Theory time! So I've been thinking about the Sword of Destruction and the pattern that seems to be developing with Ruby being the first to use each Relic on-screen, ergo Ruby will likely be the first to use the Sword of Destruction during the Vacuo arc. There's plenty of speculation that the 'catch' of the Sword will be that it requires a sacrifice on the part the user, and that seems like an entirely reasonable idea. (Of course if the catch is something else entirely, then that negates this theory, for sure.) I don't buy, as some have posited, that the 'cost' is one's own life or even aura, since the King of Vale used the Sword during the final battle of the Great War and lived for some time afterward, so it can't be too lethal or debilitating, even with Oz's magic as a buffer. I could see it being a trade-off of some kind, maybe the sort of transaction like Jinxy's auction, tailored to the person or action of what they have vs. what they want destroyed. If the Brothers (or just Light) supposedly value 'Balance', then that would make sense as a stipulation.
There's also the duality of Creation vs. Destruction. The Staff of Creation had an automatic side effect of destruction, as in, destruction is an inherent part of creation. With the next use of the Staff, Atlas would fall and be destroyed. Next, the re-created Penny would be destroyed. With Cinder's use of 'more flames', the portals are destroyed - that even demonstrates that the 'creation' of the Staff doesn't have to be constructive, it can be destructive. Furthermore, Ambrosius says it's 'against the rules' to bring people back from the dead. So maybe there is symmetry there, that it's against the rules for 'Destruction' to actually kill, but destroy in other ways, or more to the point, that a side effect of 'destroying' something actually creates something else.
So that all begs the question, What would Ruby need to use the Sword on? And what would Ruby be sacrificing to do so? What is there in Vacuo to 'destroy', if the good guys are wielding it? The obvious answer would be the antagonists. Would Ruby use the Sword of Destruction in a way that kills or harms anyone or anything, that justifies the need to use it specifically for a purpose that normal fighting cannot accomplish? So what if she uses it positively? And what if she uses it to create? What if she uses it on Cinder to destroy Cinder's Grimm corruption, therefore 'creating' a different Cinder? I've read your theories that Ruby is an affront to Cinder's worldview, and Ruby is key to changing that worldview by showing her mercy and saving her, not killing her.
This brings into it the heavily foreshadowed idea of Ruby losing an eye. Tyrian's remarks at the start of V4 would be the perfect set up, because he specifically points out that Ruby took Cinder's eye, and that Cinder should have 'an eye for an eye.' So this ties the loss of Ruby's eye to Cinder. And with Ruby's probable Odin allusion, this would be a 'voluntary' sacrifice, but instead of it being a trade for knowledge, it's a trade for choice. Ruby is sacrificing her eye and symbolically 'giving' Cinder her worldview. Ruby can be the Huntress who has the honor and mercy that Rhodes didn't show her. If the Grimm arm/corruption is a direct parallel to Cinder's shock collar that Rhodes literally and symbolically didn't remove, then Ruby as a better Huntress than Rhodes, would remove the 'shock collar', i.e. get rid of the Grimm arm and 'free' Cinder of Salem's control. Specifically the part of Cinder that is preventing her from fulfilling the 'last to join her sisters' aspect of the Maiden Story and make a true choice for herself to embrace being the Fall Maiden.
(And there is the shot in V5 of Jaune's sword taking a 'chip' out of Cinder's glass mask covering up her damaged eye, visually tying a sword with that eye.)
As for the pattern of 'misfires' of Ruby using her Silver Eyes on Cinder potentially foreshadowing one final time to use her Silver Eyes full blast on Cinder, well, maybe. But the way I see it, we've got three people suffering with Grimm corruption that need to be saved: Cinder as one type of Grimm Hybrid, Salem infused with Grimm from the Pool, and likely Summer as another type of Grimm Hybrid (probably more like Salem, is my bet), and a couple of solutions that will be mix and match to whom they will be applied. Saving Cinder will probably come before either Summer or Salem, and if the Silver Eyes are being 'saved up' for their 'true purpose' with an epic use in a crucial moment around the climax of the story, then spending the Silver Eyes to save Cinder makes the power look like a hammer with which to hit every nail. The Silver Eyes have to come into play to purify one or more of the three, but Ascension in the Tree is another option to restore, and while I definitely see a route to use the Tree for Cinder and essentially 'reboot' her, I see it being used more fittingly for both Salem and Oz so that Oz can be divided back into his separate souls and Ozma and Salem can have a fresh start/retirement. And narratively, the Tree can't be used for everyone.
So I guess my theory is: Ruby will be the first to use the Sword of Destruction, it will come at some kind of cost, Ruby will use it to 'destroy' the Grimm in Cinder, Ruby gives an eye for an eye in both a literal and metaphorical way. Ruby loses one of her Silver Eyes but in doing so for Cinder, she has shown her the way she sees the world.
Hey! Sorry it took a bit getting around to this one.
Particularly because while I may be iffy on some of the specifics, broadly speaking I think youâre onto something REALLY interesting here XD
Especially with the point on the Sword of Destruction being a lot more COMPLICATED than a lot of people might be expecting. I mean I feel like Iâve seen a number of theories that assume the relic is simply going to be some generic âcool shonen super swordâ and thatâs it (unsurprisingly, I feel like most of these theories also assume that Jaune is going to be the one using it), when frankly EVERYTHING weâve seen should make it obvious that RWBY simply DOES NOT work like that.
Really, building off your point; I think one core concept to keep in mind is that the Sword almost certainly will not (or perhaps even CAN NOT) be used or treated as an actual WEAPON. Certainly no more than the Lamp or Staff were.
To your actual point, I do agree with you on the Sword having a much more complicated cost than simply making a âsacrificeâ of oneâs life. Honestly, and this is where I start feeling iffy on the specifics, given just how specific and particular the rules for the other Relics have been, I get the feeling itâs probably not worth even trying to guess the specifics of how the Sword works at this point. Particularly given that I have to image that both Ozpin and Theodore will happily inform our heroines, and by extension the audience, as soon as it comes up.
That being said, I definitely agree with you on the Sword having some kind of duality with the Staff. Especially given that weâve already gotten hints of a similar duality between the Lamp and the Crown, despite how little we know of the latter at this point. So regardless of how the Sword works, I think itâs a safe bet it will directly contrast the Staff in a number of ways.
Now when it comes to the idea of Ruby using the Sword to effectively âpurgeâ Cinder of her Grimm-implants and whatever monstrosity she may end up being turned into, I have to say that is both odd and INTERESTING.
On the one hand, at first I definitely thought this idea felt a bit redundant given Rubyâs Silver Eyes feel like the far more obvious option to do that, particularly given how saving Cinder feels like a natural âtrial runâ for Ruby eventually saving Summer.
But then I remembered that interesting detail that the Silver Eyes are a power originating from the God of Light⌠just like the Relics. Not to mention, we also have a bit of a trend of Ruby convincing the Relic Spirits to bend the rules a bit. Whether essentially getting a âfreebieâ from Jinn to exploit the time-stopping side-effects at the end of Volume 6, or employing a judicious amount of âloophole-fuâ to get Ambrosious to make Penny a whole new body.
So with that in mind, now I have to wonder if we might see this idea developed further in the form of Ruby using her Silver Eyes in conjunction with the Sword?
And to your idea of Ruby losing an eye, perhaps doing this, which would absolutely NOT be a way the Sword is SUPPOSED to be used, basically âburns outâ or even outright destroys one of Rubyâs eyes? Heck, this even works into a way Ruby wouldn't be able to regenerate her missing eye using her semblance. The very essence of the eye itself is simply gone.
Also, yeah in regards to Cinder's arc the symbolism here does work perfectly.
