“The patterns in the night sky—the positions of the stars—hold endless mysteries. As time passes, their positions undergo strange changes, and those changes have always been taken as signs the gods bestowed upon mankind. People generally believe that astrologers are merely scholars devoted to studying the riddles the gods left behind for humanity.

“But all of that is wrong!

“The stars themselves contain boundless power—power greater than the storms we see, the raging floods, the towering flames. Greater than all of it! So great that... it made me doubt.

“Could such tremendous power also have been created by the gods?

“And these stars seem to have hung in the heavens since time immemorial! They were there long, long ago, before anything we know of. Perhaps even before this world was created!

“Then were the stars truly created by the gods as well? Every book and religious text that can still be found gives the same explanation whenever stars are mentioned: ‘When the gods created this world, they placed the stars in the sky as ornaments to grace the beauty of the night. The gods alter the stars’ positions according to their moods and the changes within the world, and those alterations are often revelations left to mankind.’

“Yes. According to those accounts, the stars were created alongside our world, mere accessories to the night sky... but is that truly so?

“Six years ago, when I was thirty-four, the stars in the sky underwent an anomaly. At night, a star fell from the heavens. Every astrologer desperately studied the phenomenon, trying to determine what sign the gods had sent us. But I... chose another path.

“Based on the direction in which that star fell, and after consulting every source I could find, I decided to seek it out! I spent three full years traveling across the northernmost reaches of the continent, and at last, I found it!”

As she spoke, Semel’s phantom gently raised a hand. One hand emerged from her red robe, palm up, cradling a fist-sized chunk of blackened stone.

“This is the ‘fallen star’ I found. Look at it. On the surface, it is nothing more than a rock! Of course, the piece in my hand is only a fragment chipped from it. When I found the original, it was as large as a house. It had smashed a vast crater into the ground where it landed. I could even see the traces of a terrible fire: the forest had been burned to ash, and the plain had been blasted into a valley! Such destructive force could probably be matched only by the greatest of forbidden spells.”

Du Wei could not help sighing.

This female astrologer named Semel was truly remarkable, in Du Wei’s eyes.

At the very least, in a place where everyone devoutly believed that the gods had created all things, she had dared to question it... and from certain angles, she had come very close to the truth.

“What is difficult to imagine is that the so-called stars are nothing more than enormous stones. More importantly, this stone is entirely unlike any known substance in this world! It is hard, and filled with a strange magnetic pull for magic... I spent a great deal of time seeking out experienced alchemists, even elderly blacksmiths, yet not one of them could identify this new ‘material’! Which means... the stars do not belong to this world at all!”

Semel’s phantom began to flicker. Clearly, the magic sustaining it was nearly spent. Du Wei quickly focused himself, praying inwardly that it would last a little longer.

“From then on, I began to doubt every account claiming that the gods created this world. If the gods created the world, gave it all life, brought day and night, and set the seasons in motion... then who established the laws behind all of it? Was it the gods?

“I spent nearly my entire life studying the stars. In the end, I discovered that the claim that ‘changes in the stars’ positions are revelations bestowed by the gods upon mankind’ is utterly absurd! For ten years, I recorded and studied the positions of the stars visible in the sky. Every night during those ten years, I observed and recorded them.

“Gradually, on nights when the sky was dark and clouds veiled the heavens, I could no longer observe the stars with my eyes. At such times, I had to seek another method... and I thought of magic. Magic can sense every subtle change in nature, so when I could not see the stars, could I not sense their positions through magic?

“In the end, I discovered the power of the stars! And if I could wield that power, then just as mages draw upon the forces of nature... I could draw upon the power of the stars!

“After I found a way to sense the power of the stars, I discovered something else that astonished me!

“It was this... the power of the stars can be sensed not only at night!

“Even in broad daylight, with the blazing sun high above, I could still sense the stars through meditation, by expanding my mental perception! They are there in the sky, whether it is day or night! It is only that during the day, their light is hidden by the sun’s brilliance!

“And after ten years, having recorded the positions of the stars I observed, I found that although their positions changed, those changes followed recurring patterns! It was like a cycle! For example, a star might be in the east during summer, then move to the west in winter. By the following year, it would return to the east... Everything moved again and again along fixed paths, repeating in endless cycles!

“So this is absolutely not some revelation the gods gave mankind! Nor is it a riddle they left behind! Everything repeats according to a set pattern—the rules of the stars! The laws of the stars!”

Semel’s phantom slowly weakened. This was the final moment before her mental power ran out.

Her voice became incomparably solemn. “The Temple tells us that the stars are riddles and revelations the gods left to mankind. Yet I discovered that the changes in their positions repeat according to a fixed set of rules, with nothing whatsoever to do with the gods’ riddles. The Temple tells us that the stars are ornaments placed in the night sky by the gods. Yet I discovered that their existence is not limited to the night. Even in bright daylight, though the naked eye cannot see them, they still exist. The Temple also tells us that the gods created this world. Yet I discovered that the stars are made of a substance never seen before, one that belongs to none of the materials known in our world.”

The great female astrologer finally lifted her head and gave her final conclusion. “I began by doubting whether the stars were created by the gods... and in the end, I began to doubt the so-called... gods.”

Looking at the phantom before him, Du Wei suddenly felt profound respect for this woman. Since arriving in this world, she was the first person he had met who dared to challenge common sense and authority.

Compared with those who unquestioningly believed that “the gods created all things,” this woman—who had dared to challenge authority and devoted her life to research—earned Du Wei's profound respect.

“The research of my entire life is hidden in this room. These rows of cabinets contain everything I have left for you. The other door outside is a puzzle I arranged. If one cannot understand the clue about the stars that I left behind, at most one will find the false door outside. Behind it lies nothing but worldly treasure. Here, however, is the true legacy that I, Semel Chira Rowling, leave to this world!”

Suddenly, the beam of light flashed. Its glow began to dim, and the female astrologer’s phantom gradually blurred. Her voice weakened as well. “One final clue. The oil painting in the study contains a magical creature I created. I sealed it within that painting, and it will guide you as you study all this. You will need its help and instruction to learn everything in this room. For safety, I did not leave the spells for all the star magic I created in writing or on paper. I entrusted them to that magical creature. You must release it from its seal.

“My child, I do not know how many years will pass before you discover this place, but I believe that the great Rowling Family will surely produce a genius of magic. You must understand that my life’s research and discoveries challenge the authority of the gods. The world cannot possibly accept such things, especially those who represent authority. They will do everything they can to destroy them. I could not leave all this openly behind; I could only hide it in this way.

“I placed a spell upon that magical creature. It can revive only at night; by day, it falls asleep... Heh. Just like the stars, it cannot be seen with the naked eye during the day. Furthermore, only those with powerful mental power can see it at night. Since you have come this far, I trust your mental power is enough to make you an outstanding mage. I can pass all the star magic I created on to you... Remember this incantation. You may use it to undo the seal on the painting outside. Once released by these words, it will obey your every command without condition... From then on, the rest depends on your own efforts.”

The female astrologer slowly spoke the final incantation, pronouncing each syllable with care. At the same time, her fingers formed several hand seals at a measured pace... Du Wei memorized everything intently. Then, with a whoosh, the light flared once and abruptly vanished!

The room was immediately plunged into darkness. Du Wei hurriedly lit a candle and inspected the room. Seeing there was nothing more he could do for the moment, he carefully retraced his path and climbed back through the secret passage.

By the time he returned to the study, Du Wei was covered in dust. Fortunately, the study was full of dusty account books, so the dust on him would not be difficult to explain.

After closing the hidden door in the bookcase, Du Wei walked over to the oil painting. “I went in and saw everything. Including her final words.”

The pair of eyes in the painting seemed to relax, then showed a trace of pleading.

Du Wei understood what it meant and smiled. “You want to ask how to break your seal? Oh, I found the way. She left behind an incantation. But apparently, there is one small problem...”

Du Wei gave a wry smile.

Semel’s original clue had been the painting on the wall. Only someone with powerful mental power could see the painting.

And someone with powerful mental power was almost certainly a mage. Even if they were not, they could learn magic.

Semel’s star magic required a mage to study and inherit it. That was why she had arranged things this way.

If one could not see the moving figure in the painting, it meant one lacked sufficient mental power and had no talent for magic.

But anyone who could see it could learn magic... and then use the incantation Semel had left to undo the seal on the painting.

Yet even clever Semel could never have imagined that, many years later, the Rowling Family would produce such a freak as Du Wei!

He clearly possessed exceptional mental power! Yet when it came to magical perception, he had not the slightest talent at all!

In other words, Du Wei could not use the incantation Semel had left to undo the seal. He could not release the creature in the painting.

And without the magical creature Semel had left behind... he probably could not learn Semel’s star magic either, because that creature held the record of every spell!

It was as though he had fallen into a strange deadlock, was it not?

Du Wei could not help giving another wry smile.

He was standing guard over an immense treasure. The door had even opened for him, yet he still could not enter. It was a truly helpless feeling...

Then Du Wei’s eyes suddenly lit up... Hadn’t he captured a mage?

That fellow could use the most basic first-level magic to perform the most advanced art of instant casting. Perhaps...