"Then you understand, I hope, that sometimes, in doing what is right and committing yourself, you're going to have to cut away things that mean a lot to you."

Acanthus Mages with actual resolve were admittedly uncommon. At the risk of sounding unkind, Rilea had seen too many of the followers of the Lunargent Thorn make promises that they never ended up keeping.

Granted, it was already a big thing that Gray had gone through Hunter school and actually completed his initiation. Still: inquiring minds needed to know. That was the purpose of this entire exercise, wasn't it? That was why a conversation with a King was always the last step.