Devil's Rise 7 The Escape

James spent the next few days diligently practicing the [Flint u0026 Steel Art]. His Devil qi grew stronger from the repet.i.tion and he gained a glimpse at Fire Dao. He felt like if he had some fel shards to absorb he could have much more Devil qi to temper daily. I must swindle my father out of some resources! Then no one can stop me!

His vision was still very grainy and the distance he could see had not improved. His progress was not as quick as he would hope. To improve his vision would take much more time and effort than he had antic.i.p.ated. If I want to see beauties again I will actually have to practice devilry!

His meager improvements only solidified his foundation at the intial Esquire realm. This Devil Art seemed to excel at tempering qi, it was the perfect thing to solidify his foundations but it could not improve his devilry fast since he did not have any fel shards to absorb.

James played the waiting game tempering his qi daily. He told the servants attending to him that he was still recovering from the shock of the incident, so his Devil Ancestor should not be alarmed at his slow progress. You say this young master slowly recovered from qi-deviation, then this young master will slowly recover!

It was about two weeks after James had began tempering his qi when he finally found his chance to escape. The Devil Ancestor had to deal with the spies found in the clan personally so he heading out from the mansion. James was ready, he had ran it through his head millions of times how he would make it out of the mansion. He only had to head out to the foyer and slip through the back door.

James hopes were dashed when he slowly crept into the hallway. He could not tell which direction was which. His vision only allowing him to see around a foot in front of him. Legally blind, James fumbled his way out of the mansion knocking over many things in his wake.

The servants ignored James and cleaned up the mess he had made. It was not their job to question the actions of n.o.ble devils. Crossing a n.o.ble devil as a servant was seeking death. The experienced servants dutifully looked the other way returning the mansion to pristine condition.

Once James had made his way out of the mansion he began formulating the rest of his plan. James wasn't the best at foresight, his internal plans only got as far as making it out of the mansion. He was a rambunctious youth with a goal.

The the ignorant are fearless. Fumbling his way through the entire Hudson City would be impossible with his vision. He would have to put on his n.o.ble young master facade to make it out of this situation. He noticed an object moving quickly in front of him on the road and flagged it down.

"Stop right there! Your carriage is needed by the Hudson clan!" yelled James.

The carriage driver saw a devil with wraps around his eyes waving him down. He stopped his carriage abruptly. Anything concerning local ruling n.o.ble clan had to be given due attention by commoners like him.

"n.o.ble devil how may this humble farmer's carriage be of service?" said the farmer. The farmer was quick witted. To survive as a commoner in the Xertzul Abyss took common sense.

"Why have you not escorted me inside the carriage yet. Do you not respect the Hudson clan?" replied James. He had to make sure to keep his air of n.o.ble ent.i.tlement high.

The farmer was dumbfounded. Clearly he was hauling manure on this carriage. Did this young n.o.ble devil have some kind of p.o.o.p fetish? He knew n.o.ble devils were weird but he didn't think they would just go around rolling in p.o.o.p.

"n.o.ble devil are you sure you want to enter my carriage?"

"Yes, quickly escort me to the Hudson clan patriarch's hall! I have important business to attend to."

"I'm just confirming for the last time you want me to help you into this carriage in front of you right?"

"Are you hard of hearing farmer? Escort me into the carriage immediately then take me to the patriarch's hall! This young master does not have the time to spare and chat with the likes of you!"

"Yes sir, young master! My names Kyle and I'll be sure to fulfill young masters needs."

"Good, if you do your job well I might have a position for you farmer."

James found himself escorted by the farmer inside the carriage. After sitting in the carriage his face quickly changed several shades from red to green to blue. He was furious, steam started to rise from his head.

"You sat this young master next to s.h.i.+t!" screamed James.

Kyle was at a loss. I clearly asked you several times did you want to be put in the carriage, it was you who told me to do it!

"Yes, I followed your orders to the letter young n.o.ble." replied Kyle like a loyal lackey.

"Perfect take me to the patriarch's hall" James accepted his fate. s.h.i.+t happens. He had s.h.i.+t to do. s.h.i.+t was going down. He couldn't wait around for s.h.i.+t. The carriage made its way quickly through town towards the Patriarchs Hall.

"Is that James, didn't he suffer from qi-deviation?"

"Yeah, but whys he covered in s.h.i.+t?"

"It must be some new age medical technique to help him recover from qi-deviation."

"That must be it, I think I heard about this one. I think its called a s.h.i.+tty Art it's the perfect Devil Art for trash."

James ignored the peanut gallery, he had important business to handle. He exited the carriage telling the farmer he was Devil Esquire James and if he had any issues to come see him. Not even giving the farmer a second glace James walked into the Patriarchs Hall and navigated desk of his father's personal a.s.sistant. He had made this walk many times.

"I need to see my father immediately!"

"He will be able to see you in about 15 minutes." replied the a.s.sistant after he glanced over the stinky James with a clear look of disappointment. Everyone in the Hudson Estate knows you are trash you don't have to go around smelling like it.

"Come into my office James." said a familiar voice. His father had been worried about his son, why would he make him wait. He immediately dropped what he was doing when he heard him outside.

"Son, It's been weeks since I've seen you why are you covered in manure and whats with the wraps around your eyes. How has your recovery been with Devil Ancestor?" questioned Samuel, he was clearly a concerned father.

"It has been awful father! You must seek justice for me! Devil Ancestor is tyrannical making me do all kinds of Strange Arts to recover. He refuses to even give me any fel shards saying trash doesn't need resources! He is out of touch, your son has suffered."

"I could only slip away today while he was preoccupied risking life and limb traveling across the Hudson clan with my lack of vision." James quickly inverted black to white painting his Devil Ancestor as some kind of heartless old foggy. To swindle his father properly he had to evoke sympathy for his plight.

"Your son can not see at all, the clan clearly plans to take away my resource allocation because of my disability and Soul Dao. I will need my own income stream to live a comfortable life father! Please deed me my own property before the elders casting me out of the clan. That way your son can have hope. Wouldn't mom want me to have hope father?" James laid it on thick, even using his mothers possible stance against his father. His father definitely would not go against his mothers wishes.

"Son, don't worry too much about internal clan struggles your father will handle them. My son would never be cast out of the clan. I can give you an unused property of mine though. It lays within the slums of the city, no one will complain about you owning it."

"There are many different departments in our Hudson clan. You'll always have a place here. Just because you can't see right now doesn't mean your vision won't improve later. Use this setback as motivation to work harder, only then can you make our Hudson clan proud."

Samuel handed the deed to the property and a bag full of low grade fel shards to James.

"Thanks father I'm going to recover quickly. I definitely won't let down our clan Ancestors."

Samuel didn't have the face to look at his shameless spoiled son anymore. Clearly it was you who is letting down Devil Ancestor by coming to see me now James. I can easily see through your simple tricks, but your mother would definitely be offended if I didn't do anything to help you in your difficult time.

"First clean up and visit your mother before you return to Devil Ancestor to complete your recovery. She hasn't saw you in weeks and is worried sick about you."

"Father you know distance makes the heart grow fonder." replied James as he attempted to sneak away.

"Clean up James then take him to my home." Samuel ordered to his attendants.