Ledaal Laton was born to a long line of Realm sorcerers. Born in the middle of seven children, he and his siblings attended the most prestigious primary school in the Imperial City. Laton was allowed to eschew a balanced education in order to focus on honing his occult knowledge due to his family's reputation. He eagerly awaited his adolescence as he watched his elder siblings become Children of Mela and he continued to wait each year as his younger siblings Exalted before him. He completed his primary education a jaded and jealous youth. His low marks in the subjects outside his focus and his lack of Exaltation disqualified him from attending the same finishing school as his siblings. He was instead sent to live with his uncle Befaros, a powerful sorcerer, to become his research assistant. Ledaal Befaros had been an instructor at the school Laton's siblings were attending and he had taken a leave of absence while they were there so they would not appear to receive special attention. Laton researched a wide variety of academic subject matter during his time assisting his uncle. He and his uncle practiced various martial arts katas, studied calligraphy, played gateway and studied the essence channels of the body. In his spare time Laton studied essence theory in an attempt to discover a way he could become a sorcerer without Exalting.

Laton grew angry and depressed as his life was not going where he had expected. Befaros suggested he study martial arts reasoning that the best monks can achieve enlightenment and the ability to wield essence. It wasn't exactly what Laton had in mind for himself but it was close enough. He left his uncle's tutelage and joined the Immaculate monks. For several years he practiced their ways. He eventually left the order because his own motives and philosophy ultimately did not match those of the monks. His siblings humored him in his attempts to find enlightenment. One year he went to study under his elder brother Levon, now a young artificer. Another year he researched the powers of the anathema with his eldest sister Lima who had joined the Wyld Hunt. His efforts were never enough to gain the attention of anyone who could grant him enlightenment and he eventually stopped trying.

Tired of following so far behind the footsteps of his Exalted siblings, Laton returned to the Imperial City. He got a job teaching at a primary school and surrounded himself with students. His anger subsided, replaced by patience, and his depression lifted. His wide breadth of knowledge aided his teaching style and made him a popular instructor. When he gained his tenure he was granted permission to study thaumaturgy for his services. He naturally chose to learn geomancy given his knowledge of essence. He once again became a student, but this time his teacher, Calel Alair, was also mortal. Alair was six years Laton's senior and an accomplished geomancer. He noticed Laton's potential immediately and grew close to his dedicated pupil. After a few years working together the two had fallen in love. Alair agreed to awaken Laton's essence and began the five year ritual called the Essence Enlightening Sutra. His old dreams of becoming a sorcerer seemed like a possibility now.

When the ritual was complete Laton and Alair went to visit Befaros to see is he would teach Laton sorcery. During the visit Laton discovered an ancient text dating back to the First Age. Stories of the Solar Exalted filled the pages of this tome and they were depicted as heroes and saviors as opposed to the demon possessed monsters he had known them to be. In a flash of golden light his own inner turmoil on the matter was extinguished and he knew what he read to be truth. In his mind the voice of the Unconquered Sun spoke to him "Discover the truth of My chosen and let the peoples of Creation know that truth." New life and purpose filled him.

Laton was now in more danger than he had ever been in his life. Alair and Befaros found him and together they made plans to relocate to An-Teng where Befaros had a vacation home. While they waited for their chance to escape, Befaros began teaching Laton sorcery. After teaching Laton a single spell he left in order to make preparations for their voyage. Unbeknownst to them, Laton's sister Lima had been dispatched by the All-Seeing Eye to investigate Befaros' home. When she arrived she discovered that her brother had become anathema. Unable to take the life of a family member, her faith faultered. She instead subdued both Laton and Alair, murdered Alair and cut out Laton's tongue. When the Wyld Hunt arrived later, she explained that she had slain the anathema and silenced the traitor so his lies would not infest others. Her lie convinced them and saved Laton's life, but he could not forgive her.

Laton was sent across the Inland Sea to the penal colony of Fermantle to spend the rest of his days locked away as a traitor to the Realm. Befaros was banished to An-Teng for possessing misleading information about the anathema. After discovering what happened to his nephew Befaros made plans to free him. Laton has once again fallen into depression at the loss of his lover and his life in the Realm. Unable to do much else, Laton meditates on his new Exalted nature and begins to recall memories of his past lives as a Solar in the First Age.