Mikael was James' number one bully within the Hudson Clan. There was never a day of peace in the family when they met. Mikael was a little bit older than James so he saw himself as the big bro. James was mischievious always finding trouble for himself. Mikael relentlessly bullied his younger cousin James trying to make sure he stayed on the right path, so they always b.u.t.t heads.
Neither of them practiced devilry yet and James was simply smaller and weaker. He had no choice to be the target of various noggies, wet w.i.l.l.i.e.s, and many other youthful pranks. James would then be given long speechs on why what he was doing was wrong and how he should better himself.
Mikael was a good example of someone who waited for the second opportunity for the ceremony to be offered. He had practiced diligently for this day ensuring he would walk down a useful Dao. Mikael touched the stone on the pedestal in the middle of the hall then winced as the the chaotic fel energies coursed through his veins.
The fel was relentless tearing through his body and reforging his veins to be able to take their gift. A bright white light began to be emitted from Mikael as he fought to contain the violent fel energies and connected with a Dao. Swiftly Mikael contained the fel energies breaking through the bonds of mortality to become an Esquire in one fell swoop!
The ceremony was a guide, the fel energies would a.s.sist in connecting these devils with a Dao. Only the most talented and well prepared devils could use this ceremony to connect with a preferable Dao. Devils would require a few months of acclamation after the ceremony to stabilize their devilry after such a chaotic process. Only then would they become true Devil Esquires, embarking on various tasks for the clan.
"That's the Light Dao and he even cleanly broke through to the Esquire Realm. His devilry seems completely stable! The Abyss wants our Hudson Devil Clan to rise! Such a great devil descendant." Remarked Third Baron Aro'math.
The clan elders were ecstatic, light was a strong Dao that was heavily needed by the Hudson Clan. There was no doubt Mikael would become another pillar of the family given enough time to practice his devilry.
The Hudson clan was a upstart n.o.ble clan with very weak foundations. The devil clan only spanned 4 generations so there weren't many blood descendants with professions covering all bases, unlike what you would find in a powerful devil clan. Many crucial services that were useful to the Clan had to be outsourced to contracted help.
Contracted help would have to be paid with clan resources, growing stronger in their craft on Hudson clans dime. This was much less preferable to paying your descendants to do tasks and them improving themselves strengthening the clan as a whole.
Light Dao was not exceedingly rare but it was one of the best known Daos one could awaken with healing properties. Good apothecaries were always highly sought out. Having a blood descendant at the forefront of this clan division would give the clan much more peace of mind when coming back from a hard battle. Every blood descendant that was able to awaken a useful Dao was a great boon to the Hudson clan!
Outside the gathering hall five different figures exited the shadows and began to move swiftly in different directions after seeing the white light appear within the fel awakening ceremony. These shadows were reconnaissance spies sent to gather intelligence on the Hudson clan awakening. A Light Dao pract.i.tioner appearing in the Hudson clan definitely had to be reported to their superiors!
As the spies attempted to swiftly leave with their newly found prime information, they suddenly found a great weight descending on themselves. Their bodies grew heavier and heavier gradually slowing their movements to a halt.
"Not good." screamed one of the spies as he struggled fruitlessly, quickly finding himself glued to the ground unable to move a single muscle.
"Looks like the current patriarch has been too soft when dealing with external affairs. I'll have to reprimand that unfilial grandson of mine. To think five different powers would have the gall to send reconnaissance spies to gather information at my Hudson Estate. If the outside of the house is dirty then the inside could not be squeaky clean." said a burly devil who was directing a suffocating aura over the five spies. His aura was heavy as a mountain easily trampling the spies underfoot.
"Hmph Hmph, They must think the Hudson Estate is a place they can come and go as they please." said a dark cloaked man who appeared from the shadows with twin sabers at his waist.
"Johnson interrogate these ants and figure out what powers they represent and demand some compensation for sullying my dignity. Tell them if I'm not satisfied with their compensation I might have to stretch my legs a bit. I just got out of closed door devilry and I'm feeling quite strong."
"I don't mind roughing up a few Ancestor Level characters to insure my Hudson clan has a bit of face while moving out and about in around the Wesser Forest." said the burly devil br.i.m.m.i.n.g with killing intent.
Johnson's back drenched with cold sweat. The last time the burly devil stretched his legs he was busy cleaning up the mess for months. Several small clans and sects were at wits end, not even chicken or dog was spared from the burly devils iron hammer. That was over 25 years ago but the dark cloaked man still remembered it brightly.
"Have [Mountain Shadow] handle the situation, if you need any more a.s.sistance ask that unfilial grandson of mine for a few good men." said the burly devil with a hint of disappointment. The current patriarch of the Hudson clan was very good with handling clan matters with a bureaucratic approach, following the clan rules to the letter.
However he was a bureaucratic devil, nothing like the blood and iron approach of the burly devil. [Mountain Shadow] handled the top level situations for the Hudson clan. [Mountain Shadow] was the oldest and strongest force connected to the Hudson clan. The organization of the Devil Ancestor, it had more Viscount level combatants in its ranks than Hudson House had Viscount level descendants.
"Hopefully we get a few more good talents this generation. I look forward to my descendants giving me a pleasant surprise." remarked the burly devil with a smile as he sauntered outside the hall without a care in the world for how the spies would be handled as he had absolute trust in Johnson. Johnson had been with him through thick in thin, from his humble beginnings.
Within the clan meeting hall most were unaware of the spy operation that had been sabotaged by swift actions of [Mountain Shadow] outside. A few of the stronger elders noticed, but they were unconcerned. [Mountain Shadow] was in charge of security and handled disciplinary affairs inside the Hudson Estate. [Mountain Shadow] was wholly independent of the Hudson clan, and they answered only to the orders of the Devil Ancestor.
Even the Viscounts of the Hudson clan would have to give face to members of [Mountain Shadow]. Not only did they have much power and authority but they also were the strongest single group of cultivators residing on the Hudson Estate. All commoners, regardless of race, living on the Hudson Estate hoped to one day join [Mountain Shadow]. It would change their destiny to join such a strong organization.
If the sky falls they knew the Devil Ancestor would always be there to hold it up. Strictly speaking the "Devil Ancestor" was still very young for a "Devil Ancestor" seeing as the Hudson clan only spanned four generations. The Hudson clan was propagated by the Devil Ancestors five sons.
He saw it as his duty to maintain a strong force to keep his little descendants protected so his devil clan could have the chance to thrive. The Devil Ancestors lifetime goal was to create a Devil Empire that could stand the test of time in the Xertzul Abyss. Even if he wasn't there to shield the clan from the wind and the rain.
Mikael looked at James with a smirk and a hint of mockery. "You'll always be a little fella." laughed Mikael teasing his younger cousin. Mikael was proud of himself, he knew his road in the Light Dao would be smooth sailing. The Clan would allocate many resources to him to ensure he grew into a strong pillar for the clan. His place within the clans upper echelon was a.s.sured.
"Next up Susie." said the First Viscount with uncontrollable delight on his face. Now that the elders knew they had a new Light Dao pract.i.tioner in the family nothing could dampen the mood.
A silver light descended as Susie drew in the fel energies. Susie was James' younger sister, she was a handful for James to deal with to say the least. Susie was only 10 years old, but her talent was matchless already fully prepared for the awakening ceremony as soon as she was able to attempt it.
"I want her as my apprentice." Lady Talia projected to the Devil Ancestor. Lady Talia was a member of [Mountain Shadow] who practiced Wind Dao like little Susie. Susie would be the perfect person for her to pa.s.s on her teachings. All the descendent's went up one buy one with only James remaining.
