Chapter 15

Breaking the Circle

’Breaking the circle: The circle defines the barrier between the mundane and the Otherworld. It becomes unbreakable when charged by a spell. Sometimes when charged, they become quite visible. They are used to define a place of protection, a place of confinement for the results of a casting. The final act of a circle is breaking it. Since all circles are one of two things: active or potentially active, they should never be forgotten. To break the caster simply must either actually break the circle line or symbolically break them.’

It took days for that area of the city and its surrounding to settle down. There were hundreds of missing people, many of them very influential. More than half the police department, most of the city council, and the mayor were all missing.

I had completed my last class for the summer and transferred the credit to my high school. I went by to apply for my diploma and to say goodbye to those people that had made a lasting impression on me. One of which was Mr. Townsend.

Ms. Simpson, you have left a lasting impression on this school. For years to come, new athletes will be told that nobody will ever be as good as you were. I will browse the internet looking for your next win. Do great things at your next school; I expect one day to hear Dr. Katherine Simpson on stage giving the graduation speech to new graduates.

“Wow, that’s a lot to expect from a new graduate herself. But Mr. Townsend, I will definitely try. Thanks for all the guidance you have tried to give me.”

I turned and left his office, stumbling over an invisible ledge. I walked out and headed to Sensei Genwa Dojo. There were only a couple of students present, and three black belts were practicing and instructing the students. I went to Sensei Genwa’s office. I paused for a moment outside the office and looked at the trophy display case. 80% of the trophies and certificates displayed were hers. She had finally won so many that she had no place to put them all. So she had left some of the more important ones at the dojo. Mainly things like the All-Around Champion from this year’s Mixed Martial Art Tourney in Austin.

She turned back to the door and knocked. “Enter.”

Katy opened the door and stepped inside. She pushed the door close behind her. Sensei Genwa came to his feet.

“Sempai,” he said and bowed deeply to her. She returned it with deep respect.

“Sensei,” she said, then hesitated to think of what she wanted to say and how she could say it.

“Sempai, I have all your paperwork ready for you. I have a list of dojos and their masters that I can recommend to continue your training.”

“Thank you, Sensei. Is there any way I can keep you as my home dojo?”

A smile lit up his face. “This dojo will always be your home. This year, next year, and fifty years from now, even after you open your own.”

We talked for a while, then another knock on the door. Bob, who would take over my position as senior assistant instructor, opened the door and bowed to Sensei Genwa. “It is ready.”

Sensei Genwa led me from his office to the practice area. Then he turned to bow to the photo on the end wall. Katy and Bob did also. Then he rotated ninety degrees and faced the long wall where the photo of him and some of his former students hung. Katy’s eyes bugged. There was her! In her black silk gi, with a plaque under it: “Katherine Simpson, in five years as Sempai won more tournaments than any other student of this dojo.”

“This will always be your home dojo, Sempai.”