Difference between revisions of "The Rithmatist"
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== Summary ==
{{for|The Rithmatist/Summary|a chapter by chapter summary}}
The Rithmatist takes place on an alternate Earth
[[Joel Saxon]] is a student at the prestigious [[Armedius Academy]] in Jamestown, New Britannia. Though not a Rithmatist himself, he is obsessed with Rithmatics and studies the magic as much as he can. The poor son of the campus cleaning lady, Joel doesn’t fit in with the other students who are all either Rithmatists or children of privilege. Joel’s father Trent was the chalk maker for the academy, and shared Joel’s obsession with Rithmatics
Joel obtains permission to tutor under [[Fitch|Professor Fitch]] during the summer holidays. Professor Fitch is also tutoring [[Melody Muns]], a Rithmatic student struggling in her magical studies. When one of the school’s Rithmatics students disappears and evidence points to foul play by a Rithmatist, Fitch is assigned
Leading the investigation is [[Harding|Inspector Harding]], a non-Rithmatist formerly of the military police in Nebrask.
Joel’s own suspicions center on [[Andrew Nalizar|Professor Nalizar]], a self-important and condescending man recently arrived from Nebrask. Joel
▲Joel’s own suspicions center on [[Andrew Nalizar|Professor Nalizar]], a self-important and condescending man recently arrived from Nebrask. Joel discovers that Nalizar is researching new Rithmatic lines. Joel particularly dislikes Nalizar because his first act at Armedius was to challenge and defeat Professor Fitch in a Rithmatic duel, by which he was able to claim Fitch’s tenure for himself.. When Joel shares his suspicions, however, Fitch, Harding, and Melody each argue against him. They say that while Nalizar is not a likeable person, he is an acclaimed war hero from Nebrask who has saved many lives (including Harding’s). Melody reveals that her brother William recently died in Nebrask, and Nalizar left the front because of his failure in saving William from the chalklings.
Soon Joel uncovers the true perpetrator: Inspector Harding. Harding has been possessed by a mysterious entity called a Forgotten, which is somehow able to control wild chalklings. It is revealed that while regular people are killed by chalklings, Rithmatists can themselves be turned into chalklings. Harding sends his chalklings to attack and transform all of the Armedius Rithmatist students, who he has successfully contained on campus "for protection." Together Joel, Melody, and Fitch defeat the Forgotten (with token help from Nalizar), and the wild chalklings revert to human form.
▲One night, Joel himself becomes the target of an attack. Chalklings chase him towards a trap of Rithmatic lines, but he manages to evade them long enough to take shelter in the academy office with clerk [[Exton L. Pratt|Exton Pratt]], then escape and alert the police guarding the campus. After the chalklings retreat, Inspector Harding searches the office and finds evidence in Exton’s desk that leads him to arrest Exton for the kidnappings.
Joel later confronts Nalizar, who he suspects
▲Joel later confronts Nalizar, who he suspects of being the mastermind behind the Forgotten’s actions. Nalizar confirms that he was behind the plot and that he is not entirely human, but reminds Joel that nobody will believe him if he tries to expose Nalizar.
== Excerpt ==
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