If magic demands balance on both sides between riders and Venin… what if General Melgren is the other Venin traitor…
"I’m the only one who can give you access to your son."
"I have another."
We know that there is another traitor hidden in our midst.
"Initiates, asims—we're all traceable to one another, but the great hall could fill with Sages and Mavens and I'd never know. Neither would you. Makes you wonder who's been channeling here for years, doesn't it? Who's been trading information for power?"
Rebecca has made a point of telling us that there could be a very powerful Venin and we would all be completely unaware.
"She's their answer to my mother."
"She was the answer to me," Theophanie hisses.
But this biggest point is the fact that Aaric is a precog… seeing as that’s a pretty rare power, what are the odds that magic demands no balance there? Allows two to exist on one side?
That suddenly another one appears for no reason, right now (when we know signets are based on need and frequently filling gaps)… among a group of first years that already has proof of this very action with Lynx becoming a shadow wielder, as Xaden becomes Venin.
"I don't understand. You're our generation's shadow wielder."
"Not anymore. Magic knows. He's the balance."
What if Aaric is the balance, because Melgren is the Venin.