When he snapped out of his thoughts he found Katie staring at a locket with a red gem. Half of the gem had turned into black.
" Do you remember this? " Ashes nodded. He wore a similar one around his neck. His gem was half black too.
It gave him sad memories.
Ashes was seven years old at the time. Katie was nine and their youngest sister was four.
" Look Mommy, Daddy's home " the three of them rushed to hug their father.
" Daddy has brought some gifts for you little ones " he always came back with gifts whenever he went on a journey.
The three were excited like little chicks.
Their father took out five similar lockets and gave them to each member of the family. They all wore them.
At the time the gems were completely red and shiny.
" What are these for? " Katie asked.
" These are for our safety and keeping track of every member of the family. The shaman gave them to me. Right now it's glowing red because we are all together but if one member gets lost a quarter will turn black "
" If I go playing in the woods and I get lost, will it turn black? " the youngest sister was quick to ask.
Their father chuckled at the question.
" No dear. It only turns black if something bad happens to someone "
" Do you mean if someone dies? " Katie was quick to understand what he was implying.
He nodded reluctantly.
" So if we all die will the gem turn black entirely? " they all stared at Ashes as if he had said the most ominous thing.
" No such thing is going to happen dear " their mother cut in.
His youngest sister was now crying.
" Mommy, I don't want to die. I don't want any of you to die " mommy hugged and stroked her back.
" No one is going to die " she glared daggers at Ashes.
" Then why do we need them Daddy? " It was Katie again.
Their father was silent for a moment looking for an appropriate answer.
" Well it is for satisfaction dear. Whenever you are outside playing with friends and you look at it you will feel the warmth and security of your family surrounding you "
" yeey " it was the youngest.
" We are always going to be together right? " Katie looked at her parents in expectation.
" Of course dear " their mother was quick to respond.
Ashes noticed his father's face turn dark.
" What are you thinking about father? " Ashes asked him.
" I want you to always be strong no matter what happens "
" But nothing is going to happen right? "
His father did not reply. Ashes now wished that he had.
A few weeks later their village was attacked by the dark lord's men.
When their father died in the flames a quarter of the gem turned black.
Over the years they stopped looking at it.
Ashes had forgotten about it until now.
" Only two quarters remain red. Does this mean that…"
" We are all alone, brother. All our loved ones are now dead. It's only us who have remained. We have to make sure that the gem never turns black. "
Katie's eyes were watery but she was not crying.
Ashes could not help but wonder what their father had hid from them. He must have surely died with a big secret.
Perhaps that was why he was still turning in his grave.
" Do you have your mother's locket with you? " Katie nodded.
Ashes opened his palm and she handed it over to him. He examined the gem and his eyes widened in surprise.
" Turns out we are not all alone Katie " she quickly snatched the locket from him.
" What in heaven's name… " she could not believe her eyes.
Only a quarter of their mother's locket was black.
" Do you think it stopped functioning after her death? " Ashes shook his head.
He figured out how an individual locket worked.
The gem signified the life of each family member excluding the wearer.
Their family used to consist of five before so each member's locket portrayed the lives of the other four.
Their mother only lost one member whereas they lost two. That explained why their father's locket had remained red after his death.
" Does this mean that…"
" Rias is alive " Ashes joined in.
" My good lord. I can't believe this " tears were flowing from her eyes but she wore a smile.
The fact that they were not all alone in the world gave them hope.
" We have to find Rias and reunite out family "
Katie's voice was filled with excitement.
" We will find her but before that we need to get out of this place "
There was a bird pecking on the closed tiny wooden ventilation window.
It had been doing so over the past few days and the noise it made was a nuisance to Ashes.
" That tiny bird really irks me with its pecking. I may end up breaking its neck one of these fine days "
" Which fine days are you talking about brother? "
They shared a smile.
The bird kept on pecking until it grew tired after realizing that no one was coming to open the window for it.
It waited for a few minutes before flying away.