Nothing, But My Bare Hands

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]