Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 25: The Man Who Killed Lucifer, Part 1
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
I was back home at the villa as I was in the sitting room after taking care of the younger children earlier. Even though summer was around the corner, I was fearing the worst as I continued to write and receive letters about the situation on Alecrast. It had been three days since my visit at the Trujillo Clan's homestead as I was also seeing the updates on the Four Stewards living on borrowed time as I also had to make sure that Dean would get to the throne before the eternal winter freezes our homeworld. That was when I was busy looking for something to read just to pass the time while I was waiting for Reuben to arrive. When I was looking into the ledgers and books that adorned the shelf, I took out one of them as it was a journal that was written ages ago. Looking into it, I noticed an image of Torune standing in a picture as he was facing off against Lucifer in which he was known to put the archangel in his place at the time. Still, I was passing the time as I was reading away until I noticed Reiko enter into the sitting room to see what I was doing, for she was also taking a break after the childcare earlier.
"Looks like I've got company," I said.
"Reuben is busy taking care of patients right now," said Reiko.
"That's a relief, but as for the book I found, this was an entry that detailed your ancestor and how he went up against Lucifer at the time."
"Shigeru loved the story about how he stopped him at the time, but there's hardly anyone who remembers Torune and his efforts to seal away Lucifer in his cage…"
"I remember him very well, but his voice is quiet, which is good news. As for the news about the eternal winter coming, we only have twenty-four days left and Dean must go to Isildur." I sigh heavily as I was sidelined once more. "If only I hadn't been through the ringer in which I—"
"—Stop… You may go through the ringer, but you can't carry the heavy burden forever, Sammy. Besides, there are those before us that did so, which kept them going till their final breath. It's the most we all can do and not worry too much…"
I didn't say another word as I continued to read at the journal that I found. Still, I had to pass my time as I delved into the book that detailed what Torune went through, for his story was legendary for those who heard of it…
Latchkey Village, Alecrast, 1,500 years ago…
Rain poured all over the village as everyone was busy getting ready for bed. With the temple in the mountain adorning the village, everything was quiet as the grandmaster was putting the wood away after chopping it earlier. When he was about to enter inside, he noticed a teenage High Elf in scruffy clothing being chased by a group of bandits that wanted him killed. The boy was scared to death as he was backed into a corner the moment that the bandits were ready to skewer him due to his appearance, for he was an outcast that became abnormal after what he went through.
"Okay, you pointy-eared little shit," said the lead bandit as he was holding a knife in his hand. "It's high time that you get snuffed."
"Leave me alone or else I'll kick your ass!" yelled the boy.
"Look at that little shit," said one of the bandits. "Do you know how scary he is? His eyes look different by what he looks like."
"I've heard of the kid's clan kicking him out like an unwanted puppy," said the lead bandit. "No wonder they tossed you out on your ass in which you'll never amount to anything, only shame and ridicule on you and your prestigious clan!" He walks towards the boy as he was aiming his knife towards him. "Enough small talk; prepare to die!"
"'Prepare to die,' you tell him… Well, if you judged less and knew a little more, you wouldn't be angry right now…"
The grandmaster stood behind the bandits as he was ready to fight them single-handedly. He was mainly mopping the floor with them as he was busy throwing them around while using all his moves to subdue them. The scared High Elf watched the grandmaster kicking the bandits to the curb as they fled the scene. He meant business as he helped the boy up and was aware of what he was, for he didn't want anyone else to harm him.
"You're safe, young man," he said.
"You mustn't be seen with me," said the boy as he was grabbing a blindfold to cover his eyes.
"I know who you are, for you were the High Elf boy who was cast out by your own clan."
"That doesn't change a thing…"
"It does when you hide in the shadows and not let anyone see your true self. You should also get out of the rain so you don't catch cold. By the way, my name is Yao Yueqing, grandmaster of the Latchkey temple near this village."
"Torune… My name is Torune Mitani… I was cast out by my clan for my appearance, but I have nowhere to go."
"You can stay with me and my students if you like… Come on; let's get out of the rain."
Both Torune and Yueqing went towards the temple as they were getting out of the rain that kept going all over the place. By the time they went inside, they were greeted by some of the disciples who were preparing dinner that consisted of dumplings and roast fowl as it was a feast that was rustic, but palatable. Even though Torune was cast aside, he found comfort in the ones who lived here in the temple as he was more than likely to be living here for the rest of his life, for his new friend never judged him in the slightest.
"Welcome home, Master," said one of the disciples as he was setting plates on the table.
"It seems that all is well, I take it," said Yueqing as he saw everyone else bringing out the food.
"The mayor was kind enough to give us some vegetables to add with some of the turduckens that we caught despite the fact that they've been an invasive species that was originally bred on Harkonnen."
"Looks like we have a feast, but we'll also welcome our newest disciple in our ranks."
The other disciples looked at Torune as they never expected an outcast to be put here in this temple. He was fearing the worst as he would soon return to the streets in which he was living all over the place after his clan cast him out. When he was ready to leave, he was stopped by Yueqing as he didn't want him to leave out in the rain, for he also refused to give up on him.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"This isn't my place," said Torune.
"It is your place in which no one judges here regardless of race, gender, color, or sexual orientation. All of us are welcome here in this temple, so there's no need to discriminate. All of us are equal here, for this is common ground here in this temple."
Torune was shocked to hear such moving words as he was also motivated to do a little better. When he followed Yueqing to the kitchen, they washed their hands as they were more than likely to be joining the dinner after this. When they finished washing their hands, they were making their way to the dinner table as they sat down and ate their meal with the rest of the disciples. The atmosphere at the dinner table was quiet, but calm as Torune ate his food after being on the streets for a long time. He felt like being at home, but would end up on the streets once again in which he had been living and begging just to survive, for this was his place in the galaxy to roam in the shadows.
By the time everyone finished up their meal and some of the food put away and the dishes washed up, nighttime was still at its zenith as Torune was there to crash for the evening. He was also tired as he was also there to do as he was told, for this was his first night in the temple so far. Still, he felt a lingering sense of doubt circling over him like a flock of crows circling over fresh roadkill. In an unusual sense, Torune was mainly an outcast due to his silver hair and blue eyes surrounded by a black sclera, which was a bad omen issued by the ones who discriminated in their own defense. He was mainly dressed in rags as he was forced to wander the planet just to fend for himself in which he also wanted to have normal eyes so he wouldn't be judged by anyone else again.
"Tomorrow's a better day ahead, Torune," said Yueqing.
"I know…," he said as he sulked.
"You should get some rest in which we'll be busy doing our daily errands all over the village, then we'll practice our training."
"Tomorrow is a new day…"
"You should also get cleaned up. Besides, a hot bath will do you good and you can't say no to something that can make you feel better after what you went through."
Torune reluctantly agreed as he was more than likely to be starting the day with the daily chores in the temple. Still, he wouldn't last forever as he would soon return to the streets once more, for he didn't want to burden his new friends while being here. The streets have been rough on him as he had been unwanted by his clan in which he would soon learn the basics of being here in the temple, for his new friends would soon be everything for him in this day and age…
Later on in the night, Torune was in his own room after getting a bath earlier. His tattered clothing was replaced by nightclothes as he laid down in his bed while staring at the window where the rain kept pouring. He had a gut feeling that he would be rejected once again as he would soon return to the streets wandering everywhere in the shadows. For now, he curled up in his bed as he was warm after wandering around for a long time. He thought about the rejection from his clan due to his appearance as he was kicked out when he was eight years old. He had nowhere to go other than the streets as he got by in the mode of surviving. He mainly lived by begging and dining on table scraps as he was often discarded like an old toy or an unwanted pet. He would soon go back to his lifestyle as he didn't want to burden his new friends, for this was his life, his mode of survival, and his possible death sentence.
He was mainly born with the appearance in which most of his clan deemed him sacred, but others viewed him to be more of a curse and a burden than a blessing. That was when his parents disowned him after the death of his uncle who defended him as he was left with nothing but a textbook and tattered clothing while roaming the streets. He was used to surviving as he steered away from everything in which he had to leave the temple at first light, for he was made to be out in the streets.
"'Know your place, whelp,'" he said to himself as he began to shed tears. "This is only temporary… After this, it's back to being on the streets… I'll leave at first light, for I won't be a burden to anyone right now..."
At that moment, Torune fell asleep in his bed as he was thinking about his next meal and shelter while dreading to go back out on the streets. He was here after Yueqing saved his life from the bandits who tried to kill him, but he would soon leave the temple in which it was better this way, for his place was mainly in the streets after all...
Meanwhile, back in the present…
I continued to read at the journal as I marveled at how Torune started out when he was living out on the streets. I never expected such a legendary High Elf to be homeless as he endured such hardships while living out in the various alleyways just to survive after being disowned. I never expected to read about his hardships as he was mainly left there mercilessly to wander the streets at such a young age until he was found as a young teenager by a Shaolin monk who lived in the temple near Latchkey Village. It was something that I never expected of him before as he was once an outcast that would later be revered by those who came to respect him for many years to come. When I continued to look at the journal, I noticed Drusus entering into the sitting room as he was curious about what I was reading, for this was a lot different than the usual Supernatural books that adorned the shelf.
"You're motivated by something," he said to me.
"This journal was saved centuries ago, but I never expected Torune Mitani to live in dire conditions before until now," I said.
"Torune Mitani wasn't just an outcast who made it big. It's been said that he was the one who defied Lucifer in which he also swore justice against him. From what I know, he was a big shot in which he helped Mom and Dad back in the day."
"I read about he aided Seto in sealing away Taren Capel on Gethos. He was mainly a hero who aided everyone without complaints in which his descendants still talk about him today."
"It's been said that Torune stuck to his guns, but he was no slouch."
"I know…"
I continued to read at the journal as I marveled at how Torune became heavily revered even after his passing. Still, I never expected to hear his story pan out as he was a man who became more than just a High Elf who got dealt a bad hand, for he was someone that went through the worst while pulling himself up by the bootstraps…
Latchkey Village, Alecrast, 1,500 years ago… again!
Torune woke up as he saw the rain still pouring from outside. Even though today was a new day, he would soon leave the temple as he carefully made up his bed and got up on his feet. Staring at the soon-to-be empty bed, he noticed that he didn't have his clothes there as he only found his tattered backpack with a textbook and a few cans of beans to tide him over. When he grabbed his backpack, he left the room as he went towards one of the boiler rooms to find out what was going on. When he noticed his clothes being burned in the furnace, he was devastated to see them scorching as they were a reminder of being alive.
The loss of his clothes was grim for him as he also had to leave the temple. When he left the boiler room, he went upstairs to the main hall as he was ready to leave. When he reached the door, he opened it as he was more than likely to be returning to the streets again. By the time he was ready to leave, he was stopped by Yueqing as he blocked the exit in which he wasn't about to let him leave, for he didn't want him to wander out in the rain too much. Sadly, he was no match for the grandmaster who saved him as he was a tall and muscular man who sported a full head of grey hair while sporting a braid that held it in place while dressed in martial artist clothing. He was an intimidating figure as he even sported a scar near his left eye, for he was also not allowing Torune to leave anytime soon.
"Going so soon?" he asked.
"Yeah," said Torune. "I have to return to the streets now…"
"And get drenched in the rain? Not a chance."
"I can't be a burden to you because I also know my place."
"You're a lot of things, Torune Mitani, but you are not a burden. As of now, you're living here and obeying rules in which you can't just rely on living out on the streets all the time. It's no place for those who are vulnerable."
Torune reluctantly agreed as he had no choice but to stay put in the temple. Even though he was just a teenager, he now had a home to live in instead of being trapped in the numerous alleyways and abandoned buildings he traversed in the past five years. Still, he had to follow the rules in the temple as he would soon learn the hard way, for it was a lot better than being homeless after all.
"This place is a Shaolin temple in which we do our chores, practice our martial arts, and learn numerous mindfulness exercises to strengthen us as a whole," said Yueqing as he closed the door to keep the cold air out. "Therefore, you have a lot to learn before you start anything in which this type of training won't be easy for you."
"I'll do it, for it'll be much better than being abandoned to live in the streets."
"We'll start the training today, but first of all, we're having breakfast."
Torune was ready to begin as his destiny to live in the Shaolin temple was ready to change him in the next few years. As for what would happen next, he was ready to face it as he would soon start his training that followed, for this was what became firm for the one who was once disowned and homeless…
Eight years later…
Torune was busy doing his exercises as he was working his way up to the ranks in his new home. It had been eight years since he was taken in by Yueqing as he was hard at work doing errands and practicing his usual martial arts in which he stayed firm with his Shaolin brethren who lived in the temple. When he finished up his exercises, he was ready to help out with the rest of the village as he was there to do his usual errands. By the time he went towards the town square, he noticed several of his brethren doing their rounds as they were also bringing in their usual tribute for the temple in which he would soon go to work at the cafe that was next to the alleyway where he was found by Yueqing eight years ago. Going inside, he was eager to help clean up the tables and floor as he was even greeted by the owner who never judged him by his eyes, for he was grateful that he came here to Latchkey Village.
"You're a godsend, Torune," he said to him.
"Thank you," he answered as he was sweeping the floor.
"I never expected to see an unusual young man live here until Yueqing took you in."
"I considered leaving until Sifu had me change my mind. I never forgot about his reasons to keep me in which this was much better than being out on the streets."
"Torune," he said as he entered into the cafe. "It's about time that you call it a day."
"I haven't finished sweeping the floor yet, Sifu. As soon as the clock strikes three, then I'm off for the rest of the day."
"That much is true…"
Torune finished sweeping the floor as he put away the broom and dustpan back in the storage closet. When the clock struck three, he left the cafe as he followed Yueqing towards the temple in which he was eager to have everyone prepare dinner for the evening. When they got there, they made their way to the clearing as they were ready to spar for to day before dinner. Both of them were excellent fighters as they were bringing their a-game to test their skills. Both of them knew how to fight and parry as they were more than likely to be kicking ass and taking names just to protect their village. By the time they finished their sparring match, they were tired as both of them were eager to hit the showers afterwards, for this was the way of life here in the Shaolin temple.
"You fought well for a fighter," said Yueqing as he was exhausted from the sparring.
"Most of us could never get past you, Sifu," said Torune.
"Not true… Your form was more than enough to breach my defenses in which you worked hard, both physically and mentally. As for our duties to this village and temple, we have a lot of obligations that we come to, but they often come to us when we least expect it. That is the lesson that we should adhere by without judgment or prejudice, for it is the cornerstone of what is set in stone."
Torune never forgot about Yueqing's words of wisdom as he took them to heart. Still, he had respect for his mentor as he also had to go through all the hardships that started from being disowned and homeless, to thriving under his master's tutelage. In the end of all of this, he was there with his chosen family with his head held high in which he never forgot the kindness and wisdom that he inherited from his Shaolin brethren. When he bowed in front of Yueqing, he was happy to have him as a mentor and friend as he also had a decency and respect for him that knew no bounds. Torune was a man who went from being disowned because of his appearance to being highly respected by his peers as he was fiercely devoted to the Shaolin temple he lived in, for this was his moment of being here without bounds…
The next morning, Torune was up and alert as he was ready to do some work at the mercantile store in which he was more than likely to be doing his daily errands. Still, such actions would soon attract the attention of the Order in which he was at a crossroads, but he remained loyal to Yueqing and the rest of his Shaolin brethren. He didn't want to abandon his family here in the temple as he was remaining firm, for he was loyal to them till the bitter end. When he reached the village square, he saw an Elf woman standing next to the fountain as she spotted him the moment she was relieved that he was alive, for she would soon bring him back to their home in the long run.
"Torune…," she said as she saw him staring at her. "It's been thirteen years since your father kicked you out for your appearance."
"Mother…," he said as he was stunned to see her. "You shouldn't be here."
"But this is urgent! You can't just abandon your family in this crisis at—"
"Didn't you hear Father telling you that I was never family to begin with all because I have silver hair and unnatural blue eyes with black sclera? I have my own family that consists of Sifu and the Shaolin brethren who live here."
"Someone has ravaged our home, can't you see that?! The one who came to our homestead caused widespread slaughter and not stopping! Eyewitnesses even said that he was a Terran who was dressed in disheveled clothing like a homeless vagrant. He said that he wouldn't stop the carnage until he finds what he's looking for! I beg of you, please return to the family, for we can't let our clan be on the verge of extinction!"
"Enough! You and Father disowned me, remember, or did you ever forget? We're done here, so I suggest that you leave before you regret coming to take me… As for our homestead being ravaged, it's a bluff and a lie in which Sifu told me to never believe in them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do so I can get back to the temple."
Torune walked away from the woman as he refused to listen to her pleas any longer. He was late in doing errands as he refused to listen to the ramblings of one of the family members who disowned him years ago. When he got to the mercantile store, he was eager to do hard work as he began to stack several boxes in which he didn't want to be bothered when it came to helping out. He was a hard worker who trained under Yueqing as he was busy putting away some items that were placed on the shelf. By the time lunch rolled around, he was in for a rude awakening as he noticed a Draaza woman enter into the mercantile store with an angry look on her face, for she meant business when she was there to vent her frustrations.
"How dare you turn your back on your family when they needed you the most?!" she yelled as she slapped Torune in the face. "Do you know what's going on so far?!"
"Whoever you are, I suggest that you take your frustrations outside," he said as he felt the sting of the slap. "The workplace isn't made for a quarrel like that."
"Didn't you hear your mother pleading for help? Have you been living under a rock or something or did you feel the need to ignore the ones who made a mistake for disowning you?" The Draaza woman fished out a sphere as she turned it on. "This is what happened at your home in which a man arrived and killed some of the townsfolk with the snap of his fingers." Torune looks at the familiar face as he was smirking while leaving the scene. "You may not know of what's going on, but you should also face the truth. The man who attacked your homestead isn't what you think, for he has a name in which it is infamous during the time of the Elder Days."
"Is this a joke?"
"No…, but the man who ravaged your homestead is none other than the archangel who chose the angels over his Father's creations. He was also the one who was trapped in his cage for all eternity until he was let out one too many times."
"Who is he?"
"His name… is Lucifer… He was a threat to Earth in which he was also the catalyst for the Arbiter's plan to start the Apocalypse without the knowledge of the ones who were roped into this mess. Even though he was destroyed by his Father before he had a limiter for his powers as punishment, he was brought back after the Winchesters faded away in which he was still reeling after he failed to steal the soul of the one he was destined to take as his vessel. The one who took the soul to the Great Tree was brave, but he has a habit of swearing like a sailor. With that aside, I suggest that you listen to your mother further before you judge her."
It wasn't long until the Draaza woman left the mercantile store as Torune was still shaken at what he saw and heard earlier. He also didn't want to think about the further repercussions as he continued to do his work without any further problems. By the time he finished up, he was ready to go back to the temple as he later noticed Yueqing consoling his mother who was sobbing uncontrollably, for she was in dire need of his help in this time of crisis.
"Have you lost your mind?" he said with disappointment. "She's worried about her family after what happened to your old home."
"She isn't family to me, Sifu, for I have you and our brethren back at the temple," said Torune.
"She is by blood. You may feel disdain for what she did to you, but there is a much bigger threat that has emerged."
"Are you talking about Lucifer?"
Torune watched his mother gasp in shock as she remembered what happened at the Mitani Clan homestead. When she grasped at his hand, he tried to back away, but was stopped by Yueqing in which he didn't want him to bear a grudge in this crucial time. He simply glared at his master as he didn't want to deal with his family's problems after years of abandonment he endured. He also didn't want to deal with his mother's pleas for coming home as he refused to listen to what she had to say, for he had nothing but contempt for her after siding with his father for disowning him years ago.
"I want you to leave…, now!" he yelled as he was getting irritated.
"Please, hear me out," said his mother as she was sobbing. "You need to get home! You have to help us in our time of need after that evil man killed some of our townsfolk in our homestead. I know of the threat very well in which he killed your father at the snap of his fingers!"
"That's a load of horse piss! Me help you after you and Father disowned me for my appearance? You're chasing an empty dream. You abandoned me when I needed you the most! You disowned me and left me homeless when I was a child! Why should I help you when you refused to help me?"
"You can't abandon your blood family in this time of crisis, Torune," said Yueqing cautiously. "You can't just bear a grudge forever in which you'll end up regretting your calling."
"My true family is with you and the other Shaolin brethren, Sifu, not with that!"
"Please, reconsider and do it for your family," said Torune's mother.
It wasn't long until Torune noticed his mother fishing out a ring that was stained with blood in which he was horrified at what he saw. Even though he never believed it at first, he also never wanted any of his family members to end up dead until now. Even Yueqing was concerned as he was fearing the worst the moment he dreaded what was about to come to pass in which he had to do his best. The very truth about of what was seen became proof of what was yet to come as Torune would soon see more of what was about to occur.
"Sifu! We've got company!"
Yueqing noticed one of the monks rushing out of the temple as he was exhausted from what was going on. What happened next was that the rush of loud screams filled the air as Torune rushed towards the temple to see what was going on. To his shock, he saw some of his fellow Shaolin brethren fleeing as he later noticed his home and most of his chosen family slaughtered as if they were killed by terrorists. What he didn't expect was that the killer himself was standing in the middle of the dining hall as the table was broken in half and the dinnerware was shattered into pieces. He was now seeing what was going on as the man who caused the slaughter in his home was glaring at him with a smirk on his face, for he was there for a reason that could change everything.
"Hello…, Torune…," he said. "I finally caught up to you after you flew the coop."
"Lucifer…," he said as he froze in fear.
"You're catching on real quick… for a conduit…"
"I'm a Shaolin monk's apprentice, not a plaything!"
"You ran away from your family when they needed you the most in which that pissed me off to no end just like what happened when that potty-mouth Arrancar placed Sam's soul in the Great Tree when I wanted it for myself! Therefore, I'm onto you, for you can't run away from everything forever. As for your 'chosen family,' they got what was coming to them just like your birth family and we all know that blood is thicker than water. Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna kill you, build you up again, separate your soul from you, and then, it'll be fodder for my revival… Any questions… or perhaps any last words?"
It wasn't long until Lucifer displayed his dark aura as he was ready to take Torune away. Just as he was about to do so, he was stopped by Yueqing as he knew of him very well the moment he was ready to ensure Torune's escape by any means. Even though he was reeling from losing most of his students, he was swearing justice as he began to do his damnedest to protect Torune, for he didn't want him to suffer from Lucifer's wrath.
"You need to get out of here!" he yelled.
"I'm not leaving you, Sifu!" cried Torune.
"This man is dangerous! He'll stop at nothing to kill you, now go!"
Torune obeyed Yueqing as he left the temple the moment he was facing off against Lucifer. Even though he was at peak strength, he had to do his damnedest to stop the archangel from pursuing his student as he began to kick at him. He never expecting anything like this before as he was no match for the one who killed most of his students in which a single blow penetrated his abdomen. Blood seeped from his clothes as he had to get Lucifer away from the temple. With quick thinking, he painted an angel-banishing sigil on the floor as he was ready to use it, for it was his only chance to stop his enemy temporarily.
"You don't even know how to hunt and yet you can draw an angel-banishing sigil," said Lucifer as he smirked. "In the end, you lose and I win while I—"
At that moment, Yueqing banished his enemy as the worst was over for now. When Torune came back for him, he was already bleeding out as he was on the verge of dying when he slumped on the floor. He wanted to help his master, but was too late as he felt regret and shame from ignoring the bigger picture, for guilt was already festering within him.
"No…, don't leave me, Sifu," he said as he was shedding tears.
"Torune…, you must promise me something…," said Yueqing as he was slowly dying in his arms.
"Promise you what? Tell me!"
"First, you must forgive your family and protect them from the wrath you saw. Next, you must also avenge your fallen brothers and not succumb to hatred and resentment, for they are the true toxins that poison the soul. You're better than this, for you must also have faith in everyone and yourself. You must keep moving forward… You must never give into hate… You must do the right thing… and always… keep fighting… It's the most you… can do…, right?"
"Sifu?" Tears stream down Torune's face as he watched Yueqing's eyes close forever. "No, Sifu! Sifu!"
It wasn't long until some of the survivors burst in as they saw the tragedy that occurred earlier. They noticed Torune standing up as he continued to shed tears while demanding justice for his master and most of his brethren. When his mother entered into the temple, she walked towards him as she hugged him warmly in which he needed comfort in this tragic time the moment members of the Order arrive to assess the damage, for this wasn't about to go away quietly.
"Forgive me, Torune…," she said to him. "I'm sorry that I was never there for you, but I'm here now…"
"I don't need your comfort, only justice for Sifu! As for his killer, he'll get what's coming to him in which he'll feel more than just pain behind a smirking mask of arrogance," he said.
"We'll stop Lucifer together because he is a monster."
"She's right, Brother," said one of the survivors. "Even though she abandoned you once, you mustn't abandon her in this hour of need. Sifu wouldn't have wanted you to sink to grudges in this time of crisis."
It wasn't long until Torune stopped tensing up as he he hugged his mother back. Despite the fact that he bore a grudge against his blood family, he had to honor his master's wishes as he vowed to do better, for he would also go up against Lucifer when the time was right. He vowed for justice as he also wanted to avenge Yueqing and most of the Shaolin brethren who lived here in the temple, for he had to move forward instead of holding onto the anger that festered within him.
"Don't worry, Sifu; I will avenge you and our kin," he said.
"You're not alone in this, Torune," said his mother as she was looking directly at him with care-worn eyes. "I made a mistake, my boy, for I won't abandon you again…"
"I know…" Torune walks towards Yueqing's lifeless body as he folds his arms and prays in front of it. "I won't break your promise, Sifu…, for I will avenge you and my fallen brothers for what your killer did to you, I swear of it…"
Torune and his mother walked out of the temple with the survivors as they were greeted by members of the Order. Still, they were in shock at what happened as the battle against Lucifer was just the very beginning of what was about to occur, for justice was already waiting in the wings...
Meanwhile, back in the present…, again!
I was reading at the journal as I was still waiting for Reuben to arrive in which he was running late, but I didn't mind the wait. Still, reading Torune's journal kept my mind off of the constant worry I often have as I never expected him to be resentful towards his family until now. Still, my past self wasn't the only one who had to contend with Lucifer and his constant taunts as Torune also had his fair share, for he would soon face off against the archangel in the long run.
"You went through so much," I said to myself as I flipped the page.
"There you are!"
It wasn't long until Reuben arrived as he escorted me out of the sitting room and straight towards the infirmary wing. Even though I was still trapped in my furlough, I had to adhere to protocol as I went towards the examination room the moment I laid down on the scanner table. With my vitals scanned, I noticed myself still recovering from the caesarian section that I had in which I was lucky to be alive, for I was still not in fine fettle after all that has happened.
"Your vitals are normal, but you shouldn't be doing too much," said Reuben.
"I've been aware of that," I said.
"Even though your raw power is healing you, you still have to deal with the leakage from your pectorals due to stress in which even Reiko complains of you worrying too much while feeding the little ones."
"I haven't did much today, but I've been reading about Torune Mitani and the hardships that he endured over the years. His early years weren't kind to him in which he ended up being disowned and homeless because of his unusual appearance."
"According to Dad, his father, Yasunori Mitani, was eager on maintaining perfection and social status when he married Shoko Tanizuki, whose mother has close ties with the Bellflower Clan here on Valinor. And yes, I've visited their land, which is next to the Trujillo land, but are mainly Lorien Elves who intermarried with some of the Native American Terrans that the Draaza took with them when they came here long ago. To put it bluntly, the Bellflower and Runningstar Clans are also descendants of the some of the Lakota who trounced General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Nez Perce who refused to fork over their lands in the northwest. They also told of a tale of a child born with silver hair and unnatural blue eyes with black sclera that would face off against the Devil, for this story wasn't just part of the Elven lore, but from those who were taken away from Earth long ago."
"And Torune was the one who faced off against Lucifer…" I get up as I got off from the scanner table. "It's shameful that his parents disowned him and abandoning him to homeless, but he found his family in the form of Shaolin monks, only for most of them to be killed off by Lucifer himself, including his master."
I was ready to leave the examination room as Reuben followed me on my way out. When we went back to the sitting room, I sat down as I continued to look at the journal that Torune Mitani left behind in which I had to learn more about the battle between him and his sworn enemy who became the bane of my past self's existence during the Elder Days. When Reuben sat down in the other chair, he saw me reading at the journal as he was aware of what happened next in it, for I would soon read about the battle that was about to go down in what I was reading in…
To be continued...