KKC Theory Wiki

Elxa Dal May Be a Hidden Predator Behind Auri's and Devi's Trauma

fringe identity · popularity 52 · 1 source thread

Elxa Dal's casual wine-drinking and Devi's accusation may mark him as a predator linked to Auri's assault.

About: Elxa Dal, Auri, Devi

Also involves: Kvothe, Fela, The University, Naming

The theory§

This theory casts Elxa Dal, the affable Master Sympathist, as a concealed predator whose crimes underlie the trauma of several women in the Chronicle. It builds from three threads: when Dal takes Kvothe to lunch to counsel a term off, he remarks he should not have wine before grading admissions yet orders a glass anyway, smiling that one drink will not go to his head; Auri, whose assault is implied in The Slow Regard of Silent Things, remembers a breath heavy with the taste of wine; and during her sympathetic duel with Kvothe, Devi alludes to a master who once tried to take advantage of her. The reading extends to Kvothe's repeated observation that Dal resembles the archetypal sinister magician of bad Aturan plays, treating it as a clue planted by Kvothe's sleeping mind, which has a knack for speaking truths he does not consciously grasp. A bolder branch supposes the 'her' killed and 'him' who killed her in Kvothe's expulsion are not Denna and Ambrose but Auri and Dal, with Fela killing Dal using the Name of Stone and Kvothe taking the blame. The reasoning is contested: Dal is otherwise written as the embodiment of self-control who counsels Kvothe toward restraint, so the leap from one glass of wine to predatory alcoholism strains against his characterisation, and Devi's grudge plausibly stems only from a magical contest.

Evidence§

  • Dal mentions that he shouldn’t have any wine, as he’s about to grade admissions. However, he orders wine anyways, and gives Kvothe a look, saying that one glass shouldn’t go to his head.
    OP's first observation: Dal's wine-drinking and 'just one drink' justification. — u/Danglenibble
  • In Auri’s book, we have the revelation that she was raped or sexually assaulted in some way. Moreover, she remembers a breath heavy with the taste of wine.
    Links Auri's assault to wine, tying it back to Dal. — u/Danglenibble
  • When Devi is battling with Kvothe, she mentions that this isn’t the first time a man has tried to take advantage of her, and also mentions a name: Elxa Dal, and how Kvothe cannot do what even a master couldn’t achieve.
    Third connection: Devi names Dal alongside being taken advantage of. — u/Danglenibble
  • It might also lead to Elxa Dal being the one killed outside the University. maybe Kvothe is taking revenge. Maybe he tries to make a move on Fela and she kills him with the Name of Stone, and Kvothe takes her ring so she isn’t implicated in the murder.
    OP's bolder branch: Dal is the man killed; Fela kills him. — u/Danglenibble
  • Also one knack Kvothe has, he will say something, without any intention of it being true, for it to come true. So maybe his hidden mind knows Xelda Dal is evil.
    Comment adds the sleeping-mind knack as evidence Dal is evil. — u/DiziBlue
  • Three times we are told that Elxa reminds Kvothe of the fictional 'evil magician' (who is probably based on a REAL evil magician imho)
    Refines: repeated 'evil magician' descriptions as planted breadcrumb. — u/chainsawx72
  • I’m convinced the “her” is Auri, as I can’t imagine Kvothe just abandoning her. Stands to reason that if the “her” can be a misdirection, the “him” can be too
    Supports the expulsion branch: Auri is the dead 'her', Dal the 'him'. — u/Badkarmahwa
  • I don't really see Elza Dal being an alcoholic. He represents self control, constantly trying to get Kvothe to behave less irrationally, to think things through and be strategic. He says "just one drink" and then does order one drink. That leap to alcoholism feels like a huge stretch.
    CounterCounter: Dal embodies self-control; the alcoholism leap is a stretch. — u/White667
  • Devi mentions him because she fights him magically. There's no reason to think it was more than that.
    CounterCounter: Devi's grudge plausibly stems only from a magical contest. — u/White667

Book refs: NOTW, WMF, Slow Regard of Silent Things

Tier reasoning§

fringe confirmed: chains circumstantial details into a speculative accusation

Contributors§

Source threads§