Chapter XLVIII

Summary

• Class Four’s lessons are intense and engaging, with a dynamic teacher, Scitus, who encourages lively discussions and debates throughout the classrooms.
• There are factional themes in these debates; certain students consistently defend or back up others, but the narrator maintains neutrality.
• The narrator integrates well into Class Four, despite occasional reminders of his reputation.
• It is revealed that Aequa is the top-ranked student and is also the least liked.
• The class heads to the Labyrinth and find the Thirds also there as observers for motivation. The narrator feels antagonism from the Thirds, specifically a student named Iro.
• In their task in the Labyrinth, Aequa runs while the narrator controls the doorways for her. They have a good start until Iro deliberately distracts the narrator, causing a delay and overall a poor showing.
• Iro provokes the narrator regarding a previous incident involving Iro's sister, but the narrator manages to keep his anger in check, despite a chaotic labyrinth run.
• Their teacher, Scitus, scolds the narrator for the poor performance but also compliments his restraint in handling Iro’s provocation.
• Despite the blight in her run, Aequa’s performance as a controller in the following run is excellent and they are successful.
• Afterward, a student named Indol from the Thirds invites the narrator to train with them over the trimester break on the island of Suus. The narrator agrees, fearing the prospect of being on the sea but feeling he can’t refuse.