Page 33 of Eternal Ruin

Kidan wasn’t smiling. Even though she was dead, Adane House’s current master was her mother.

In order to set a law, Kidan would have to understand Mahlet Adane’s culture. She swallowed roughly.

The professor spoke in Aarac, a sound that reminded Kidan of a rushing, twisting river.

Slen had translated it already and put it in their notes.

One must see with all four eyes of culture to master a house, or shut them permanently.

According to their readings, the four “eyes” or the Four Points of Culture were language, faith, political view, and values. In the text, they had four corresponding questions.

What language does the house master dream in?

Does the house master believe creation comes from the Last Sage or from Demasus the Fanged Lion?

Does the house master believe power should rest in community, tradition, or individuals?

Does the house master believe in bravery, revenge, loyalty, responsibility, or family?

“You must answer these questions yourself and compare them to the previous masters’. Then you must decide if you’re going to inherit their culture or sever it.”

Kidan’s ears perked up. “Sever?”

“Listen carefully. To inherit a culture, you must dream in the same language, believe in the same faith, believe in the same politics and values. All four points must match. To sever, all four points must be different.”

Kidan blinked. “But how is that possible? I can share the same faith as my… mother.” She quickly moved past the scratch in her throat. Thinking of her lost family was already beginning to unravel her. “And have a different political view. It can’t fit cleanly.”

Slen’s pen tapped in agreement. “Culture can’t be separated into black and white. There will always be differences and similarities between a child and a parent.”

The professor listened with his head tilted to the window, angular face with no flaw, ageless as written words. “Thus why inheriting a house is a difficult endeavor. It is almost impossible to be in complete harmony with a previous master unless you spend a lot of time with them. That is why the ownership of a house often comes easiest to a child of the same bloodline. You cannot cheat the house into believing you are of the same culture. It is connected to your mind and your intention. It is not something to be achieved within a semester or even a year, unless you’re exceptional. The average amount of time it takes to master a house is seven years. Mahlet Adane took four years. Omar Umil six. Koril Qaros three.”

A stone dropped in Kidan’s gut.Seven years…

Kidan pushed down the panic building in her and shook her head. “Dean Faris told me she mastered her house when she was twenty.”

A spinning light appeared in the professor’s granite eyes. “As I said, exceptional students. Dean Faris is a rarity. She possesses a mind like no other. The question is, will you three carry on your legendary status and become exceptional as well?”

He sounded mocking yet interested. Like a giant studying the play of ants.

The room grew dark with the looming weight of what they had to tackle. Slen’s jaw had tightened slightly, her gaze straight as an arrow. If there was anyone who would be exceptional, it was her.

Yusef rubbed his hand, thinking quietly. Kidan’s feet bounced. Any other challenge, and she wouldn’t have minded. But digging into the dead? She could already feel the punches all over her flesh.

Why couldn’t her task be to murder again? Kidan would love to pay Ajtaf or Makary a visit.

“You must think critically on what decision to make,” the professor continued seriously. “Peel apart your own identity and see what you can part with. Severing a culture is no different than cutting off a limb. Yet inheriting a culture has been likened to a noose around the neck. It is up to you.”

Either way, they appeared to be fucked.

Except Yusef.Hewas smiling.

“What?” he said when he felt their narrowed eyes on him. “Inheriting is the easiest answer.”

Kidan and Slen exchanged a quick glance. How nice it was to have such certainty, to belong in the fold of your family, between their languages and beliefs.Unlike them, Yusef had his great-aunt, the current owner of Umil House, to guide him. Kidan didn’t even have her sister.

“There’s no third option?” Kidan pushed. “Do all four points really have to match or be entirely different from the previous house master?”

“I will give you a famous example,” the professor said, a shadow of a smile crossing his face. “Susenyos Sagad.”