Contains Spoilers for Rise of the New Masters

John and Miriam are the central couple of the latter part of The Age of Merrik: The Anointing. Their naivety speaks to their simple desire to connect with others. They found love in the midst of war, a reoccurring theme throughout history in humanity.

They are naïve, because Miriam chooses to live a sheltered life, and John is too afraid to stand solely on his own. John, however, grows as the story progresses. After Cle’an leaves to visit the hidden survivors of Shattered Sky, John becomes the first Second to Merrik.

They are devoted to each other, and their relationship is a symbol for the relationship of others. Areya sees hope in Miriam’s child, a replacement for the two children she miscarried. Surprisingly, Zsastar encourages John to find Miriam for their child’s sake, foreshadowing Zsastar’s disconnection to his mother after a dreadful event occured.

Additional Note: Areya’s husband was Edric.