# Chapter 13: Family Cemetery
The beginning of civilization was the spark burning in the bonfires of the wilderness.
In the first millennium after the First Flame ignited chaos, allowing order and the world to manifest, ancient humans were born on the treeless plains. This newborn race walked upon the nascent earth and sky, curiously observing everything.
At that time, nothing yet had a name.
Because they detested darkness, people imitated thunder and lightning, using hard stones and dry wood to ignite the sparks of the primeval era, using them to illuminate the lightless nights. While holding torches, exploring and identifying this unknown world, they named everything that had no name, using primitive symbols to describe and record unfamiliar things.
Gradually, accumulating and employing simple language, humans summarized patterns and logic, developing the civilization of the Enlightenment Era.
Then, the torch was passed down, continuing unbroken to this day.
Starfall Era, 831st year, December 11th, night.
Four days after the Black Tide besieged the city.
Cold wind continuously blew through the fortress standing amidst the snowy forests. Snowflakes as soft and pure as goose feathers fell to the ground, coalescing into a thin layer of frost. The twin moons, as fresh and polished as silver plates, hung high in the sky, their bright moonlight flowing like water, spreading across the entire bluestone plank road.
A black-haired man led his warhorse through the moonlit streets, while a silver-haired maid silently followed beside him.
Surveying the entire fortress, the young lord's gaze seemed capable of penetrating the boundless darkness and the cold, sturdy walls, seeing the flickering flames of life within. Meanwhile, his young head maid curiously gazed up at the star-studded night sky, softly estimating their number.
The girl's clear voice echoed through the silent streets, while Joshua focused intently on his surroundings.
Now, they were at the rear of the fortress, where rows of nearly identical houses lined both sides of the street. However, some of these houses were currently uninhabited—no firewood smoke rose from their chimneys, and no traces of activity could be seen behind their windows.
In recent days, the Black Tide seemed to have ended, showing no signs of movement. Even when warriors personally entered the Black Forest to investigate, they could no longer see the horde of frenzied beasts surging like a black tsunami. Under sunlight, the purple mist gradually dissipated, and the black jungle returned to its former tranquility.
Since this was the case, after confirming it wasn't some kind of conspiracy, the fortress resumed normal operations. Endless streams of dragon-drawn caravans arrived from the main city, transporting urgently needed food and equipment. To hold requiem ceremonies for fallen warriors, Priest Atanis from Saint Lawrence Cathedral had even come...
...but rather than being suppressed, it was more like being sealed. They weren't unable to form spells—they simply couldn't form spells freely.
As long as conditions were met.
As they drew closer, the suppressed power could be sensed growing stronger, and the source of that power was precisely the square altar made of silver metal.
Approaching the altar, Joshua subconsciously looked toward its center. According to the religious code of the Continent of Strife, when believers prayed, the altar should contain offerings dedicated to the gods; when empty, it should display the gods' holy emblems. In short, no matter what, it couldn't be left vacant.
But this altar contained nothing—neither offerings nor holy emblems were visible, only a sunken mark resembling a handprint.
"...Could it be?"
Looking at his own hand, Joshua didn't hesitate long. He decisively pressed his hand into the altar's recess, wanting to see what reaction would occur.
As if sensing the arrival of the one it had long awaited, a gray-blue light rose from the altar's base. It spread rapidly like ripples, sweeping across Joshua's entire body in an instant. Even Ying, following behind him, was no exception—the light scanned her as well.
"Bloodline confirmed... Direct lineage of the Radcliffe Family, possessing Divine Mechanism Contract, conditions met."
A consciousness transmitted from the altar, resounding in Joshua's mind: "Authority granted, passage opening."
"Born from fire, born from steel, wisdom eternal, order everlasting."
Accompanied by the trembling of space-time and ancient words of praise, a deep blue door silently materialized above the altar. Vaguely visible beyond it was a stretch of black earth, with countless stone tombstones standing among them. Around each tombstone, a weapon was thrust upside-down into the ground. Among them were blades, spears—almost every weapon humans had ever used could be found there.
"...So that's it. I was wondering why I didn't see it outside. In my memories, it was adjacent to this small chapel, yet there was nothing around it."
Staring intently at the space-time door slowly expanding, Joshua, having understood all the information from the altar's consciousness, spoke in a low voice: "So it was here."
With this exclamation, the Radcliffe Family's cemetery within the narrow passage of space-time completely appeared before his eyes.