3 The Ligh

"It cost the clan a lot to hold this Fel Awakening Ceremonies. Take heed young ones, not every young devil is fortunate enough to take part in one," said First Viscount Vollmus.

"Those commoners must work hard to step into the Esquire realm! Where you get to step into it with a simple ceremony paid for by your elders."

"That's just the way of the Abyss grandpa, there is no place for the weak. Noble devils rightfully lord over the commoners!" I said.

"James have a bit of decency, this ceremony is important," said Mikael.

"And my words are not?" I said, eying Mikael with daggers.

All the devilish youths gathered around the meeting hall, listened intently to First Viscount Vollmus. They all wished I would shut up and let First Viscount finish his speech! But who are they to question this young noble devil?

I was always the center of attention as I was the son of the Hudson clan patriarch. A leading figure of the younger generation. A veritable paragon of knowledge. It was my duty to enlighten the masses!

My parents had given me much knowledge and preparation for this day. I had trained since youth slowly acclimating myself to the fel energies of the Abyss.

I had even reached the peak of mortal devilry. Noble devils didn't consider mortal devilry a real devilry realm. It was too weak, having no connection to a Dao!

Only by becoming a Devil Esquire would I have any standing in the Abyss. My parents had assured me that if I could connect with a useful Dao, a bright future in the clan laid before me.

I was nervous, but my blood was boiling. I hoped to make my parents and the Hudson clan proud!

"We hope to have more and more pillars to our clan. You all know our clan is still young so work hard," said First Viscount Vollmus finally getting back to his speech.

'Grandpa will keep droning on. Telling us stuff we don't even need to even know.' I thought.

"We, the noble devils, are the upper echelon of the Xertzul Abyss. The Xertzul Abyss is a place where the law of the jungle prevails, however, noble devils are the chief enforcers of the law of the jungle! Only noble devils or noble devil backed organizations can own land," said First Viscount Vollmus.

"My father Kogthoz, Devil Ancestor, worked tirelessly for the Rez'gal Empire for us to have this large fief. You must not disappoint him, young ones."

Our first lineage was the ruling lineage of the clan. My father, Samuel, was the current patriarch. The highest strength of the clan was our great Devil Ancestor at the Count level.

As devils, we were addressed by our lineage and devil title within the clan. With so many members inside our devil clan, this was the easiest way to know a devil's standing in the clan.

An example would be Fifth Viscount Targmonik. He was a talented descendant of the fifth lineage, the same generation as my father.

What mattered most was a devil's strength in devilry.

I hoped to find my place in the Hudson clan. All the way at the top! I was a shoo-in to become the next patriarch, like my father and his father before him.

"Mikael you are the oldest and best prepared for this Fel Awakening Ceremony. You go up first so the younger ones have an excellent example of what they should do," said First Viscount Vollmus.

Mikael was my number one bully within the Hudson Clan. There was no peace when we met. We were like fire and water. Mikael was older than me and saw himself as a big brother figure. Who needs a big brother? This young noble struts around freely.

Neither of us practiced devilry yet, and I am smaller and weaker. I have no choice to be the target of various noogies, wet willies, and many other youthful pranks. One day I will no longer suffer from such oppression!

One day Mikael will respectfully address me as 'patriarch'. Mikael always gave me lengthy speeches on why what I was doing was wrong and how I should better myself. No one needs your speeches, grandpa!

~~~

James was mischievous, always finding trouble for himself. Mikael bullied his younger cousin James to make sure he stayed on the right path, so they always butt heads.

Mikael was an outstanding example of someone who waited for the second opportunity for the ceremony. He had practiced for this day, ensuring he walked a useful Dao.

Mikael touched the stone on the pedestal in the middle of the hall, then winced as the chaotic fel energies coursed through his veins. The fel was relentless, tearing through his body and reforging his veins to take their gift.

It emitted a bright white light from Mikael as he fought to contain the violent fel energies and connected with a Dao. 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 help connect these devils with a Dao. Only the most talented and well-prepared devils could use this ceremony to connect with a preferable Dao.

Devils required a few months of acclamation after the ceremony to stabilize their devilry after such a chaotic process. Then they would embark on various tasks for the clan.

"That's the Light Dao, and he even broke through to the Esquire Realm. His devilry is stable! The Abyss wants our Hudson clan to rise! Such a great devil descendant," said Third Baron Aro'math.

The clan elders were ecstatic. The Light was a strong Dao that the Hudson Clan desperately needed. There was no doubt Mikael would become another pillar of the family given enough time to practice his devilry.

'No, why did the prick get such a good Dao? This young noble's days will become more difficult.' I thought

Light Dao was not rare, but it was one of the best-known Daos one could awaken with healing properties. Good apothecaries were always in demand. 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 could awaken a useful Dao was a great boon to the Hudson clan!