Since the day of the attack, the security of the mansion continued to be tight. Mostly guarded by the Ignees order, at times he would see shadows lingering in the night, though worried in the start he soon realised it was the Sicarii order, as a group of assassins they worked better in the cover of the night. Even William would mostly stay in the mansion.

This made him wonder, why even after finding the culprits such tight security was being followed, he thought maybe they are just being extra cautious, or there was some bigger hand at play.

His brother's naming ceremony was just around the corner. With no training to keep him occupied he had a lot of time in his hands and he would often use them by visiting Sarah and his little brother.

On one such visit, his brother spoke to Chris.

"Philly I am scared, I am scared of the naming ceremony. Father keeps telling me that there is great expectation from me, that I must make the Family's name proud."

"Everyone keeps telling me that I must not be like you Philly, but I do not understand, why must not I be like you Philly, I want to be like you."

Chris felt a pang of guilt by hearing his brother speak, he realised how lonely he would have been feeling, and with Chris busy with his training, there was no one actually to speak to him.

Chris realised maybe he knew, and maybe he didn't do anything about it. As he feared his brother would soon realise how much of an anomaly Chris was, without magic he was a misfit an outcast, would he still want to be like him, once he realises this? Deep down he was just afraid that even his younger brother will start to look down upon him.

Without allowing his dread to take over. He looked at him.

"You will be okay brother, the Druex family blood runs through you, I am sure you will be a great Fire mage. Believe in yourself, and remember no matter what happens, your Philly will be there for you, I promise." Those words cheered him up right away, from teary eyes his face now had a big innocent smile. Chris couldn't help but feel adored by his younger brother.

"Thank you, Philly." He went back to his normal self and started acting like the four-year-old he was.

Just like Chris, his brother didn't get the Draconate scales at the age of three, and there was visible worry that the naming ceremony will be a repetition of what happened with Chris.

Overhearing his servants' talk, he figured out why they didn't get a lot of visits from the Draconate clan or other Druex family members. This was because William and Sarah's marriage was not accepted by the family and the clan.

For the Dreux family, it was because they wanted their bloodline to be purely fire mages as was their founding "Infinity" mage. Marrying mages of other affinities were not at all greeted well, and that too for someone from the main branch. To make it worse Sarah also belonged to a strong bloodline and there was a fear that the Druex blood will be dominated by hers.

For why the Draconate clan disagreed, Chris was not yet clear, other than Roger and Sarah he didn't know anyone else of the clan.

There were also talks that Chris turned up without any magic because of the merging of two strong bloodlines, and this created more fear that his younger brother would end up just like Chris. The consequences of this would be very grave within the kingdom, as a kingdom's strength was the cumulation of its Noble families' strength. Weakness in the Dreux family meant opportunities for other kingdoms.

Chris started to realise the complexity of how power moved the world and how whatever is happening inside the mansion could impact the whole continent.

On the other side was also the possibility of a strain that could come in Sarah and William's marriage. Though they are very private in their relationship, deep inside Chris felt worried.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

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The day of the naming ceremony arrived, though his memory was vague from that day, he remembered seeing more people in his ceremony. Attending the ceremony was equivalent to expressing alliance and not attending the opposite of it. Did this mean the Dreux family was losing support?

From the church, only the priest had arrived the Supreme Mage was not around.

"Did the church withdraw support for William's stake as Archmage?" Chris wondered.

He climbed the stairs to overlook the hall, and this time he had a better view than last time. Larka had zoomed off in the morning she never liked seeing too many people. As she was close to him they had to get another Lewt for the ceremony.

He looked at the magic circle from the top, he was now sure that it looked like a palm with five fingers. All the elements were in place.

Sarah and William were animatedly talking to guests. The hall also consisted of men in red robes with the Ignees crest, "Probably a show of Strength by William", to Chris's dismay he also saw Rulian in the crowd with a group. From their robes, he figured they were all from the Ignees order and about the same age as Rulian. Chris averted his gaze before Rulian looked in his direction.

He kept looking around the crowd with someone catching his attention, a girl, she looked older than him, wearing a short robe with a mixed color of red and white, her hair color was confusing he couldn't figure out if they were red or brown, they were shortly cut. She wore glasses.

Their eyes met, Chris went red getting caught at staring someone, he averted his gaze immediately. He didn't look back.

The hall went quiet, his brother entered with Roger.

Chris looked at Sarah and William, she was holding his hands tightly. Chris himself felt nervous as the very fate of many people will be defined on this.

He really looked nervous. "Oh, my poor brother." Chris sighed. He had given him some pep talk before the ceremony.

He stepped into the circle, and the priest started his incantation.

Chris caught himself holding his breath.

The incantation finishes.

-------------Silence--------

----------ROAAAARRRRR-------

The small flame turns into an inferno almost double the man's length.

The whole hall erupts. Chris couldn't help jumping with joy.

His younger brother was a Fire mage!

There were congratulations everywhere. He could see Sarah in tears and William holding his head high with pride with an expression he hadn't seen in for a long time, he looked Happy.

Once things settled down. The priest continued, henceforth you shall be called "Ignatius" of the Dreux.

Chris didn't remember this part of the ceremony, as he went unconscious. Comically he thought the priest would have avoided that part of the ceremony to avoid the awkwardness.

Once things settled down, he went to meet Ignatius. He embraced him the moment he saw him. "Philly, Philly I am a fire mage." Chris just kept his hand on his head and smiled.

"Philly did you see the flame go boooooom, then everyone started clapping Philly, even Father was smiling at me, Philly."

Chris realised how nervous Ignatius was for the last few days, he hadn't seen him this cheerful in a long time.

"Philly I am a fire mage like father."

Those words hit Chris deep, was he somewhere sad that his brother is now a mage, was he hoping that he would turn up like him so that he wouldn't feel like a misfit.

He saw Ignatius brimming with joy and he felt disgusted with himself to feel like that.

"I am so happy for you Ignatius", he felt like he was lying when saying those words.

He got up to leave and saw William and Sarah enter.

Sarah went and hugged Ignatius, even William who rarely showed any physical intimacy went and patted him on his small shoulders.

Before coming to meet Ignatius, Chris overheard others speaking that there was no doubt that Ignatius is a genius, even in William's naming ceremony the flame didn't take such intensity, for Ignatius it felt as if the fire belonged to him.

This meant great things for the Dreux family and the kingdom.

Chris turned to leave again when the girl who he had seen in the hall with the short hair entered. She nodded at Chris and turned toward William and Sarah.

"Philip wait" William called out. "As you are here I have to announce a few things." He looked at Sarah who now had a glum face.

Chris felt memory knock at him again. He remembered the last time when William spoke of such an announcement.

"Meet Eliane, she is from the academy and will be a tutor for Ignatius for the next three years."

To this Eliane replied, "It's an honor to be at the Druex family, I will do my best to teach master Ignatius."

William and Sarah acknowledged.

"Also Philip you will be moving to Sarah's village, you will be there for the next three years, after that you will be instructed on your next course of action."

"Roger will be accompanying you on this journey, I wish you luck and fortune." He paused and looked at Sarah.

"If you have anything to say you can say now."

Chris looked at William and said, "I accept and will leave immediately."

He didn't wait for them to say anything more he turned and walked back, and wondered.

"What's with him and his fortune with naming ceremonies?