Kaito navigated the winding forest paths and ancient groves surrounding his territory. Towering oaks lined the route, their massive trunks rutty by centuries of storms, while fireflies danced between the branches overhead. The night's sky stood clear and unmarred by clouds, enveloping them in peaceful calm. As he approached the palace grounds, nearing the exquisitely branded gates, two entryway guards spotted him. Their eyes widened in recognition, rushing to greet him, Haru following closely behind.

  Anticipating inquiries about his whereabouts, he swiftly bundled the child entirely within the enchanted fabric, knotted the ends, and slung her over his right shoulder like a sack of grain.

  "Sire! Are you alright?" Itou galloped forward, his voice cracking with relief. "You're not hurt, are you? We've all been so worried!"

  Pioto collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his weathered face. "Thank the Titans you're safe."

  "Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine," Kaito replied, adjusting his shoulder.

  "IF THAT'S SO! THEN WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG!!" Haru's voice thundered across the courtyard, causing both guards to flinch.

  Kaito awkwardly chuckled, intentionally avoiding eye contact. "I ran into some trouble after meeting you in the southern villages."

  "Trouble? What kind of trouble?" Haru stepped closer, his scarred hands clenching into fists.

  "Don't worry," Kaito comforted, forcing a smile. "It's been resolved."

  Sweat formed on his temple, tightening his grip as the bundle continued to shift against his shoulder.

  "Don't avoid the subject!" Haru retorted. "What took you so damn long to get back to the palace? I—" Pausing mid-sentence, his attention caught the bundle's light movements. "Hmm... What's there... in the sack?"

  Kaito pivoted the bundle away from Haru's view. "Huh?... Umm... Haha... what sack? I don't see a sack…"

  "The one squirming over your shoulder," he deadpanned, his tone wavering from restrained annoyance.

  "Oh!! That?!!” he blurted out, recalling the first creature coming to mind. “Hahaha. Uhm... on the way back I caught a firlent!"

  Haru's dagger glistened as he drew it from its sheath. "Fear gives meat a bad taste. Give it to me." His hand extended toward Kaito. "I'll finish it off and have the kitchen prepare it properly for a stew."

  Kaito jerked backward, pushing himself away. “I do not wish to have it killed, idiot!!! My intent is for it to be… uhhh…companion… for…Yasushi…”

  "A PET!!" the guards and Captain Haru collectively bellowed.

  Haru's face twisted in disbelief. "...You can't domesticate a firlent."

  Kaito's expression suddenly grew rigid, tensing his entire body. Noticing the shift, Haru and the guard's casual demeanor evaporated. The courtyard fell silent deafening for the distant crackling of torches.

  "Everyone," he whispered. "There's something behind you."

  Haru's shoulders sagged as he started to turn around. "I don't sense anythi—"

  "Don't move!" Kaito hissed, halting Haru mid-turn. "You might scare it off!

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  His knuckles whitened around the bundle. "On the count of three, turn around with weapons drawn. Understood?"

  The guards nodded, their hands creeping toward their hilts.

  "One… Two……..THREE! AHHHH!!!!"

  Blades flashed in the torchlight and steel sang as they whirled around to the empty courtyard staring back at them.

  "Sir… There's nothing—" Haru muttered confused, stopping his word short in disbelief at the vacant spot where Kaito once stood.

  "Where did the King go?" Pioto stammered.

  "THE KING WAS KIDNAPPED?!?!" Itou wailed.

  "NO, YOU MORON!" Haru snarled. “THE KING WAS NOT KIDNAPPED! HE HAS SAFELY RETURNED SO GET BACK TO YOUR DUTIES. GO RELIEVE THE PERIMETER GUARDS AND RESUME NORMAL DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!!!"

  "YES, SIR!"

  Exhaling his vexation, Haru holstered his weapon and strode toward the palace gates.

  A firlent, my ass. Kaito, what the hell are you up to…

  —

  Sprinting through the dense woods surrounding the palace perimeter, the bundled child bounced against Kaito's shoulder. He reached the hidden lagoon and plunged into its crystal waters. Power flowed from his body, forming a protective barrier allowing him to breathe beneath the surface. Luminescent fish stirred to life around him, their bodies pulsing with a wispy light guiding him toward a massive doorway encrusted with coral and swaying seaweed. Pressing his palm against the door's center, the barrier dissolved, permitting him to pass through solid stone as if it were mist. Beyond lay a narrow stone walkway cutting through a vast underground chamber. Cascading water thundered down the cavern walls, feeding the churning lake far below.

  He raised his arms overhead, untying the knots and lifting the child by under her armpits to eye level. "Weeee'reeee hooooommmme," he sang, swaying her side to side.

  The child happily gurgled, stretching her limbs and releasing her bladder in a steady stream across his armor.

  "AAAAAHHHHH! Crap... Crap... What do I do... What do I do!" he shrieked, frantically hopping from foot to foot attempting to dodge the warm stream flowing down his chest.

  "Kaito? ....Is that you?" a voice called out, accompanied by echoing footsteps from the end of the walkway. The footsteps drew closer as additional light seeped into the cavern, growing brighter with each passing second.

  Quickly wrapping the child back into the fabric and cradling her in his arms, he cornered the passageway, bumping into Airi holding a torch in hand.

  Relief washed over her face seeing him unharmed. Stepping forward to embrace him, she abruptly halted her movement, seeing the child in his arms.

  "Kaito? ...that child you're carrying ...whose is it?" she asked, her tone carrying both perplexity and sharp concern.

  He shifted uncomfortably, his mind replaying the night's strange events. "Well, you see...I kinda found her in a cave near the southern village. She was all alone… just lying there in a flower bed."

  Airi leaned inward, bringing the torch closer to observe the child. The child's eyes immediately fixated on the dancing flames, extending both hands toward the light with curious intrigue.

  "And this child's kin? ...Where are they?" she asked, pulling the torch back as the child's fingers brushed against her cheek.

  "She has none," Kaito solemnly replied. "Which is why I want us to take her in and raise her. With proper training and instruction, I believe she will become a valuable asset to our clan."

  Airi remained transfixed by the child's unusual features, her initial wonder quickly twisting into a deep sense of regret. She leisurely straightened, her expression hardening into a harsh scowl meeting Kaito's eyes.

  "How pathetic am I to you, Kaito?"

  "Airi!?! .. I..." he stammered, blindsided by her sudden outburst.

  Firmly holding her glare, she pointed the torch behind her. "Do you bring this child here to mock me? Knowing that I cannot bear you anymore children! Knowing of my past and disgrace!"

  Anxiously shortening the distance between them, Kaito pulled her into his chest with his free arm.

  "You gave me Yasushi…. A son! How could I dare ask for anything more!”

  He tautened his embrace around her and hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. The child nestled between them like a bridge to an uncertain future.

  “...This child has no mother to care for her and the fates would curse me if I left an innocent to die. Bringing this child to the best mother I know of was the only option.”

  The sound of flowing water filled the silence.

  Gradually, the stiffness in Airi's shoulders relaxed. Her cheeks flushed, stepping out from his hold as lengthened her arms, her mellowed eyes darting back onto the child.

  Kaito placed the child in her arms, watching her cradle her against her chest.

  She delicately threaded her fingers through the child's silver strands, fonding over her appearance.

  "She… is very lovely, Kaito. But she is not from the Living Realm. So tell me what happened. I wish to know everything."