In September of 2025, Computer Science Department Chair and Upper School Teacher Darien Cruté published his first book titled “Echoes Of The Wickborne Flame: Born Of Ash.” 

A young adult fantasy novel,  “Born of Ash” tells the story of nineteen-year-old Caelan Thorne, unbound by the Arcane Concord, and hunted for the power he never asked for. Raised in a secret monastery after his family’s enclave was destroyed, Caelan has spent his life learning to wield the Flame within—a mystical force that fuels all magic in his world. When a deadly attack shatters the fragile peace he’s known, Caelan finds himself marked, mourning, and miraculously… changed. 

A lifelong writer, Mr. Crut​​é’s inspiration for the book came from a rewatch of the John Wick movies (where he felt magic would make the series even better!) and a reread of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series in preparation for the release of the TV adaptation. From August 2024 to May 2025, Mr Crut​​é developed the “Born of Ash” world, characters, and potential arcs for the first book—created an outline for a complete trilogy.

“Born of Ash” is the first installment in Mr. Crut​​é’s three-part “Echoes of the Wickborne Flame” series. Congratulations, Mr. Crut​​é!