Second Puzzle | Video

[lookprofessor]

[Luke has been having a rough go the last few weeks, and he's primarily kept to himself. But the loneliness is starting to bother him--without working with Satsuki he's felt rather like there's been nobody to spend time with at all.

As such, he's rectifying this problem the best way he knows how: a puzzle.]

At home, the Professor and I solved lots of puzzles. I know people here don't seem to like them quite as much, but they're still fun to do. So...um, I thought I'd share this one. It's easy to do without any pictures, so I thought it'd be a good one to start with.

"There are ten siblings living together. Let's say that I'm the eighth child. The oldest daughter is the second son's younger sister and the third son's older sister. The fourth son is the second daughter's older brother, and the older daughter's little brother. There are no boys between the third and fourth daughters. So--is the third-youngest child a boy or a girl?"

I've got plenty more puzzles, I keep track of all of them. And I can give you a hint if you need one, too.

[With that, the boy waits. Someone, please answer!]

Comments

[lookprofessor]

"Well if I was a mum I wouldn't want my child cut in half--that's horrid! It isn't really much of a solution to the problem at all..."

Luke ponders this for a moment and then nods. "So the child's real mum wouldn't let the king split her child in two. Though what sort of King would think that's even a solution?!"

[youfool]

"Hmhm! One of the wisest kings of old. And how! Such an efficient bluff. Sometimes a lie can pierce to the truth of a matter.

All right, I'm ready for your next."

[lookprofessor]

"The mums would have to believe he'd do it, though."

Regardless, Luke goes back to his little book, flipping through the pages.

"All right, here's one. In order to pass through a door, you have to unlock it. The lock is 5 squares, with pieces that can be moved. They're diagonal. Like this. The rules you know about the code are as follows

The star has to be next to the moon. The X must be the second from the top. The circle must be somewhere above the diamond. The moon has to be two places below the diamond.

What's the code?"

[youfool]

"They most certainly would. Kings don't ascend through idle threats, I imagine. That gives me an idea for my next riddle. As for this one..."

Given the rules, the circle must be very high indeed. The top, given that the X must be just below that. Then the diamond, to make room for the lowly moon, with the star second from the bottom.

" Circle, x, diamond, star, moon?"

[lookprofessor]

"That's it! It's not so bad if you think of all the clues carefully, is it?"

He likes logic puzzles after all. Though really this is Luke and he likes all puzzles.

"What's your next riddle?"

[youfool]

"Ahem. Say you're a king, or some other such person who's very powerful. Rich, or well-regarded, or some such thing. Anyone with a brain in their head would instantly scrape and grovel the very second they knew of you or your approach. If not out of respect, then certainly out of fear.

And that poses a problem. How would you know who truly loves you, and who merely pretends to out of expediency? In other words, how can you separate the wheat from the chaff?

[lookprofessor]

"Ah."

Luke hesitates, and tilts his head. "I'm not certain. I suppose you'd have to ask for something most people wouldn't want to help with, but what?"

[youfool]

"...you know, you're right. My answer was simply the old tale of the prince and the pauper. Without the trappings of power, one quickly finds who one's true allies are. But yours is perfectly true too. Very clever! Asking one to take up the cross is a very sure way to divine who is faithful."

Goodness, he was good at these. Guessing at answers he hadn't planned for. He awaited the next puzzle.

[lookprofessor]

"The Professor says you have to be careful to make sure your puzzles aren't open-ended. It's not bad if it is, but then you have people giving you answers you don't expect!"

Luke stretches, tilting his head. "Maybe I should make you copies of some of the other puzzles I have. I've got so many, we could be doing this forever!"

[youfool]

Ted took notice of the signs of fatigue. " 'The Professor' is wise indeed. Oh, please, save them for another time. This is fun! All the more so if one is temperate with their...appetite for puzzles. Good night, Luke."