Chapter 20 Summary: Makoto

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

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Otherwise, read on for a full breakdown of this pivotal chapter.

(Note: This page covers Chapter 20, titled “Makoto,” which is the 21st chapter in the book.)

Summary

The chapter opens with Makoto walking among a massive crowd of Ilyans from the slums, all heading to the Bowl arena to witness the final Trial. The sun beats down, and the slow-moving crowd makes the journey far longer than usual. Makoto feels the press of hundreds of powers around her, a constant hum she has learned to suppress because she has hidden her own ability her entire life.

When they finally enter the arena, Makoto is struck by its scale: thousands of Elites fill the rising seats, and a giant maze of hedges stretches across the Pit floor, with a large opening at its center. The king’s voice booms from a glass box, announcing that the first contestant to reach the middle must also kill the person waiting there. Makoto is unsurprised by the king’s willingness to sacrifice a criminal for entertainment, but the words still send a chill through her.

As the Trial begins, contestants race into the foliage. Makoto focuses on finding Dena, her friend (or perhaps something more) who she believes is in the stands. She uses her power-sensing ability to locate Dena’s Phaser signature. At first, the sensation grows stronger as she walks along the path, but then it stops strengthening. She circles the entire arena, desperately scanning the crowd for Dena’s bright smile or a waving hand, but finds nothing. Confused, she tries again, and the pull directs her toward the railing overlooking the Pit. She wonders if the Mute lining the stands is interfering with her senses.

Looking out into the Pit, she sees Paedyn on the live screens, running between the hedges. Then her gaze lands on the center ring of sand, where a small, scared figure stands—the criminal the king mentioned. Makoto blinks, and her mouth goes dry. She recognizes the dark hair, the curls, the crooked bangs. It’s Dena. Her shout is swallowed by the roaring crowd. She has found her—at the center of a Trial, about to be killed by the first contestant to reach her.

Key Events

Makoto joins the mass of Ilyans walking to the Bowl for the final Trial.
The arena is described as massive, with thousands of Elites and a hedge maze in the Pit.
The king announces the Trial’s rule: be first to the center and kill the person waiting there.
Makoto uses her power-sensing ability to search for Dena’s Phaser signature.
She circles the arena, but the sensation never grows stronger, leading her to the railing.
She spots Paedyn on the screens, then sees the criminal at the center.
She recognizes Dena and cries out, but the crowd drowns her voice.

Character Development

Makoto is the focal point of this chapter, and we see several layers of her character. Her fear of the king is palpable—she has spent her life hiding her ability, and seeing him in person brings back years of terror. Yet she is also determined and resourceful, using her power-sensing to try to locate Dena despite having little practice. Her frustration when the sensation leads her nowhere shows her vulnerability. The final revelation—that Dena is the sacrifice—shatters her composure. She clutches the railing to keep from collapsing, and her shout is lost in the noise. This moment transforms her from a passive observer into a desperate witness, setting up her potential role in the events to come.

Dena is not physically present in the chapter except as the figure at the center, but her role is crucial. She is revealed to be the criminal thrown into the Trial, a twist that recontextualizes her earlier absence. Her dark hair and crooked bangs are described with enough detail that Makoto’s recognition is immediate and devastating.

Paedyn appears only briefly on the screens, but her presence as a contestant reminds us of the larger stakes. She is running through the maze, and the reader knows she is one of the protagonists. Her proximity to Dena creates a collision course that will likely define the next chapters.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The Arena as Spectacle – The Bowl is described as a concrete, intimidating structure filled with cheering Elites. The maze and the center ring turn the Trial into a theatrical performance, with the king as the director. The crowd’s roar that swallows Makoto’s shout underscores how individual voices are lost in the machinery of state violence.

The King’s Cruelty – The king’s decree—that contestants must kill a defenseless criminal—is a stark display of his disregard for life. Makoto’s lack of surprise (“I’m unsurprised by his willingness to sacrifice a criminal”) highlights how normalized this cruelty has become in their society.

The Sacrifice – Dena is the sacrificial lamb, thrown into the arena to raise the stakes. Her small, scared figure contrasts with the massive arena and the roaring crowd, emphasizing her powerlessness.

Power Sensing – Makoto’s ability to sense powers is both a gift and a burden. It allows her to track Dena, but it also fails her when she needs it most, leading her to the wrong conclusion. This motif explores the limits of power and the fallibility of perception.

The Search for a Loved One – The chapter is structured around Makoto’s desperate search for Dena. Her circling of the arena mirrors the maze below, suggesting that even those outside the Trial are trapped in their own labyrinth of fear and uncertainty.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the narrative. It reveals the true stakes of the final Trial: the king has chosen a specific person—Dena—as the sacrifice, and Makoto is forced to watch helplessly. The twist that Dena is the criminal at the center transforms the Trial from a generic contest into a personal crisis for Makoto. It also sets up a potential confrontation between Paedyn (who is racing toward the center) and Dena, creating a moral dilemma for Paedyn if she reaches her first. Makoto’s presence in the stands means she will likely become an active participant in the aftermath, whether by trying to intervene or by seeking revenge. The chapter also deepens our understanding of the world’s brutality and the lengths the king will go to for entertainment.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Makoto’s ability to sense powers both help and hinder her search for Dena?

Answer: Makoto’s ability allows her to isolate Dena’s Phaser signature among hundreds of others, giving her a way to track her. However, the sensation leads her in a circle and then points toward the Pit, not the stands. This misdirection causes her to doubt her own senses and waste time. Ultimately, the ability brings her to the railing where she sees Dena, but only after she has already been placed in danger. The power is helpful in locating Dena, but it also creates false hope and confusion, showing that even a useful ability has limitations.

2. What does the king’s decree reveal about his character and the society of Ilya?

Answer: The king’s decree—that the first contestant must kill the person waiting at the center—reveals his sadistic nature and his view of human life as disposable. He is willing to sacrifice a criminal from his dungeons purely to make the Trial more exciting. This reflects a society where the Elites are entertained by violence and where the lives of the lower classes (like the Ilyans) are treated as expendable. Makoto’s lack of surprise indicates that such cruelty is expected, highlighting the systemic oppression that defines Ilya.

3. How does the author create tension in this chapter, and what effect does it have on the reader?

Answer: The author builds tension through Makoto’s internal struggle to locate Dena. The slow walk to the arena, the overwhelming crowd, and the king’s ominous announcement all create a sense of dread. Makoto’s repeated attempts to sense Dena, followed by the growing frustration as the power leads her nowhere, keep the reader on edge. The climax comes when she sees the figure at the center and recognizes Dena—the tension snaps into horror. The effect is to make the reader feel Makoto’s helplessness and to heighten the emotional impact of the twist.