The killed killer
Appia is defined by his willingness to do what Densu would not. Densu won the tournament but lost it all on the finish line when the final objective of the game was to kill and innocent animal, which he would not do, but since Appia was willing, Appia won and became prince. What Appia didn't know was that becoming prince actually meant his death, because his power made him a target. His death makes him an ironic character—he is the killed killer.
The innocent one blamed
Densu is blamed, but of course is the most innocent in the whole community. The ironic judgment makes him have to flee into the wilderness. He wonders why such a thing would happen, but the reader knows that this is his inciting incident. He is being thrusted into a destiny by way of hero's journey. The innocent one is scapegoated, but because he is rejected by his society, he becomes stronger than ever.
Densu, the healer
Densu is a healer, but he doesn't know that for a long time. In fact, he doesn't know it's possible until he witnesses Damfo doing it, and then suddenly, he feels the power emerge spontaneously from within him. His ability to be the healer makes him a superhero in a different way than the warrior superpowers of his peers. He isn't exceptional at battle, nor does he have the nerve to kill, but he has something better—healing is shown as the superior gift.
The helped helper
Because Densu is in need of help, he is able to interact with Damfo in a way that teaches him a new aspect of his role. When Damfo helps him, Densu becomes able to help others, literally through healing, and also abstractly through leadership and wisdom. He understands the way humans depend on each other, and this breaks his illusion of competition. No longer does he want to win competitions. Rather, he wants to help others.
The surprising issue of race
The book ends up being about race in a surprisingly garish way, almost out of nowhere. This dramatic irony points to the situational irony of real life racism, because for most of the plot, the book doesn't seem to address race, but that's a problem, because it means that racist narratives and agendas have had their way. When the "colored people" come back to take their place in the kingdom, they don't win with sophisticated technology or strategy; they win their their primal roots, their ability to dance along with the magical forces of nature.
