Tad Tales - The Stone
Date Posted: June 11, 2025
It started as an innocent question, as things sometimes do.
“Is it true that soul stones can help you learn a completely different set of skills?” Tad inquired, sitting butt-on-counter in Amon’s lab as his cousin typed away at whatever it was he was working on across the room.
It took a moment before Amon paused, glancing with a side-eye towards the other Elezen. The expression spoke of some sort of concoction happening within the technologist’s mind, sparked by the single query.
This made Tad a little uneasy. But it was nothing he hadn’t dealt with time and again when it came to his cousin.
“’Tis said that soul crystals carry with them the knowledge of those who came before,” Amon answered slowly. “So, in that way, aye, they assist in learning the skillsets of those who recorded such information. Why? Do you have an interest in them?”
“’Twas just something I’d heard. I knew of the soul stone development back in our time. ‘Tis interesting how they ended up being used so many centuries later,” Tad explained, thinking that would be the last of it.
“And you’re not curious at all to try one?”
“Mmm…”
This was bait. Tad knew it was bait and didn’t respond. Amon had something in mind he was drilling down towards.
“Surely a glorious Warrior of Light like yourself can’t help but want to try out something new from time to time?” the technologist couldn’t hide the dangerous smile in his voice.
“Don’t start that.”
“Why not? ‘Tis so?”
“Aye, ‘tis,” Tad admitted. “But you know as well as I that I understand little about being what I supposably am.”
That caused Amon to get to his feet in a surprisingly quick motion. “And ‘tis all the more reason why you should explore your limitless potential!”
“I wouldn’t say limitless…”
“How do you know until you test it?” Amon waggled a finger in his cousin’s face. “What we do know is that the current Warrior of Light appears to be able to break boundaries time and again.”
“And I am not the current Warrior of Light,” Tad reminded him firmly, as he always did when this kind of conversation came up.
“What harm is it to try?” With that, the technologist opened a small drawer in the cupboard, pulling out a shiny red object. It was only when Amon placed it in Tad’s hand that the Elezen recognized what it was.
“You have a soul stone?”
“’Tis so,” Amon said, his voice making it sound much more dramatically mysterious than it probably was. “From my studies in red magery.”
“Red mage?” Tad echoed, looking uncertain.
If he had even the slightest interest in the talk of soul stones, it dissolved, even as Amon placed the stone in his cousin’s hand.
“Gently used,” Amon confirmed. “’Twas a great help to me back when I was working through strengthening my aetheric balance.”
Tad’s silence and dubious expression wasn’t lost on the technologist.
“What’s wrong?”
“’Tis just…” Tad furrowed his brows. “Don’t you have anything like… I dunno. Dragoon? Monk? Something more physical and less finger wiggling?”
“You do not wiggle your fingers as a red mage,” Amon responded mock-indignantly. He immediately turned towards a little nook in his lab and produced a sword, which he deposited in Tad’s other hand. “You are far too busy with one of these to worry about your fingers.”
Tad was, indeed, far too busy trying to juggle the stone and the rapier without dropping one or the other, all the while realizing he had just played into Amon’s plan. He quickly protested, “But these are yours.”
“I can get another stone,” the technologist shrugged. “’Twas gifted to me from the start, and I’m sure Ben can dig up another.”
“I… I’m just not a mage,” Tad added to the pile of protests.
This one was a legit reason. Though there was nothing that had ever stopped Tad from picking up magic in his lifetime, he had never been drawn to learn, either. Whereas his cousin was gifted with aether-sight and the ability to manipulate aether in strange ways, he had always gravitated towards something more physical in nature.
“Have you tried?” Came Amon’s expected question.
“You know ‘tisn’t my thing. I’ve never been as aetherically exceptional as you have, Amon.”
That just earned a long, droll look from the technologist. “Not aetherically exceptional?”
Tad sighed, knowing this wasn’t getting him off the hook.
“You, who are the Warrior of Light, even if from another time, complain about being not aetherically exceptional?” Now there were crossed arms as if Amon was completely offended. “You who walk through time rifts to accomplish the impossible? Not aetherically exceptional?”
“’Tis just a fluke!”
“I don’t believe in flukes.”
“Well, I do!”
“Tad,” Amon said, his voice suddenly gentle and quiet. One hand reached out to grip his cousin’s shoulder supportively. “What are you afraid of?”
Myself…
The though rippled across Tad’s mind, though it went unvoiced.
Something within the other Elezen’s golden-eyed gaze told Tad that he didn’t need to speak his thoughts. Amon somehow already knew the answer – be it just the technologist’s keen intuition or something to do with his aetheric vision. Either way, he knew without confirmation.
“How long are you going to let that hold you back?” came the follow-up question.
“I’m… I’m fine,” Tad wanted to pull away from that half-supportive half-manipulative hand on his shoulder, even as the half-fib passed his lips.
“Why don’t you just give it a shot? What can it hurt?” Amon’s voice was kindly now. Concerned in his own way. As genuine as the technologist could be. “If you decide ‘tisn’t for you, then just return the stone and the sword. At least you would have tried.”
Tad gave a long breath as he lifted the blade in one hand, studying as the aetheric focus – at least, that’s what he thought it was – pulsed as if with a life of its own. Then he admitted, “’Tis pretty cool looking.”
“Aye, ‘tis so!” the other Elezen just broke into a wide grin, knowing he’d won the debate.
This time.