Protagonist Cassia Maria Reyes rides the air train with her best friend, Xander Carrow, to their Match Banquet—where they’ll meet their respective Matches. Cassia wears a lent green dress and carries with her a gold compact with a mirror, gifted to her by her grandfather—known as Grandfather. The compact is considered an “artifact,” with each citizen of the Society being allowed only one. It has the initials “ACM” etched into it, along with the number “1940.” Inside of it, Cassia has stored her three mandatory “emergency tablets.” Xander also has an artifact—a pair of cuff links that he dismisses as useless. Cassia and Xander compliment each other.

As Cassia and Xander approach City Hall, the former evaluates herself in the mirror. Since the Match Banquet coincides with her 17th birthday, she feels her Match is already coming together; a person can be Matched any time after turning 17, so Cassia is grateful she didn’t have to wait long. As Cassia and Xander depart the train with their families, they wish each other “optimal results”—“the best greeting” one can give someone in the Society (8). Although Xander’s older brother is with him, Cassia’s younger brother, Bram, is absent because he is under 17—and therefore too young to attend.