There was a story about a boy who refused his teacher's help, insisting on working on his own.
Later, the teacher died, and the boy realized all his success was actually due to the teacher's secret support. Now, he couldn't even thank the teacher.
Ren didn't want to be that boy.
He had always been hesitant, even avoiding the idea of having a legal guardian if he could.
However, now that he knew he wasn't a trouble magnet, that he was not the cause of harm to others, he suddenly wanted to experience what it was like to have a father figure.
Albeit hidden, the insults and the beatings from his childhood were still buried deep in his mind.
Ren did not notice that even now, he was afraid of Roxina, his new mother, and subconsciously hated the idea of a female figure as his parent.
I think, we might close the first world building arc in two more chapters and then the entire focus will be on the emotional arc. And also ... I am worried about writing smut chapters and with the plans in my head I need to write many such scenes!!!
...or may be, I should cut myself some slack. >...<'