Does anyone else feel like there is no tension when reading this? I think it might be that the dialog feels unnatural, everyone is too serious about everything, and there is no minor story telling about their growth, they just kinda change overnight. We don't see if they figured anything out, Lag said that his "gram" specialized in defense, but when he's told that it can cut he's baffled. and then doesn't try to figure out more ways to use it without making it seem suspicious that it isn't a gram.
Might also be the faces that don't show much emotion too, even the happy faces just look like they're looking at a stale loaf of bread.