Chapter Twenty-One: The Belts. Innamin. Not a Spotch of Gray. Dungeon Days.

Summary

• Aaron escorts the protagonist to a dungeon where prisoners (referred to as "gray people") are forced to power machinery by walking on treadmills. The protagonist is also introduced to a guards' tool, a "limber stick", that is used to keep prisoners in line.
• The gray people are physically disfigured and mistreated by the guards. Aaron explains that the prisoners work in 12-hour shifts and sometimes die from exhaustion.
• Back in his cell, the protagonist discusses the living conditions and impending violence with his cellmate Hamey, who appears to accept his fate.
• It’s suggested that those immune to turning gray (the "whole people") have royal Gallien blood. The Galliens were the original rulers of Empis and their promiscuity may have passed immunity to parts of the population.
• The protagonist hypothesizes that the rogue Gallien, Elden, may have become the tyrant Flight Killer after embarking on a journey into the "Dark Well." He may have become possessed or manipulated by a god within, leading to the present-day desolation of Empis.
• Despite understanding more about the conditions and history of Empis, the protagonist still doesn't know how to prevent the impending Battle Royale-style event called the "Fair One."
• The protagonist spends his time in the dungeon exercising and interacting with the other prisoners, offering a deeper understanding of their circumstances. However, he speculates that Flight Killer's tyranny and the gray curse have depleted Empis's population and suggests there won't be enough contestants for the Fair One to happen.

• The chapter starts with a conversation involving characters named Eye, Hamey, Fremmy, and Stooks. They discuss the potential return of a character named Red Molly, who they seem to fear. Hamey reveals that Molly's mother is Hana, who is also looked upon with disgust. She's mentioned as the guardian of the sundial and treasury.
• A character named Ammit makes an appearance, engaging in a conversation about Red Molly. It's revealed that Red Molly is a giant, but not like her mother Hana. Molly has apparently gone to a place called Cratchy, which is a land of the giants.
• A riddle is posed by Jackah to Ammit about a candle, which sparks a long-lost childhood rhyme from the protagonist in response. The other characters are surprised by his knowledge of this rhyme and advise him not to say it again as it's an 'ill rhyme'.
• The chapter then follows a description of breakfast being served to the characters, specifically sausages. Hamey has lost his appetite, pretty similar to Radar when dying. Eye devours the breakfast and teases Hamey for his lack of appetite.
• Pursey then makes an appearance to collect the food dishes. He shares a cryptic message with the protagonist 'Ont osher air', which is later interpreted by Hamey as 'Don't wash your hair.'
• After Pursey leaves, Hamey starts to explore the protagonist's hair and reveals that it's turned from brown to blonde. He also makes a point about the protagonist's eye color changing from brown to hazel. Hamey then asks if the protagonist is the true prince who's supposed to save them.
• Before the protagonist could answer, they were interrupted by the arrival of four night soldiers. These are armed men with electric capabilities, a fact that frightens the protagonist because of he had been harmed by such force before. These men are there to take all thirty-one prisoners left to 'playtime', an impending event which has unknown and possibly dreadful implications.
• The chapter ends with the protagonist standing up against bullying of Hamey by Iota - he manages to stop it by using an assertive yet unusual language for him. However, Iota reacts by threatening the protagonist with physical harm.