History TearJerker / Amulet

** It becomes HarsherInHindsight when Max revealed that no one, aside from Emily, has ever succeeded liberating anyone from a Dark Scout's control, and that no one actually''survived'' when they do. It means that when [[spoiler: the Elf King sicced the parasite unto Trellis, he was condemning him '''to die'''.]]

* Trellis investigates the memory cube given to him by Gabilan. And quickly enough, he encounters a cramped house in the middle of a tundra. Inside, he sees an unconscious elven mother and child, frozen and starving. It's quickly revealed that the boy is [[spoiler:himself, and the mother is his own. When Trellis was a child, his last moments with his mother were of them starving and cold, holding each other in bed to have what little comfort they have. ''He woke up to her corpse''. ]] And the clincher? [[spoiler:Young Trellis wasn't even crying, or wailing. He was just quiet as he processes his trauma. Not too different from current Trellis's reaction in the Nexus when he sees his father scar him. The extent of his trauma goes so far back and it's horrifying.]]

* Trellis in the seventh book also has to suffer through seeing his own childhood, and predictably gets to watch how [[AbusiveParents abusive]] his father was to him.
** And what makes this worse? He was just ''silent'' as his life was changed terribly in the span of a few minutes. He doesn't get outraged or yell or even try to intervene with the memory, he just left because he had ''enough''. Trellis may not have said anything, but it's obvious that he's hurt and affected by the memory and Emily could see it.

* [[spoiler: At the very beginning, Trellis investigates the memory cube given to him by Gabilan. And quickly enough, he encounters a cramped house in the middle of a tundra. Inside, he sees an unconscious elven mother and child, frozen and starving. His tone when he notices them, was mournful.]]
** [[spoiler: Then the boy suddenly awakens and sits up, much to his relief and shock. Out of instinct, he asks the boy if he's alright, then he abruptly stops when he realizes the boy was ''him''.]]
** [[spoiler: In other words, the unconscious mother wasn't just a stranger; it was ''his mother''. But when young Trellis tries to wake her up, she doesn't, because she already passed. When Trellis was a child, his last moments with his mother were of them starving and cold, holding together in bed to have what little comfort they have. ''He woke up to her corpse''. ]]
** [[spoiler:And the clincher? Young Trellis wasn't even crying, or wailing. He was just quiet as he processes his trauma. Not too different from current Trellis's reaction in the Nexus when he sees his father scar him. The extent of his trauma, goes too far back and it's horrifying.]]
** [[spoiler:[[TheStoic Trellis's]] [[NotSoStoic face]]. It's just one, big heartbreaking expression. It's one of the few moments he actually showed such devastating emotion.]]
** [[spoiler:He wasn't even angry, yet instead just seems tired from it all. ''He just wished he had a memory of his mother.'']]
* Trellis once again has a bout of HeroicSelfDeprecation during the dinner at Ippo. He sure fells awful guilty not helping the people of Ippo enough.

* Riva. She looked and ''sounded'' different from her initial appearance in Book 6, where she is capable of being hopeful and albeit desperate, hasn't really fallen into despair. Here, she looks exhausted, and so void of hope, it's painful to watch. She may as well be in the middle of a HeroicBSOD.
* Trellis once again has a bout of HeroicSelfDeprecation. He sure fells awful guilty not helping the people of Ippo enough.

* TheReveal behind Trellis's uncharacteristic cruel impression in Book 1: [[spoiler: he possessed by a Dark Scout all along]]. They way he justs asks Max what the creature was when back then he tried to sic it on Emily, tells you that ''there is something'' '''very''' ''wrong''. How long was he brainwashed? How many people became his victims while he was possessed? The expression on his face is just awful.
** It becomes HarsherInHindsight when Max revealed that no one, aside from Emily, has ever succeeded liberating anyone from a Dark Scout's control, and that no one actually''survived'' when they do. It means that when [[spoiler: the Elf King sic the parasite unto Trellis, he was condemning him '''to die'''.]]

* TheReveal behind Trellis's

* Emily, Trellis, and Vigo manage to land unscathed thanks to Trellis — Max was not so lucky. He isn't dead, but severely injured with several broken bones and likely internal bleeding. The Voice forces him to move, to which he admits he can't, prompting the spirit to mend his body (and it isn't [[Understatement pleasant]]). He just ''begs'' him to stop but then the Voice brought up an old wound:
--->'''The Voice:'' What would Laura say if she saw you now?\\

* Also from the fifth volume, Emily being genuinely upset over [[spoiler:her Stone lying to her about how much influence he had over Max.]] Even though she says she never fully trusted him, you can see through the other volumes how she had treated him as a confidant when she needed him.

* There's one for Max at the beginning of the fifth volume, where we see his best friend Layra be killed by his own father because of the war against elves and humans.

*

* Trellis in the seventh book also has to suffer through seeing his own childhood, and predictably gets to watch how [[AbusiveParents abusive]] his father was to him. Then, afterwards, he sees [[spoiler:Emily transform into a fire monster out of rage]] and is utterly unable to help, which hits him especially hard because [[spoiler:Emily was able to save him from Sybrian and Luger from the Stone. He can't return the favor. Trellis briefly pleading with Emily to show him how to save her and then commiserating on his failure later is tragic to watch.]]

'''Virgil:''' ''[he doesn't face him]'' Best not to worry about me. Whatever happens is suppose to happen to lead you here.

* TheReveal at the end of the fourth volume. [[spoiler:Ronin and Pierce were dead all along, and Max was just using them to continue his facade in front of Emily.]] Emily looking back and seeing [[spoiler:their stony faces]] was just cruel, especially since she didn't know what it meant at first even though the audience had already seen this curse in action.

** Also from the fifth volume, Emily being genuinely upset over [[spoiler:her Stone lying to her about how much influence he had over Max.]] Even though she says she never fully trusted him, you can see through the other volumes how she had treated him as a confidant when she needed him.

* What happened to Trellis in between being possessed and up to now. This guy's life is one wreck after another and it doesn't seem to stop.
** One, he was possessed for knowing the truth that could've prevented the war and save thousands of lives. Instead, his uncle was implied to be executed and his will and freedom is forcibly taken.
** Two, his people treated him like crap. They won't hesitate to use brute force or kill him due to his father. Even his own brother, albeit unknowingly, treated him terribly.
** Three, aside from Virgil, who is technically dead, there is no one who really cares for him or anyone who could rely on, much less emotionally.

** Trellis in the seventh book also has to suffer through seeing his own childhood, and predictably gets to watch how [[AbusiveParents abusive]] his father was to him. Then, afterwards, he sees [[spoiler:Emily transform into a fire monster out of rage]] and is utterly unable to help, which hits him especially hard because [[spoiler:Emily was able to save him from Sybrian and Luger from the Stone. He can't return the favor. Trellis briefly pleading with Emily to show him how to save her and then commiserating on his failure later is tragic to watch.]]

-->[[spoiler: '''Layra:''' [[ArmorPiercigQuestion Why?]]]]

-->[[spoiler: '''Layra:''' Why?]]

* From the very prologue of the first book, we have the death of Emily's dad. Even though he knows he's trapped and going to die, he tries to stay calm for his wife and daughter's sake and simply makes sure they're both out of the car before it goes over. Bonus for the part where Emily tries to pull the car back and can't, undermining how helpless she was in that situation.

* Max's [[spoiler:death from rapid aging]] in the Void. [[spoiler:Despite all he had done, Emily was still upset over it and tried in vain to keep him from dying.]]