aspiration-and-legacy

In this chapter, Mark endures a formal and taxing social event where he struggles with his identity and the heavy expectations placed upon him. He meets Kareen Koudelka, a young woman who admires Miles and aspires to follow in his footsteps, which deepens Mark's internal conflict and sense of loss. The chapter explores Mark's isolation, his reflections on loyalty and surveillance, and culminates in a tentative moment of connection through a simple dance outside the ballroom.