Zayn blinked.
"You can pour soul energy into it and record a message — just one. Someone else can pour soul energy into it later and hear your message. It's one-time-use, though. Shatters right after."
Zayn stared at it for a long second, then looked up at Tobias. "So… basically a magic recording."
Bran snorted somewhere behind him.
Tobias shrugged. "If you want to call it that."
"I'm calling it that," Zayn said, already taking the crystal and holding it up to eye level, inspecting it curiously. "This'll come in handy… Thanks."
He didn't smile wide or react dramatically, but his voice held a genuine appreciation.
Tobias knew him well enough by now to know that this meant more than it sounded.
"Don't break it immediately," Tobias teased.
Zayn rolled his eyes. "No promises."
The party had slowly gathered in the main room again, now fully awake and lounging after their hearty breakfast.
