Page 115 of Eternal Ruin

The professor let them soak in the oppressive silence. Kidan’s heart beat slowly, a part of her was proud, but there was a larger portion of her thoughts scrambling to make sense of what had happened.

How this affected her.

Because she could no longer count on Yusra Umil’s vote. And Yusef would be torn between choosing her and his loyalty to Slen.

The professor, ever one for bringing uncomfortable truths to the surface, spoke it aloud. “It will be interesting to see which way your vote sways, Umil.”

Yusef’s features contorted into apprehension. Kidan looked to an ink spill on her desk. Her dislike for the professor returned. GK had said their professor enjoyed dissecting cruel acts in the name of education, and it was true.

But more than that, Kidan knew Yusef’s aunt would have upheld tradition… but Yusef—who killed GK because Slen asked him to—whom would he vote for?

Kidan should have seen it coming. Of course he would easily inherit Yusra’s culture and master his house. Kidan had seen them in the gardens, walking slowly, Yusef’s arm linked with the elderly woman’s as he pointed out architecture. Kidan had watched them with a smile and a hint of jealousy. They went on their walks almost every day, for an hour. Then there was his dad, who had forgiven him and taught Yusef how to draw again.

All of that must have helped.

Slen’s pupils had stretched a little, the same way they had when Yusef told her he wrote her name down for the power exercise. The fact that she couldn’t conceal her surprise was a feat in itself.

“Qaros and Adane House remain unmastered.” The professor’s disappointment arced around the room, piercing Kidan’s ribs. Slen’s slender fingers curled into a fist.

It was a miserable feeling, to feel significant one second and insignificant the next. Even if Kidan spent her whole life buried in texts, she’d never share in all the knowledge the professor held. She entered his classes hungry and left feeling even more ravenous.

Yusef shot her an apologetic look before returning to his seat.

“Shall we move on to the second rule of lawmaking?” the professor said, slipping a hand into his coat pocket.

Kidan reached for a pen, leaning in.

Criteria one had been: A house law can only magnify, duplicate, or destroy what alreadyexistswithin its given boundaries.

“Criteria two, actis. A law must always be bound to a circumstance.”

Kidan mulled over the words, already seeing how they applied to the Adane House law.

If Susenyos Sagad endangers Adane House, the house shall in turn steal something of equal value to him.

The circumstance to the law here was endangerment.

“For instance, you cannot create a law that says ‘No one can enter Uxlay.’ Why not?”

Kidan answered this time, focusing on her professor’s mahogany face. “Because the term ‘no one’ refers to no circumstance. However, ‘No unauthorized person or no soul without an invitation’ creates the specific circumstance in which the law can take place.”

“Yes. A law must always be connected to an event, action, or object. It needs to be anchored.”

She inclined her head, a little proud. Dean Faris’sNo teacup shall be set down in this housecame to mind as well. In that case, the circumstance was Faris House.

If she was to make GK human, it would have to be something likeAs long as GK sets foot in Adane House, he will be human.

A thrum of excitement shot through her. It had taken a while but she was getting close.

“Now, there is a physical component to your task. We have discussed the different types of power one can wield.” The gleam to the professor’s eyes dimmed theclassroom, only a shaft of broken sunlight resting on his shoulders. “But you must also experience its opposite, complete helplessness.”

Kidan already didn’t like the sound of this.

“To teach you the utter importance of setting an appropriate law, each of you will spend half a day physically bound to your companions. Where they go, you go. Whatever they command, you obey. This is called the Red String task.”

Complete silence. Then they all burst into questions and comments at the same time.

“Physically bound?” Kidan asked. “Like tied up?”