Forces
 
by Loren Dean

The nimbus of energy played in a rough sphere to Ishi's sight. The spell was ready — all that was needed was to name the element.

The maho-tsukai Yogo Junzo had called out Naoki, and the valiant Crab was in the courtyard now preparing to face his once-friend Kataji. From his perch on the roof of Masayoshi monastery, Ishi had a clear view of the action in case Junzo had any hidden plans. Even now, Ishi's counterspell was ready to loose, and needed only to be given final shape.

Kataji advanced on Naoki, who was winded and bleeding from the fight at the gate. Ishi had missed much of that finding his way to the roof, but had attained his roost just in time to see Naoki and Jinjiro bring down the bandit king. Then Junzo had rolled out of an evil fog on a chariot of twisted bone with Kataji at his side, and the whole battle was brought to a duel. Naoki against Kataji, and if Naoki was victorious, then Naoki against Junzo himself.

Even now, Kataji advanced on Naoki with the slow, methodical pace of the undead. His pace was no longer slowed by his injured knee. Indeed, the knee made a sickening crunching as the bones ground together with each step. Things across the valley had fallen silent, as though nature itself sensed the import of what was about to happen in the courtyard.

Now Kataji and Naoki stood, unmoving, unemotional, locked in a mutual stare. How this must be heartbreaking for my cousin, thought Ishi. Kataji was his oldest friend. It must pain him to see his friend brought to this.

Suddenly, Kataji twitched, and then, with agonizing slowness dropped to his knees, presenting himself to Naoki.

Naoki didn't hesitate, drawing his katana and taking Kataji's head with all the reverence such a moment deserved. What unearthly strength of will! Kataji actually took control from the spirit world! Ishi was stunned, and almost lost control of his spell. Fusaki's eyes will pop out of his head when he hears of this!

Junzo was silent for many moments, and then, quipping, "well then!" stepped down from his chariot and moved to battle. The fight was brief (Junzo obviously expected Kataji to crush Naoki), and though Naoki took a savage cut, he carved deep into Junzo, sending the dark shugenja reeling.

Ishi felt the energy before he saw it form. A vortex of blue-white, spiraling in from above Junzo. Air. Ishi gave his spell the energy of earth, and turned it on the necromancer. Dark energy, the energy of the pure earth, rose in a dome around Junzo, reaching up to block the descending air. The vortex met the dome just before the latter could close, and ethereal energy sparked and flared as the opposing elements met. The energy formed enough of a barrier to keep Naoki from finishing Junzo, but Naoki's steel alone couldn't win this anymore. The battle was magical now.

Sweat popped out on Ishi's forehead as he poured all his strength into closing the dome and cutting off the energy powering whatever spell Junzo had woven. Junzo fought back just as mightily, and the top of the earthen dome widened and narrowed too many times to count in the seconds that the spells were active.

Ishi couldn't keep it up. The dome was as strong as he could make it, but still the necromancer's air invaded it and reached within it to gather its master and spirit him away. Even as Junzo disappeared, Ishi sank to sit on the roof of the monastery, exhausted, but not so much to keep the tears of frustration and rage from emptying him completely.