"When the guildpact vanished, there was chaos..." Ral Zarek said, attempting to teach his apprentice- his son- yet again what it meant to be Izzet. And yet again he sighed as the boy was obviously asleep underneath his goggles. To which Ral yet again was forced to zap his son.
With a start Faustian woke up and Ral continued with a smirk. "When the Guildpact vanished there was chaos. The Cult of Radkos and House Dimir took over in an unanticipated alliance, with the Dimir and Radkos replacing the Azorius Senate and Boros Legion. The Orzhov Syndicate were the next to go but by this point our Parun, Niv-Mizzet, took notice and formed his own tenative alliance with the Gruul as well as the Simic Combine and Orzhov. But even as our new survivor's guild was being formed the Golgari Swarm eradicated the Selesnya Conclave and..."
Ral saw Faustian had fallen asleep again. With a powerful 'Zap!!!' Faustian awoke.
"...and the Golgari joined the cabal," Faustian said. "And then we went to war. We have been over this before.. "
Ral snorted. "Then you have obviously learned nothing. Hence why we are repeating this lesson."
Faustian groaned. "What is the point...?"
"The point is we are still at war and your arrogance will either be the death of yourself- which as your father I am trying to prevent- myself, which as a sentient being I do not particularly find appealing, or losing us the war, which as Interim Guildleader is counterproductive. You inherited my genius. Pity you inherited none of my subtlety."
Faustian opened his mouth to say somerhing but Ral cut off his sons' retort. "You are destined for great things. But death is also counterproductive to that goal. My job as a father and mentor is to teach you how to be the best you can be in the most efficient way possible..."