Ephraim struggles with a late delivery from Kobachi as Luna’s security surges after an undisclosed incident. Kobachi completes a perfect replica of Ephraim’s Bacchus pendant—actually a drone—while Ephraim receives word that Gorgo has secured a gravWell for the operation. Ephraim dons his Philippe disguise, forges his retinas, rehearses the accent, and doses zoladone to steady himself.

He meets Lyria at Aristotle Park, noting visible changes in her city fashion and his own emotional detachment. To avoid a security checkpoint that could expose his forged credentials, he guides her from their planned wharf outing to a market picnic on the grass, keeping control of the encounter.

Over food, Ephraim slips and mentions Volga, then lies that she is dead. Lyria confides her past—life in Lagalos, refugee camps, fear during the Red Hand attack, and guilt for surviving—while Ephraim’s resentment and grief over Trigg surface. Lyria shares that the Telemanus household fears Caraval is playing both sides and that Dancer cannot control the Vox; she suspects a recent, secret crisis on Earth.

As the zoladone ebbs, Ephraim’s guilt deepens, but he continues the mission. He avoids the wharf again and walks Lyria back to the tram. There he executes the plant, gifting her the heavier Bacchus pendant “for strength,” securing the drone on her person under the guise of friendship.

Lyria, comforted, kisses his cheek and departs, believing in their bond. Ephraim is left with the success of the plant, confirmation of the gravWell, and a growing moral burden as the “main event” approaches.