In this chapter, the reader is introduced to a new character, who is introduced as "Lichen" . He is a young man who has just graduated from college. He tells the reader that he and Lichen have been friends for a long time, but that he has changed his mind about the relationship between the two of them. He says that he feels that he is not as good as Lichen, and that he would like to be a better person. Lichen tells him that he will be punished for his actions, and he will learn to accept what he finds unsatisfactory.