5 The Wastrel

Everyone wondered what Dao the unruly patriarch's son would unlock. The clan had doted on him from birth, being a member of the first lineage and the son of the current patriarch. If he got a useful Dao, he would receive a substantial amount of resource allocation from the clan.

"It's your turn now James, come here and put your hand on the pedestal," said First Viscount Vollmus.

I put my hand on the pedestal just like the devils before me. I had prepared my entire life for this moment. I had visualized many times how I would attempt to break through to become a Devil Esquire. I attempted to feel for a Dao just like my mother taught me.

Time slowly ticked by as fel trickled through my veins. I continued to circulate with the Mercurial Stone as my mother instructed me with much difficulty. The fel energies were slow to budge.

I still hadn't felt a single Dao! It seemed the fel was not even compatible with me. I struggled desperately to absorb it into my veins.

I felt all eyes were on me as I was failing miserably at the fel awakening ceremony. All my hopes and efforts would go to waste, as I became a laughingstock to the clan. Just as I was about to give up I finally felt the fel energies move faster.

If before they were thin mists barely answering my call now they were a raging river. The fel energies flooded my entire circulatory system! So much power!

I had never felt such energies before! A greyish-white light emitted from my body as I floated in the air, my body immersed in the greyish-white light.

I felt a tight connection to this greyish-white Dao; I felt it was perfect for me. An even stronger grey-ish white light began emitted from my eyes as I grasped onto the Dao.

The powerful energies flooded out of the stone for what seemed like an endless time, but it was only a moment in actuality. I felt I could get even closer to this greyish-white Dao if I allowed the fel to concentrate fully into my eyes.

I flooded the raging fel into my eyes, feeling closer and closer to that greyish-white Dao. It somehow felt right!

After passing the last hurdle absorbing the energies I could hold on no longer! Too much power!

A strong greyish-white light was emitting from my eyes as I floated, looking to the ceiling embracing the fel.

I soon knew what Dao I had unlocked, it was Soul Dao.

My heart dropped. All this power I felt from this grey-ish white Dao and its only Soul Dao? Soul Dao is useless to devils, this poor young noble will be trash!

I noticed my vision overflowing with information as my eyes flooded with the fel. I absorbed the last of the energies I could bear before I slipped into unconsciousness.

Gasps filled the air.

"Quickly an apothecary see to his wounds!" said First Viscount Vollmus as he rushed to his grandson's side.

"What a wastrel. So many resources used but only unlocking trash," said First Knight Allmar, Mikael's father.

"What a trash Dao. It would waste all those resources prepared for him. I vote we redistribute them to Mikael."

It was a perfect time to fish for benefits for his son!

"Speaking of benefits at a time like this? You, two shameful sons, go get an apothecary!" said First Viscount Vollmus as his face filled with anger.

"You two know better, especially in front of the other lineages! A member of my first lineage has been injured. First, we must see to his wounds."

"It seems the first lineage is having internal issues. My fifth lineage doesn't mind running the clan while you sort those out big brother," said Fifth Viscount Rol'goth as he flexed his muscles.

"Little brother, nows not the time for jokes," said First Viscount Vollmus as he brought out his high-Viscount aura.

Fifth Viscount Rol'goth took a step back.

"I don't believe so. The patriarch couldn't even make it to this fel awakening ceremony. That's bringing shame to the clan," said Fifth Viscount Rol��goth.

"We will speak about this in the next elders council big brother. See about your descendant."

It was in his best interest to fight his big brother with words not fists since he was only a mid-Viscount.

The Hudson devil clan united against outsiders. There still were internal struggles. As was the life of devils. Resources freely distributed were scarce.

Everyone wanted the Hudson clan to grow stronger, but there was an enormous difference in who was growing in strength within a powerful Hudson clan.

The Devil Ancestor allowed and encouraged infighting for benefits as long as it did not break the rules of the clan. He wanted his descendants to be ready to face the cruelty of the Abyss.

If they couldn't even fight for benefits inside the family, how could they hope to fight for benefits from other powers?

~~~

Why were the Elders were so disappointed at James unlocking Soul Dao? Souls seem mystical and exceptional, right? For races like humans, elves, and dwarfs, that may be true. Soul would be a great and unique Dao for them to practice.

You must remember though, our story is about a clan of devils! Elves lived in the forest and had a natural connection with Nature Daos. Mermaids lived in the sea and had a natural connection with Sea Daos.

Well, Devils lived in the Abyss and had a natural connection with Soul Daos! Every devil dealt with tempting mortal souls, to have the Dao of Souls unlocked as a devil would be like having a Dao of Swimming as a fish.

It was utterly useless to a devil! They naturally understood souls well. The clan had no practical usage to have a devil that could deal with souls a wee bit better!

Fate is not kind to our poor devil hero.