V1. C2. Neo's Story

"Although I was blessed with a prestigious family and resources to help me, I was relatively lazy, I reached Gold Perfection cultivation at 16 which shows I only reached cultivation levels at the average age we were expected to, even though my comprehension and speed would most definitely show otherwise, but we'll get to that later. Due to my laziness I barely made it into Starlit Academy, even with my parents paying a hefty fee!

"man I still feel terrible for that, the amount of gold spent on me to get in would make kings shiver. It was worth it though, cause not even 2 days of me attending, I saw out of the corner of my eyes fiery red hair on a girl that would turn everyone's heads, it was almost exactly the color of the flames you'd have in your homes, flowing in the breeze across the courtyard," Neo gestures his finger waving and pointing, as he stared into nothing, as if expecting Kent and George to see the fiery hair as well, "it was beautiful. I had to know who she was. The next day I did some research by asking around, assuming someone like her would be well known, I got my answer almost instantly haha, her name was Kay Woods, a 15 year old girl who cultivated all the way to Peak Divine Bronze Tempering, two full realms above me, a year younger too! Could you believe it?!" said Neo as he took another gulp of beer.

"I don't want to believe it but I have to, there are all sorts of monsters out there, especially at that academy!" ,Kent said fervently, "please keep going, I'm assuming she's the very special person who started you life, hm?" continued Kent while he wiggled his eyebrows in a silly fashion.

"Hehe" chuckled Neo,"you're right Kent, she's my most special person, and the one to get me out of my indifferent attitude towards cultivating. I only talked to her once during my first year at Starlit and out of awkwardness I asked what I would have to do to date her, and she gave me two words before walking off,'Surpass me.' She was top of class for our age group and I had to catch up, not stopping until I got there, and I did 4 years later haha!" Neo smiles, showing his almost too white teeth and a smile that seems so real Kent and George can't help but smile in return.

"I caught up at 20 years old and even surpassed her, reaching Peak Divine Silver Perfection, while she was at Initial Divine Silver Tempering. Keep in mind the average age to reach the top of Divine Silver is 24, I was ecstatic. After surpassing her, I was given what one might call a pity date hehe," Neo scratches the back of his head, slightly wincing in embarrassment, "she didn't seem too into our date at first, which was freaking me out in all honesty, but when we passed a couple street performers playing the flute and other instruments, she stopped immediately to listen and sway to the music. Praying to the gods, I struck up the courage to take her hand and dance to the music, the melody was very slow, almost hypnotizing, Kay and I were both so engulfed in the tune while dancing and swaying, we felt like it was all a dream. Realizing it wasn't a dream however made it all the more amazing for me, cause I knew that the girl of my dreams was the one for me... on the first date!"

"A couple years pass by as we continue to cultivate and grow stronger and I finally decided to officially announce my marriage to Kay to the public, while also announcing the birth of my son Drago, meaning a dragon who is precious and mighty. Because of my standing within the kingdom, of course my son would grow to be as mighty as a dragon all while being my precious son. Hoho the places he would go when he grows up!" *cough sniff* "Sorry...if he grew up…" Neo wiped his nose with the cloth on the table they were sitting at.

"If?" George asked while leaning forward, a somber look on his face as he realized Neo's story just hit a sore spot.

"Yes, if he grew up... he would've grown up stronger than me, than everyone… but the world will never get to see it now that he was taken from me." *SHCHING* the glass Neo was holding shattered as his face showed a form of fury one would see only on the fiercest of beasts. Kent and George worriedly scooted back in the seats they were in while still intensely focusing on Neo's narrating.

"He was only two years old, yet a genius who already reached Peak Bronze Tempering and an intellect that I probably had when I was 8, I couldn't believe it." Neo said while smiling, however his eyes showed otherwise and portrayed a look of pain and sadness.

Kent couldn't help but ask, while still fumbling with his words due to the heaviness of the topic "I-I-I don't mean to pry, but was this recent? Judging by your looks you can't be no older than 25, and you had your son at 22, w-w-what happened?"

"It happened two days ago-"

"The attack at Stoneheart!" interrupted Kent.

"Yes, the attack at Stoneheart... and there was nothing I could do… due to my lack in strength." said Neo looking down to the floor with his arms folded on his knees. "It all started when the red leaves fell…"