The First Step

The group stood in the clearing, the pale brown crystal still glowing faintly in Sensei's hand. The air around them felt heavy, as if the weight of the decision had settled on their shoulders. Mono glanced at the others, his body tense. He wasn't sure what Sensei would decide, but he knew it would affect all of them.

"You all think you are ready," Sensei said, his calm voice breaking the silence. "But readiness is not something you declare. It is something that must be shown. Strength alone is not enough. Focus alone is not enough. It takes both."

The disciples stayed quiet, their breaths heavy after the earlier argument. Even Hito, who usually found something to say, stayed still. Mono noticed how tired everyone looked, the fight against the Kiba-hound having pushed them all harder than they expected. They were strong, sure, but they were also young. At fifteen, none of them had seen much of the world yet.

Sensei looked at each of them in turn, his sharp gaze seeming to weigh them carefully. Mono shifted under the scrutiny but kept his head high. He knew better than to speak out of turn now.

Hito, however, was never one to hold back for long. He stepped forward slightly, his usual grin replaced by a more serious expression. "Sensei, I can do it," he said, his voice steady. "I'm ready to take the crystal. I can handle it."

Josei's eyes flicked toward him, her brow furrowing. "Are you sure?" she asked. "The crystal only works if your focus is strong. This isn't about proving something, Hito."

Hito frowned, turning toward her. "I know that," he replied firmly. "But I've trained just as hard as anyone else here. I'm ready."

Raiba sighed, crossing his arms. "Everyone keeps saying they're ready," he muttered. "But how do we know? Maybe none of us are ready."

Tokira, as calm as ever, tilted his head slightly. "Sensei already said he would decide," he pointed out. "Arguing about it won't change that."

Mono stayed quiet, his thoughts spinning. He knew everyone wanted to use the crystal, himself included. But he also knew that wasn't the point. The crystal wasn't just something you took—it was something you had to be chosen for.

Sensei held up his hand, silencing the growing tension again. "Enough," he said, his tone firm but calm. "This is not a debate. This is not about who wants it most. This is about who needs it and who is ready for it."

He looked at the crystal once more before speaking again. "Hito, you have strength and determination. But your focus is scattered. You act before thinking. The crystal will not help you if your mind is not clear."

Hito opened his mouth to argue but stopped when Sensei raised a hand.

"Josei," Sensei continued, turning to her. "You are focused and steady. But doubt holds you back. You second-guess yourself too often. You must learn to trust your own strength before you can rely on the crystal's."

Josei's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded.

"Raiba," Sensei said next, "you are aware of your limits, which is good. But you let those limits control you. To grow, you must push beyond them. The crystal will not do that for you."

Raiba sighed, his arms still crossed, but he didn't argue.

Mono felt his chest tighten as Sensei's gaze turned to him. He held his breath, waiting for the judgment.

"Mono," Sensei said, his tone steady. "You have focus and discipline. But you lack patience. You rush forward when you should step back. The crystal will not wait for you to catch up—it will only amplify what you bring to it. You must learn to slow down before you can truly grow."

Mono lowered his head slightly, biting back the frustration. He wanted to argue, but he knew Sensei was right.

Sensei's gaze moved to Tokira last. "Tokira, you have a calm mind, which is your strength. But you hesitate to act. To use the crystal, you must find balance between thought and action. Neither alone is enough."

The group stood in silence after Sensei's words, the weight of his judgment settling on them. Each of them felt the sting of his truth, but they also knew he wasn't wrong.

Finally, Sensei stepped forward, holding the crystal out slightly. "None of you are ready now," he said. "But one of you will be soon. For now, we will continue to train. When I see that one of you is prepared, the crystal will be yours to use."

The disciples exchanged glances, their earlier tension replaced by quiet determination. They all wanted to prove themselves, not just to Sensei, but to each other and to themselves.

As they turned to leave the clearing, Mono felt a flicker of resolve deep in his chest. 'If I want to use the crystal,' he thought, 'I have to earn it. No shortcuts.'

The forest grew quieter as the group walked away, each of them lost in thought. The crystal's faint glow stayed with them, a reminder of the strength they were fighting to achieve.

Sensei suddenly turned to them, his expression softening. A small, cheerful smile crossed his face as he said, "Well then, shall we return to the dojo? I believe it's time you learned more about samurai energy."

The group looked at each other, surprised by his change in tone. Hito grinned faintly, muttering, "Finally."

They followed Sensei into the trees, their minds heavy with the lessons to come but lighter with the promise of understanding.