"I thought my father was the one in charge of declaring his successor?" Silva asked, his frown becoming more pronounced
Fal sighed whistfully, "If only it were that simple. Choosing a new patriarch is one of the most tumultuous events a Clan can experience. First, there is the internal power struggle within the ruling family, as faction lines are drawn around the various sons, with the Elders announcing their support for the one who promises them the greatest rewards if they are chosen as the next Patriarch. However, a family by itself is no Clan; one needs to consider the opinion of those who patrol the compound walls, those who make the food, clean the halls, and stoke the fires. If they are dissatisfied with the transition of power the Clan's downfall is all but guaranteed. A fact that no member of the ruling family wishes to admit."
Fal paused to pour himself a cup of tea giving Silva a window to continue his ravenous consumption while reflecting on Fal's words which he responded to after swallowing a mouthful of rice, "I can understand your trepidation Uncle, though I'm still uncertain how I will become involved after renouncing my claim to the patriarchy."
"You can renounce your claim a thousand times over, but short of leaving the Clan itself there is nothing you can do to avoid being dragged into the conflict." Fal answered resolutely as he finished his cup of tea, "Being your father's favorite son is reason enough, combine that with your tremendous potential and you become a threat that can not be ignored."
A deep frown marred Silva's face, "You're saying that there is no way I can distance myself."
"Correct," Fal replied without a moment of hesitation, "Which is why we need to discuss a plan of action. What will you do when the time comes for you to leave these walls?"
"It seems like you already have a few ideas for me," Silva retorted and a wry smile spread across Fal's lips, "I believe there are three paths you can take, the simplest is to align yourself with one of your brothers which should protect you from the very worst of the fall out, given you happen to be part of the winning faction."
"But should one of my other siblings win, I'll have a larger target on my back," Silva surmised, "It also doesn't guarantee that if I grow too strong, I may be betrayed by the people I allied with."
Fal smiled at Silva's revelation, "Good, you're beginning to realize that this is a war not a battle. No one move can guarantee you victory, the battlefield is always changing and it will not always be to your favor, remember that. Now your second option is to forgo creating alliances and simply try to claim the Patriarchy for yourself."
Fal held up his hand to stall Silva's rebuttal, "I know you plan to step down, but we've already established that will do nothing to dissuade your brothers from seeking you out. If you maintain your claim there is the real possibility that as you prove yourself worthy, people will seek to join your side."
"Is there? I thought being a bastard put an end to that notion." Silva asked Fal for clarification.
In response, a vicious look ignited within Fal's eyes, as a dangerous aura began to emanate from his being, "If there is one thing you must learn, it is that those who cling onto tradition and customs are only doing so because they are means of control. The moment it becomes advantageous to abandon the values they seemingly hold in such high regard, don't blink or you'll miss how quickly their stance changes."
Fal's wise words were undercut with a ruthlessness that reminded Silva that his doting and patient Uncle was considered by many to be a demon incarnate.
"I will heed Uncle's words," Silva replied with an amused smile and after a second Fal laugh as the air around him vanished without a trace, "Forgive my outburst, I should be able to forgive issues of the past at my old age, but it seems that my habits may outlive me."
"I don't doubt it," Silva agreed, making Fal smirk, "Returning to the topic at hand, I believe the final option is the one you're going to agree with the most, which is unfortunate because it is also the most difficult."
Silva stared at Fal intensely hoping that his Uncle wasn't leading him on, "The only way to avoid the brewing faction war, is to convince your brothers that involving you in any way or form is not worth the trouble and brings nothing but consequences."
The final option Fal presented immediately piqued Silva's interest and he couldn't help but lean forward, "You were right, this strategy is by far the most appealing. But why is it the most difficult?"
Fal sighed but had already expected his nephew's response, "Because in order for your wishes to be respected your brothers' factions need to be convinced that even if you're lying about being interested in the Patriarchy, it's better to take the off change that you aren't rather than try and restrict your movements. In the simplest terms you need to make your brothers afraid of drawing your ire."
"That would only happen if I'm as strong or stronger than them," Silva commented with a frown now, understanding why Fal was hesitant to even present the strategy to him, "But as I grow stronger, their incentive to eliminate me as a threat while I am still vulnerable will increase drastically."
"Precisely," Fal agreed with a grunt, "If you are still insistent on leaving after ascending from the Body Tempering Realm I would say you'd stand a slight chance against your younger brother. And if you were to succeed, then I'd imagine your two older brothers would be quick to descend upon you like herons."
Silva's frown deepened even further, "Just how strong are they?"
"While they may be hiding their true strength, Tenga managed to enter the Spiritual Awakening Realm some decades ago and has made steady progress. As for your eldest brother," Fal paused for a moment as he grimaced, "Raga should be close to discovering his first Aspect."
Silva's face quickly morphed to match his Uncle's, "It's no wonder he's considered to be one of the top geniuses in the Empire."
"And yet you still favor the path that has you become a direct source of opposition, at least in his eyes," Fal commented, clearly seeking some insight into Silva's thoughts.
"It is not that I favor such a path," Silva stated with a calm demeanor, "It is simply the only path I can take; anything else would be a distraction and a deviation."
Fal stared at his nephew for a long moment, "I'm afraid that I don't understand your sentiment. This is not something you can simply ignore, Silva. You need to think carefully about your approach."
"No, I do not," Silva replied, with an unshakable resolve, as he met his Uncle's gaze, "My path is one of growth, to reach the very limits of my potential and flourish. That is my only concern."
"And what if that growth leads you into conflict, one that may endanger your life?" Fal asked, his concern mounting.
"I have no delusions about the dangers I will face," Silva answered, his voice still steady and unwavering, "And death is only a natural conclusion; the risk of it is not something I see necessary to avoid."
Fal searched Silva's eyes for any trace of conflict, but found none. His nephew was speaking the truth, death had seemingly lost all of its importance in his eyes, "Is death truly that easy for you to accept? And if it is, do you even have a desire to live? Do you believe life has value?"
Fal's words resonated in Silva's ears with a weight that pressed against his sensibilities and ideology, testing to see if there was any substance that could hold his assertions firm, "Of course I have a desire to live, because to live is to grow, and the ability to do so is inherently valuable. If my life is threatened, I will fight to the bitter end, not to defy death but as an act of embracing life."
"But how can you live without rejecting death?" Fal pressed, hoping to push this absurd folly from his nephew's mind
Despite Fal's hostility, a tranquil smile graced Silva's lips as he felt the storm within his psyche quiet as he professed his truth, "True death is not the absence of life, but the scarcity of growth. What you believe to be death is merely a transformation where one surrenders their potential to the will of the heavens so it may be utilized in another form. Death is not the end, it is only another beginning."
For the first time in a long time, Fal found himself speechless. Silva's words had been spoken with more than mere conviction; it was absolute belief, an unshakable universal truth.
Setting down his chopsticks, Silva slowly stood up before bowing to Fal, "Thank you for the meal, Uncle. I will now retire for the day."
Fal still said nothing, and Silva took this for dismissal, promptly turned around, and left.
For a long moment, Fal didn't so much move as become a living statue as he tried to grapple with what Silva had accomplished, 'Had there been any will behind his statement…I can't imagine the kind of entity that would have been born.'