Emma leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, still catching her breath from the earlier excitement of watching the fusions fail. She tilted her head toward the scattered crystal fragments on the table.
"You know," she said, voice rough but thoughtful, "maybe Aya could make something that can actually hold that kind of energy. Her blacksmith skill isn't just for sharpening blades. She can forge alloys, infuse materials, shape metal at a molecular level if she focuses. If anyone can create a weapon frame or container strong enough to bind mid-tier crystals without cracking, it's her."
