Firefight

The relaxed attitude of Babilar’s citizens is matched by the glowing plants that grow throughout the city. Because these plants only grow at night, the citizens have become nocturnal to enjoy the beauty inherent in the mysterious glow. These plants are created by Dawnslight—an Epic who has been in a coma since he was a child. While Regalia rules Babilar, many of the people worship Dawnslight for his kindness and for the glowing plants, and this dynamic suggests that the one with the greatest power is not always the one who commands the greatest respect. Throughout the book, Dawnslight uses the plants to communicate with David and help him in confrontations against Regalia. When David learns the truth about Dawnslight at the end of the book, he realizes that the Epic possesses the innocent mind of a child and that his contributions to Babilar are based on a child’s dream of a fantastical glowing city. When Regalia is killed and the water recedes from Babilar, Dawnslight saves the city by reinforcing the buildings with plants. Thus, the glowing plants represent what can be accomplished when an Epic is not ruled by corruption.

Epics are superpowered individuals who came into existence shortly after Calamity rose in the sky 13 years before the Reckoners series is set. Up until the events of Firefight, researchers have believed that Epics can only be destroyed if their unique weaknesses are exploited. With David’s exploration into Epic history and lore, he realizes that an Epic’s weakness is specifically tied to their greatest fear, representing a traumatic experience from childhood. David eventually learns that Epics can be saved from the corruptive influence of their powers if they overcome their past trauma.

Epics represent The Burden of Power because they must navigate the choice of whether to use their superhuman abilities for growth or destruction. Prof chooses the difficult path of avoiding the powers altogether in order to shield himself from corruption, even though this choice forces him not to act directly; instead, he gifts his powers to others in the Reckoners’ missions. Whenever he uses his powers directly, the corruption takes hold, making him bitterly angry at the person he has saved. Conversely, Epics like Newton and Obliteration are burdened by their misguided belief that they have the responsibility to rule and dominate those who have no powers. Newton believes that she has been gifted the powers to keep the masses in line, while Obliteration maintains that he has been chosen for an end-of-days event that is waiting for the right moment to begin. In fact, both characters shackle themselves to illusory purposes, and the certainty with which they cling to their delusions of grandeur shows the weight of the philosophical burden they carry.