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Book 1 - Unsouled
Elder Whisper: When a traveler cannot find a path, sometimes he must make his own.
[...]
Elder Whisper: Remember. Cutting a road through a forest is always harder than following one already cut.
Lindon: If all it takes is work, Elder Whisper, this one will not fail you.
Elder Whisper: Fate is not fair, but it is just. Hard work is never in vain... even when it does not achieve what you wished.
[...]
Elder Whisper: Remember. Cutting a road through a forest is always harder than following one already cut.
Lindon: If all it takes is work, Elder Whisper, this one will not fail you.
Elder Whisper: Fate is not fair, but it is just. Hard work is never in vain... even when it does not achieve what you wished.
— Chapter 4
"There are a million Paths in this world, Lindon, but any sage will tell you they can all be reduced to one. Improve yourself."
— Suriel, Chapter 11
It was impossible to predict what wild Remnants would do. They might shred him to pieces, ignore him, bite him once and run off, shine a light in his eyes, drag him back to a cave and imprison him, or swear eternal loyalty to him on sight.
— Chapter 16
"I've caught on to you. You're no Unsouled. Unsouled don't have the madra to use a Thousand-Mile Cloud. Unsouled don't win tournaments, not even among children. Unsouled don't beat Irons, with or without tricks. [...] Anyone can put on a wooden badge. What are you really? Iron? You're not Copper, a Copper would have died by now. And a Jade wouldn't throw away his pride."
— Elder Whitehall, chapter 19
Book 2 - Soulsmith
"Don't smile. A smile doesn't go with those eyes. You look like you want to eat me for breakfast."
— Fisher Gesha, chapter 10
"You don't look like a child spoiling for a fight anymore, but there's still... what do you think, Yerin?"
Yerin turned back around and considered him. "Like he's ready to tear into someone with his bare hands." Coming from her, that sounded like a compliment.
Eithan moved his hand back and forth. "Eh... I'd say he looks like an evil sect leader's rebellious son." He thought a moment longer and added, "Wearing his mother's robe."
Yerin turned back around and considered him. "Like he's ready to tear into someone with his bare hands." Coming from her, that sounded like a compliment.
Eithan moved his hand back and forth. "Eh... I'd say he looks like an evil sect leader's rebellious son." He thought a moment longer and added, "Wearing his mother's robe."
— Chapter 16
Yerin: My master used to say that no Path is wide enough for two.
Eithan: And that is exactly the problem I wish to solve. I have been looking for people to walk with me every step of the way.
Yerin: Where to?
Eithan: To the end.
— Chapter 19
Book 3 - Blackflame
Lindon: Underlord, forgive me, I was... startled.
Eithan: There will be no forgiveness. To the blood pits with you!
[Gesha trembles, and Lindon laughs awkwardly]
Eithan: Not every joke is appreciated in its time. Tell me, Soulsmith Gesha, would you mind if I borrowed my little brother here? Feel free to say no, although of course I will have your corpse mounted on a flagpole for the slightest defiance.
Eithan: There will be no forgiveness. To the blood pits with you!
[Gesha trembles, and Lindon laughs awkwardly]
Eithan: Not every joke is appreciated in its time. Tell me, Soulsmith Gesha, would you mind if I borrowed my little brother here? Feel free to say no, although of course I will have your corpse mounted on a flagpole for the slightest defiance.
— Chapter 2
Cassias: [to Eithan] I would urge you to remember what happened when you took over the training of our family Coppers.
Eithan: Oh, that's nothing to worry about.
Cassias: [to Lindon] I personally rescued a girl who ran from his training into a place called the Thousand Beast Forest. She survived by hiding from two-headed bears. I found her crouched in a cave, dirty and bleeding, but she begged me to leave her rather than take her back to train.
Lindon: That does seem... harsh. Perhaps she may have been pushed a little too hard, don't you think?
Eithan: Don't worry, I don't train my students like that anymore. I was far too lenient before. After weeks of my training, that girl should have been fighting those bears. With her fists.
Yerin: If you don't feel like you're going to die when you're training, then you're doing it wrong.
Eithan: Oh, that's nothing to worry about.
Cassias: [to Lindon] I personally rescued a girl who ran from his training into a place called the Thousand Beast Forest. She survived by hiding from two-headed bears. I found her crouched in a cave, dirty and bleeding, but she begged me to leave her rather than take her back to train.
Lindon: That does seem... harsh. Perhaps she may have been pushed a little too hard, don't you think?
Eithan: Don't worry, I don't train my students like that anymore. I was far too lenient before. After weeks of my training, that girl should have been fighting those bears. With her fists.
Yerin: If you don't feel like you're going to die when you're training, then you're doing it wrong.
— Chapter 5
Lindon: This Fierce Burning Outer Robe costs me more than I thought.
Yaren: First thing, we're not calling it that. [considers] Burning cloak. That's a real technique name. [...] You want to call it Fierce Burning Clothes on Fire in your own head, that's on your account, but I'll cut you every time you say it out loud.
Lindon: It will be an honor to use the Burning Cloak technique.
Yaren: First thing, we're not calling it that. [considers] Burning cloak. That's a real technique name. [...] You want to call it Fierce Burning Clothes on Fire in your own head, that's on your account, but I'll cut you every time you say it out loud.
Lindon: It will be an honor to use the Burning Cloak technique.
— Chapter 12
Lindon [translating a description of a striker technique]: Fierce...River of...Fierce Flowing Breath. I'm fairly sure that's what it means. They certainly say 'fierce' twice.
Yaren: It's dragon breath.
Yaren: It's dragon breath.
— Chapter 15
"Gentlemen, this is a mistake."
— Eithan, surrounded by enemies, caught in a trap, chapter 17
Eithan: He initiated an open attack against me in Serpent's Grave, and I was forced to take out the broom.
Emperor Naru Huan: I've never heard that expression. I assume you mean an actual broom.
Emperor Naru Huan: I've never heard that expression. I assume you mean an actual broom.
— Chapter 22
Jai Daishou wore a gratifying expression of total horror. "Tell me how," he demanded.
Eithan paused with scissors to his neck. "I'll tell your Remnant," he said.
Then he slit Jai Daishou’s throat.
The Underlord's body slumped to the ground. A moment later, a skeletal white Remnant began to rise.
As promised, Eithan met the Remnant's eyes and explained. "You weren't good enough."
Then Eithan blew the spirit apart with a half-formed Hollow King's Spear and hobbled away from the bodies.
The Truegold Remnants had already fled.
Eithan paused with scissors to his neck. "I'll tell your Remnant," he said.
Then he slit Jai Daishou’s throat.
The Underlord's body slumped to the ground. A moment later, a skeletal white Remnant began to rise.
As promised, Eithan met the Remnant's eyes and explained. "You weren't good enough."
Then Eithan blew the spirit apart with a half-formed Hollow King's Spear and hobbled away from the bodies.
The Truegold Remnants had already fled.
Book 4 - Skysworn
Naru Gwei: If I saw you on fire I'd hold an umbrella for you so the rain didn't put you out.
Eithan: I don't feel like that's entirely warranted.
Eithan: I don't feel like that's entirely warranted.
— Chapter 4
Book 5 - Ghostwater
Lindon: [testing if a strange construct is speaking from predetermined responses] What is your favorite flavor of pie?
Construct: ...I'm not a pie-construct, am I? What I know about pie could fill a... a little... the tiny scoop you use to eat soup.
Lindon: A spoon?
Construct: No, that can't be right. That's ridiculous. Spoon. Get out of here with your nonsense words.
Construct: ...I'm not a pie-construct, am I? What I know about pie could fill a... a little... the tiny scoop you use to eat soup.
Lindon: A spoon?
Construct: No, that can't be right. That's ridiculous. Spoon. Get out of here with your nonsense words.
— Chapter 5
"Once, you were weak. That boy is long dead, but his Remnant still haunts you. Your weakness, Lindon, is thinking you are weaker than you are."
— Orthos, chapter 15
Book 6 - Underlord
[There was a janitorial staff in Ghostwater, but I've never seen anyone so committed to their job! Come to think of it, what happened to...oh, right, eaten. They were eaten.]
— Dross, chapter 3
Seishen Kiro: Why should I make a deal with you? You're not even an Underlord.
Lindon: I don't care. [pulls out a giant cannon]
Lindon: I don't care. [pulls out a giant cannon]
— Chapter 17
Book 7 - Uncrowned
Pride: If you don't even make it past the first round, you will answer to me.
Lindon: [relieved] Really? Thank you. I was afraid I'd have to answer to your mother.
Lindon: [relieved] Really? Thank you. I was afraid I'd have to answer to your mother.
— Chapter 9
Mercy: I've never seen you voluntarily take a break. Even in the Skysworn, you were cycling or practicing until you collapsed. Do you not have any hobbies?
Lindon: I used to work in a library.
Lindon: I used to work in a library.
— Chapter 7
Book 8 - Wintersteel
Eithan [being dragged away]: Remember, Lindon! Remember to visit a barber! A barber, Lindon! Your hair lacks volume and defin—
— Chapter 7
Lindon: Let's go, Dross. We're playing to win.
Dross: Were...were you playing to lose before?
Dross: Were...were you playing to lose before?
— Chapter 12
Mercy: [about Lindon] If I asked you to punch a hole in the sky, I thought you'd say "Apologies, it might take me a few years."
— Chapter 17
"Sometimes I wonder if you know me at all, Sesh. Your people destroyed the Rising Earth sect and tried to destroy two more of my teams. Did you think I would let that go? Did you think I couldn't reach you? Did you forget my name?"
— Akura Malice, chapter 26
"I'm here to punch a hole in the sky."
— Lindon, chapter 26
"I am the end."
— Lindon, Chapter 27
Book 9 - Bloodline
Dross: You know, if I didn't open the door, he couldn't get it? That means that I, and I alone, have the power to determine his fate. It feels good. What do you call that?
Eithan: Megalomania?
Eithan: Megalomania?
— Chapter 4
"I expect you all to carry me like a rescued princess."
— Eithan, chapter 4
Jai Long: Die with honor, turtle.
Orthos: You as well, human.
Orthos: You as well, human.
— Chapter 6
"I'm not a Gold. I'm a Lord. It's an entire realm beyond. Even at that level, I'm... I'm very good. One of the best. If you took away my advancement, I'd still be a better fighter than you or anyone you've ever met. Did Orthos tell you why I left? I saw the future. You were all going to die. Here. In this Dreadgod attack. If I got strong enough, I could stop it. I left so I could grow. I left for this. You asked me why I didn't come back. Why would I come back? I'm only here now because you're in danger. If I hadn't come back, you would have all died without knowing anything. Stick with me, and I'll protect you, because I can. While you're with me, you'll never have to worry about anything ever again. But first, I'm taking you away from Sacred Valley whether you like it or not. After that, if you want to crawl back here and die, you can do it on your own."
— Lindon (to his family), chapter 7
Dross [dividing tasks for the team]: Which leaves the Kazan for you, Ziel. You think you can handle it?
Ziel: I know literally nothing about either of them. Just tell me where to go.
Dross: I like you, Ziel. You're so...compliant.
Ziel: I know literally nothing about either of them. Just tell me where to go.
Dross: I like you, Ziel. You're so...compliant.
— Chapter 8
"Gentlemen, this is a mistake."
— Lindon, surrounded by enemies, caught in a trap, chapter 11
Suriel: I'm sure you remember what I said before. Any sage will tell you that every Path boils down to one: improve yourself. But you're a Sage yourself now. You should know the rest. You improve yourself, but not for yourself alone. For a greater purpose.
Lindon: Apologies, but this is my purpose.
Suriel: No, this was your goal. Not your purpose.
Lindon: So then... what is it?
Suriel: [rests a friendly hand on his shoulder] You have the chance to show me that. Wei Shi Lindon... show me the future.
Lindon: Apologies, but this is my purpose.
Suriel: No, this was your goal. Not your purpose.
Lindon: So then... what is it?
Suriel: [rests a friendly hand on his shoulder] You have the chance to show me that. Wei Shi Lindon... show me the future.
— Chapter 17
"I... advance."
— Lindon (advancing to Overlord), chapter 17
Book 10 - Reaper
Lindon: You created a sect in my name.
Eithan: That I did. It was something of a bluff, but you know how it is. Sometimes these things get away from you.
Lindon: I don't know how to lead a sect!
Eithan: I, of course, considered that you might feel that way. Not a problem at all. I would just like to borrow your image as a figurehead. That might work even better, in its own way; you could be the enigmatic mysterious expert backing our operations from the shadows.
Lindon: Apologies, but I thought you would try to trick me into doing it.
Eithan: Lindon! Lindon. Lindon. How dare you say something so hurtful and yet so accurate.
Lindon: [glares]
Eithan: Believe it or not, I had intended to consult you first. I had a plan for a grand reveal and everything. You do like tiger meat, don't you? Anyway, events got ahead of me, and I had to work quickly to bail out of a complicated situation. I do apologize.
Eithan: That I did. It was something of a bluff, but you know how it is. Sometimes these things get away from you.
Lindon: I don't know how to lead a sect!
Eithan: I, of course, considered that you might feel that way. Not a problem at all. I would just like to borrow your image as a figurehead. That might work even better, in its own way; you could be the enigmatic mysterious expert backing our operations from the shadows.
Lindon: Apologies, but I thought you would try to trick me into doing it.
Eithan: Lindon! Lindon. Lindon. How dare you say something so hurtful and yet so accurate.
Lindon: [glares]
Eithan: Believe it or not, I had intended to consult you first. I had a plan for a grand reveal and everything. You do like tiger meat, don't you? Anyway, events got ahead of me, and I had to work quickly to bail out of a complicated situation. I do apologize.
— Chapter 3
"Let him kick you," Yerin suggested. Everyone looked to her - Naru Huan's face had grown substantially brighter - but she didn't back down. "You want to show you're sorry? Let him kick you."
Eithan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I'm a little disturbed at how quickly you came to that suggestion."
"I dream about it every night."
Naru Huan controlled himself, but Lindon could see that he was holding back excitement. "I would like that very much."
"Well, if I'm not going to defend myself, I would prefer if you took it easy—"
He didn't.
Eithan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I'm a little disturbed at how quickly you came to that suggestion."
"I dream about it every night."
Naru Huan controlled himself, but Lindon could see that he was holding back excitement. "I would like that very much."
"Well, if I'm not going to defend myself, I would prefer if you took it easy—"
He didn't.
— Chapter 4
"You are not my goal. You're just in my way."
— Eithan (to Reigan Shen), chapter 15
Eithan: I wanted to raise up peers. In theory, t was possible. If you started from the beginning, you can raise a generation of truly unparalleled sacred artists who would never leave each other behind.
Lindon: [firmly] Congratulations. Yerin and I, at least, would never leave you behind.
Eithan: I know. I've never been happier.
— Chapter 20
[A destroyer has come.]
— Every oracle on Cradle, Chapter 25
[The Destroyer has come.]
— The Oracle Codex, Chapter 25
Sage of Calling Storms: He is here.
Reigan Shen: Who?
Sage of Calling Storms: The Reaper.
Reigan Shen: Who?
Sage of Calling Storms: The Reaper.
— Chapter 25
"We have stared into the abyss and lived to tell the tale. I'm going to sleep."
— Ziel, chapter 26
Book 11 - Dreadgod
[You must not be acquainted with grief yet, or you would know that it is not a weak motivation. Wonderful. I marvel at the path of tragedy ahead of you that shaped you into such an unparalleled killer.]
— Dross, Chapter 1
Yerin: You get a royal audience with the Silent King? You his puppet?
Lindon: Yes. Apologies, but I have to feed you all to a Dreadgod now.
Yerin: I'd bet my spine that's really what you'd say.
Lindon: Yes. Apologies, but I have to feed you all to a Dreadgod now.
Yerin: I'd bet my spine that's really what you'd say.
— Chapter 4
Lindon: I am grateful for what you have done for my family. But I do not look favorably on those who keep Coppers imprisoned as slave labor, or who kill Jades in their beds over a blood feud.
Jai Long: I will take responsibility for my actions.
Lindon: I don't want that person in my sect, and I don't want that person in my family. Is that who you are?
Jai Long: I will take responsibility for my actions.
Lindon: I don't want that person in my sect, and I don't want that person in my family. Is that who you are?
— Chapter 4
Ozriel stood next to him in black armor, white hair flowing behind him, a satisfied smile on his face. "So Daruman told you I was weak, did he?"
Gerravon closed his eyes and remembered his life.
"Weaker," the Reaper said. "He should have said weaker."
Gerravon closed his eyes and remembered his life.
"Weaker," the Reaper said. "He should have said weaker."
— Chapter 5
Malice sneered at him. "Do you know how much stronger the other three will become now that another has fallen? You cannot fathom—"
"Four," Lindon corrected. He raised his right hand in a fist. "The other four."
"Four," Lindon corrected. He raised his right hand in a fist. "The other four."
— Chapter 18
"At last!" the spirit of the black dragon prince cried. "I am fr—"
Its perception stretched upward and froze. Then the spiritual sense spun right back into its soul.
"Put me back!" Noroloth demanded.
Its perception stretched upward and froze. Then the spiritual sense spun right back into its soul.
"Put me back!" Noroloth demanded.
— Chapter 18
Cassias started to walk, but then he hesitated. "Actually, I apologize, but there is one more thing I was wondering. Eithan... was he really..."
"Yeah."
The Truegold's brow furrowed, and Lindon wasn't sure how to read the expressions crossing his face.
"Why?" Cassias asked at last.
"I've asked that myself every hour since he left," Lindon said. "If you'll pardon me for half a guess, I think he was lonely."
Cassias nodded. "Yes. I think he was." He straightened his spine and gave a crisp bow, then walked off to join his family.
"Yeah."
The Truegold's brow furrowed, and Lindon wasn't sure how to read the expressions crossing his face.
"Why?" Cassias asked at last.
"I've asked that myself every hour since he left," Lindon said. "If you'll pardon me for half a guess, I think he was lonely."
Cassias nodded. "Yes. I think he was." He straightened his spine and gave a crisp bow, then walked off to join his family.
— Chapter 20
"Oh no, we're under attack," Larian muttered. With one finger, she plucked the string of the bow lying next to her. "Eat my best techniques, robbers! Pchew, pchew!" She clapped a hand to her armored chest. "Ack! They got me! I'll tell my grandchildren of this battle. Let us part with mutual respect."
— Chapter 21
Book 12 - Waybound
"I can strike once, with the power you have allotted me," Ozmanthus said. "Afterwards, you will not be able to project me again for quite some time without destabilizing my memory."
Lindon turned to face Malice, as her attack seemed most imminent. "Which target would you prefer?"
Ozmanthus barked a laugh. "I thought you knew me well. I said one attack..." Suddenly, towering ancient armor swallowed him, so he hovered at the center of a giant that stretched from the ground to the clouds. It reminded Lindon strongly of Malice's bloodline armor.
A gray, translucent cloak billowed from the Forger technique's shoulders, and it held a spear in one hand. "...not one opponent," Ozmanthus finished. "Brace yourself, future disciple."
[You need to take lessons from him on style,] Dross commented.
Lindon turned to face Malice, as her attack seemed most imminent. "Which target would you prefer?"
Ozmanthus barked a laugh. "I thought you knew me well. I said one attack..." Suddenly, towering ancient armor swallowed him, so he hovered at the center of a giant that stretched from the ground to the clouds. It reminded Lindon strongly of Malice's bloodline armor.
A gray, translucent cloak billowed from the Forger technique's shoulders, and it held a spear in one hand. "...not one opponent," Ozmanthus finished. "Brace yourself, future disciple."
[You need to take lessons from him on style,] Dross commented.
— Chapter 8
Mercy: You didn't need this much help. I've had someone holding my hand since I was a girl. [paces] At first, it was easy. I was just better than everyone else. And then, when I'd proven myself, I had a Sage and a Herald teaching me. My mother's a Monarch! And still, you and Yerin—
Lindon: Eithan turned out to be the Reaper of Worlds.
Mercy: That's... that's true, but...
Lindon: I have received more help than anyone in the universe. Even most of my power is stolen. There's nothing noble about doing everything yourself. You just have to do your best to honor the help you've gotten.
Lindon: Eithan turned out to be the Reaper of Worlds.
Mercy: That's... that's true, but...
Lindon: I have received more help than anyone in the universe. Even most of my power is stolen. There's nothing noble about doing everything yourself. You just have to do your best to honor the help you've gotten.
— Chapter 24
At that point, Lindon removed his veil. Just a crack, but the pressure from his spirit hung over the crowd as though he'd suspended a sword an inch over each of their heads.
There was utter silence.
He looked over them with black-and-white eyes, and he told them what he had once told an Underlord he didn't quite trust. "Remember that whatever you do while wearing my symbol, you do in my name. And I will be watching."
Though Lindon didn't ask for it, Dross projected a giant version of himself looming behind Lindon, staring at them all with a giant purple eye.
A shudder passed over all the students.
Message sufficiently delivered, Lindon veiled himself again. This time, he pulled out a book. He ran a thumb over its pages—some yellowed, most weathered, and some newer but crammed loosely in the middle.
Then he opened The Path of Twin Stars.
"Now, prepare yourselves and follow closely," Lindon said. "This is the Heaven and Earth Purification Wheel."
There was utter silence.
He looked over them with black-and-white eyes, and he told them what he had once told an Underlord he didn't quite trust. "Remember that whatever you do while wearing my symbol, you do in my name. And I will be watching."
Though Lindon didn't ask for it, Dross projected a giant version of himself looming behind Lindon, staring at them all with a giant purple eye.
A shudder passed over all the students.
Message sufficiently delivered, Lindon veiled himself again. This time, he pulled out a book. He ran a thumb over its pages—some yellowed, most weathered, and some newer but crammed loosely in the middle.
Then he opened The Path of Twin Stars.
"Now, prepare yourselves and follow closely," Lindon said. "This is the Heaven and Earth Purification Wheel."
— Chapter 31
