Kage would wake up bright and early eager to sneak out of the castle. While he was thankful for the life provided for him by his family; every growing man needed space and a little adventure. His mother Celeste was one for structure and hitting the books which often left him too tired to go explore. As such, he normally attempt to wake before everyone else in order to be able explore the forest a bit. He brought his trusty dagger; one of his only gifts from his father Nemesis as it glowed with the family’s sigil. You see their family was one of the royalties in this land which made him somewhat royalty despite being adopted.

In his darker moments; Kage couldn’t help but wonder how different things may have been if he’d simply been born from his mother Celeste or Sera. After a quick bath; Kage would emerge from the bathroom his long red hair still damp from the water. He’d begin to dry his hair as he picked out his attire for the morning choosing a simple tunic as he did not want to ruin the good clothes he had. Now fully dressed; Kage began to devise a plan of his escape into the woods.

The growing boy would pocket his dagger; he figured he may need it while exploring the forest if he even made it that far. Taking a moment to still his own nerves that were growing he’d reach for the handle of his door. He’d handle the door handle very slowly to minimize the sound made from his door opening. He’d only open his door up enough to slide his nimble frame through the door peeking out to see if anyone was in the hallway. He’d release a breath of relief as he realized he couldn’t see anyone in the hallway.

Carefully tip toeing towards the steps leading to one of the exits of their rather large manor. Luckily, the floors were well made so he did not have to worry about random creaks in the floor. Stopping by the kitchen; Kage would grab him an apple before continuing on his way out of the castle. Finally, having made it to the back exit through the kitchen area; he’d have to slowly open the door once more being mindful of the enhanced senses in the building. He had no way of knowing if he was being successful so he’d have to force him to push forward. However, he’d be greeted at the door by his pet Albino wolf that wasn’t allowed in the manor but knew enough to wait for his master and friend outside of the manor. Kage would bend down to pet and rub the wolf on the head being happy to see him. Though, it was a regular wolf Kage considered him to be a good start for the pack he hoped to one day lead. He would definitely become so great that Nemesis would have no choice but to fully accept him as a son. He’d bring much honor to the family name; he simply had no other choice not wanting to let them down at all.

It had happened not too long ago in Celeste’s memory. She had gone down to the docks like she normally did on days where shipments would come in. This was the only time that she could get the durian fruit fresh from Laeto Rainforest. It was the noise that caught her first. It was a child’s cry, a human boy. She moved some of the nets out of the way and found the discarded toddler. Her red eyes stared at him with a deep pity. Her hand found itself to her womb where she had failed so many times to keep an heir for the family. So, with her heart heavy with grief she had picked the boy up and took him home.

It hadn’t taken a lot of convincing when it came to Nemesis to keep him. She made the promise that she wouldn’t turn him until he was older. She knew he would be mostly grown at sixteen/seventeen and she kept that in mind as she convinced Serafina to keep him as well.

They raised the boy they would name Kage the best way they could. They had never had a child before, they had never adopted a child so young. Celeste took care of all his daily needs. She fed him, she clothed him, and she bathed him. It helped her hurt heart mend a bit as she continued to raise the young boy.

It got awkward eventually when the boy became taller than she did. Though no matter what she was still as stern as she was when he was small. She put him on a schedule and she taught him all the basics at first. She taught him to read masterwork novels, she taught him mathematics, she taught him basic remedies, and she taught him most importantly how to survive in the streets of Kurayo.

The biggest rule the three alphas of the Volkov family had for Kage was to honor their bloodline. He could never ever bring disrespect to them or with a heavy heart Celeste let him know that she would be forced to end his life. That was the way the world was in Kurayo. That was the way the world was in the Volkovs. They were harsh so they could be strong. They had no time for someone who would disobey them and bring dishonor to their name.

Fast forwarding to the present and he was a grown man now, well at least in human years. Kage was still very much still a child to Celeste and she didn’t hesitate to treat him as such if he deserved it. On his seventeenth birthday she turned him using her own blood since she was the one who brought him home. She had, of course, made sure that was what he had wanted. She told him that if he didn’t want to he would have to leave since Kurayo was too dangerous for a human.

It hadn’t actually been that long since she had turned him and his first shift had been hard but Celeste had been there for him. Things took a weird turn when she was granted a body that was able to carry Nemesis’s child, a true heir for the Volkovs. She was excited but she also made Kage know that she loved him and would continue to do so despite being able to carry a child of their blood now..

She was up in her apothecary when her elvish ears twitched lightly to a light sound. A sigh left her lips as she closed the book she was researching out of and pushing herself up. There was only one reason to use such light footsteps and she knew who it was almost immediately. There was only so much time during the night for all the things he needed to do but for once Celeste made her way down the spiraling stairs and to the front door. She was much faster than Kage could ever be at his young age.

“It’s too dangerous for you to wander off by yourself Kage,” her hands were on her hips and she gave him that motherly glare. “You should have said you wanted to go out, you still need someone with you. Kurayo is a dangerous place as I have told you over and over again. There will be time for honor and glory… but you should learn how to defend yourself or even attack things before they attack you. In Kurayo, it is kill or be killed. It is the reason why I don’t let you leave the boundaries of this manor without someone. Do you understand? Do you know how dangerous it is if we can’t get to you and you are attacked by someone or something?”

Celeste was dressed in an elvish made dress of deep purple silk with silver etchings and outlines. Her pale pink hair was wavy and to her hips while the sides were elegantly pulled back and held with moon charms showing the different phases. "You have to know when you are in dangerous before I can feel comfortable letting you out of my sight or someone else's sight… Do you understand how much my heart would hurt if you got killed or hurt badly?" Her crimson eyes softened a bit as she watched him.