Within Adam's slumber, he could hear the little girl's words.
"The third trial begins." [Little Girl]
Her voice echoed within Adam's mind. It reverberated within, until he felt droplets of water hit his face.
"Ugh…" [Adam]
He slowly opened his eyes, finding himself looking at an unfamiliar ceiling. He could barely make out the details, considering how dark the room was.
("...Stone?") [Adam]
He looked at a ceiling composed of stone bricks, allowing him to see small droplets of water seeping through the cracks.
"So, you're awake." [???]
Adam jolted, alerted by an unfamiliar voice. He sat straight up, wincing from a sudden pain from his lower abdomen.
"Who's there?" [Adam]
He squinted through the darkness, slowly making out the details. He found himself within a small room, together with a man leaning against a wall.
"Calm down, boy. It's proper manners to introduce yourself first before asking." [???]
The man chuckled as if he found his own words amusing.
"Well… I don't suppose us prisoners would still have manners anyway." [???]
"Prisoners?" [Adam]
Adam's eyes finally adjusted to the dark. He saw a man in ragged clothing leaning against the wall. His limbs were locked together with chains and he had a slightly depressed look in his eyes. Though there were many things about him that Adam noticed like his long brown hair, the man's loose sleeve caught Adam's eye.
"Ah, I see that my missing arm caught your eye." [Ragged Man]
"Uh… Sorry? Am I offending you?" [Adam]
The man looked at him blankly.
"You… aren't from around here, are you?" [Ragged Man]
"Not sure. Where am I?" [Adam]
Hearing such a question caused the man to burst out laughing.
"Hah! "Where" you ask? You truly don't know a thing. Who are you?" [Ragged Man]
"Um… My name is Adam." [Adam]
"...Quite an unfamiliar name." [Ragged Man]
"What's your name?" [Adam]
The man fell silent.
"My name, huh…" [Ragged Man]
He looked upwards, his long hair covering his turquoise eyes. After much contemplation, the man locked eyes with Adam.
"Just call me Sin." [Ragged Man]
"Sin?" [Adam]
"Indeed. It may not be my real name, but there is a good reason for it." [Sin]
This piqued Adam's curiosity, but he curbed it.
"Alright… Sin. Where are we?" [Adam]
"We are within the Hold of Gold and Faith." [Sin]
"Hold of Gold and Faith…" [Adam]
The name reminded Adam of the Sovereign of Faith, but he couldn't believe it.
"What country are we in?" [Adam]
"We are currently imprisoned, or rather, I am imprisoned within the country of Hayven. Speaking of which, how did you end up here? I don't see any shackles on you." [Sin]
"I woke up here." [Adam]
Sin gave Adam a strange look.
"Hm… Do you have any items on you? Preferably something that can break my chains?" [Sin]
Adam patted himself down, finding absolutely nothing on him.
"Er… I've got my bare hands." [Adam]
Sin chuckled.
"You remind me of my sworn brother." [Sin]
"Your sworn brother?" [Adam]
"Indeed. He was a man of integrity. A commoner, but boasted incredible strength." [Sin]
"You say that like you're not a commoner." [Adam]
Sin raised a brow at Adam.
"Did you think I'm a commoner?" [Sin]
"Would someone higher than a commoner be in a prison cell?" [Adam]
"..." [Sin]
Sin did not refute Adam.
"So, wanna let me get a look at those chains?" [Adam]
"By all means." [Sin]
He stuck out his hands, hinting for Adam to take it off. Adam replied by approaching and grabbing the chains.
"Now I don't think that you're capable of breaking these, but I have no reason to- Eh?!" [Sin]
His eyes widened in shock as the chains snapped, leaving Sin's mouth agape.
"H-how…? That was pure iron inscribed with magic sigils…!" [Sin]
Adam shrugged.
"Well… I've got my bare hands…?" [Adam]