(Age 5, First Person — Kaisel)
By age five, I had learned two important things.
First: noble households have an absurd number of elders.
Second: they all stare at you like you might either save the world or accidentally burn it down.
Probably because I might.
This morning, Father brought me to the upper council chamber. It was where the Ashencrest family met for internal matters, which I assumed meant "discussions grown-ups do not want children to overhear." Yet here I was.
I held Elira's hand as we walked. She gave the smallest squeeze of reassurance, the kind that told me she would be right behind me the whole time.
I held her hand until we reached the carved doors, where I let go so, I could pretend I was more composed than I felt.
The hall inside was already filled.
The moment we entered, the talking stopped.
A half circle of Ashencrest elders turned toward us. Every one of them had hair in shades of flame. Reds, golds, amber streaks. Eyes that glowed faintly with fire resonance. Their expressions were politely guarded. The Ashencrest High Council or what I've heard the maids call them The Inner Flame.
Elder Marvek, Master of Ashencrest forges, beard like a brushfire.
──────────────────────────
[STATUS — ELDER MARVEK]
Age: 62
Tier: IV [Embodied] Rank 4 [Avatar of Law]
Concept: Anvil-Fire (Fire + Impact)
Attributes:
• ??? [Authority Not High Enough]
Titles:
• Elder of the Ashencrest Forge
• The Crimson Bull
──────────────────────────
Elder Ashiki, the Soul Seer of House Ashencrest, thin as a reed with sharp amber eyes.
──────────────────────────
[STATUS — ELDER ASHIKI]
Age: 58
Tier: V [Polyconceptual] — Rank 3 [Unifer]
Concept: Ember Insight (Fire + Perception)
Attributes:
• ??? [Authority Not High Enough]
Titles:
Elder Strategist of Ashencrest
• Soul Seer of the Inner Flame
Rauthen, the Commander of House Ashencrest's Army, born from common birth but disciplined and talent made his authority of military matters are absolute.
──────────────────────────
[STATUS — RAUTHEN VALDREIK]
Age: 56
Tier: V [Polyconceptual] — Rank 1 [Balancer]
Concept: Law-Fire (Fire + Order/Balance)
Attributes:
• ??? [Authority Not High Enough]
Titles:
Commander of the Ashencrest Army
• Order Fire Warden.
And, wrapped in layers of embroidered crimson with a golden cane topped with a celestial dragon, was Marielle Ashencrest. The Previous House Matriarch. And my grandmother.
She was the oldest living member of the family. Her hair was white, not from weakness but from age long survived. Her presence felt like standing near a banked volcano. Calm, but carrying deep heat.
──────────────────────────
[STATUS — MARIELLE ASHENCREST]
Age: 82
Tier: V [Polyconceptual] — Rank 4 [Grand Synthesis]
Concept: Solar-Fire(Fire + Light)
Attributes:
• ??? [Authority Not High Enough]
Titles:
Former Matriarch of House Ashencrest
• Keeper of Ancestral Flame
──────────────────────────
Father walked confidently, his presence warm and steady.
Everyone else straightened the instant he entered.
The Pyrestorm Tyrant.
That was his battlefield title, though obviously no one said it here.
All eyes turned toward us the moment we entered.
Father rested a hand on my shoulder. "This is my son, Kaisel."
Marielle's tired eyes narrowed slightly in focus. "Bring him closer. I cannot see him from here."
We approached.
Up close, she seemed smaller than I expected, but her gaze carried the weight of someone who had lived through war, loss, and enough family disputes to fill a library.
"Well," she said, "his eyes are bright. That is good. Dull eyes mean a dull flame."
I had no idea how to respond to that, so I bowed. "Good morning."
A few elders blinked at my manner of speaking.
Ashiki leaned forward. "The child speaks clearly for his age."
Marielle gave a small grunt. "A rare quality in this quick-tempered family."
Rauthen stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Patriarch, with your permission, I have prepared the preliminary report concerning the young master's future instruction."
Father raised a brow. "He is five."
Rauthen did not blink. "Preparation must begin early. The Awakening Ceremony is only held once every generation. All the younglings from the House's main and branch families will have their chance of awakening their concept. That gives us five years."
Ashiki added, "We must track flame stability, emotional resonance, possible affinities, and any unusual manifestations. It is standard for heirs, especially those with early surges. This is the world's chance to see how strong the next generation of Ashencrest will be."
Marielle tapped her cane lightly. "Before all of that, I want to see how he reacts to us."
The room quieted.
She crooked a finger at me. "Kaisel. Come here."
I stepped forward, slower than I meant to. Her gaze was sharp enough to cut through excuses. She reached out, placing a papery hand against my cheek.
Her flame touched mine.
It felt old. Heavy. Familiar in a strange way, like a fire that had been burning since before I was born.
Her brows rose. "His flame does not recoil."
"Does that surprise you?" Father asked.
"Yes," she replied bluntly. "He is calm. Entirely so. Even children with normal flames feel overwhelmed when I test them."
Ashiki hummed thoughtfully. "Perhaps his early surge was not instability. Perhaps it was a sign of higher sensitivity."
Marvek snorted. "He probably does not understand what is happening."
I looked up at him. "I understand some things."
Marvek blinked. "Oh?"
"I listen," I said. "A lot."
Silence.
Father tried not to smile.
Elira gently cleared her throat as if reminding me not to overdo it.
Ashiki leaned forward again. "And what do you feel now, standing before the elders?"
I thought for a moment.
"Warmth," I said. "Different kinds."
Marielle's eyes sharpened with interest. "Explain."
I pointed slightly without raising my hand too rudely.
"His warmth is loud," I said, glancing toward Marvek and Rauthen.
"Yours is deep," I told Ashiki.
"And yours," I said to Marielle, "feels steady. Like a flame that has seen everything."
The room went still.
Elira inhaled quietly behind me. Even Father seemed surprised.
Ashiki murmured, "A perceptive child. Very perceptive."
Rauthen adjusted his collar. "If he can sense distinctions this early, his training will need to be structured carefully. His concept resonance might already be at minor."
"The Awakening Ceremony will reveal more," Marielle said. "Once he reaches ten, the world will know his true Concept."
Father nodded. "We will not rush him."
Marvek grumbled something about soft parenting, but no one paid him much attention.
Marielle looked down at me again. "Child. What do you want?"
I blinked. "Want?"
"Yes," she said. "Children always want something."
I hesitated. Want was complicated. Want meant curiosity, yearning, longing for understanding. But none of that seemed appropriate to say.
So I answered simply.
"I want to know more."
A faint smile tugged at Marielle's wrinkled mouth. "Then you will fit into this family just fine."
Father placed a hand on my shoulder again. "That is enough for today."
The elders began to rise, murmuring quietly to each other about schedules and reports. Father guided me toward the door.
Before we left, Marielle called out gently.
"Kaisel."
I turned.
"Grow at your own pace," she said. "Not at theirs."
I nodded, "Yes, grandmother." Unsure why her words felt heavier than the others.
Marielle try's to hide a slight smile edging its way across her face. "Grandmother, mmm I like the sound of that.."
Father guided me out into the hall. Elira followed behind us, her steps soft and familiar.
"You did well," Father said quietly.
"I only told the truth."
"That is what troubled them most," he said with a smirk.
Elira let out a soft sigh. "Please do not alarm the elders, young master."
"I was trying to be polite."
Her smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "That is exactly what worries me."
Father laughed once under his breath.
And as we walked together, I felt something warm settle inside me.
A sense of belonging.
A sense of expectation.
A sense that the Awakening Ceremony, six years away, already cast a long shadow.
I would grow into it.
One day at a time.