Isawa Teruzumi was father of Snake Clan founder, Isawa Chuda and a well respected Imperial Magistrate. He was killed by bandits and his wife, Isawa Ashiko, died soon after from grief. However, young Chuda found scrolls detailing Teruzumi's studies of maho and his wish to have those powers for himself. Before his death, he believed Phoenix Inquisitors had discovered his experiments and prepared to fake his own death. The Inquisitors had slain Teruzumi to preserve the honor of the family and the clan. When Chuda realized these, he vowed to destroy all maho-tsukai to regain his family honor.