Page 156 of Eternal Ruin
Declared at the Mot Zebeya Courts on Thursday the 21st.
55.
KIDAN
Before semester break began, the professor called them all back to check on their Red String task progress. Yusef hadn’t been able to find Arin, technically his companion, to conduct his assignment with.
Professor Andreyas had reprimanded him. “You should know where your companion is, Umil.”
Yusef rubbed his neck. “She kind of does her own thing.”
Yes, Kidan thought. Arin’s reaction to Kidan’s blood, the white of her eyes entirely going red as she disappeared into that hole—was still vivid. At least she was buried now.
Slen had already completed the task, spending six hours with Taj. “Easy” was the word she used. But Warde, like Arin, had a tendency to disappear. Kidan made a mental note of that. Was June with him, then?
“This is the trouble with rogues.” The professor’s mouth drew into a line. “They have no respect for Uxlay. I hope you will all be wiser in your companionship selection from now on.”
That was an understatement.
When Kidan reported she was doing well with her companions, the professor raised a brow. “How have you managed that?”
Through trickery and torture.
“Through communication and trust,” she said. “The Last Sage’s ways.”
Yusef hid his chuckle while Slen slid her a curious glance.
“Communication and trust,” Professor Andreyas said, running an eye over them. “You laugh but it is the only way. One misconception you all have is that the Last Sage is disconnected from you all, a faraway myth. Yet if I say you are all practicing Sageism as house masters, would that be false?”
They all exchanged glances.
Professor Andreyas held a near amused expression. “It concerns me how little insight you all have even at this stage of your education. You do not read carefully, nor do you search for more than one meaning.”
Kidan bristled at the tone, but she kept quiet. They were clearly inadequate in his ancient eyes and admitting it was the first step to learning.
The professor spoke carefully. “Three Binds. You have heard that term since you were all children. Yet none of you have revisited nor analyzed it through the lens of all you know now. Go on, revisit it. What parallels can you draw?”
Slen’s brow was furrowed in concentration. As was Yusef’s. Kidan was just as stuck.
“A synonym, actis.” The professor’s tone hardened. “You can offer that at least. A synonym for ‘binds.’”
“Oh. Ties?” Yusef offered.
“Restrictions?” Kidan continued.
“No.” Slen’s eyes were fixed ahead on the board. “Laws.”
The moment Kidan heard it, she knew it was right. Professor Andreyas had spoon-fed them the answer, so he didn’t look impressed.
“The Three Binds or the Three Laws. There is no difference. As students of Mastering a House Law, you are also engaging in the art of Sageism. Everything is connected. A Sage is a soul imprisoned by many laws. A house master is a soul imprisoned with one law.”
“Imprisoned” was an interesting word to use.
Kidan thought “freedom” would fit better. She was certain if she had the ability to set any law, she’d feel quite liberated.
She glanced at her notes. The Last Sage gifted actis power over their own houses, a portion of his own command. But unlike them, his laws stretched over the land, unrestricted. Kidan marveled at such power. Wondered what things could be created in his position. She’d always thought the Last Sage was weak, creating restrictions on vampires, instead of killing them. But there had to be a limit even he couldn’t cross. Otherwise, he’d be no different from a god.
Kidan dared to ask a question. “Can the Three Binds really break?”
