Hoshor Plains why you gotta despise it?

A confirmation without elaboration - Matteo was not one to press so deeply into things that did not wish to be shared. However, her interpretation sparked another humorous huff from his lips. Water cousins? "It's the way of the seal-hunters," he put simply. "For them, hunting their water cousins is how they survive." 

Truthfully, he did not think a boy needed to complete this ritual for him to be worthy. Raiyuk was plenty a man to him already - and himself? Taking on the challenge was not something he particularly wanted to endure. "I think a man can be worthy without going through all that, though."

At the mention of women, he met her gaze with an incredulous look. "Of course they matter." But Chakliux had not mentioned anything about the seal-hunter women, so Matteo had not much else to say.