11 years ago (just after the events of chapter 2)

Yuri gazed with slight trepidation and fear at the sight of a dozen bandits surrounding him, two of the bandits started talking to each other breaking the tense atmosphere. " It's just a kid " the bandit on the left says with a confused look, " he doesn't have anything valuable on him no weapons " the bandit continued.

The bandit on the right looked at Yuri with interest as he listened to his comrade, " so what is a kid like you doing in the middle of nowhere." Yuri looked at the bandit on the right who seemed to be the leader of the bandit group judging by the finer furs and commanding tone, "well answer me kid we don't have all day" the bandit said with a look of amusement on his face.

Yuri cautiously replied moving backward, " my village was attacked by direwolves I managed to escape but I am the only one left " Yuri said as tears appeared in his eyes. " What's your name kid? " the bandit replied with a sympathetic look, " my name is Yuri and I come from Rockwood village at the other side of the plains behind me."

The bandit leader stared at Yuri for a few tense seconds, " I take it you have no place to go?, well if you want somwhere to stay then you could stay with us if you earn your keep." Yuri looked with surprise at the bandit leader "I thought that bandits were bad and robbed people of worse?", Yuri now had a look of hope in his eyes.

"Well you would be right for the most part, most bandits are cruel creatures that prey on the suffering of others for thier sick pleasures." The bandit replied with a stoic face, " however we are not like that, yes we do steal from people and kill those that get in our way but we do have some morals". Yuri looked at the bandit with interest as he continued, " for example we do not kill innocents or anyone who doesn't get in our way when we steal from them, otherwise" a dark look crossed his face leaving no mystery to what would happen in that event.

" Anyway my name is Jason the leader here, do you want to join us or not". Yuri thought about it, ' I have nowhere else to go it will just be dangerous out there in the wild with no way to defend myself '. Jason looked at Yuri with curiosity, ' I wonder what he went through must have been recently, he has that haunted look in his eyes' .

Yuri's face went resolute at the current situation, " yes I will join your bandit group ". " Great I will show you the camp and introduce you to some of my mates when we get there " Jason smiled. As Yuri walked towards the distant camp Jason started to talk about the rules that every member has to follow, " you are not to kill or steal from other members if you do have problems then disputes can be sorted through a spar whoever wins will get what they what ".

Jason looked down at Yuri " well you won't have to worry about that to much as long as you treat people right, people don't take kindly to those that judge based on first impressions especially here ". Yuri nodded, " so you said I need to earn my keep what does that entail? ".

" you will be trained how to use a sword and bow, when trained to a suitable level you will go out to hunt on your own as a test ". " Once you complete the test you will be able to hunt for food or join us in raids, which however is up to you ". Yuri nodded, " for now you will just train and help do chores around the camp ". As Jason finished talking Yuri and Jason both arrived at the bandit camp, Yuri looked around the camp at the large tents and burly men carrying materials and foods of various types, ' well this is better than getting killed in the middle of nowhere ' Yuri thought with a smile.

Yuri and Jason arrived at the biggest tent in the camp, one man and women stood outside talking. When they saw Jason they both said " welcome back boss ", " hello Carl, Rose " Jason replied with a smile noticing Yuri's look of astonishment at the woman. Rose looked like a giant at 2 meters tall with bulging muscle showing the power behind that large frame, a large great sword twice the size of Yuri visible on her back.

Carl looked like a child compared to her with his thin wiry frame, at This point both Carl and Rose noticed Yuri standing next to Jason. " Jason who's the kid? ", Carl said looking at Yuri with curiosity. " This is Yuri we found him wondering the mountain path behind the camp, he is gonna join us after he lost his family and village " Jason replied with a somber look.

Rose looks at Yuri with a heartbroken face " oh my you poor dear ", Rose thought about the past a look of reminiscence crossed her face. " That's rough but events like that happen all to often in the wilds, it is not too uncommon to hear of whole villages wiped out by beasts " Carl said stoically. Yuri looked at Carl and Rose ' it seems that it is not only me here that has suffered similar losses', this made Yuri feel better in a way as it means he has something in common with many of the bandits in camp.

James glanced around camp while talking " Yuri well this is it your new home for however long you need it, just follow the rules we discussed and everything will go smoothly ". " These two are Rose and Carl, Rose Is the Head warrior in camp and the strongest in pure physical strength, she also has plenty of experience with swords axes you name it. Carl is my second in command and is the finest archer in camp, Rose will teach you how to use close combat weapons while Carl will teach you archery ".

" They do this regularly for all the new recruits " Jason glanced at the dimming sky " Yuri I will show you to your sleeping quarters within my tent, after all i cant have an 8 year old sleeping in a tent on his own with no defense ". Jason walked into the tent Yuri followed behind him. " Goodbye Yuri " Rose said with a sad look in her eyes, " he will be fine you know " Carl said leaning against some crates. " I know i cant help feeling sorry for him I know that look very well " Rose replied.

The inside of the tent was much larger than one would think, the tent had multiple sections made out of the same material as the tent itself. This formed about 4 small rooms joined with a main section in the middle which housed a dining table with ornate chairs, Jason smiled at Yuri's look " I stole those chairs from a low class noble " Jason looked almost gleeful at the memory.

" Your room is there it already has a bed so you can get some rest, I will find some clothes to fit your size I'm sure there will be some around camp ". Yuri looked in the room which held a simple Bed and desk with some books piled in a corner, ' this is good very good' Yuri said with a smile as he looked at the books. Yuri fell asleep that night with no discomfort and the confidence that a new life has just started.