#stonebodycoldheart

[ipraygreywords]

Tfw your friends understand you. 

[ipraygreywords]

@stonebody-coldheart

It’s on one of those almost suspiciously beautiful afternoons, some weeks after Rezo and Zelgadis’s first post-Taforashia encounter, that a letter from Sairaag arrives in the barracks of the Knights of Seyruun.  

It’s addressed to Zelgadis, in a familiar flair-filled cursive. There is a note within, and a white opal stone.  The note reads, 

Dear Zelgadis, 

I said that I would always ask permission.  If I am to truly keep that vow, then I must make certain there is no impediment to your ability to grant consent.   I enclose a talisman, and a counter-spell, to that which I used during the Philosopher’s Stone campaign, to control the rock golem within you, and force you to attack your friends. 

Here, the words are slightly smudged, and then written over again, laboriously.

I will not endeavor to convey what we both already know: that what I did was shameful, and beyond any capacity to justify.  You were my child, not my slave. And the only monster between us was me. 

Please use this when you are ready.  If you would like me to demonstrate that the spell is indeed deactivated, you may find me at the enclosed address. 

Sincerely,

Rezo 

[ipraygreywords]

@stonebody-coldheart continued from X

It took a long moment but Zelgadis would clasp his fingers around Rezo’s seeking hand. “Don’t.. misunderstand. Acknowledging that I failed isn’t the same as blaming myself. I couldn’t have done anything but fail in the circumstances we were in.” But it still hurts that I didn’t see what was going on. “You didn’t deserve all the hate I had for you for so long. But at the time, being a hurt and selfish teenager, I couldn’t see beyond myself.” Even to the point he’d offered his services in destroying the world and hunting further pieces of the dark lord in exchange for a cure.

He would let out a small burst of laughter. “Hell, I know many would say I still would be right to still be angry and hate-filled towards you.” Since being traumatized doesn’t excuse doing the same to others. But he understood now. Mortal and monster had been mixing for years at that point and it had probably driven what was left of the man mad. So, in Zelgadis’ opinion, it wasn’t like normal trauma and abuse and those normal rules don’t apply.

“I don’t blame myself. But..” He paused then shook his head. “I also don’t blame you.”

-------

The Sage blinks blind eyes with the shock of physical touch.  Despite expecting it, he never fully is prepared for that lightning-strike in existential blackness that is another human being, discrete from the uniform darkness of his visual senses.  

But he doesn’t linger long upon it, though a thumb runs with unconscious tenderness over the rocks lodged into Zelgadis’s cold smooth skin.  He is too busy fiercely listening.

    “ . . . . well. My word.  That is really rather enlightened of you.” 

Even though the reminder of his grandson’s friends, and their majority view, is discouraging at best, and sours his stomach.  But that can be borne.  Rezo has been hated before for far pettier reasons.  

    “I don’t care what you think about me as long as it remains true that you don’t blame yourself, and. As long as whatever you think about me doesn’t impede your own healing process.  Do you understand? That is all that I’m worried about.  Perhaps I worried unnecessarily.  It would gladden me to know as much.  As does your....your kindness.” 

He realizes he’s been physically clinging. He lets go, gently, of his kinsman’s hand. 

[ipraygreywords]

@flameofchaos​ || dash commentary

  ------

     “You’ve made several miscalculations about my grandson, chief among them the belief that you can move him to self-destruction with emotional manipulation. He inherited a great many traits from me, but not that.  He is far stronger than you think.”

For a blind man, Rezo pours tea impeccably.  He also erects impermeable anti-mazoku barriers, one of which currently glows in meticulous circular rune markings on the floor beneath him. He stands at its center. 

   “ However, Mr. Xelloss, in the unlikely event of him needing my help, I’ll find a way to oblige.  Don’t take this as idle boast, nor as a fool’s threat. It is simple fact:  I’ve held back and helped destroy your ruby-eyed master twice now. In comparison, you will be inconsequential.”  

[ipraygreywords]

@stonebody-coldheart​

     “If one more person comes by this monastery flabbergasted that they got ill after they didn’t wash their hands, I’m going to break something . . . . !” 

It’s rare that Rezo loses his composure and becomes visibly grouchy; that makes this moment all the more miserably funny. 

[ipraygreywords]

I SEE ZELAME ON MY DAAAASH..... :3ccccc 

[ipraygreywords]

Rezo,

Thank you for the book. It is certainly worth a read. I have read variations on the theme before, but this appears to be the oldest. Perhaps closer to the source material. 

I have included some sachets of an herbal tea said to help fend off a winter chill. Since even I find it refreshing with my “blasphemous coffee drinker” taste buds I believe you will enjoy it. It leaves a cooling sensation in the mouth and throat, and is supposed to soothe coughs.

The ball went well for my part. I refrained from punching the dignitary who asked me what a cursed commoner was doing knighted let alone escorting the princess, which I take as evidence that I have grown as a person. Princess Amelia and I danced several times, but she had to dance with others for various reasons. Several were aspiring and powerful suitors. I spoke with many people, and I believe made a positive impression.

I then went on a short journey to check a lead I had about a person who split a chimera into the component creatures, but it turned out to be a conflated rumor. There was indeed a chimera split into its component parts–literally with an axe.

So now I am wintering in Seyruun. Prince Philionel has asked me to teach scholars things that I’ve learned on my journeys. Magic, history, science, everything. Obviously there are a lot of things I won’t be sharing, but it’s nice to see the knowledge I had to work so hard to scrape up become more easily accessed in the future.

Regards, Zelgadis

Dear Zelgadis,

This tea is sublime.  I am startled and pleased to find many of the medicinal properties I use in my herbal closet put to superb use here.  The slippery elm powder was known to me already, but the other elements are a delightful serendipity.  I will have to employ these with my patients. 

You’ll be smug to learn that I have attempted coffee drinking lately.  Its capacity to improve liver enzyme function is now scientifically noted, so I have no other choice. But it is more cream than coffee. 

It may be premature for me to declare myself proud of you.  Nevertheless, for any comfort, or closure, or happiness, it may bring you, I am.  Proud of your constant and innate capacity to grow. Proud of your sophistication.  Proud of your intelligence and the breadth of your knowledge. Proudest of your kindness. I won’t belabor the issue, and you needn’t respond to this portion of my letter. But your professional exploits have been a delight for an old man to read. 

It seems among talents you did not inherit from me is your dancing. Bravo! 

I wish this went without saying: I am sorrier than I can say for your dead end.  

Be warm this winter. Keep drinking that tea. 

Yours, Rezo 

[raxtilt]

“I see how it is. So that’s how you really feel, Zelgadis.”