Who Will Wield?

The pale brown crystal sat in Sensei's hand, its glow faint but steady. The disciples stood in a loose circle around him, their eyes darting between the crystal and each other. The clearing was quiet, but the tension was rising.

Mono stood with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched as he watched the crystal. 'Who's supposed to use it?' he wondered, his thoughts racing. 'Sensei didn't say.'

Raiba broke the silence, his voice low but firm. "So… who gets it?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Sensei. "Is it for all of us?"

Sensei turned the crystal slightly in his hand, the glow catching the faint light of the clearing. "No," he said calmly. "One of you will use it. One at a time."

Hito tilted his head, his face tense. "One of us?" he repeated. "How do we decide who?"

Raiba frowned, crossing his arms. "Well, it should be someone who needs it the most," he said. "Someone who's weaker right now."

Hito raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp. "Are you saying you're weaker than the rest of us?"

Raiba's face flushed slightly, but he didn't back down. "I'm saying it makes sense," he replied firmly. "If it helps with training, then it should go to someone who needs to grow faster."

Josei stepped forward, her voice steady but quiet. "It's not just about who's weaker," she said. "It's about who's ready to focus. The crystal won't work without that."

Raiba turned to her, his frustration clear. "You think you're the most focused, then?" he asked.

Josei shook her head slightly. "I'm not saying it's me," she replied. "But if it goes to someone who isn't ready, it won't do anything."

Tokira's calm voice cut through the rising tension. "Sensei said it requires discipline," he said simply. "If someone isn't disciplined, they shouldn't use it."

Hito stepped forward slightly, his arm still sore but his expression confident. "Then it should be me," he said firmly. "I've trained hard, and I know I can handle it."

Mono narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening. 'Everyone thinks they deserve it,' he thought. 'But it's not about what you think.'

Sensei raised his free hand slightly, stopping the argument before it could go further. The group fell silent, their eyes turning back to him. He held the crystal higher, letting its glow catch their attention.

"The crystal is not a prize," Sensei said firmly. "It is not something you claim. It is something you earn. The one who uses it must be ready—not just physically, but mentally. If your focus is not steady, if your discipline is lacking, the crystal will mean nothing."

Mono felt his chest tighten as he listened. 'Ready,' he thought. 'But how do we prove who's ready?'

Sensei turned his gaze to the group, his eyes sharp. "You will not decide this for yourselves," he said. "I will choose who is ready. And if none of you are prepared, the crystal will remain unused."

The group grew quiet again, their earlier energy fading. Mono's thoughts raced, but he stayed silent. He clenched his jaw, watching Sensei closely as the crystal's light pulsed faintly in the stillness. The decision was out of their hands now. They could only wait.