A Tragic Life Has No Comeback

He remembered Father once saying that the legendary treasured sword passed down through the family had no edge because it was a key.

This crack was the keyhole.

The family's ancestors had once used this key to enter the true sacred land, but many years ago, the key had stopped working.

Father had said so right here.

Fernandez I's memories came back to life. He had always thought it was merely a legend.

But now, it seemed it was not.

The sword slid in, and the beeping sounded again.

"Electricity. I understand now. It needs electricity."

Fernandez I was thrilled. It was as though he had uncovered the secret his family had lost.

He had no idea how the door before him was drawing power from the batteries across empty space, but that did not matter.

Whenever something could not be explained, blame it on God.

See? Didn't that make life a lot less troubling?

Fernandez I pulled out the sword, and his whole body seemed to come back to life.

Heart turned to ashes?

Not a chance. This was ashes rekindling into flame.

He pulled himself together and regained his former bearing.

Then he looked at Antoine, as though he had returned to the role of a loving father.

"Antoine, there's a good chance the family's revival is about to begin. We need more batteries."

Antoine naturally agreed. He too hoped to see the family rise again.

The two seemed united as father and son, working together toward a future where the family would be restored.

Considerately, Fernandez I extinguished the torches as they walked, saying, "We'll need them again next time. We can't waste precious transport capacity on lamp oil."

Antoine walked ahead while the torches behind him went out one after another. Fernandez I walked through the