DanDMan

Erabareshimono, often called Mono by his friends, is a young warrior training in the dojo of Zen’i No Machi. He is originally guided by a wise but enigmatic Sensei. As new threats loom, Mono must rise above his limits and face adversaries stronger and more skilled than he ever imagined. With his friends by his side and the guidance of the ancient book, Mono strives to become the warrior he was destined to be, discovering the balance between mind, body, and the will to protect those in need.

The Rise Of The Chosen One

The morning sun stretched across the dojo, casting long shadows across the wide training grounds. The wooden gates stood open, letting the fresh breeze move freely through the space. The air smelled of earth and wood, carrying the distant scent of spices from the marketplace beyond the trees.

Sensei had left early to buy supplies, leaving the five disciples—Mono, Raiba, Josei, Hito, and Tokira—to train on their own. They kept busy, practicing forms, running drills, and sparring, but the longer Sensei stayed away, the more restless they became.

Mono wiped sweat from his forehead, grinning as he caught his breath. "That was a good run! I think I'll do another round!"

Raiba sighed. "You already ran twenty laps."

Mono stretched his arms high above his head. "Yeah! But what if I run twenty more? That would make me twice as fast, right?"

Hito smirked as he leaned against the wooden post nearby. "Or twice as tired."

Josei sheathed her sword, eyeing the dojo. "Speaking of Sensei… he's been gone a while."

Tokira, sitting on a rock with his usual quiet demeanor, finally spoke. "He always takes his time."

Mono tilted his head. "You think he got distracted?"

Raiba crossed his arms. "More like he found another vendor to talk to about food."

They all knew Sensei loved talking about food. Whenever they ate together, he'd go on and on about how choosing the right ingredients was as important as training.

Mono laughed. "He's probably debating over rice grains again."

Hito nodded. "Or lecturing someone about which dumplings have the best filling."

Josei sighed. "I just hope he actually remembers everything we need."

There was a short pause, then Mono looked toward the back of the dojo, an idea forming in his mind. "Hey… have you guys ever wondered what Sensei keeps in his room?"

Raiba gave him a flat look. "No."

Mono ignored him. "I mean, think about it!* He never lets us in, and he always has that book with him. What if there's something interesting in there?"

Josei crossed her arms. "Sensei keeps his room private because it's his space. You wouldn't want someone going through your room, would you?"

Mono shrugged. "Depends. If I had something cool in there, then maybe."

Hito smirked, his curiosity piqued. "You know… Sensei never actually locks the door."

Mono's eyes lit up. "Exactly! What if there's something important in there?"

Raiba sighed. "Or what if it's just extra training scrolls and that book he's always reading?"

Josei glanced toward the door, now thinking about it herself.

Mono leaned forward. "I mean… what's in that book anyway? Sensei never talks about it, but he's always reading it. It has to be something big, right?"

Hito nodded slowly. "Yeah. He never lets us touch it, either."

Tokira finally looked up. "You want to check?"

Raiba sighed again, but the idea had already settled in. The group exchanged glances, debating whether or not they should do it.

After all, Sensei was going to be gone for a while…

A Thoughtful Mistake