|21}} From then on out, when Bridge Four was given chasm duty, she assisted both him and Kaladin in searching for valuable items.{{book ref|sa1|23}}{{book ref|sa1|27}} She also continued spying on [[Gaz]].{{book ref|sa1|30}}

After the catastrophe brought about by Bridge Four's side carry, Syl stayed with Kaladin when he was left out in the [[highstorm]] as a punishment and protected him, first by trying to hold back the storm, then by fighting off the [[deathspren]] attracted to him with a sword.{{book ref|sa1|35}}{{book ref|sa1|38}} Afterwards, she began to remember a little of her past, and though they were only vague memories, they were enough for her to be happy at hearing the [[Immortal Words#First Ideal|First Ideal]] of the [[Knights Radiant]] and to react with hissing at the mention of [[Odium]].{{book ref|sa1|43}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}

As Bridge Four continued with their chasm duty, Syl eventually revealed herself to all of them at Kaladin's urging as she continued to assist them all.{{book ref|sa1|49}} As Kaladin began to notice his budding [[Surgebinding]], she admitted that she was no ordinary windspren; although she still didn't remember too much, she knew her bond with Kaladin was responsible for what was happening to them both.{{book ref|sa1|57}} From then on out, she encouraged Kaladin to train his abilities.{{book ref|sa1|59}}

Things came to a head during the [[Battle of the Tower]]. There, Syl manifested as a full-sized figure and remembered her true nature. She encouraged Kaladin to say the [[Immortal Words]] and accompanied him during the battle.{{book ref|sa1|67}} Afterwards, she pushed Kaladin further to trust Dalinar, leading to Bridge Four becoming the Kholin bodyguards.{{book ref|sa1|73}}

==== Training a Windrunner ====
{{quote
|Something dangerous is coming.
|Upon seeing [[stormspren]]{{book ref|sa2|9}}
}}

Syl's respect for Dalinar only grew after he discarded [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]] to free the companies of [[bridgemen]], and she continued to push Kaladin to trust him more.{{book ref|sa2|9}} She also told Kaladin about the possibility of other Surgebinders being out there and insisted that he become what Dalinar needed, as she began to notice [[stormspren]], Odium's servants, out and about.{{book ref|sa2|9}} When [[Amaram]] arrived, causing Kaladin's opinion of Dalinar to drop by his association, Syl insisted that he speak with Dalinar about his experience at Amaram's hands and be frank with him; he did so, though it was seemingly to no avail.{{book ref|sa2|16}}

It was around this time that Kaladin began backsliding on his oaths, causing Syl to worry about him.{{book ref|sa2|22}} Nonetheless, she stuck by him and gave him a warning when [[Szeth]] was coming to assassinate Dalinar. She also immediately recognized that Szeth was not a Surgebinder, despite his abilities.{{book ref|sa2|32}} Despite her increasing knowledge, though, she was still surprised at finding out that Kaladin could heal Shardblade wounds.{{book ref|sa2|33}}

Even as Kaladin's mental state continued to deteriorate, Syl still insisted that Dalinar could be trusted and that Kaladin should open up to him, especially after learning about [[Moash]]'s plot to kill [[Elhokar]].{{book ref|sa2|41}}{{book ref|sa2|44}} Eventually, after a successful training in the chasms that saw Kaladin learn how to fly, and her sharing more information about Surgebinding, he was almost convinced, but his motivation evaporated when he saw that Dalinar made Amaram the head of the new Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|52}}{{book ref|sa2|55}} Syl still managed to convince him that things would be different during [[Adolin]]'s four-on-one duel. Unfortunately, she was wrong, and when Kaladin asked to challenge Amaram as a [[King's Boon|boon]] he was arrested.{{book ref|sa2|57}}

==== Death and Rebirth ====
{{image|Kaladin in WoR.jpg|side=right|width=200px|Kaladin summoning Syl as a [[Shardblade]]}}

After Kaladin was arrested, Syl was disappointed and subdued.{{book ref|sa2|57}} Soon, Kaladin began to abandon his Oaths in his mind, causing her to begin losing her sapience.{{book ref|sa2|64}} She became more childlike and easily distracted, losing her bond with Kaladin to the point where he could not draw upon [[Stormlight]]. Nonetheless, she retained enough presence of mind to remind him to say the words, and to provide him with one last breath of Stormlight when he fell into the chasms.{{book ref|sa2|68}}{{book ref|sa2|69}} It was then that she died, the strain on her bond too great to continue.{{book ref|sa2|74}}

{{sidequote
|Kaladin! Stretch forth thy hand!
|Just before becoming a [[Shardblade]]{{book ref|sa2|84}}
|side=left|size=250px
}}

Still, death is more of a spectrum than a state to a spren. As Kaladin began to slowly return to his Oaths, growing wary of Moash's plan, his connection to her deepened again.{{book ref|sa2|77}} Finally, he took a stand to protect [[Elhokar]] from the would-be assassins. This seems to be what reawakened Syl, as she managed to go to him.{{book ref|sa2|83}} Reappearing as a ribbon of light, she encouraged him to say the words, defying the Stormfather, and commanded him to stretch out his hand. This, along with Kaladin swearing the Third Oath, allowed her to manifest as a [[Shardblade]].{{book ref|sa2|84}}

After scaring off Moash and [[Graves]], the two set out to protect [[Dalinar]] from [[Szeth]], who was attacking in the chaos of the [[Battle of Narak]].{{book ref|sa2|85}} In the ensuing fight, she showcased her ability to transform into many different weapons, culminating with Kaladin using her to slice through Szeth's wrist, breaking his tie to the [[Honorblade]]. After making sure that Kaladin took the Blade with him, Syl demanded -- and received -- a smile from him.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

=== The True Desolation (1174) ===

==== Hearthstone and Kholinar ====
{{image|Thepathtohearthstone.png|side=left|width=250px|Syl coming to [[Hearthstone]] with Kaladin}}

{{quote
|The bond isn't about what’s right and wrong, is it, Syl. It’s about what '''you see''' as right and wrong.
|[[Kaladin]] speaking about fighting [[singer]]s{{book ref|sa3|31}}
}}

Immediately after the Battle of Narak, Syl explained to Kaladin that other Shardblades were dead spren, and that [[Honorblade]]s were something different.{{book ref|sa2|87}} A few days later, the two left for [[Hearthstone]], Kaladin's hometown, to make sure that his family was safe.{{book ref|sa3|89}} After they confirmed that [[Lirin]] and [[Hesina]]--along with the newest addition to the family, [[Oroden]]--were fine, the journey turned into a hunt for the [[Parshmen]] who departed in the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|7}}{{book ref|sa3|10}}

During that time, Syl began to worry about Kaladin's happiness, eventually growing to believe that he needed to find himself a romantic partner. Though she lightly teased him about some girls and [[ardent]]s met on the way, and revealed that she had been spying on people in their intimate moments, her true goal was to get Kaladin together with [[Shallan]], as she believed that the [[Order of Lightweavers|Lightweaver]] was making him happy.{{book ref|sa3|10}}

This fun ended when Syl and Kaladin came across a group of former Parshmen and Kaladin willingly gave himself up to see where the encounter would go.{{book ref|sa3|14}} Noticing that there was a [[voidspren]] accompanying the group, Syl began to act like a windspren again in order to fool her.{{book ref|sa3|17}} This being said, as [[Yixli]] wasn't always present with the newly-minted [[singer]]s, she did have the time to discuss matters with Kaladin. During one such conversation, she admitted that she didn't know why killing singers didn't feel wrong to her when killing humans did.{{book ref|sa3|20}}

{{image|Kaladin vs a Voidbringer.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Killing a [[Fused]] as a [[Shardblade]]}}

The two eventually departed in a [[highstorm]] after seeing a [[Fused]] in [[Rathalas]].{{book ref|sa3|31}} Once back in [[Urithiru]], Kaladin focused on training his squires, with Syl accompanying him. At one point, she noticed some of her old [[honorspren]] acquaintances, and noted that they were not very fond of her, even though they had also begun searching for bondmates.{{book ref|sa3|37}}

After briefly going to [[Thaylen City]] to open its [[Oathgate]], she and Kaladin departed for the besieged [[Kholinar]], accompanying [[Elhokar]], [[Adolin]], Shallan and a few squires and guards.{{book ref|sa3|58}} Once in the city, Syl was the first to notice the [[Sja-anat]]-corrupted spren.{{book ref|sa3|61}} While Kaladin was working with the [[Kholinar Wall Guard]], Syl assisted him in various minor ways.{{book ref|sa3|77}} During one battle in particular, she managed to point him towards destroying a Fused [[gemheart]], which was the quickest way to kill it.{{book ref|sa3|79}}

During the battle for [[Kholinar Palace]], Syl accompanied Kaladin as a weapon. There, he managed to kill the voidspren toying with [[Gavinor]], which left her shaken by the impossibility of the deed.{{book ref|sa3|84}} Still, she continued to fight, although despite everyone's best efforts, she, along with Adolin, Kaladin, Shallan, [[Pattern]], and the Wall Guard commander, [[Azure]], ended up dropped into [[Shadesmar]] after trying to unlock the Oathgate.{{book ref|sa3|87}}

==== Journey Through Shadesmar ====
{{quote
|You'd better catch me before I scamper away! Wow! I’m feeling capricious today. I might just vanish again, off to where nobody can find me!
|Talking to the crew of ''[[Honor's Path]]''{{book ref|sa3|102}}
}}

Once in Shadesmar, Syl took on a humanoid and human-sized form and began acting more like a physical creature.{{book ref|sa3|87}} Early on, her focus was on keeping Kaladin functioning in the face of his ongoing mental breakdown caused by the events of the palace battle.{{book ref|sa3|89}} Eventually, he felt good enough to ask her if she could carry a message to Dalinar, and she explained that she would lose her mind if she strayed too far from him into the [[Physical Realm]].{{book ref|sa3|91}} 

{{image|Kaladin and Syl by cccrystalclear.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Trying to comfort Kaladin}}

During the journey south, towards a ship that could take them to [[Cultivation's Perpendicularity]], Syl shared some of the story of her past with Kaladin.{{book ref|sa3|95}} After they got aboard the [[Reacher]]s' ship, she also mentioned that honorspren like her were not well-liked among other sapient spren, though she played it off by trying to get Kaladin and Shallan together.{{book ref|sa3|99}} It wasn't until the group began exploring the city of [[Celebrant]] that she finally revealed that there was a bounty on her head placed by her kin.{{book ref|sa3|102}}

Nonetheless, the group was able to use this to their advantage. As they had to escape the Fused scouring the city, Syl noticed an honorspren ship called ''[[Honor's Path]]'' that was captained by her old minder, [[Notum]]. By calling the crew's attention to herself, she was able to convince them to take the group aboard and depart, although this also meant that she was taken prisoner.{{book ref|sa3|102}}

During the journey, Kaladin attempted to have Syl released; he was getting closer to the Fourth Ideal, which briefly allowed her to speak directly into his mind despite not being in [[Shardblade]] form. Seeing Kaladin's progress as a Radiant and hearing about a Stormfather Bondsmith, Notum agreed to let them go.{{book ref|sa3|108}} The entire group save for Azure departed at the shores of [[Longbrow's Straits]], a sliver of land in Shadesmar, and Kaladin flew them to [[Thaylen City]].{{book ref|sa3|110}}

Syl didn't participate directly in the fight for the [[Thaylenah]] Oathgate, although she did participate in Shallan's illusory distraction.{{book ref|sa3|116}} When things turned bad, she pulled Kaladin out of the sea of beads and encouraged him to say the [[Order of Windrunners#The Fourth Ideal|Fourth Ideal]].{{book ref|sa3|117}} When he couldn't, she embraced and comforted him--just in time to see [[Honor's Perpendicularity]] open.{{book ref|sa3|118}}{{book ref|sa3|119}}

Crossing the Perpendicularity, Syl returned to her semi-corporeal form and accompanied Kaladin as a weapon in the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|120}} After the battle, the two discussed once more the righteousness of fighting [[singer]]s, who were only trying to regain their home; Kaladin decided that he would still fight for humanity's survival and reassured Syl that he would not kill her, or any other sapient spren, ever again.{{book ref|sa3|121}} Eventually, the two went to rescue [[Skar]] and [[Drehy]], two of Kaladin's squires who had managed to get Gavinor out of Kholinar.{{book ref|sa3|122}}

=== Invasion of Urithiru (1175) ===

==== Evacuation of Hearthstone ====

{{sidequote
|Grumble grumble. Get in line, men. Storming rain, ruining otherwise terrible weather. Also, I'm banning toes.
|Syl making Kaladin laugh{{book ref|sa4|2}}
|side=right|size=300px
}}

Around a year later, the [[coalition of monarchs]] agreed on a plan to rescue the Herdazian general [[Dieno enne Calah]] as well as the residents of and refugees in [[Hearthstone]]. Syl and Kaladin approached the town on foot, ahead of the arrival of the ''[[Fourth Bridge]]''. When they were discovered while waiting in the line of refugees, a fight with [[Lezian]] ensued. As they had never fought a [[Fused]] with powers like his, they only very narrowly escaped. Syl, concerned for Kaladin, commented on how tired he looked immediately after the fight; Kaladin, however, didn't want to talk about how he was feeling despite Syl badgering him about getting more sleep. After getting back to town and convincing the singers there to stand down, Kaladin and Syl spoke with his family. Syl entertained [[Oroden]] and broke the news to [[Hesina]] that Kal and [[Lyn]] had split up, then accompanied Kal to speak with his father until the ''Fourth Bridge'' arrived.{{book ref|sa4|2}}

After Lyn reported an incoming group of [[Heavenly Ones]], the Windrunners spread out and prepared to engage them. Kaladin and Syl fought [[Leshwi]] for a while, Syl shouting a parting insult as the Fused outpaced them. When [[Teft]] came to check on Kal, the encounter roused his suspicions that Syl had asked Bridge Four to watch out for him. He confronted her about the matter when Lyn also came to check on him after they narrowly missed another fight with Lezian, but she told him she knew it would only make his nightmares worse if she told the others about them. As they returned to the ''Fourth Bridge'', Kaladin made a snide comment about [[Roshone]] and Syl told him off for being a "stumer."{{book ref|sa4|5}} They reentered the fight when Kaladin noticed [[Sigzil]] chasing Leshwi; after she mercifully withdrew her spear from Sigzil before he ran out of Stormlight, Kaladin took up the fight with Leshwi again. They made for a very even match, and just as they both dealt serious blows to each other, Leshwi gave Kaladin and Syl leave to go after some civilians at the manor.{{book ref|sa4|6}}

Syl warned Kaladin that the setup felt like a trap designed for a Windrunner. Indeed, when one of the soldiers activated a strange [[Voidlight]] fabrial, Syl was forced into her form as a spren and Kaladin lost his ability to Surgebind. He managed to kill Lezian anyway, and then Syl encouraged him to go after Roshone.{{book ref|sa4|7}} In the cellar, Syl warned Kal when she saw [[Moash]] behind him. In the form of a spear, she was with Kal while Moash brought up his most painful memories and tried to talk him into killing himself; Syl tried to speak to Kal, but he was to embroiled in his own emotions and couldn't hear her. They were saved when [[Renarin]] created an illusion of Moash and chased him away.{{book ref|sa4|8}} Back on the ship, Syl informed Kal that [[Laran]] had sworn the Third Ideal and suggested that he go congratulate her. Watching him withdraw into himself again, she told him she didn't know how to help him. She told him that he had been getting worse, and though he had to admit to himself that she was right, he didn't know what to do about it either.{{book ref|sa4|9}}

As the Windrunners approached the Shattered Plains, Syl informed Kaladin that [[Yunfah]] was in the area and wished to speak with him. Syl acted as an intermediary, as the wind from flying kept Kaladin from hearing anyone except her. Yunfah was angry that Kaladin kept wanting him to bond [[Rlain]], but Syl suggested that he keep pushing the spren. Kaladin gave him ten days to try to work with Rlain before he could look for someone else, and he reluctantly left. They landed at the new fort being built at Narak and spoke with Dalinar, to whom Syl apologized on behalf of her honorspren relatives. She remained silent, only looking on in concern as Dalinar relieved Kaladin of duty and confirming that he wasn't abandoning his oaths to think of serving the war effort in some other way.{{book ref|sa4|10}} When Kaladin and the Windrunners returned to Urithiru, Syl went after Adolin. She brought him to Kaladin's room, where Adolin badgered Kal into going out with him for the evening. As they left, Kaladin thanked Syl. They went to [[Jez's Duty]], where Syl flitted around the room and enjoyed looking at the people, riding on [[Jor]]'s shoulder for a while and only returning to the others briefly.{{book ref|sa4|12}}

==== Surgeon's Assistant ====
{{quote
|I had no idea how much I needed to see puppies until I flew by them this morning. They are the '''grossest''' things on the planet, Kaladin. They're somehow so gross that they’re cute. So cute I could have died! Except I can’t, because I’m an eternal sliver of God himself, and we have standards about things like that.
|After seeing [[Aladar]]'s [[axehound]] puppies{{book ref|sa4|25}}
}}

After the official announcement of Kaladin's retirement, Syl went with Kaladin to the sparring grounds looking for [[Zahel]]. They tracked him to the edge of the plateau, where he was hanging up laundry. Zahel wanted Kaladin to fight him, so Syl became a sword with dulled edges. She helped him as best she could, but they still lost; afterwards, she flew around the area as Kaladin spoke with Zahel.{{book ref|sa4|15}} The day the ''Fourth Bridge'' arrived at the Shattered Plains, Kaladin and Syl went to meet it. They gave his parents a tour of the rooms they had spent the past week preparing for them, Syl enjoying Lirin and Hesina's banter. She excitedly showed them the different rooms and prompted Kaladin to tell Lirin that he had retired from active duty and hoped to help his father in his new clinic.{{book ref|sa4|18}}

The day of one of the following [[highstorm]]s, Syl excitedly flew around Urithiru. She watched [[Cord]] cook for a while, then went to check on the sleeping Kaladin. The storm arrived, so she soared back outside and enjoyed the winds. The Stormfather, seeing that Syl had a strong desire to ask him something, spoke with her; she asked him to help her understand Kaladin's depression, but he told her that while he had the power to do what she wanted, he didn't have the ability. She sought out Dalinar next, and he helped her see that by thinking about the feelings that caused her to drift after [[Relador]]'s death she might already be able to understand Kaladin's "dark brain."{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}

{{image|Syl reading.jpg|side=left|width=250px|Syl reading to Kaladin}}

The day before the embassy to the [[honorspren]] left, Syl went to speak with [[Adolin]]. She told him of her fears for their mission, warning him to be disappointed.{{book ref|sa4|22}} The next day, Adolin went to say goodbye to Kaladin before leaving. Syl showed up, telling Adolin that the position had been good for Kal. She gave Adolin some last minute tips on honorspren and their ideas of morality before he left.{{book ref|sa4|21}}

As Kaladin continued to work in the clinic, Syl would often watch. One day his assistant led a patient in and left for the privy; after talking with [[Mil]] some, Kaladin asked [[Hawin]] to read him some information. As she was gone, Syl went over to the book and read the requested information instead. They discussed using their powers for things other than war, then went to the balcony for a break. When [[Leyten]] saw them and flew over to salute them, Syl became sad that the Windrunners were all going with the army to [[Azir]]. Later, she was excited to see [[Teft]] when he came to inform Kaladin that he was stepping down from active duty as well.{{book ref|sa4|23}} Kaladin took Teft with him to look for [[Noril]] while Syl was on her habitual morning flight. She went and looked at some [[axehound]] puppies of [[Aladar]]'s before catching up with them as they led Noril out of the [[Devotary of Mercy]]. She watched intensely as the three of them talked together.{{book ref|sa4|25}}

==== Invasion ====

A few days later, Syl flew into Jez's Duty just ahead of [[Rlain]]. She sat on Kaladin's shoulder while they talked about war, their search for [[Dabbid]], and Kaladin's new group therapy sessions. She was pleased when Kaladin admitted that his work with the others with mental illness was helping him and agreed to attend a group session himself.{{book ref|sa4|38}} As [[Raboniel]] and her strike team began corrupting the crystal pillar far away in the basement, Syl suddenly found herself separated from Kaladin. It took her the duration of Kaladin's climb up to Lirin's clinic until she found a way to pull herself back to Kaladin with his help. She could no longer become a Blade, and when she tried to go to Navani to report on the invasion, she could only go a little ways from Kaladin before she began losing herself. She brought him news that Navani knew about what was going on and was sending out messengers, but there were more and more enemy forces arriving all the time through the Oathgates.{{book ref|sa4|39}}

{{sidequote
|It was a nice dream, wasn't it, Syl? That we could escape? Find peace at long last?
|[[Kaladin]] just before rescuing [[Teft]]{{book ref|sa4|43}}
|side=right|size=300px
}}
Syl accompanied Kaladin as he kept himself busy distributing supplies to the former Hearthstone residents in the wake of the failure of most of the tower's [[fabrial]]s. She warned him that she kept seeing [[Voidspren]] about the tower, then started acting like a [[windspren]] as a [[Regal]] approached him in the hallway to avert his suspicion.{{book ref|sa4|41}} Syl led Kaladin to a balcony, where they spoke with Rlain. When Rlain explained his plan to go to the invading force, Syl became sad. Kaladin asked her what was wrong, but she abruptly put on a forced cheerful act.{{book ref|sa4|42}} Just after a [[Alili|messenger]] delivered confirmation of Navani's surrender to Lirin's clinic, Syl entered and gave a silent warning of an enemy soldier approaching. She went back to keeping watch but had to return shortly to warn of a group of soldiers methodically checking each residence; Kaladin hid, so Syl went to eavesdrop for him. Syl and Kaladin, realizing they meant to take Teft with them, had a brief exchange acknowledging the momentous decision they were about to make before entering the room and rescuing Teft, fleeing with him into the depths of Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|43}}

Syl led Kaladin through Urithiru, going up several levels. The Pursuer tracked them down, and Syl attempted to lead him away. When he discovered the ruse, Syl zipped back to Kaladin. She asked him if they could surrender, an option which he refused. Before they could try to make it past the approaching soldiers, Syl noticed a light flashing on the floor. Kaladin quickly decided to trust it, hoisting Teft onto his shoulders; they followed the light through a hidden door, through more corridors, and up to the eleventh floor to a hidden room.{{book ref|sa4|44}} Syl did some exploring while Kaladin slept. When she returned to find him awake, she explained her theory about the [[Sibling]]'s presence in Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|46}}

They went to look for supplies, Syl scouting ahead of Kaladin. As they hid from some singers, they discovered that the invading force were keeping up a pretense of normality outside the tower. They made their way to the sixth floor, where Syl went to check on Lirin and Hesina and reported to Kaladin that they looked fine. She talked Kaladin through using a [[Reverse Lashing]] to open lanterns from a store that they found, allowing him to recover the infused gemstone inside. They continued to the [[Devotary of Mercy]], where Kaladin gained [[Kuno]]'s promise of future help and supplies before returning to their hideout.{{book ref|sa4|49}}

{{sidequote
|If we can choose, we can change. If we can't change, then choice means nothing. I’m '''glad''' I feel this way, to remind me that I haven’t always felt the same. Been the same. It means that in coming here to find another Knight Radiant, I was '''deciding'''. Not simply doing what I was made to, but doing what I '''wanted''' to.
|Syl's thoughts on feeling grief{{book ref|sa4|63}}
|side=left|size=350px
}}
==== Nodes ====

As Kaladin took care of Teft with their new supplies, he finally convinced Syl to open up to him about the cause of her recent melancholy moods. She explained about remembering [[Relador]], and they discussed the best way to deal with feelings of sadness and depression. Syl practiced changing colors until they were startled by a noise at the door, which turned out to be [[Dabbid]]. Leaving him with Teft, Syl accompanied Kaladin as he went to investigate the Oathgates. She scouted for him as he climbed the outside of the tower, and when a group of scouts began packing up their supplies, she realized they must have had a functioning [[spanreed]] with them.{{book ref|sa4|55}} Knowing of Navani's desire to discover how the invading force had functioning [[fabrial]]s, Syl and Kaladin gave chase to the group. Having looked ahead, Syl brought Kaladin news of a spanreed hub and also pointed out to him that spren were more visible to everyone than usual because of the corruption in the tower. Deciding it was worth it to proceed despite the added danger of discovery, Kaladin came up with the idea of Syl pretending to be a Voidspren to fool the guards. She wrapped herself in red cloth and successfully distracted the guards while Kaladin snuck past. Approaching the spanreed room via a ventilation shaft, Kaladin snared some fabrials with a rope and relied on Syl to check that the hallway was clear before exiting the shaft. As Syl was preparing to distract the guards again in the guise of a Voidspren, however, the Sibling contacted Kaladin and asked for his help defending one of their nodes.{{book ref|sa4|58}}

Kaladin and Syl raced for the node, guided by the Sibling's light. The Pursuer immediately engaged Kaladin, and Syl used her new trick of imitating a Voidspren to distract him for a moment, giving Kaladin a chance to get free. They managed to trap the Pursuer in a room, then returned to the node and destroyed it.{{book ref|sa4|59}} After a night's rest, Kaladin was able to give Navani a report on the preceding day; he also reported to her Syl's findings from her studies of the spanreeds they had acquired. Syl determined that the spren inside were corrupted in a similar manner to [[Glys]], allowing them to operate with [[Voidlight]].{{book ref|sa4|61}} As Kal continued to have nightmares, Syl helped by trying to wake him. He tended to Teft after one such time, and she told him about asking Dalinar to help her understand his feelings. Dabbid came in and delivered Tomor's fabrial to them, and after a half hour Syl reminded Kaladin of his meeting with Navani. After the queen explained to him about placing the conjoined rubies, Syl accompanied him to the ninth floor to do so and then supervised as he practiced with the fabrial.{{book ref|sa4|63}}

{{image|Kaladin and Syl by Sarctic.jpg|side=right|width=300px}}

During another of Kaladin's nightmares, Syl attempted to wake him to tell him that the enemy had found another node in the [[Breakaway]]. When he finally woke, she quickly apprised him of the situation. They caught up to Dabbid, who had taken Kal's spear with the intention of dealing with the problem himself, and rushed onwards. Syl warned Kaladin of the Pursuer's approach; as he fought with the Fused, she was able to help him by turning the dial on his fabrial for him. She scouted out the location of the node, noting its position in the well. Kaladin broke away from the fight at her signal, and she guided him into the water and to the sapphire. Though Raboniel was already there and managed to injure Kaladin, he successfully destroyed the node. Syl led him upwards again, but as she shot out of the well, the Pursuer maneuvered the lid into place and weighted it with his troops. Panicking and terrified, Syl realized that Kaladin was stuck below.{{book ref|sa4|70}} As Kaladin swam away, Syl likely lost her ability to stay manifested in the [[Physical Realm]] but stayed nearby out of instinct.{{book ref|sa4|91}} She entered a state similar to that after the death of Relador, but when Kaladin called out to her the next time he went near the Breakaway, she heard him and broke through back to the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa4|102}}

==== Recovering Urithiru ====

Kaladin explained to Syl that the enemy had found the Sibling's final node and were planning on executing the Radiants, so she accompanied him straight to the atrium.{{book ref|sa4|102}} Syl flew around the struggling pair as Kaladin and the Pursuer fought.{{book ref|sa4|103}} When they saw Teft's body, though, both Syl and Kaladin felt crushed by the loss. One of the Fused took off with Lirin, and the two of them followed to the top of the tower. Syl cried out to Kaladin that she had forgotten the words to the [[Order of Windrunners#The Fourth Ideal|Fourth Ideal]], but an unheeding Kaladin jumped from the roof.{{book ref|sa4|106}} As he fell, Syl continued to weep over forgetting the words.{{book ref|sa4|107}} Suddenly, however, Kaladin returned from his vision and reached out for her again.{{book ref|sa4|108}} Together, they flew downwards to save Lirin{{book ref|sa4|110}} and then returned to the fight in Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|111}}

{{sidequote
|I'm merely ... alive. And this is part of being alive. So I’m grateful, even if part of it stinks.
|Discussing her grief over [[Teft]]{{book ref|sa4|114}}
|side=right|size=250px
}}
After the conflict, Kaladin used the Sylblade to transfer Rlain and [[Venli]]'s group of rebels to the Shattered Plains, where they met up with the Fused who had taken a stand against Odium's forces. Returning to the tower with Rlain, Kaladin, Syl, and the rest of Bridge Four gave Teft and Phendorana a funeral. The group retired to [[Jez's Duty]] afterwards, but Kaladin and Syl lingered at the statue and talked about missing Teft.{{book ref|sa4|114}} They joined the others at the winehouse for a few hours before going to find Dalinar to discuss their future. Syl encouraged Kaladin to ask Dalinar for permission to keep doing his work with those with mental illnesses. After granting it, Dalinar revealed to them their new time limit regarding the contest of champions. Alarmed to hear that they only had ten days, Kaladin and Syl agreed to travel to [[Shinovar]] to help [[Ishar]] recover from his madness enough to help Dalinar learn about his [[Bondsmith]] abilities. Dalinar gave Kaladin [[Hoid|Wit's]] [[trailman's flute|flute]] at the conclusion of the meeting and explained how Lift had found it. Intrigued, the two of them went to the merchant shop to sort through the bins of salvage. To his absolute astonishment, Kaladin found the carved horse that [[Tien]] had just given him in his vision. He explained disjointedly to Syl about the impossibility of it showing up there, and then gathered himself enough to go to the group session he had promised to attend.{{book ref|sa4|116}}

== Relationships ==

{{image|Kal Syl.jpg|side=left|width=300px}}

=== Kaladin ===
{{quote
|It is my solemn and important duty to bring '''happiness''', '''light''', and '''joy''' into your world when you're being a dour idiot.
|Syl to Kaladin{{book ref|sa3|10}}
}}

Syl first begins watching [[Kaladin]] during his time in [[Meridas Amaram|Amaram's]] army.{{book ref|sa1|9}} As she follows him during his slavery and to the [[Shattered Plains]], she develops more and more awareness.{{book ref|sa1|14}} She shows her care for Kaladin early on, both when she stands before him when he is strung up in the [[highstorm]] and when she brings him [[blackbane]] leaves and talks him out of jumping at the [[Honor Chasm]].{{book ref|sa1|35}}{{book ref|sa1|11}} The two of them form a [[Nahel bond]], and Kaladin finally says the words to become a [[Windrunner]] of the Second Ideal at the [[Battle of the Tower]] after Syl convinces him that it is the right choice to go back for the Kholin troops.{{book ref|sa1|67}}

Kaladin's sense of honor becomes confused for a time when [[Moash]] talks to him about helping assassinate [[Elhokar]]. This causes Syl to regress closer and closer to her state like a [[windspren]] and eventually "kills" her.{{book ref|sa2|68}}{{book ref|sa2|74}} When Kaladin confronts Moash with the intent of keeping him from the king, however, Syl is able to make her way back to Kaladin. They restore their bond by swearing the Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa2|84}} After this experience, the two think more deeply about what makes killing right and discuss how the ethics of that question relates to their bond.{{book ref|sa3|31}}

Because she wants Kaladin to be happy, Syl begins talking to him about relationships. She sees that Kaladin enjoys being around [[Shallan]], so she tries to encourage him in that direction even though Shallan is spoken for.{{book ref|sa3|10}} This idea does not pan out, as Shallan definitively chooses [[Adolin]] during the time of the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]].{{book ref|sa3|121}} However, Syl only consults Adolin for advice next, and together they convince Kaladin to date [[Lyn]] for a time; this relationship doesn't work out either.{{book ref|sa4|38}}{{book ref|sa4|2}}

Seeing that Kaladin's mood continues to worsen, Syl tries to talk to him about it but is rebuffed.{{book ref|sa4|2}} The problem is exacerbated when [[Dalinar]] informs Kaladin of his decision to retire him from active duty. Kal crashes, and Syl goes to the only person she knows of who can pull him out of such a state: Adolin.{{book ref|sa4|12}} Perplexed and desperately wanting to help Kaladin, Syl goes to Dalinar and asks him if there is anything he can do to help her understand Kal's emotions. Somehow in this encounter Dalinar [[Connection|Connects]] Syl to her past and she begins to remember and to grieve over [[Relador]].{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}{{book ref|sa4|63}} Kaladin notices her gloomy moods, and they have the opportunity to talk more freely about how to deal with such times, Syl with more empathy and experience than ever before.{{book ref|sa4|42}}{{book ref|sa4|63}}{{book ref|sa4|114}}

=== The Stormfather ===
{{quote
|You do not exist for [the humans]. You exist for you. You exist to choose.
|The Stormfather to Syl{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
}}

Syl is one of the the first [[honorspren]] the [[Stormfather]] created rather than [[Honor]]. Because she is the only one to survive the [[Recreance]], he feels very protective of her.{{book ref|sa3|108}} The Stormfather commands her return and either approves of or instigates a bounty after Syl sneaks away to bond Kaladin. This changes with time, however, as he both accepts their bond and bonds a human himself.{{book ref|sa3|102}}{{book ref|sa4|30}}

=== Relador ===
{{quote
|He went to fight, despite his age. He shouldn't have, and when he was killed, it hurt.
|Syl telling [[Dalinar]] about Relador{{book ref|sa4|i|1}}
}}

[[Relador]] is the first man Syl bonded as a [[Windrunner]].{{book ref|sa4|i|1}} He died shortly before the events of the [[Recreance]], sending Syl into a catatonic state. Because of this, she avoided the fate of the majority of her kinsmen, who became [[deadeye]]s.{{book ref|sa4|87}} When [[Dalinar]] [[Connection|Connects]] her to her past, Syl begins experiencing grief over this loss. This helps her understand Kaladin better.{{book ref|sa4|63}}

== Trivia ==

* In an earlier version of The Way of Kings, Syl was named "The East Wind."{{wob ref|2251}}
* Sylphrena originally came from an unpublished Cosmere work called ''Climb the Sky''.{{wob ref|8338}}
* Sylphrena's name is inspired by the word "sylph", or air spirit, and "sylphlike" can be used to describe a slender young woman, both of which fit Syl to a certain degree.{{wob ref|9250}}
* Syl was written with [[Wikipedia: ADHD| ADHD]]-like mannerisms, though it is hard to tell if she can be properly diagnosed with it because she is a spren and not human, and therefore has a different psychology.{{wob ref|14018}}

<pre>== Notes ==
<references />
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: Shardblades]]
[[Category: Viewpoint characters]]
</pre>