News of the newborn spread quickly—
but only through the most restricted corridors of House Ashencrest.
By nightfall, the upper echelon gathered in the Cinderhall, the inner sanctum where only matters threatening the very foundation of the house could be discussed. Flames lined the circular chamber, burning with perfect discipline, no flicker wasted, no spark uncontrolled. The fire mirrored the people inside: powerful, strict, and unyielding.
At the center stood Lord Caelan von Ashencrest, Kaisel's father and head of the main line. He wore the formal mantle of the Crestbearer, its red embroidered flames coiling like eastern serpents across his shoulders. And the family crest seared on the armor's chest plate.
Across from him sat Lady Marielle, the previous matriarch of the family. Older than most of the new noble families, a master of the Concept Solar-Fire, and the one person in the House Caelan could not simply overrule.
On her right loomed another Axiom Lord, Rauthen, commander of the Ashencrest armies and wielder of the Law-Fire, expression carved from stone.
On her left, Elder Ashiki, wielder of the ever-mystic Aether-Fire, quiet and air-wreathed, her presence like a silent storm.
4 member's presents with one empty chair. All tier IV polyconcept wielders, Axiom Lords.
The elite of a house of thousands.
And they alone knew what had happened in the birthing chamber.
Lady Maerielle's voice broke the silence. "Where is Maverk?"
Elder Ashiki scoffs, "You know him. Stuck in his forge."
"Typical," Lady Marielle exclaims, "Caelan. The rumor claims the child manifested white flame."
Her stare sharpened. "Tell us it is an exaggeration."
Caelan's expression didn't shift. "You've read the ledger. There is no exaggeration."
A ripple of unease flowed through the room like heat across stone.
Rauthen scowled. "Pure white? Not silver? Not pale gold? White?"
Caelan nodded once.
Ashiki exhaled slowly. "I felt it across the estate. A soul resonance without heat or smoke. That was no elemental surge…" Her eyes narrowed. "It was a Concept. A powerful one."
The room stiffened.
Marielle leaned forward.
"The Flame of Origin has not appeared since the Ashencrest Progenitor. Given to him by our guardian primordial Kaelren the World-Kiln Dragon. And it manifests in a newborn? Under no threat? In perfect form?"
Caelan's jaw tightened. "He survived it."
"That concerns me more," Rauthen muttered.
Marielle raised a brow. "Explain."
"The Flame of Origin does not choose children," Rauthen growled. "It has never appeared itself since the Calamity Era, since our houses founding. If it has awakened in an infant, it means something is stirring: something grave enough to demand power this early. The balance has broken. Something our house may not be ready for."
Ashiki folded her arms. "Or the Withered sensed it. They remember Concept Fire. They fear it."
That thought chilled even the flames in the braziers.
Marielle's eyes softened just slightly.
"What of Seraphine?"
Caelan's stoic expression cracked, just for a heartbeat.
"She is resting," he said quietly. "The birth drained her more than expected, but she will recover."
Marielle nodded gently, Seraphine was the only topic that could soften her tone.
Then she straightened, becoming the matriarch once more.
"Lord Caelan. Lady Seraphine. Your child is no ordinary heir. Concept being awakened at birth is already a rare occurrence. This…I don't think we need to say anymore."
Her gaze swept across the room. "From this moment on, his birth flame is an Ashencrest Secret of the First Rank."
Rauthen crossed his arms. "What of his training? If he cannot control that flame, the house, no the realm is in danger."
Caelan's eyes narrowed. "He is a newborn. You will not speak of discipline until he can stand."
"This is not sentiment," Rauthen snapped. "Another Calamity will not wait for your son to grow."
The flames stirred, reacting to the rising tension.
Marielle raised a hand, silencing both men instantly.
"The child will be monitored," she decreed. "Guided. Hidden if needed. Only the strongest and most trusted of the house may approach him."
Ashiki bowed her head. "I will weave protections around his chamber. No scrying, no soul sensing."
"And I will prepare the elite guard," Rauthen said his presence demanding order and balance. "Subtly."
Marielle turned her gaze back to Caelan.
"You and Seraphine must prepare yourselves. We can train and prepare him and our house until the awakening ceremony and his admission into The Academy. But he will need our support."
Her voice lowered, almost reverent.
"The last time the Flame of Origin appeared, the world was ending. And we no longer have our Guardian Primordial.
The braziers dimmed as if bowing to her words.
"Let us hope your son," she whispered,
"is not the herald of another catastrophe…
but the flame that prevents it."
Kaisel slept within his mother's embrace in the birthing chamber, blissfully unaware that the world had already begun to shift around him.