Indeed, Maerec was born to Lady Hélène of House Dufort--wife to Lord Chapan Dufort. It was during a time where Lady Hélène was in much distress with her husband, that she found comfort in the arms of another. It was by random circumstance that the young woman found him on one of her outings and became smitten with the affection he provided. He was, though, a Drudguzean, and not a noble one at that. Their love was short lived, and Lord Dufort, despite being angry at his wife's betrayal, decided to forgive her if she vowed to cast away her lover and the child. Fearing what would become of her and her reputation if she refused, she took her husband's offer. When Lady Hélène told her lover her forced decision, he left her, never to give her a second glance again. Lady Hélène's maiden in waiting was able to find a common family in Solenne to give her newborn over to. The commoner woman had recently lost her own child during childbirth, and she found it to be a blessing of Aun-Oraphe herself to be given the change to raise such a beautiful babe.

He was given the name Maerec after the commoner woman's husband, a Drudguzean as well. They treated him as their son, with no exception despite him looking drastically different from their fair skin and blond hair. Maerec ran with all of the other commoner children, and worked hard in the stables with his father. He would often see knights riding through the streets on their horses as they went to more relevant areas of the city. And it was the idea of being a protector of the people that fueled his dreams of reaching beyond his station. One day, he would become a knight. And he would be grand.

As much as he tried to keep that dream to himself, he couldn't help but to boast to his friends. He had decided that was what he was going to do, and when Maerec put his mind to something, nothing short of the Pentad could stop him. Of course, this led to many mockings and fights. He endured it all, keeping hold of his resolve. Because of this, he was granted the name Maerec de Solenne by anyone that knew of him.

It could have been by chance, or fate. Whatever it was, Maerec, now just a few years short of being of age was whirled into an encounter that would shape the rest of his life. Tensions seemed to be high that day for whatever reason. There was certainly a growing animosity between his father and some neighboring merchants that seemed to boil over and overflowed into the street. Vowing to protect his father's honor, Maerec stepped in, grabbing a broom, he held it at the ready, mimicking what he'd seen at the circus when he was able to sneak glances at individuals training there. His form was surprisingly accurate. The scuffle between the merchant and Maerec crossed paths with the oncoming knights that were passing through. It forced the knights to halt, and Sir Chapan Dufort stepped in to stop the fight.

Skill and form was not something the knight expected to see from a commoner boy, and it amused him that someone from such lowly upbringings could be so keen. Sir Dufort was a man that enjoyed a good laugh, even if it was occasionally at the expense of others. For this, he offered Maerec a chance to show off his innate abilities at the circus for an upcoming trial. If he were to succeed, Dufort promised to make him one of his squires. It was a sore underestimation of a boy he knew nothing about. And that promise was one he would debatably never regret.

Of course Maerec took the challenge, much to his parents' displeasure. This was his chance and he was going to take it. With no weapon, no armor, nothing but the clothes he wore day in and day out, he made his way to the circus for the trial. All of the boys around his age looked at him in disgust and laughed, telling him that someone must have been pulling a prank. Maerec was able to tune it out, and was granted a training weapon. He would have to do without the armor. He was able to get in a little practice before the trials began.

Surrounding the area were knights, ladies and lords all alike. It was a spectacle if anything. And everyone questioned who that commoner boy was, what what did he think he was? Sir Dufort stood there in silence, realizing that his amusement was about to be turned into amazement. One by one, Maerec felled his opponents, utilizing the skills he'd learned working on the streets of Solenne along with what he had seen and practiced in secrecy. His movements were unusual to the trained boys, and confused their feet and swings as they advanced. In the end, Maerec succeeded his trial, leaving Sir Dufort speechless. Lady Dufort had been there watching the entire time, an unnerved feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. Something about the boy she recognized. It didn't strike her until Maerec was brought into a strong embrace by the laughing Sir Dufort that the boy before her, was the son she was forced to lose all those years ago.