After leaving the Two Rivers, Lan began teaching him the sword. Since then he has become very skilled with it, almost the level of a blademaster.

Having the spark of channeling, he first channeled on the night they left Emonds Field. His second channeling was on Bayle Domon's ship, and his third was in Four Kings, to escape from Howal Gode and Saml Hake.

At the Eye of the World he channeled using pure Saidin and killed Aginor in a struggle over control of the pool. He then fought Ba'alzamon and was convinced he had killed the Dark One. He also helped during a battle in Tarwin's Gap so that the Shienarans could win.

While in Fal Dara, he was told he was the Dragon Reborn, but didn't believe it. He followed Padan Fain with Ingtar to Falme where he again fought Ba'alzamon, this time in the sky. During this journey he was given the two herons on his palms. He also at one point sought death. Not finding it, he decided to follow duty. After battling Ba'alzamon, again he thought he had killed the Dark One. During the battle he was given the wound in his side that never healed. The fight proclaimed him as the Dragon Reborn.