All of them momentarily looked at each other. It felt as though even Rain's eyes were widened from the statue speaking. Adam, however, took the head and started running.
"Come on then, let's mull over this while we're finding somewhere to run!"
They found themselves running through the building's ruins and hiding in the rubble. It wasn't the first time Adam hid beneath rubble, and it made him distraught. He wondered how much more rubble he would be hiding behind in his life.
They snuck into what seemed to be an old cellar that was covered in rubble, sneaking their way into it. They barely made it. Sophia had to take off her armor and slip it through to him to be able to fit in. Her armor was surprisingly much lighter than he had imagined. They both sat in this cellar, hoping that they would be safe. The statue head continued speaking.
"Do you wish for something, Holder?"
They both looked down at this oddity before Adam spoke up.
"Yes, can you tell me about this place and if you know something about a dive that exists here?"
The statue remained still for a moment but then began speaking.
"Yes. This land was once called Emris, the city that prayed to Mystis, a goddess of fire and stories. She was the main goddess of this jungle city and was prayed to by many heroes and legends that once walked these lands."
The amulet recognized the name and spoke in his head.
"Ah Mystis... that is a name I have not heard in quite some time. It seems that she is not quite yet forgotten, even by the works left behind in this world."
Adam ignored the amulet for now. No matter how curious he was, he was upset with the damn thing for talking to him so rudely earlier.
The statue head continued on.
"You speak of the great trials that she left behind? Mystis left them not in a place but in a phrase with tribute. It requires a simple altar with a bowl made of gold and a journal or story written. Finally all you must say is her name and you may enter."
Sophia scoffed at the thought.
"A golden bowl. Of course it would need a golden bowl."
Adam looked at her, then back at the statue head.
"Any place you would happen to know where a golden bowl would be lying around?"
The statue thought about it briefly and continued.
"Yes. I once resided near several of them. If you happen to find it in the place I once lived, you may start the ritual to enter the Trial of Mystis."
Adam looked over at Sophia, who did not seem willing to go out there currently, and looked back at the statue once more.
"Thank you, Statue. I think for now we have no more to talk about."
It peered at Adam for a moment before going completely still. He looked back at Sophia and walked over to her.
"Should we go searching for this bowl or maybe wait it out for now?"
Sophia eyed him for a moment and sighed.
"Let's wait here for now. I want to make sure that the demon doesn't find us first. That's the last thing I want."
They sat for hours, eating some dried meat leftovers and nuts that were foraged long ago. Much to be desired within this meal, but it was the last of what she had brought with her for emergencies, and Adam wouldn't complain. As much as she felt bitter and demanding on occasion, she at least made sure he was okay.
They laid in this damp room where moss and vines grew from the cracks in the cellar and rotting wooden pillars. It was quiet at first, but she spoke softly as night fell, the sun slowly bleeding away from the holes they slipped through to enter.
"Will you tell me about this land of yours, Adam? This place of peace you speak of? Where meadows stretch out and people are always happy?"
Adam sat there for a moment before agreeing.
"It's a land run by all species that live there. A council of bright people, but also those that can't find other solutions... a wise but soft sort of people. The lands were taken care of well, and the sea surrounded us on all sides. The skies were blue and the clouds stretched on forever. It felt bright there. People were always smiling, but it wasn't a place I always felt welcomed."
She didn't ask, but continued on.
"Why did you leave such a place?"
Adam looked over towards where she was laying and said,
"Maybe we can talk about it fully another time. Truthfully though, I wanted to see the world beyond the island where the fog had kept us all sheltered."
She thought about that for a moment before speaking again.
"I had heard there was a fog in the South Sea that let no one enter it. Stories of old were that it was a safe haven, but I guess this must be where you came from. I guess it was true after all."
They both slowly entered into a deep slumber before waking up to the break of day and a deathly silence that held grip outside. The sounds of life had disappeared from the world.
Adam looked over at Sophia kneeling down near the entryway, clutching her sword in one hand and looking out. The sun looked abysmally gray. However, the first thing he noticed was that his body ached slightly. Perhaps this was from the strain of his power. He would have to ask more about it at a later point.
The amulet vibrated, and Rain's voice flooded into his mind with desperation in his voice.
"Listen to me, Adam. You must be wary moving forward. The way you are now, I hardly see you surviving a dive. But also... the demon must have been through here recently. The stillness of life shows evidence of this. Be careful."
They both quickly left the old cellar and made their way through the dense jungle to the ruins they were once at. It felt strange out here. Both their hearts beat rapidly. It felt as if hundreds of eyes watched them. Even though the jungle had not lost its color, it felt as if the world became gray in its silence.
They cautiously went over to where the statue head originally was and searched around for a bit before finding one half-buried in sections of earth that were inside the building, several of them all in the same place with two skeletons that lay near them.
Sophia let a prayer out for them, clutching the same two charms and whispering something under her breath.
They went back to the ruins and deep into the cellar slowly and carefully.
As they entered, the sounds of a strange, deep, and terrible noise came from something outside. The ceiling above them cracked, and Sophia looked over at him.
"Demon."
They quickly began working on it by putting the bowl down. She placed her journal into it and spoke the name:
"Mystis."
At first, nothing.
Adam looked down and thought
"Maybe saying her name wasn't enough"
A door appeared, and the sounds outside grew ever closer.
They both looked at each other, and without another word, entered into her trial.