Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Violence is the Last Resort
"How dare you?!"
The elders cried out in shock.
Before they could react further, Babel kicked over the table in front of her. Although she had been using magical artifacts lately, her primary skill set was far from that of a spellcaster. To be precise, apart from the Seven Gods, those who harnessed elemental powers couldn't be truly called mages. They never directly interacted with the elements but relied entirely on their Vision to channel them.
Members of the Eremites, who fought with weapons containing cursed jinn, were no different. Babel's physical strength was far superior to that of these pampered elders. The voluptuous woman leapt forward, delivering a powerful knee strike to an unfortunate elder's neck. The sound of bones snapping echoed as his head hung at a grotesque angle, eyes bulging in a gruesome death.
After dealing with one, Babel drew a knife from her waist and held another elder hostage. "Quickly, Rama, subdue those two..."
In the earlier arguments, she had identified who must die and who could be won over. Strictly speaking, Babel wanted them all dead. Nine elders were too many; one elder could easily steer the tribe's fate and future. However, given the current circumstances, she allowed some to live.
But Rama didn't move. Like the rest of the elders, he stared at Babel's sudden outburst.
The future matriarch showed no embarrassment. She efficiently slit the throat of another elder, ending his life.
"What do you mean by this?" one elder demanded.
"Come on, Matriarch." Rama extended his hand. "Hand over the knife."
"Do you want to take responsibility for this, or are you after my power?" Babel's eyes narrowed. The knife had already claimed a life, making its holder the murderer. What? This was Babel's doing? You must be mistaken. Typically, we should stay away from murder weapons as they symbolize guilt and responsibility. But this situation was different.
"Killing is the worst choice," Rama stood up, "We guide the masses with morality and law, with violence as our last resort."
"The elders taught us to respect them. They established the tribe's laws, upheld by strict punishments to maintain order."
"What are you trying to say?" Babel frowned. "You started this, Rama."
"Yes, yes, no rush, Matriarch."
Rama spoke calmly, "You, I, we all know the laws favor those who create them, and then the majority benefits."
The latter must be a group, not individuals, as the misfortunes of a few don't impact the overall stability of rules.
"So the elders preach adherence to their rules."
"As a common tribesman, why should I follow their rules?"
Elder Nayram provided an answer, "Not because you consider yourself part of the masses, but because you aspire to be an elder."
"You uphold not just the elders' interests but your future position as an elder."
She and Babel were both friends and enemies. The matriarchal system dictated that if one person had to sit in that position, figures like Elder Masseira were impossible candidates. Since they were impossible, Nayram and Babel, who had the chance, became their enemies.
With a shared enemy, they became friends. Since ultimate benefits couldn't be shared, they turned into enemies.
"Exactly," Rama clapped and smiled, "I will become an elder one day."
"But if I seize power through violence, I will worry when I grow old and weak if someone will repeat my actions on me."
"I'll be frightened, terrified, but ultimately, I'll be old, frail, a mere shadow of my former self."
"Aside from experience—oh, we call it 'wisdom' or 'insight'—I will have no more value."
"I will be very scared."
He stood up and took the knife from Babel.
This knife symbolized tyrannical power; Rama wouldn't let anyone else wield it.
Rama knelt and gently closed the eyes of the two slain elders. His actions were tender, his expression mournful.
"What has been will be again."
"What has been done will be done again."
"If I use violence to seize power, in the future, someone will take everything from me in my weakness the same way."
"They will kill me, take my place, and enjoy what I should have enjoyed."
"Such a future terrifies me."
He stood up, his face calm once more. "So what should I do?"
"So I teach the next generation honor and reason, using law and morality to bind all young people."
"I tell them they must respect the elders because their lives are shaped by the elders' wise decisions."
"I tell them aging is inevitable, and as they care for the elderly today, the young will care for them in the future."
"In this way, the tribe passes on orderly, everyone happily concludes life, without fearing someone will seize power unlawfully."
Because such actions are unjust, against the rules. These actions can be taken but are often very difficult.
"But today, Elder Babel has done just that."
Rama's tone carried regret, "You killed an elder by force to seize their power."
"You've opened a dark chapter in desert history, revealing that power must be taken by violence, proving morality and law are illusions."
"This is a grave mistake, Mother."
Even the desert has laws and rules; its chaos is for outsiders, but internally, the rules are strict. These rules undoubtedly maintain the elders' and the tribe's overall interests. But today, the rules were utterly shattered.
The remaining elders raised their eyebrows. The situation was overwhelming.
Rama's revealed strength made it clear that any dissent had to wait until after leaving the tent. Expressing discontent now was akin to wishing for eternal rest.
However, it seemed these two had internal conflicts even before their success?
Babel wasn't worried; she knew this wasn't Rama's stance. He might promote morality and law, but not right after killing an elder.