As the ethereal light pulsed gently before him, Adam gathered his courage and spoke once more, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside.

"Who... or what are you?" he asked.

The light shimmered, its radiance softening into a warmer, almost maternal glow. A gentle, feminine voice echoed directly within his mind, clear and ancient.

"I am the lingering consciousness of the Goddess who once descended upon this world. When she returned to her realm, she left behind a fragment of herself, a shard of awareness to watch over the balance. You may call me the Echo of the Divine."

Adam’s eyes widened. He took a hesitant step closer. "Then... about me. What am I?"

The light seemed to study him for a moment, as if peering straight into his core.

"You are not native to this land, Adam. You are a Visitor, a soul from another world who became lost and drifted into this realm. Your arrival was never meant to happen, yet here you are, bound in flesh."

Adam’s throat tightened. The words struck deep, stirring memories and questions he had buried for long ago.

"Then why am I here? Why was I born like this... as a monster?"

The light’s voice carried a hint of quiet sorrow.

"I do not know the full reason behind your journey, nor the circumstances of your rebirth. Such matters concern the flow of souls and destiny, that is not my domain. I do not interfere with the paths of individual spirits. I merely observe."

Adam clenched his fists, frustration rising in his chest. "If it’s really that simple... can you truly tell I’m different from everyone else here? Just like that?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Yes," the light replied without hesitation. "Your soul carries a distinct resonance. It does not belong to this world’s weave. I can sense it clearly, like a star from a distant constellation shining among local lights."

For a long moment, Adam remained silent, letting the revelation sink in. Then, deep within his heart, a quiet thought surfaced, almost like a whisper to himself:

’Orion... he once said something similar. He felt it too, that there was something strange about my soul.’

The Echo of the Divine seemed to sense the shift in his emotions, glowing softly as it waited for him to speak again.

Adam stood taller, his crimson eyes burning with determination as he faced the radiant Echo of the Divine.

"I’m here to save Ignis," he declared firmly. "That’s why I came here."

The light flickered, as if surprised by his resolve. The gentle voice echoed in his mind once more, now carrying a note of solemn warning.

"Those who have failed cannot simply return, Adam. That is the risk they take. The Guide warned you about this, didn’t she? Once someone falls too deep, the path back is closed."

Adam’s jaw tightened. Pain and stubbornness flashed across his face.

"I know that... I know the risks," he said, his voice low but unwavering. "But I don’t want to lose anyone else. Ignis... she’s just a lonely girl. She’s always been alone. I can’t leave her trapped there by herself."

The Echo pulsed softly, studying him in silence before asking:

"Even if you must fight against a Goddess herself?"

Adam lifted his gaze and stared straight into the brilliant light without flinching.

"Yes," he answered without hesitation. "Even if I have to fight a Goddess... I will save her."

A heavy silence filled the chamber. The Echo dimmed slightly, as though processing his words. After a long pause, the voice returned, softer this time, almost resigned.

"...Very well. Because you have already torn the threads of fate with your Skill, the Loom of Fate has become unstable. I am forced to intervene. I can loosen the rules... just a little. However, you must save her yourself. The girl you seek has already fallen into the deepest darkness, a place even I cannot easily reach."

Adam’s expression darkened. His fists clenched at his sides as confusion and worry twisted in his chest.

"Why...?" he whispered. "Why is there something like that?"

The Echo of the Divine glowed steadily, its voice calm yet carrying the weight of ancient authority as it answered Adam’s question.

"That darkness exists to imprison those who have failed, those whose existence has become a threat to the world itself. From the very beginning, the Loom of Fate was created to test those who seek blessings and power. It judges them. Those who prove unworthy are immediately cast into the eternal darkness. There is no second chance. That is how the system was designed."

Adam’s face hardened, a mix of disbelief and anger rising in his voice.

"So it’s nothing more than a trap," he said bitterly. "A trap for people who are just looking for hope. And you can’t deny that it will wrongly filter both the evil and the good. How many innocent souls have been thrown into that abyss just because they weren’t strong enough... or weren’t what the Loom expected?"

The Echo of the Divine shimmered thoughtfully for a moment, its radiant form pulsing with quiet intensity before the voice spoke again, calm yet firm.

"It is not merely a trap, Adam. It is a necessary filter. The Loom of Fate was forged to protect this world from unchecked ambition and corrupted power. Many who seek blessings do so out of greed, hunger for dominance, or pure destruction. The eternal darkness serves as both judgment and containment, a prison for those who would threaten the balance if allowed to return."

The light paused, as if weighing its next words carefully.

"However... you are not entirely wrong. The system is not perfect. It does not always distinguish cleanly between the truly wicked and those who simply falter under overwhelming trials. Some pure hearts have been lost to the abyss simply because they were not strong enough, or because fate itself twisted their path. The Loom judges results, not intentions. That is its nature... and its flaw."

Adam’s expression remained tense, his golden eyes reflecting both frustration and sorrow.

The Echo continued, its voice softening slightly.

"Yet the alternative, allowing every failed soul to return unchecked would invite chaos far greater than the suffering you see now. The Goddess who created this system understood that harsh choices were required to preserve the world. Even I, her lingering consciousness, cannot undo what has been woven into reality itself."