Though Knecht, with Tegularius’s help, wrote a lengthy memorandum, he was certain it would be unsuccessful. He sent in the documents to honor Tegularius’s exertions. Knecht edited Tegularius’s work considerably into the letter that the narrator reproduces.

Knecht addresses the Board and apologizes for his unusual letter. He believes that he can’t properly serve as Magister Ludi anymore because he sees the Glass Bead Game as in “a state of crisis” (346). Most Castalians, he argues, take the existence of Castalia for granted. He wants the Board to open its eyes and see that Castalia is threatened. He commends Castalia’s efforts to root out internal threats, but he criticizes its self-important attitude. Like all aristocratic groups, Castalia affords itself ever more privileges, which creates arrogance. Though there are exceptions, a majority of Castalians spend their lives with no conception of their duty to the wider world that funds their lifestyle. Knecht believes that the teachers Castalia sends into the world embody the true Castalian spirit and repay their debt to other countries; however, most Castalians hardly think about how hollow their own efforts are.

Castalia also faces external threats related to the stability of the countries outside it. Castalians cannot fathom this danger because of their disinterest in world history. Knecht notes two reasons why Castalians dislike history: First, they see its concerns as inferior to those of the mind, and second, they distrust written accounts of history. Knecht reminds the Board that Castalia was born out of a war-torn period and thus does not exist beyond the sphere of political struggle. He is interested in the actions of intellectuals in these periods, many of whom remained silent as their disciplines were corrupted. When peace descended, the remaining scholars sought to restore reason and truth through strict discipline and intellectual purity. Over generations, the concept of Castalia materialized, but in the present, none of its inhabitants care about this past suffering.

Knecht believes that Castalia is beyond its prime and can only wane. He is aware that changes in the outside world may cause Castalia’s budget to be axed as a luxury. He thinks Castalia is fortunate since it has a chance to be proactive. He describes the duties of the scholar, who above all must dedicate himself to preserving the purity of truth and knowledge. The scholar must make sacrifices in times of peril, but Knecht believes that he should never sacrifice his pursuit of truth. As Master of the Glass Bead Game, Knecht senses the coming peril more keenly since the Game is a relatively young invention and will be the first victim in Castalia’s decline. Knecht concludes by reasserting that Castalia should focus on sending out teachers who can impart a love of truth. He petitions the Board to let him work in a secular school with a small group of teachers from the Order since his anxieties make him unfit to be Magister.

Knecht soon received a reply. In its letter, the Board thanks Knecht for his thorough memorandum, in which the Board reads a profound love for Castalia and the author’s heroic character. The Board held intense discussions about Knecht’s fears, but the majority saw his predictions as overzealous. The Board believes world history is largely irrelevant to Castalia, as the history of the Mind is its own entity. Some members rebuke Knecht for so pessimistically describing the end of the Order, which disturbed them. The Board wishes that Knecht had brought these issues up in person. It rejects Knecht’s petition and bids him to reflect on Castalia’s hierarchy. Before sending the letter, the Board sent an anonymous observer to examine Knecht’s work and check to see if he was ill.

Knecht read both an impersonal and individual tone in the letter—the reprimand coupled with sympathy was likely the work of his friend Alexander. As this is as far as official documentation goes, the narrator promises to conclude with the popular legend of Knecht’s departure.

After receiving the letter, Knecht meditated on his awakening and informed his deputy of his indefinite leave. Throughout the day, lines of verse sprang into his memory from his schooldays. He paid Tegularius one last visit and asked about the poetry. His friend produced the old, handwritten copy of “Transcend!” that Knecht wrote. Knecht left Tegularius on a note of joyful reminiscence, and memories of his school years followed him back to his apartment.

The next morning, Knecht left Waldzell and drove to meet Alexander. While waiting, he reread the rules of the Order. He once saw Castalia’s Order as a divine absolute, but he now knew it was like any other institution. He reflected on the various “awakenings” that he experienced that led him to and from new places. He vowed to move through this next stage with equal courage and serenity. After several hours, Alexander met Knecht. Knecht explained that he felt it necessary to circulate his memorandum and draw the Board’s attention to his concerns, regardless of his success. Alexander reiterated that the Board took offense to the unusual pairing of personal and professional items, but Knecht responded that he thought his unusual request demanded an unusual form. However, he admitted that he petitioned mostly out of loyalty to official procedure; he planned to resign either way. Knecht promised to answer any questions before he left Castalia forever. Alexander dismissed Knecht for the night.

Alexander meditated on this meeting and couldn’t reconcile the obedient man he thought he knew with the reckless Knecht who had stood before him. Knecht could legally leave his office, and he performed every consideration for his successor, yet his actions appeared absurd. The next day, the men met again, and the narrator transcribes the conversation as it was recorded by Designori.

Alexander proposes a trial period of working in the world, but Knecht refuses, as what he truly craves is a life of risk and uncertainty. He recalls the promise he made to himself to resign if he ever felt joyless about the sollemnis. He never felt the sensation of “awakening” in his Magister’s position that he had felt at all other stages of his life. Knecht tries to explain this feeling, which gives him a heightened sense of clarity about his position in the world. He uses the example of St. Christopher; this saint had a talent for service, but he would only serve the highest master. Alexander views Knecht’s shifting allegiances as a betrayal of loyalty. Knecht tries to clarify his position: He thought that the highest master was the Glass Bead Game, and though he was skeptical of it, he served the Game and reached the pinnacle of Magister. At the same time, Knecht grew sympathetic to the outside world and its history. He awakened to his own humanity, and he tried to imbue his official post with this newfound love for the world. However, Knecht eventually admitted to himself that he had reached the limits of his office, as he’d lost all enthusiasm for the work.

Speaking from his official position as President, Alexander promises to relay Knecht’s words to the Board. Knecht explains that his reputation is still important to him, and he wants his peers to think fondly of him, even if they can’t accept the terms of his departure. Alexander refuses to concede that Knecht has a right to break from the Order to follow his personal destiny. Knecht turns over the official seal of the magistracy and bids farewell to his friend. 

After Knecht left, Alexander stood in silent mourning. Meanwhile, Knecht walked toward the capital, experiencing an overwhelming sense of newness. A day later, Plinio greeted Knecht at his home and described the family cottage in the mountains where Knecht would tutor Tito. Tito, however, was nowhere to be found, as he wanted to spend his last moments of freedom alone. In the evening, Knecht idly read poetry from Plinio’s personal library. He happily discussed the poems with Plinio, copied out a few lines, and dreamed of one day writing his own book.

The next morning, Knecht drove to the mountain cottage where Tito waited for him. He and the boy spent the day leisurely, with Knecht concealing the uncomfortable effects of the elevation change. Tito liked his tutor more than he had hoped, especially Knecht’s serene mixture of humbleness and nobility. That night, Knecht resolved to be as patient as possible with Tito to make up for Plinio’s rushed education. Knecht awoke before sunrise and looked over the calm lake. Tito joined him, and as the sun burst over the cliffside, Tito was compelled to dance and express the joy of his life. Tito challenged Knecht to swim across the lake, and Knecht pushed past his hesitations and jumped into the icy water. He struggled against the cold to catch up, but the shock overwhelmed him, and he drowned. Tito swam back to shore wracked with guilt and feeling like Knecht had already altered his life.