Surgebinding

Surgebinding is a magic system that embraces ten types of Surges, which are the fundamental forces of nature. A person who can utilize Stormlight to bind Surges is called a Surgebinder

Stormlight is radiant energy given off by high storms that can be stored in gemstones and then later used by Surgebinders. Stormlight is a source of light and power and is used to power the technology of Roshar (Mc worlds). Gemstones are much better at holding Stormlight than other objects because the light can remain within them for weeks. Usually, those gemstones kept in cystal spheres, can be infused with Stormlight by leaving them outside during a highstorm. Infused spheres can also be obtained from money exchangers. Stormlight leaks quickly when held by a Surgebinder or infused into an object other than a gemstone, though persons can slow the leakage by holding their breath (which they can do for an extended time while holding the light). 

Stormlight also has the power to heal, though such healing only speeds up and slightly enhances the natural healing process depending on how much of it is used.

Surgebinders

Stormlight is typically drawn from infused gemstones by inhaling and willing it to enter the body. As long as the Surgebinder is holding his or her breath, Stormlight leaks out much more slowly. Surgebinders holding Stormlight can hold their breath for greatly increased lengths of time, with Stormlight sustaining the body in place of oxygen.

In unique cases, Surgebinders may also draw on Stormlight through alternate means, such as Lift's ability to metabolize food into Stormlight.

-Spren

Spren are creatures of nature. Except for Shinovar, where there are no spren, they have a common presence all over Roshar and tend to be ignored, or remain unseen. Spren are not fully understood. They take different shapes and forms, appearing around certain events, ideas, or abnormalities. Some types of spren have taken on " ... cognitive ideals or concepts which have [in turn] taken on literal personification over time." Think of them as spirits.

Each of the different Orders of the Knights Radiant (Surgebinders) are related to one kind of spren. It is known that this bond between humans and spren is called the Nahel bond. (Contract with spirit that grant user the ability to use magic)

For example: Kaladin, a Windrunner, bonds with the honorspren Syl; Shallan, a Lightweaver, bonds with the liespren Pattern; Jasnah, an Elsecaller, bonds with the inkspren Ivory;Renarin, a Truthwatcher, bonds with Glys; Lift, an Edgedancer, bonds with Wyndle;Dalinar, a Bondsmith, bonds with the Stormfather.

Windrunners bond with honorspren.

Skybreakers bond with highspren.

Dustbringers bond with ashspren.

Edgedancers bond with Cultivationspren.

Lightweavers bond with Cryptics or liespren.

Elsecallers bond with inkspren.

Willshapers bond with lightspren.

The spren that bond with Bondsmiths are said by Brandon to be unique. The Stormfather is one of these spren.  It is stated within Words of Radiance that there are only ever up to three Bondsmiths at a time, and that they are closer to Heralds than other Knights Radiant.

Surges are fundamental forces, named so by the Knights Radiant.

There are ten Surges: (Think of surges as magical powers)

1 Adhesion

2 Gravitation

3 Division

4 Abrasion

5 Progression

6 Illumination

7 Transformation

8 Transportation

9 Cohesion

10 Tension.

Each order of Knights Radiant had two Surges associated with it, and each Surge was used by two different Orders.