After my little opening monologue, there was quite a bit of discussion about what to do in certain situations where I’ll be unavailable due to advancing my own cultivation.

  My answers were pretty simple.

  Don’t go around making unnecessary trouble if possible, but not to the point of shying away from every single group or person in existence. We can’t please everyone, and it could be something as simple as trying to claim a flower for a request at that guild. If someone else was hunting that same flower should we back off out of fear?

  No.

  That would be stupid.

  Anyway, eventually the discussions came to an end and everyone dispersed to handle their respective duties. Now there was only one more thing I had to do before entering closed door cultivation.

  A few moments later, I was setting inside my abode with Sendoira.

  “I’m not sure how long this will take, but there’s a good chance it could be anywhere from a few weeks, to even a few years. The clan will ensure you’re taken care of during that time though.”

  “I didn’t doubt they would. Though I’m more concerned about you. I understand the importance you place on the members of your clan, is it wise to bring the entirety of the clan down on an enemy for every slight you face?”

  Perhaps if it was some random person asking me this, I would’ve already introduced them to the Eternal Flame…well not really, but I wouldn’t have given a shit about what they had to say.

  Sendoira on the other hand was different.

  I know she’s asking from a good place and instead of turning her away outright, I entertained the conversation.

  “Why not? If one of us was touched without reason then the enemy deserves to meet the Eternal Flame.”

  “I don’t disagree. Enemies should be handled at the first opportunity and without mercy. This is something in various ways throughout my life thus far. But, you are special Lord Raizen.”

  She smiled slightly as she said Lord, knowing there was no need for her to do that any longer.

  “You are the leader of a mighty clan of thousands of warriors. A clan you have plans to grow into a true hegemon of power in the years to come. It is likely that your clan won’t just number in the thousands, but perhaps the tens of thousands. That is no small sum.

  “If you were travel with the entire clan for each attack on a member, you would never be able to rest.”

  Hm…

  “Are you suggesting I ignore things happening to the members of the clan?”

  Honestly I know that isn’t what she is suggesting, but its not wrong to get clarification. Especially since I think she will naturally add on to that thought.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Which she did.

  “That is not what I meant. Instead, I believe you should allow for the members of your clan to take care of themselves. They are all capable warriors, and from what I have been able to observe, they all seek your attention and approval.

  “There is not shortage of delegation within how your clan functions, but I believe they would also appreciate handling attacks on the clan. You likely would prefer to lead from the front, and should wars reach your ears, then it is your right to carry the clan through it.

  “But if a member is out carrying out their duties and faces an attack, allow for the clan to respond on their own. If the Patriarch where to make an appearance at every occasion, then such a title would lose the power it carries.

  “When word of the Patriarch entering the battlefield reaches the ears of your enemies, there should be an emotional reaction. Not a predetermined plan because every force on this planet is aware of you showing up for any infraction on the members of your clan.

  “Your name should carry weight befitting of your station.

  “Let them handle themselves, and if for some reason it exceeds their level, that is your moment to showcase the power of the Patriarch.”

  Well.

  When she puts it like that, its hard not to be convinced that her thought process is more correct than mine.

  An example of what she discussed quite literally happened when I arrived at that City.

  Both the little rat’s father and the king of that kingdom only arrived after I summoned the Eternal Flame to the city. Where were they when Lidaz arrived? Or after I covered the area in Eternal Flames?

  Heh.

  The prestige of the title of Patriarch huh?

  Well I can’t really say I care too much about that, but I do think there is value in allowing the clan to handle things before I make an appearance. Especially since I know for a fact that each and every one of them would appreciate me doing so.

  Well, I’ll never stop doing what I want and if this clan reached 100 thousand in number and I feel like calling every single one of them to arms and moving against 5 people because they did something they shouldn’t have then I’ll do it.

  But…going forward I suppose she’s right even just a little bit.

  What’s the point of having the existence of the Black Dawn if I don’t allow them to carry out their purpose.

  And they are only the first of hopefully a few Conflagrations. If there are two or three of them, I cant just have them sitting on their ass every time something pops up. Or worse yet, do all the work myself and just have them watching.

  I didn’t need to Sendoira to tell me that they would prefer to be given more work to do.

  They’ve all let me know that through Lirian and Frian many times.

  Fine.

  “Alright, you win. I’ll do better.”

  A smile graced her face for a moment then thee conversation shifted to other things.

  “What you will do in the meantime?”

  “I suppose I will train, whilst continuing to find ways of progression for my race. I don’t think I’m quite ready to move forward just yet, but it is important that I am prepared when the time comes. It wouldn’t do well to lag too far behind you.”

  “Just bring it up with Frian or Lirian, they will ensure the clan uses all available resources to help you find a solution. I’m sure we can make something work on this vast planet let alone the rest of the Universe.”

  Anyway, the conversation didn’t last much longer than that, and I was soon by myself.

  Not wasting any time I made my way to the mediation room, where I was met with nothing but silence the second I closed the door behind me. I could neither hear or sense anything happening outside of this room, and it would ensure that I could focus entirely on breaking through.

  Alright no time like the present lets do it.

  I gently took out the Soul Fissure plant I got back in that water empire. It had a bluish stem, and a bud that reminded me of a lily, with exception that it was giving off mist and I could almost hear something akin to a song without words coming from the bud itself.

  It had not yet bloomed of course, but apparently it would lose all the effects I needed it to portray if it was allowed to do so.

  Looking at it only for a moment, I put the whole thing in my mouth and swallowed without chewing.

  That wasn’t a comfortable feeling, but it is done.

  The effects could be felt almost immediately.