After a grueling fight with Karito, Natsuki explained what had happened that night. Her meeting with Yamato was a relief, as she believed that fate would eventually reunite all of Aotori together to stop Volkus once and for all, and that the ancient souls would finally rest in peace.

Aotori then discussed what motives Karito might have had to betray them and Kurouzu in the past, but no one had any ideas. Not until Aosuke asked more details about Karito and his lineage, "Every one of the ancient souls was a descendant from one of the most influential families that ever existed. What about Karito? Do you guys know anything about his clan?"

Natsuki and Hikiri looked at each other trying to remember Karito's family, but they had no ideas. "The ones closest to Karito were both Kurouzu and Yamato, as they were the first to join together as Aotori, even earlier than me. If Kurouzu still remembers him, then it would be very helpful," Hikiri answered, as he was the second to last to join, then followed by Natsuki a few years after.

All eyes were on Kyuuto as he was the only one that could communicate with him. But Kyuuto's thoughts were not with him, he was wondering about Kanata at that moment. He then quietly nodded and said that he could try to ask Kurouzu again that night.

----

The night then fell once again, shortly after Kyuuto closed his eyes, Kurouzu was already in front of him. But rather than asking directly with full curiosity, Kyuuto seemed tired and overwhelmed. He then sat on a soft platform that miraculously spawned beneath him. "What's wrong?" Kurouzu asked him, "I'm ready to explain whenever you're ready to hear it," because he already heard what Kyuuto has heard before.

"Sure, sure..." Kyuuto just let Kurouzu talk even though he was still preoccupied.

Kurouzu then told the story of how he met Karito. It was months after he escaped with Yamato from his family, they were hiding inside a cave outside of the Ookami's reach. There, they were forced to hunt for food and seek shelter until someone or something could help them. Also everyday they would train to protect themselves, and possibly fight to gain control once again.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

One day, when these two teens were out near a river, they heard a rustling noise nearby. Kurouzu quickly drew his bow and arrow, focusing on the wiggling bushes behind them. He made eye contact with Yamato, signaling him to prepare his dagger that he always had on his leather chest pouch.

Yamato then approached the bushes slowly, he cut some of it with his dagger. Behind the bush, he found Karito in shock, shivering and fell backwards. Karito was the youngest among the three. He then explained that he escaped the kingdom as well.

----

Pitying him, Kurouzu and Yamato gave Karito some of their food, and while watching him eat, Yamato realized something, "That silver hair of yours... where did you come from?" he asked. Karito immediately stopped eating.

"I--- My family...? I don't remember..." suddenly Karito looked sad and desperate, he then explained that his whole life, he had been living with an 'old man' he knew from childhood. But now the old man had died in Yamisuke's attack. Kurouzu and Yamato looked at each other, seemingly suspicious about this random kid that miraculously found their hideout without any clear background, but in the end, they agreed to take him and keep him safe.

A few months had passed, and the trio moved between hideouts, most of them were in the middle of the woods. Until one day, a dozen of Ookami soldiers surrounded them. They have expanded their territory far to the east. After dodging a spear launched by one of the soldiers, Karito did a wall jump onto a tree trunk and kicked his attacker, successfully getting out of a sticky situation. Karito then threw rocks at their attackers, distracting them. "Come on, run!!"

Kurouzu and Yamato then ran as fast as they could, getting around the soldiers to Karito's side. But then Yamato tripped and fell behind them. Kurouzu turned his head around, and found out that one of the soldiers was already holding Yamato down with his spear.

"Don't move!! Or I'll kill your friend..." he threatened the boys, "your brothers are waiting for you, young prince. If you come with us, then we'll spare your friends," he then pushed his spear down near Yamato's neck.

Yamato could not do anything but only to tell Kurouzu to forget him and continue to run, "I'm fine, you have to carry on!!"

"I won't leave you here!!" Kurouzu and Karito were also confused on what to do, "You're the only one I trust!!" unknowingly, Kurouzu's Ookami ring started to emanate light softly. While behind Yamato, the other soldiers were approaching.

"Go, now..." Yamato smiled in acceptance.

The one soldier that held Yamato hostage smirked, then pulled his spear back while saying, "You are guilty in helping prince Kurouzu escape, and your punishment will be... death..." he then pushed his spear again downwards as hard as he could.