Fear must be induced among others, or disorder is certain to follow.
-- Dareh (chapter 3)

Importance: Dareh speaks from a common perspective among the Council and regional leaders, establishing the political conflict in the novel. Many leaders choose to rule under fear, but other leaders, such as Gaven, choose to rule with compassion. Gaven sets a fine example for the Knights and others who also seek change.

When you disagree, where do you draw the line in an area that is so gray?
-- Fangbane (chapter 4)

Importance: Gaven claims that Fangbane wants to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, and establishing the Knights to become a mediator among the three empires will cause more harm than good. However, Fangbane argues that in their current system, the regions and empires are hardly working together at all, as they do not consider the welfare of the other. While there may be peace, it is lurking a gray area.

There was a sense of duty to protect her, for whatever reason. Perhaps out of his own guilt for failing to protect his loved ones when he was younger. She resembled innocence, a time when life was simple...
-- Gaven (chapter 6)

Importance: Gaven has a hidden and complex past. On the surface, he is harsh on Mirari and mocks her lack of fighting skills. His actions show that he does not want to associate with her, but he has an inner desire to protect her. This quote shows that there are layers to his personality and that he not only carries a good heart but also some form of inner guilt that drives it. The source of this guilt remains a mystery to the reader until Book 2.

Fear is often the stepchild of ambition. The time you spend here may help drive that ambition. I sense that something very powerful motivates someone like Gaven to push himself to the limit. That might just be you.
-- Fangbane (chapter 7)

Importance: Gaven and Mirari had remained hostile and secretive toward each other since they reunited at the beginning of the novel. However, as a mind reader, Fangbane can sense that they are both striving to protect each other in different ways. In this quote, Mirari is afraid of hurting Gaven with her unusual fire ability. Fangbane is hinting that Gaven also carries a similar fear, but instead of letting it hold him back, he lets fear drive his ambition.

It's not exactly Justice. But look at it this way. There are four fewer bandits on the road.
-- Neo (chapter 8)

Importance: Shiba, Neo, and Mirari successfully capture bandits and return the stolen gems to the region leader. However, Mirari is heartbroken when she realizes that those stolen gems will not be returned to the merchants. For Shiba and Neo, justice was served when the bandits were caught, and the rest lies in Region Leader Landon's hands. Mirari has a different definition of justice, and to her, the situation is not resolved until the merchant's goods are returned.

As a region leader, you don't want to tell another one how to do their job, especially if you're from a different empire. But that doesn't mean we have to sweep the issue under the rug.
-- Gaven (chapter 8)

Importance: Gaven explains that even the most powerful region leaders like Shiba and himself would not challenge other region leaders unless they want to provoke a war. Unlike Shiba, Gaven agrees with Mirari that true justice is not achieved until the whole problem has been resolved.

If there's one thing that differentiates paragons from everyone else, it's honor. Your greatest strength comes from your will. But to get there, you have to have trust. Trust in yourself and trust in each other. Whether or not you like your team, you have to trust them.
-- Gaven (chapter 8)

Importance: This quote shows that while Gaven may not like everyone he works with, he respects and trusts them unconditionally. He teaches these virtues to Mirari, hoping that it will not only make her a stronger fighter but also a better member of the team.

It's disappointing for anyone to believe that they can decide what's best for someone else.
-- Mecate (chapter 9)

Importance: Mecate is a princess from Althaea, Minetta's rival empire. To most Minettans, she is considered an enemy; however, she does not let those dissuade her love for her new home in Minetta. She considers herself one of them over her empire of birth. Though Mecate is not the first advocate for equality, she is undeniably a pioneer for the same justice that the Knights seek many years later.

Any intervention into our current system is good. Even thousand-year-old traditions need to adapt to modern times.
-- Laikos (chapter 14)

Importance: Laikos is referring to the establishment of the Council and its region leaders that have kept peace across the Alliance for generations. He shows his support for the Knights, hinting that he himself is against the traditional methods of the people he represents.

He could not be both Althaean and Minettan—the current system forced him to pick a side. And so, as much as she missed their childhood relationship, she had to let him be the Althaean he believed he was.
-- Mirari (chapter 15)

Importance: Gaven was born in Minetta but chose to live in Althaea, an act that was considered illegal at the time. In a society that discourages this, Mirari acknowledges that Gaven had to pick a side and thus chose to abandon his Minettan side, which shared a past with Mirari. Mirari wants to see Gaven succeed and live his dream; hence, she accepts that the past they had together should remain buried.

Courage, Justice, and Loyalty. They are more than words. To attain the three virtues, you need to go forward and never look back.
-- Gaven (chapter 21)

Importance: While Mirari was physically ready to become a Knight, Gaven argues that she was not yet fully a warrior. Gaven teaches Mirari the three virtues from the Paragon's Conduct, hoping that it will help her overcome the grief and doubt that hold her back from reaching her full potential.

All that mercy will be the death of you one day." "Perhaps. But it's the way Minettans live, and it's the honorable way, wouldn't you agree?
-- Gaven & Mirari (chapter 21)

Importance: Mirari would rather die being merciful than being dishonorable. Mirari knows that Gaven is born Minettan and is teasing him about a virtue that she knows he admires despite the act he puts up about having a dislike for Minettans.

She was stuck in the fantasy of their childhood selves, hoping that when they reunited everything would be exactly as it was a decade ago. She had come to terms that it was selfish of her to want to bring back both their former selves, which they had tried so hard to leave behind.
-- Mirari (chapter 21)

Importance: Mirari still looks at Gaven as if he were her childhood friend. However, Gaven had long abandoned this part of his identity in order to pursue his dream of becoming a region leader. She realizes that she cannot ask him to acknowledge her, as it would jeopardize his position. She accepts that the past they had together should remain buried.

You have reminded me that sheer willpower is all it takes to defy any level of physical strength. Lend me your willpower, and I'll lend you my strength.
-- Gaven (chapter 21)

Importance: Partners are typically chosen to make each other physically stronger. However, Gaven chose Mirari for her courage and willpower, which he deems more valuable than physical strength. The partner bind is recited by the lines: By my blade, I hereby request your alliance to become my eyes and ears in the time of uncertainty! and By my blood, I swear to be your sword and shield in the battles to come!

Within each empire, there are region leaders who look at their neighbors and desire whatever they see.
-- Suzan (chapter 28)

Importance: Suzan explains that all council members and region leaders want to take power from each other. The Knights' ideals of equality pose a threat to their selfish desires and greed. This quote shows that while Suzan believes that peace and equality are necessary, it is an even greater threat to those who do not want to seek change or lose their upper hand.

We all have our destinies, written in the heavens for all to see. All those with the vision to see it, that is. But only a tiny fraction have this rare ability, this divine sight. You are one of those, child. One who is Blessed. It is people like us who shall rule these lands.
-- Laikos (chapter 33)

Importance: Laikos believes that fate is in the hands of the Gods and that a selected few are destined to carry out their wishes. He persuades Mirari to believe that she was destined to work with the Blessed, a destiny that she refuses to believe until Book 2 and doesn't fully realize its meaning until Book 3.

He began to wonder if he had truly lost his touch as a fortune teller, or if fate was now volatile, a force that could twist and challenge his predictions.
-- Fangbane (chapter 35)

Importance: Throughout the novel, it is not clear if Fangbane has predicted and/or manipulated most situations in his favor. The establishment of the Knights was a much harder endeavour than he had predicted, making him believe that the road ahead will be full of even greater challenges.