Balefire
Unmaking the present by burning through time.
Balefire is the ultimate taboo of the One Power, a weave that does not merely destroy life but unmakes it from history. Unlike standard attacks which sever a thread in the present, balefire burns the target out of time itself. When cast successfully, the victim ceases to have existed from the point of erasure backward, undoing actions taken moments before their death.
- Classification
- Forbidden Weave of the One Power
- Source
- Saidin and Saidar
- Effect
- Retroactive Erasure from Time
- Primary Risk
- Unravels the Pattern
- Notable User
- Lanfear
- Tower Status
- Strictly Prohibited
Lore & Background
The mechanics of balefire are unique among all weaves, as they do not simply kill but rather delete the target from history. The strength of the channeler determines how far back in time the erasure reaches; a weak user might only destroy the body, while a master can undo events that occurred minutes prior. This ability makes it incredibly potent against enemies who use temporal magic or possess great resilience, as even resurrection becomes impossible if the thread is cut.
Despite its utility, balefire carries a terrible cost to the world around it. Aggressive use creates stress fractures in reality, potentially allowing the Dark One to touch the physical realm more easily. The White Tower considers it abhorrent and dangerous, teaching almost no one how to weave it. Even among those who know of it, few dare to attempt it unless facing certain doom.
Historically, the Forsaken utilized balefire frequently during the Age of Legends and the War of Power, viewing the risk as acceptable for their goals. In later ages, desperate heroes such as Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand learned the weave to save allies from immediate death. Rand al'Thor employed it against Rahvin in a pivotal battle, demonstrating that even the Dragon Reborn must tread carefully when wielding such destructive power.
In Their Own Story
The air grew heavy with static as the channeler raised her hands. Blue-white fire erupted not like normal flames, but silent and hungry. It lanced across the courtyard, striking the armored figure standing before her. There was no scream of pain, only a sudden silence where the man had stood.
He did not fall; he simply vanished. The stone beneath his boots remained untouched, and the wounds that should have been there never formed in history. The attacker watched as the enemy's last action—a raised sword—retreated into nothingness. The weave held for a heartbeat before fading, leaving only the memory of a threat erased from the present moment.
Reader's Guide
To wield balefire, a channeler must draw upon both Fire and Air, though the exact weave varies by individual strength. It is not merely destructive; it consumes the target's thread in the Pattern, erasing them from history as if they never existed. The stronger the weave, the further back into time the erasure reaches, undoing recent actions or even past moments of combat.
This power consumes the reality around the victim, leaving a silence where their existence once was.
Did You Know?
- Lanfear first prominently used balefire in The Dragon Reborn against Mat and Thom.
- Rand al'Thor used this weave to defeat Rahvin during the Battle of Dumai's Wells.
- Nynaeve learned the weave from the Forsaken Lanfear to save Egwene and Lan.
- Overuse can cause physical tears in reality visible to those who can see the Pattern.