Waverider

Throughout this section, Kibuishi explores the idea of transformation, illustrating how individuals—and even entire societies—can grow beyond their past mistakes. On a personal level, the section sees many characters correct their misconceptions. Initially, Ronin is wary of Trellis, questioning his role in the ongoing conflict. However, when she learns that he has renounced the throne, she comes to respect him, recognizing his willingness to forge a new path rather than cling to inherited power. Similarly, Ronin approaches Vigo with skepticism, still holding onto past grievances regarding his opposition to her vision for Alledia. Yet Vigo’s heartfelt apology and genuine desire to learn from her lead her to accept him and offer him a second chance. Vigo undergoes a transformation as well—shedding his belief that there are no new stonekeepers and learning to respect Ronin’s students as the key players in Alledia’s future. More importantly, he begins to let go of the idea that those cursed by the shadows are beyond redemption and recognizes the possibility of mass transformation. 

More broadly, the introduction of Ronin and her students marks a turning point in Alledia’s power dynamics, developing the theme of The Benefits of Collaborative Leadership. These new stonekeepers represent a shift in leadership, challenging the rigid views of the past and embracing creative thought for the future. The distinction between the new stonekeepers and older figures like Vigo and Trellis is reinforced through dialogue, as Ronin points out that fighting over the “keys to the past” is ultimately fruitless (78). True leadership is not about preserving old power but about forging new possibilities through creativity and vision. Ironically, part of the old guard’s resistance to change flows from their knowledge of the failures that have occurred in the past; they cling to tradition out of fear of what might replace it. 

As it does elsewhere, the work responds by reconceptualizing The Complexity of Autonomy, suggesting that weaknesses and mistakes, far from being “problems” to be prevented via coercion, can also be learning experiences. Indeed, this idea is central to Ronin’s teachings, which connect the cosmic battle between the void and the multiverse to The Struggle Between Darkness and Light that plays out within her students. She teaches them that all stonekeepers must pass through the darkness, losing control before they can find their true power, and in framing this process as a “phase and not an outcome” (87), she reinforces the idea that encountering darkness is an integral part of self-discovery. This nuanced view of growth sets Ronin’s teachings apart from those of the older stonekeepers, many of whom fear the shadows rather than understanding them. Even in their youth, Ronin’s students possess a wisdom that many of their elders lack, having already undergone the trials necessary to forge their identities.

Kibuishi reflects this idea of passage through darkness in the artwork itself. When Vigo and his group first meet Ronin, they stand in a dark cave, their stones casting an eerie glow around them. As they follow Ronin to her training grounds, they move from shadow into light, mirroring the journey they must take internally. Her bright, clean, almost futuristic camp, in contrast to the foreboding cave, represents the kind of forward-thinking mindset that can break the cycle of destruction. Kibuishi repeatedly juxtaposes the raw, explosive power of the stones with the slower, more intentional process of building. For years, stonekeepers have used their power as a weapon in battle, but Ronin and her students demonstrate that the stone’s true potential lies in its ability to create rather than destroy. Even the stone itself is given a second chance, transformed from an instrument of war into a tool for shaping the future.

Emily undergoes a parallel transformation when she learns that IKOL is actually a program created by Silas Charnon. This revelation challenges her understanding of the darkness, forcing her to acknowledge that it is not limited to Alledia—it exists on Earth as well. She realizes that she cannot escape the struggle between light and darkness, as it is a fundamental part of existence.

Emily’s meeting with an older version of herself makes a similar point while deepening the novel’s exploration of autonomy. Their conversation highlights the dual nature of technology—how it can empower individuals while also making it easier to disengage from reality and neglect one’s responsibilities. Emily comes to understand that every person contains multiple selves (an idea rendered literal in the interaction), each with conflicting desires and needs. Embracing autonomy means that one must learn to navigate these contradictions. Decision-making becomes a negotiation between these selves, requiring constant self-reflection and a willingness to embrace change.