Tomoe sat at the table, chin in her hand. Her fox ears flicked as she peered down at the gem presented by the merchant. He had spent the last few minutes extolling its virtues in a last bid effort to sell her something.

She was going to buy it anyway, but it amused her to watch his scrambling. 

Coins clanked onto the table. "She'll take it. Please leave."

Relief swept his face as he swept up the money, bowed and fled the inn. Tomoe pursed her lips as a hand reached to pick up the necklace. The purple gem sparkled as that hand draped it over her head. Magic prickled her body.

She smiled as Hiroto settled into the chair opposite her. He gave her a dry look, folding his wings neatly. Tomoe's grin widened as she poured more sake into her cup, not bothering to offer any to her ascetic half-sibling.

His inky eyes studied the bauble. "It's elemental magic. Quite ancient."

Tomoe sniffed, fingers stroking the smooth surface. "It's pretty. Like its owner."

Hiroto picked up a set of chopsticks, popping a mushroom into his mouth. They sat quietly for a moment, Hiroto eating, Tomoe sipping her sake. Patience was most effective with this brother. 

"Clan Leader is looking for you," he finally said. "He is--"

"Displeased with me." Throwing some money on the table, she stood. Her wings appeared and she leapt up onto the banister, looking down at the bustling street, her stomach turning queasy even at such a mild height. "I'll be back when I've finished playing with my new trinket."

"Be careful, Older Sister!" Hiroto called, unperturbed as she took off. "There is a price for magic such as that. Hold only what you can handle."

Tomoe turned and stuck out her tongue, ignoring the twist in her stomach as she flew higher. Her fear of heights was overshadowed by her desire to get away from the inn. Hiroto had been there to warn her. She would bet her new necklace that Clan Leader Kimura was not too far behind. 

The town disappeared and Tomoe swooped closer to the earth, twisting the wind under her wings so she could glide smoothly. She dipped her hand down into the tall grass to brush it through the stalks.

Tomoe smiled as a cloud of white butterflies exploded in her wake.

She landed near a stream, eager to test her new trinket. Air and fire lived in her soul, gifts from her tengu father and kitsune mother. These elements did her bidding with eagerness. Earth and water were different. Those elements were unyielding to her, who had no natural affinity for them. 

But with the necklace...

Tomoe tightened her ponytail, sat beside the stream and grabbed the necklace. Gently, she drew the swirl of power out of the gem and into her body. Brow furrowed in concentration, she bent her will on the water.

A geyser of water rocketed into the sky. Tomoe watched in open-mouthed amazement. She shrieked as gravity took effect, the liquid reversing course. Before she could move, the water smashed down, flattening her against the earth.

Tomoe stared up at the sky, sopping wet and bewildered. The necklace pulsed against her chest. Then, she let out a wild laugh and bolted to her feet. 

Gripping the gem, she pointed at the river rocks lining the bank. They shot into the air, pelting toward her with deadly speed. Tomoe flipped and dodged, the rocks smashing into some trees before clattering to the ground.

Her grin widened so much it made the old, crescent scars on her cheeks ache. 

Tomoe cracked her knuckles. Now that she'd mastered the last two elements, she wished to test her limits.

So, Tomoe stood by the stream. She started with what she knew best. Wind began to whip, lifting her into the air. Then, fire erupted in one hand, strands of it swirling around her. Sweat prickled her brow. Panting, Tomoe pointed toward the stream. Water gushed into the air, flowing around her in a dizzying river. 

The necklace flared against her chest, burning through her clothes. 

"Now, earth!" Tomoe flung out a hand. Rocks and soil pelted into the air, joining the maelstrom of elements. Tomoe looked up with shining eyes, watching all four elements finally at her command. 

The gem began to crack, purple light shining through the breaks.

Accomplishment welled headily and Tomoe moved to release the elements. Fire danced and flared. Wind whipped, battering her. Small rocks spun, pelting her. Water lashed.

The stone cracked further. Tomoe panicked as she realized the elements were out of her control. They battered her, throwing her around, drenching her, ripping at her. Tomoe cried out as she fought to regain control. Breathing harshly as a stone blackened her eye and the water tore her hair loose from its ponytail, Tomoe first grabbed fire.

Exerting every ounce of will, she subdued fire, her hands shiny and burned as it licked her before winking out. Water rushed up her nose, blinded her. Wind flipped her upside down. 

Tomoe wrestled the elements, clutching the stone harder. "You will obey me," she shrieked. "I am master here!"

Like her words were a catalyst, the gem shattered. The elements broke free. She thudded to the ground, curling up to protect her head as rocks rained around her. Water splashed down. The wind blasted her, then dispersed. 

Tomoe lay there for a long time, every inch of her bruised and waterlogged. 

A long shadow blotted out the sun, and Tomoe rolled over. Hiroto stood over her, one hand resting on the katana at his side. He stared down at her, mouth tightening to suppress a smile.

Without a word, he offered a hand. Without a word, she let him haul her up. 

They both looked down at the shattered remains of the gem.

"Discipline," he said.

Tomoe rolled her eyes.

"Discipline is the price of such power," he said, unable to resist lecturing his elder sister. "Without discipline, well..."

She wrung out her dripping hair. "You get your butt kicked."

Hiroto barked a laugh, then straightened his face. "Indeed."

Word Count: 999

Fantasmical 2023

Fantasy Prompt: In a kingdom of elemental magic, you gain the ability to control all four elements through an ancient artefact. But this newfound power comes with a price.

Tomoe controlling the elements.

Tomoe's half-brother, the tengu Hiroto

Artwork by my sister. You can find more of her work here: deviantart.com/jiimn