Page 213 of Eternal Ruin
Because Adane House currently had a law targeting a specific person: Susenyos Sagad.
How did it apply to her if she became a master of the house?
A drum settled beneath her heart.
“Setting a specific house law on an individual is a high crime, and it is for that reason we have not discussed it. What makes you ask?” The professor’s piercing gaze settled on her.
Kidan tried for a smile. “Curiosity?”
If Professor Andreyas saw through the lie, he didn’t mention it. His angular face tilted. “It does not matter if the law specifies a person, it will always apply to the master first at the moment of Absorption.”
Blood pumped urgently in Kidan’s forehead. She was having a hard time forming words, but the professor wasn’t short of them.
“The moment the house deems you as the master, you inherit whatever law was set by your parents. Absorption is the moment the law becomes visible on yourskin. It will then be your job to break it and face the repercussions. Or, keep it intact.”
Fuck.
Kidan didn’t hear the rest of the conversation or the end of the lesson, her heart was pounding too loud. Slen shot her a questioning glance. Her palms were slick with sweat, and she wiped them on her thighs.
No. This can’t be happening.
“If you don’t remember anything I’ve said, remember this: It is more important to know how a law breaks than to know how to set one. Its consequences will be catastrophic otherwise. Once the house completely aligns itself with you—mind and body—the law written upon the house will become written upon your skin. At this point, you must be careful. Every angle of your actions must abide by the house law.”
“Imprisoned”—that was the word the professor had used once.
A Sage is a soul imprisoned with many laws. A house master is a soul imprisoned with one law.
Once their class ended, Kidan stared numbly at the blackboard. She drew a square on the wooden desk, eyes haunted.
If she wanted to master her house, she’d have to absorb the Adane House law. At that moment, it would apply to her:If Kidan Adane endangers Adane House, the house shall in turn steal something of equal value to her.
If she had any more energy to yell and scream, she would. Instead, her well was empty. It hurt to think of all she’d been through just to suffer more.
The Last Sage… creator of the houses, laws, and the Three Binds.
She hoped he was rotting in hell.
A hand waved in front of her face. She blinked, barely seeing Yusef in the empty classroom.
“You look like you need a drink,” he said with a grimace. “It’s a good thing I do too. Come on.”
74.
KIDAN
Two minutes into drinking his spiced rum at Rita’s Bar, Yusef spat half of it out on Kidan.
“You’re lying,” he spluttered. “You found him? He’s okay?”
Despite everything, Kidan laughed, wiping her cheek with her sleeve. “Yes, I found him. He’s… struggling but alive. We can help him.”
A gentle relief chased away the bags beneath Yusef’s eyes, warming his skin tone under the hanging twinkle lights. It was just them in the bar, so she spoke freely. Told him how GK was struggling with leaving his prison because he was afraid of hurting others.
Yusef’s eyes creased and deepened, like he was holding back tears. He turned his face, cleared his throat, smiling at the worn table.
“I know he hates me,” he said in a low voice. “But I hope to see him. What a relief. Finally, things are going right. Only one thing left.”
“One thing?”
