14 The Escape

I spent the next few days diligently practicing the [Flint & Steel Art]. My Devil qi grew stronger from the repetition and I had gained a glimpse at the Fire Dao. If I had some fel shards to absorb, I could have much more Devil qi to temper daily. I must swindle my father out of some resources!

Then no one can stop me!

My vision was still very grainy and the distance I could see had not improved. My progress was not as quick as I had hoped. To improve my vision would take much more time and effort than I had expected. If I want to see beauties again, I will have to practice devilry!

My meager improvements only solidified my foundation in the low-Esquire realm. This Devil Art seemed to excel at tempering qi. It was the perfect thing to solidify my foundations, but it could not improve my devilry fast since I did not have any fel shards to absorb.

For the next week, I played the waiting game, tempering my qi secretly daily. I told the servants attending me that they should not alarm the Devil Ancestor of my slow progress.

You say this young noble is slowly recovered from qi-deviation, then this young noble will slowly recover!

It was about two weeks after I began tempering my qi when I finally found my chance to escape!

My Devil Ancestor had to deal with the spies found in the clan personally, so he had headed out from the mansion.

I was ready; I had run it through my head millions of times how I would make it out of the mansion. I only had to head out to the foyer and slip through the back door.

My hopes were dashed when I slowly crept into the hallway. I could not tell which direction was which!

My vision only allowed me to see around a foot in front of me.

Legally blind, I fumbled my way out of the mansion, knocking over many things in my wake. Hopefully, I didn't break anything expensive. I quickly put those thoughts to the back of my head though. I was finally free!

The servants ignored me and cleaned up the mess I had made. It was not their job to question the actions of this young noble. Crossing a noble devil as a servant was seeking death!

The experienced servants dutifully looked the other way, returning the mansion to pristine condition.

Once I had made my way out of the mansion, I began planning out the rest of my devious scheme. I didn't map this out so well. My plan only got as far as making it outside the mansion. But I was a rambunctious youth with a goal. Nothing will stop me from swindling poor father.

I was fearless in my quest for fel shards. Fumbling my way through the entire Hudson City would be impossible with my vision. For this task, I need my young noble facade! I noticed an object moving quickly in front of me on the road and flagged it down.

"Stop right there! I need your carriage for the Hudson clan!" I shouted.

The carriage driver saw a devil with wraps around his eyes waving him down. He stopped his carriage abruptly. As a commoner, he had to give due attention to anything concerning the local ruling noble clan.

"Noble 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?" I said.

I must keep my air of noble entitlement high. Only then will this commoner do my bidding.

It dumbfounded the farmer. He was hauling manure in his carriage. Did this young noble devil have some kind of poop fetish? He knew noble devils were weird, but he didn't think they would just go around rolling in poop.

"Noble devil are you sure you want to enter my carriage?" said the farmer.

"Yes, quickly, escort me to the Hudson clan Patriarch's Hall! I have important business to attend to," I said.

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

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

"Yes sir, young noble! My name's Kyle and I will fulfill the young noble's needs," said the farmer.

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

I found myself escorted by the farmer inside the carriage. After sitting in the carriage, my face quickly changed several shades from red to green to blue. I was furious! Steam rose from my head.

"You sat this young noble next to shit!" I screamed at the ignorant farmer.

Kyle was at a loss.

'I asked you several times did you want to be put in the carriage; it was you who told me to do it!' Kyle thought.

"Yes, I followed your orders to the letter young noble," said Kyle like a loyal lackey.

"Perfect take me to the Patriarch's Hall," I said.

I could only accept my fate. Shit happens. I had shit to do. Shit was going down. I couldn't wait around for shit.

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 shit?"

"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 it's called a Shitty Art, it's the perfect Devil Art for trash."

I ignored the peanut gallery. They know nothing of this young noble's ways. Peons, unfit to comment on what I am up to.

I had important business to handle. I exited the carriage in front of the Patriarch's Hall.

"I am First Esquire James, of the Hudson clan, If you have any issues on the Hudson Estate come to see me," I said to the farmer, Kyle, before walking off.