"Our Founder? Lord Ren Wintercleave?"

The proctor asked.

"Yes. Since you're obviously a respected elder, I'd like to know if you know some stories to tell about the founder."

Serra answered.

"Haha... Well, there's no shortage of people asking about him and you're in luck. Actually, in my younger years, I once met and greeted the founder myself."

She said with pride.

Apparently, it's common for some younger disciples to ask about the founder.

The legendary hero who united the world and brought an end to all the chaos. An enigmatic man still alive to this day after the passage of countless years even after all the other heroes departed.

It's natural for many younger disciples to ask about him with their senior disciples.

"When I met Lord Ren, he seemed like a tired old man with a hint of death."

She recounted her meeting with him in her younger years.

"Though that was his appearance, he seemed wise and benevolent. Although I've heard of many stories of him as a ruthless tyrant and that he killed countless foes. He piled mountains of corpses and bathed in rivers of blood. I pictured him as a brutal and merciless man who came from hell. Yet, he seemed so wise, kind and benevolent... I was truly surprised. When I spoke to him, I thought of him merely as a senior so I didn't associate him with the founder at all... He seemed quite sad and lonely when I saw him."

Upon the sight of that lonely back, she was overcome with emotion.

"When I asked him what he was sad about, he said he thought of his younger years and his days of happiness."

"Younger years?"

This puzzled him.

"In his childhood, he was abandoned by his parents. However, he met a kind senior who guided him on his path. He taught him cultivation and raised him as his disciple. One day, he parted ways with him due to very important matters. But that senior promised him that he'd one day return. That senior was someone like a father to him. A person he held dear."

"..."

Serra fell silent.

"Oh? Why the silence?"

"Nothing. I just felt puzzled who that senior is."

"Well, I suppose that's natural. The teacher of the greatest man in this world is said to have come from the stars..."

Serra cringed.

I know for a fact that Ren wouldn't think of me like that but the future generations of this world did?

She ignored him then continued.

"Many great seniors sought to know about this great teacher and believed that there should be records of him. However, they failed so they asked Lord Ren instead."

She paused.

"According to Lord Ren, his teacher was someone who didn't belong to this world. He was severely injured and came to this world... Then, he met Lord Ren and taught him. Lord Ren at that time was a child abandoned by his parents. His origins isn't really a mystery."

She began to recount Ren's origins.

"Lord Ren was the child of a noble house. But it was a chaotic time. One day, a wave of terrifying magical beasts descended. His parents abandoned him and they separated... However, in an ironic twist of fate, he survived while his parents died. Perhaps due to this experience, he's very firm and strictly forbids betrayals. He detests internal struggles especially among family so he made means to ensure that no such struggle occur in the family. His efforts bore fruit ultimately.

The Royal Family despite it's large size is firmly united and there are no conflicts. Instead, there is a pure atmosphere of competition. This is a grand feat that is truly worthy of a man who united the world."

She praised greatly.

Reverence in her face.

"Well, I sidetracked a bit, but let me continue. After that event, his home was ruined. So, Lord Ren lived in the wild and did his best to survive. One day, a star fell where he was. Within that light was the man who would ultimately become his master. An immortal from the heavens has descended."