The Phoenix Clan - by Shawn Carman

The chamber of the Elemental Masters lay deep beneath the glory that was Kyuden Isawa, and yet it never seemed hot, nor cold. There was never dampness or discomfort. Indeed, among the precious few beyond the Masters that had ever stood in the room, the conditions seemed ideal in every respect. Some might imagine that there was magic at work, but if so it was not the Masters’ doing. It was the kami themselves who made it so, swirling in perfect balance around the chosen sanctum of their favored servants, out of respect for their centuries of loyal service.

There were days, Isawa Nakamuro reflected, when he wondered if anything he and his fellow Masters had done was truly worthy. They called him a hero, but he did not see himself so. What had he done that was not simply correcting the mistakes of another? Mistakes wrought by arrogance – arrogance that had not been washed away by the sacrifices other heroes had made.

“We cannot continue this strategy,” he insisted to the others. “The Isawa coastline is protected, but that does nothing to halt the Mantis attacks on the coasts of other families. The Shiba and Agasha suffer the most, and the Asako pour their resources into aiding the victims of war. It is inevitable that the other families will resent us for not helping as much as we are able.”

“As much as we are able?” Isawa Sachi rumbled. The old Master of Earth stirred from his seat and leaned forward. “The maintenance of the wards protecting our lands from the mantis Storm Riders is a terrible one. Our shugenja weaken by the day. A handful has yet to recover, even after days or weeks of rest. This is no light burden we have shouldered. We hold the Isawa lands so that the Phoenix have a strong center from which we can direct this war. Is there any doubt that our strength is why the Mantis have failed to achieve a foothold in the Phoenix lands, despite their best efforts?”

The young Master of Fire nodded her head in agreement. “I have stood on the coastline and helped keep the Mantis at bay,” Isawa Ochiai agreed. “Where have you been, brother? The task would be far easier with you at our side.”

Nakamuro covered his face with one hand and sighed wearily. “I have stood with those in the south, trying to aid them as I can. They do not see the situation as we do.” He glanced around for a moment, as if just realizing something. “Where is Akiko-sama?”

“The Master of Water departed this morning for the Crane lands,” Sachi explained. “Her daughter’s wedding is today.”

“A wedding,” Shiba Ningen mused, his voice almost humorous. “Our august leader abandons us to attend a wedding. An ill omen, some might say.”

“Akiko-sama will return by sunrise, as the Master of Void should well know,” Ochiai answered, her brow furrowed. “And where have you been, Ningen-sama? There are reports that you consort with Nezumi, of all things. How does that aid our effort?”

“More than you know,” Ningen said cryptically. “You fight for today. I seek the mysteries of tomorrow.” There was a strange weight to the final word as Ningen said it, leaving an uneasy feeling in the Master of Air’s stomach.

Nakamuro sighed in resignation. “This conflict has drawn on for months,” he said, changing the subject, “with innumerable skirmishes. And yet we have no indication of any further maho use or other such atrocities committed by the Mantis. I would once again like to request, respectfully, that the Council give me leave to further investigate the allegations the Mantis have levied against us.”

“Outrageous!” Sachi said, slamming his fist against the stone table. “The Mantis dare to use such a Black Scroll against us and you wish to exonerate them? We have been down this road before, Nakamuro! You are among my most gifted students, but in this your soft heart betrays you. If not the Mantis, then who is responsible?”

“Who indeed?” Nakamuro asked.

“Would you suggest a Phoenix did this, Nakamuro?” Ochiai asked. “Would you suggest one of our own used a Black Scroll to incite this war?”

“We have been seduced by the Scrolls before,” Ningen observed.

“Never again!” Sachi insisted. “The line that so doomed the Master of Fire position is no more. That madness will not plague us again.” He drew a deep breath, then seemed to recline for a moment. “I am sorry, Nakamuro, I know that you only wish to stop further bloodshed. I too would end this war without loss of life if I could, but I learned long, long ago that there are evils in this world that are necessary, and violence is the greatest of them.” He smiled sadly. “We need you, my friend. If, as you say, the Isawa are coming under scrutiny for our efforts, then it will fall to you to help the others understand that what we do, we do for all Phoenix. You are a hero. The people respect you. They will listen to you. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Nakamuro said, suddenly exhausted. “Forgive me, Sachi-sensei.”

“There is nothing to forgive,” Sachi insisted. “Each of us would give our life, our soul, for the Phoenix. There can be no failure so long as we hold to that.”

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