When Madrigal takes off Akiva's mask, he looks just like Ricky Gervais.
Oh, wait, no, that's The Invention of Lying, not "the invention of living." Honest mistake.
Now it's Akiva's turn to tell Madrigal his people's origin story: the seraphim came from light and the chimaera came from "a hideous shadow" (56.8).
Funny how each story makes the race who tells it out to be the superior one, huh?
Together, Akiva and Madrigal decide to make a new, happier myth.
They think of a planet that "had never known war. […] It had earth and water, air and fire, all four elements, but it was missing the last element. Love" (56.19).
Basically, they stole the plot of the Captain Planetcartoon.
Real original, guys.
Madrigal then shares the lore of the wishbone, which she wears around her neck, with Akiva.
They make a wish, and break it.
It breaks exactly in half.
"Maybe it means we wished for the same thing" (56.52), one of them says.
Madrigal's wish was to see Akiva again. But we don't get to hear what his wish is.
Madrigal gets her wish; she does see him again, and they carry on a secret affair.
Each time they get together, they break a wishbone.
But their wishes start to change. Now they wish for a way to change the world into one where they can peacefully co-exist.
Is it too much to ask to be able to be with your lover without being executed?