How Rinka Got Her Charm

“Eh? What’s this?” Rinka inquired. The delivery guy merely shrugged; how was he supposed to know?
“Sign here, please.” Was his only response, pushing the parcel toward her with the record of delivery on top of it. Rinka’s curiosity was piqued, and even so, what harm could it cause? With a quick scribble that was technically her signature, the parcel was hers. As the delivery guy walked off to his next job, Rinka went over to a nearby bench. Sitting down, she unwrapped the brown paper, revealing the box underneath. She froze.

There was a letter atop it addressed to her. It was in her mother’s handwriting.

With trembling hands, Rinka reached out and picked it up. Turning it over, she saw her family’s crest emblazoned on the wax that sealed the letter. Ever so carefully, Rinka removed the seal as whole as she could, trying to preserve the image it bore. Setting it aside, she took the letter out, unfolding it with both anticipation and dread. With a deep breath, she began to read the elegant handwriting of her mother;

My Dearest Rinka,

I pray to all the gods in the realm of the divine that this reaches you.
Being a parent is no easy thing. I hurt you. I recognize that. I hurt you so much. We – your family, your people – did not consider your feelings in the matter of prophecy. We failed to properly educate you, and that has caused such pain.
But please, please, my dear child, please understand the nature of fate. No matter how one may flee from it or deny it, one arrives there all the same.

I still believe in you. I believe you will accomplish your destiny. That is the reason for this letter.

Enclosed is your birthright. We intended to give it to you earlier, but, of course…
Take good care of it, as you must take good care of yourself. You are strong, stronger than you know, and I have no doubt that you will get stronger still. Do not let your flame be snuffed out.

*Please remember that, no matter what, I love you, and I always shall.

I hope one day we shall meet again,
Your Mother

Rinka’s tears blurred her vision, the salty droplets splattering onto the paper. Even as they fell, she noticed the crinkled spots denoting that such drops had been shed on this letter earlier. She buried her forehead on the paper, her tears just barely missing the letter and rendering it illegible. For a good while, Rinka simply wept.

As she got a hold of herself, she put the letter to the side, to investigate this ‘birthright’. Opening the box, she found a small bell charm. Confused, she picked it up. As soon as she did, she felt the surge of power contained within. Knowledge of foreign jutsu flooded into her mind, as well as a storm of divine energy empowering her. In her soul, something clicked, as though she recognized that this was hers. It was always hers.

As she panted for air, trying to regain her breath after the sudden rush of chakra, she clutched the charm to her chest.

I don’t forgive them she thought to herself I do not accept this as a gift or a token. I claim it as my own. As my… she gulped my birthright.