Daughter of the Tribunal Chapter 10

As time went by things began to get better in perspective for my own situation. Things were still quite difficult, but not nearly as bad as they had been originally from before. Having the Ancient Once with me doing these trying times is what made this so. Preceding his arrival I had to do everything on my own, but this was no longer so which made learning so much easier for me. I was succeeding so much more in my studies and training than failing. They didn't really show it in many ways. But I could tell they were quite happy with this.

My powers were steadily developing, growing as my knowledge of Ninjutsu came more and more to my mind.

Unfortunately with this amount of power and learning came at such a heavy price. While being at the monastery was great it still couldn't make up for the home of my own mother. Whenever I thought or yearned for her I held the picture I had of her to my chest singing the lullaby or even humming it quietly to myself.

.

Listen carefully…

…and you may heart it.

The winds carrying…

…a calling from the past.

Move forward…

…with the true heart…

It's there…

…the tranquil faith.

Prayers pass through time…

…and my promises are fulfilled.

Take a deep breath…

…and the distant souls will…

call out.

Call out.

.

As I hummed it I imagined my mother singing it to me as she used to which made the remaining pain of separation easier to carry around so. This song was very private for it was one of the few things that were still my own. I wasn't about to allow this one to get away from me.

One time after Ancient Once caught me humming it I made that extremely clear.

I was washing my own clothes outside on the balcony out in the sun humming the tune to myself. This occurred when I had been here for a little over three years when I was ten. So occupied was I with the chore I didn't hear him come to me.

"That sounds like a wonderful tune," he said, taking up a tunic and beginning to clean it.

Jolting in surprise, I asked "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," answered Ancient Once, "now about that tune. What was it?"

"A lullaby," I answered, the pressure being used to rub the clothes becoming harder in my hands. "Mama's favorite tune. She'd sing it to me whenever I was frightened, to put me to sleep, or to give me comfort."

"I don't believe I've heard it before," stated Ancient Once. "What is its name and lyrics?"

I stubbornly kept my mouth shut refusing to speak. It soon became clear no answer would be given from my mouth. Ancient One figured I wouldn't give a thing to him so he simply left it alone continuing to assist me in washing.

Not long after this I was finally shown a much guarded secret throughout the Tribunal. My father was the one to take me there.

That very morning instead of the Ancient Once being the person to wake me up from sleep it was by father who did so. I opened my door expecting to see the Ancient One waiting when I found him.

"Master Juto," I said, caught off guard, looking around the hall trying to see if the Ancient One was close by. "Why are you here? Where is the Ancient One?"

Juto said "The Ancient One is occupied in another matter for the current moment." He then gestured at my attire. "Change into different garments. There is something you must be shown."

Curious I quickly changed out of my nightgown and into something more suitable. Once that was done father led me away throughout the monastery. While we were walking it came to my notice we were moving through an unfamiliar section a place I had never been before. It instantly caught my curiosity as I gazed around trying to take it all in.

"Master, Justo, where are we going," I inquired, head cocked.

Not faltering in his step, Juto said "You'll soon learn in but a few moments."

"But…, I began, but at the look in his eyes I shut my mouth.

Right now after all these years I learned at this type of expression it was best not to push further against him.

We had now reached the top of a large staircase that led down to a different chamber below it. At the bottom of the stairs stood the heads of two Chinese dragons. On reaching the bottom we stood in a large circular symbol carved into the floor. I was curious thinking this was the place my father wanted to show me. I quickly learned this was not the case.

Moving away from me, Juto said "Stay where you are. All you need to do is stay in that spot."

Kneeling down he placed two of his fingers by the tips onto the edge of one of the marks inside the circle positioned so it would lead straight into the middle. The exact markings took on a glow and as it touched to the center it spread vastly to all the others. A moment later I realized the reason why he advised me not to move. Whatever we were on was clearly activated.

There was a sound of stone rubbing stone as the piece we were standing on moved on its own and shifted down. The place it took us to was far different than what was held above.

The chamber we now resided in looked more like a huge cavern to my eyes, it was filled with rock and lava flowing around most of the lower level from a number of volcano's with black smoke rising out of them. Eventually the two of us were brought down in front of a small bridge which lead right into a waterfall of lava pointing in no other way.

"This way now," directed Juto, moving onto the bridge.

Reluctantly I followed behind while casting a wary eye on the sheer size of the waterfall. By the look of things in order to reach the other side we would have to move straight through the lava and by what I knew of volcano's we would instantly be destroyed the exact second we did so. As it appeared like we were about to go through the lava we stopped.

Out of his long sleeves Juto revealed two long swords which looked to have been hidden inside. He placed them inside of the lava and to my own astonishment he used them to break the flow of lava creating an opening out of it.

I walked through tentatively while carefully eyeing the lava making sure none would fall onto me. It brought me into another space completely opposite from the last. Where the other had very high temperature filled with lava and volcano's this one was freezing with ice covering nearly every surface. On the far side of the room I could see an alter of sorts with something residing in the middle.

As the two of us moved closer I saw what it was.

Tugging on my father sleeve, I asked "Master Juto, is that…?"

"Yes," said Juto, nodding, placing the swords back into his sleeves, "your thoughts are true. It is the sarcophagus of the Shredder."

I was afraid to even go near this thing, but my curiosity caused me to keep moving forward. When Juto stopped a little ways away from the sarcophagus I went all the way to it. I couldn't help, but to place my hands up on it.

"So he's actually inside of this coffin," I inquired, meandering around it.

"Of course," said Juto, eyeing me, keeping track of the course I was taking.

My intrigue with the sarcophagus grew to a point where I desired to see what was contained inside. With my hands placed to the side of the coffin I attempted to try and push the to of it open.

"Stop," said Juto, holding a hand out to halt me. "You mustn't open it."

"But why," I asked, taking my hands off and stepping away. "The Shredder has long been dead. There certainly can't be any harm in peeking inside."

"That may be so," said Juto, sternly, "but I and the rest of the Tribunal prefer to keep the sarcophagus forever closed to the world."

Out of respect for my father I abided by that of his wishes. As I moved over to him I locked my eyes further around the place searching for two other known artifacts that should have resided there with the third.

"Master Juto, if this is the third artifact of the Shredder then where are the other two," I said, eyes still roving over the area looking for them. "By the history I was told there should be a helmet and a gauntlet along with this one here."

There was a pause that came afterwards showing Juto was uncomfortable with this subject being brought up.

"That's because they are not here," said Juto, coldly. "About a year before your arrival two of the artifacts had been stolen from this monastery. The Shredders Heralds had sent some of their servants to steal all of the artifacts, but because of our intervention they only managed to take the two. In response of the attack we decided to move the sarcophagus down here rather than keeping it in the same place where others like the Shredders Heralds would still be able to easily locate it."

"Does anyone else know of this hiding place," I asked.

Shaking his head, Juto said "No and it will ultimately remain that way. Keep in mind, Persephone, you were shown this crypt only because you're of my blood. If you weren't you would never have been taken to this chamber. Even if you are tempted in the slightest to do so you must retrain yourself from falling into it."

"I promise I won't, Master Juto," I said, reassuring him. "Besides…there isn't anyone else her with ourselves anyway."

Satisfied with what I gave him Juto began to move for the exit.

He said "Come there will be no study's today. You will be going straight to weapons training."

"Coming," I said.

Then after aiming one last look at the sarcophagus I followed him right out.

For the next years to come I kept my promise to my father not telling a rock of the location the sarcophagus was lying in. I never went down there again on my own after that. I was a bit more pleased with myself. By showing my where the sarcophagus was located the Tribunal was placing dare more trust and faith in me now not just my father. It is a fact I was very proud of even though none of it actually said in their very own words. I was given more responsibility passed on from them.

I wasn't going to disappoint.

Authors Note:

Hope you guys like this one.

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!

Glad you all had a Happy Halloween! I was on candy duty, but unlike the majority of those stuck with the task I actually like it. :D

Also, I lost one of my jobs today. Good news is I have more time to write, bad news I need to go looking for a new second job again. Sucks, huh. So for the time being you guys have me for however long that'll be.