Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

« It’s not easy, » Catarina corrected him. « It’s what it means to be alive. Remember what I said, Simon. Every decision you make, makes you. Never let other people choose who you’re going to be. »

« Don’t cry », he coaxed Max again as the milk heated up. « Don’t cry, and don’t spit up on my shirt. If you do either of those things, I will forgive you, but I will be upset. I want us to get along. »

« I love you unconditionally », his mom had said, once or twice, when he was younger. « That’s how parents love. I love you no matter what. »
People said things like that, without thinking of potential nightmare scenarios or horrific conditions, the whole world changing and love slipping away. None of them ever dreamed love would be tested, and fail.

« “But I know your blood doesn’t define you. What defines you is the choices you make. If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that. And I also know that loving someone–even when it’s scary, even when there are consequences–is never the wrong thing to do. Loving someone is the opposite of hurting her.” »

" Do you see that man?" Isabelle asked, pointing at Simon. Apparently she was talking about him. "That's Simon Lewis, and he is my boyfriend. So if any of you think about trying to hurt him because he's a mundie or-may the Angel have mercy on your soul-pursuing him romantically, I will come after you, I will hunt you down, and I will crush you to powder."

"I don't believe I can change the world - it sounds stupid to even talk about it - but I'm going to try."
"We all change the world, with every day of living in it", Magnus said.

"I guess I don't know for sure," he admitted. "What about you? Do you think you know what it would feel like?"
"Love?" Michael smiled down at his hands. "Love, real love, is being seen. Being known. Knowing the ugliest part of someone, and loving them anyway. And... I guess I think two people in love become something else, something more than the sum of their parts, you know? That it must be like you're creating a new world that exists just for the two of you. You're gods of your own pocket universe."

"How is Mother?" James whispered.
"She cried when Jem told her, and said you were her sweet boy," said Father. "I believe she may be planning to strangle you and then bake you a cake afterward."

"[...] That is the wonderful thing about making changes and meeting strangers, Jamie. You never know when, and you never know who, but someday a stranger will burst through the door of your life and transform it utterly. The world will be turned upside down, and you will be happier for it."

"You say that like it's so easy to know what it is," Simon said. "To be so sure of yourself, that you're right, no matter what the Law says."
"It's not easy," Catarina corrected him. "It's what it means to be alive. Remember what I said, Simon. Every decision you make, makes you. Never let other people choose who you're going to be."