Adena flees on foot through a marketplace in the slums of the city of Loot after a botched attempt to steal a sweet roll. Thirteen years old and left to fend for herself after her mother’s death, she is starving—but she is still embarrassed that she has resorted to theft, and she apologizes repeatedly to the merchants and shoppers who must dodge out of her way. She is being chased by a masked “Imperial,” who will take her to be publicly whipped if she is caught. A silver-haired girl stands in her way, and Adena, who has the power to pass through solid matter, uses her “Phaser” ability to pass directly through the girl. The girl, Paedyn, trips the Imperial and follows Adena, yanking her into an alley to hide. Each girl sees her own loneliness in the other, and the two begin talking. When Paedyn realizes that Adena is a seamstress and Adena realizes that Paedyn is an accomplished thief, they decide to team up. Paedyn will steal food to feed them both, and Adena will replace Paedyn’s ragged clothing. Paedyn admits that she no longer has anywhere better than the slums to go, but she does not explain further.