An Academy for Liars

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, graphic violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, illness and death, mental illness, sexual content, and substance use.

The first half of the spring semester passes in a blur. Lennon excels in her gatekeeping lessons with Dante, and she is able to open gates to places all over the world. She struggles, however, in her Persuasion II class, which is taught by Alec Becker. Becker is a difficult teacher, constantly pushing students until many of them have to depart to the infirmary from the pain of using too much power. Becker also likes to make the students spar, and one day Lennon is matched with Ian. Ian pushes his power at her, putting her in incredible pain that makes her cry. She pushes back, hurting him, and he calls her a “whore.” She attacks him physically, and they fight viciously until Becker paralyzes them and stops the fight.

Becker takes Lennon to Dante’s office, and he warns her that her attack on Ian makes her appear more dangerous and puts more of a target on her back. Lennon pulls out a loose molar and then goes to the infirmary to have it put back in.