The two energies remained separate, each one distinct and never combining into one single line, but they held to each other as if they had become twins. The two hues worked side by side as the magic entered the barrier and pounded against the interior essence of the magical wall. Red and blue forcing their way deeper and deeper into the obstacle, the spells utilized their inherent qualities in a manner that would maximize the effect.
The azure energy continued to work as water would, raging like a flood and constantly flowing in currents of pure force. It moved both ahead and behind the red power, racing forward unrelentingly with greater stability and uniform might. It served as both the harbinger for the force that would follow and the mighty hand that pressed from the rear and would not allow retreat.
The crimson energy rode the blue waves and slammed against the barrier like an avalanche of rocks tumbling down a mountainside. The red magic did not flow smoothly or even continuously. It became a grinding torrent of abrasive influence that shoved its way forward and then abruptly halted to expand outward. It hammered against the opposing ebony magic, using the blue energy that flowed with it as the driving force that compelled it to move beyond its natural state of inertia.
The elves that scrutinized the effect of the spells continued to sense erratic vibrations from the wall. They believed they might have been lucky enough to find an effective pattern of spells. While the barrier did not quite buckle, the intensity of its mystical aura began to fade at the point of contact with the other spells.
One of the monitors believed an opportunity was at hand. If they were going to pour all their magic into the attempt, there was no sense in delaying a necessary boost to the assault.
"They must continue, but let us now add the emerald energy. The power of nature will compliment the blue and red energy. Let the three work together!"
The second monitor agreed and they waved forward the elf blessed with the greatest gift over green magic.
The casting of emerald power shot out like the accelerated growth of a thousand thin vines twisted and tangled together into a massive vein of green lightning. It flashed about the long column of red and blue magic and wrapped itself around the line.
As the third hue embraced the other two and pressed against the magical obstacle, the opposing magic appeared to finally strike back. A dark pulse enveloped the three strands of energy and bit ferociously into each casting. Ebony power flowed out of the wall and appeared to take greater hold of the emerald cord of magic.
The bright green color began to fade quickly, like the accelerated wilting of a dying plant. Spots of imperfection expanded along the emerald energy. A sickly brown stain infected the entire strand, and the cord of magical vines began to fall away from the red and blue line.
The effect was not lost on either monitor. They began to fear their progress would be lost in the backlash.
"The black power is overwhelming the green magic," one elf called out.
"The red and blue are losing their potency," the other monitor added. "We must enhance the emerald power and cut off the other two."
"Yellow magic," the first monitor agreed. "Let it augment the strength of the emerald energy."
The casters of blue and red were immediately directed to cease their spells, and the elf responsible for casting in a yellow was brought close to the wall.
The new spell caster was an elf named Haven Wellseed, and her power over golden magic was well known throughout the camp. She did not cast in a circle, but rather a triangle… a perfect isometric triangle that glowed with as much glory as the sun on high. She had always brought light to darkness by her very presence as the yellow magic glowed around her even when she did not actively cast a spell. She was viewed as a gift to the camp the moment the magic returned and filled her soul with light.
Haven stepped lightly up to the barrier, her slim frame overwhelmed by the long dark shadows that raced across the span of the obstacle. It appeared a desperate attempt, like throwing a single candle against the gripping darkness of the eternal abyss, and yet, when she began her casting, the golden energy allowed the slight elf to glow like a beacon of hope.
The yellow power of light fed the green magic, but it also blistered its way into the shaded wall. Even as it re-energized the emerald energy, wiped clean the sickening brown that had infested the strand, the golden magic blazed into the nearly imperceptible hollows left by the initial assault of storm, water and earth.
Glowing ever brighter, Haven's spell grew in intensity, but it did not work alone. Even as it strengthened the green magic, she drank in the energy the other elves joyously fed into the core of her soul. The full measure of elf magic blossomed in the combination of green and gold.
Increasing its defense, the ebony power fought against the yellow energy, clearly showing a hostile response to magic it found-not inferior-but clearly distasteful… and perhaps dangerous. The output of ebony magic increased several times over, and for the first time since the elves had been imprisoned, the translucent barrier turned completely dark.
The elves could no longer see the gray sky above, the birds soaring overhead, or even the burning lakes of fire in the distance. They were completely encased in a great dome of blackness. If it wasn't for Haven's glowing form, they would not have been able to see anything at all, for no light could have penetrated the barrier.
The two elves casting their magic upon the obstacle increased the output of their spells to the maximum. Spurred on by the other elves around them, they unleashed the full limits of their power. The green and yellow energy poured against the solid blackness.
The hot, heavy air within the seemingly solid dome began to shudder, and every elf under the obstruction felt the outpouring of magic. Their eyes were drawn to the flare of golden optimism that struck out at the darkness that imprisoned them. Each elf offered up the magic within to the cause, and a torrent of energy flowed across the rocky ground and into the core of Haven's spirit.
Sensing a possible breakthrough, Scheff decided to add all of his might to the effort. Rather than offer it to the two elves casting green and yellow, he decided to cast his own spell. He knew that his violet hue, the power of the storm, could create dark clouds and block out the influence of the light, but the storm created its own fury, its own lightning. He would not diminish Haven's power, but add to it in a way that would bring it crashing through the black energy before them.
Throwing his hands together, he warned the monitors to beware. His spell would be devastating and he would not restrain himself in the slightest. A perfect circle of dark purple formed around his clenched fists that he held together in front of him. When he flicked opened his hands, the violet power flashed away from him in the form of pure magical lightning. It struck the golden light from Haven and formed a crackling flame of violet fire that erupted across the entire barrier.
Just as it appeared the barrier would crumble and the elves would succeed, their captor arrived under the darkened dome. The human sorcerer acted instantaneously, shouting out strange words and casting a perfect ring of dark energy that initially surrounded his body.
The ring expanded from the sorcerer. It moved just above the ground. It rushed outward like the ever expanding ripple on a lake surface, passing through every elf as well as every rock and tree under the crumbling dome. It struck the failing obstacle at its base and then rose up the barrier wall until it came together into a single black ball at the center of the dome overhead. The dark magic reformed the wall, brought it back to its original strength. The barrier returned to its translucent form as the elves could see beyond its edges once more.