"The celestial phenomena in the night sky, the positions of those stars, hold endless mysteries. Their positions undergo strange changes over time, and these changes have always been interpreted as some kind of divine indication. Astrologers are often thought to be the ones who specialize in deciphering these enigmatic messages left by the gods.
But all of this is wrong!
Among the stars lie infinite powers. Even these powers surpass the might of the immense storms, raging floods, and towering flames we witness! They are so powerful that they make me doubt.
Are these powerful forces also created by the gods?
Furthermore, these stars seem to have hung in the sky since time immemorial! They have been there for a very long time, even longer than what we know. Perhaps even longer than before our world was created!
So, were these stars really created by the gods? According to all the books and religious texts we have, whenever stars are mentioned, the most consistent explanation is: 'Stars were created by the gods to adorn the night sky of this world during its creation. The gods also change the positions of the stars according to their pleasure, as well as to signify events in the world, and these changes often serve as revelations to humanity.'
Yes, according to these accounts, it seems that the stars were created as an accessory to the night sky when our world was created... but is it really so?
And just six years ago, when I was thirty-four years old, there was a celestial anomaly in the sky. At night, stars fell from the heavens, and all the astrologers were desperately trying to decipher what this phenomenon meant, believed to be a divine message. But I chose a different path...
Based on the direction of the falling stars observed that night, along with all the information I could gather, I decided to search for the fallen star! It took me a full three years, traveling across the northern end of the continent, but I finally found it!"
As she spoke, the holographic image of Saimel gently raised her hand, and one of her palms emerged from the red robe, holding a small, fist-sized, dark stone.
"This is what I found, the 'fallen star.' Look, its appearance resembles nothing but a stone! Of course, what I have here is just a small piece I managed to break off. When I found it, it was as large as a house. Moreover, when it fell, it created a large crater in the terrain, and I could even see where a terrible fire had occurred, burning the forests to ashes and smashing the plains into valleys! Such destructive power, perhaps only the most powerful forbidden spells in magic could achieve."
Duvie couldn't help but sigh.
"Saimel, the master astrologer, was truly remarkable in Duvie's eyes!
At least, in a place where belief in gods creating everything was prevalent, she dared to question... and in some respects, she was getting close to the truth!
"It's unimaginable that what we call 'stars' are nothing more than enormous stones. What's more important is that this stone is entirely different from any known material in our world! It's hard and imbued with a magnetic force of magic... I spent a lot of time consulting experienced alchemists and even some old blacksmiths, but not a single one could identify this new 'substance'! In other words... the stars are not from our world!" The holographic image of Saimel began to flicker, indicating that the magic was about to run out. Duvie quickly focused his attention, praying internally that the magic would last a little longer.
"From then on, I began to question all the literature about the gods creating this world. If the gods created this world, giving life to all things, creating day and night, the changing seasons... then who determined all the laws? Was it the gods?
I spent almost my entire life studying the stars, only to discover that the so-called 'changes in the positions of the stars in the sky are divine revelations to humanity...' Such claims are absurd! I spent ten years recording and studying the positions of the stars visible in the sky, and during those ten years, I observed and recorded their positions every night.
Gradually, on some nights when the sky was dark and obscured by clouds, I couldn't observe the stars with the naked eye. At such times, I had to find another way... I turned to magic... Since magic can be used to sense all the subtle changes in nature, could I use magic to sense the positions of the stars when I couldn't see them?
Eventually, I discovered the power of the stars! And if I could harness this power, I could use it like a magician uses the forces of nature... harnessing the power of the stars!
After finding a way to sense the power of the stars, I made another astonishing discovery!
That is... the power of the stars is not only detectable at night!
Even during the blazing daylight, I could still, through meditation and expanding my spiritual senses, sense the existence of the stars! They exist in the sky! Day or night! It's just that during the day, their light is overshadowed by the intense sun!
And after ten years, during which I recorded the positions of the stars I observed, I found that although they undergo some changes, they actually follow a certain cyclical pattern! Everything seems to be cyclical! For example, a star that is in the east in summer will move to the west in winter, and then the following year, it will move back to the east... Everything seems to follow a specific trajectory, repeating in cycles!
So, this is by no means a divine revelation to humanity! Nor is it a riddle left by the gods! It's all just following a certain set of rules - the rules of the stars! The laws of the stars!"
Saimel's holographic image gradually weakened, signaling the last moment before her spiritual power ran out.
Her voice became extremely serious: "The temples tell us that the positions of the stars are divine mysteries and revelations, but I found that the changes in the positions of the stars seem to occur according to a fixed set of rules, unrelated to any divine mysteries; the temples tell us that the stars are decorations left by the gods in the night sky, but I found that the existence of the stars is not limited to just the night, even if it's the bright daylight, although invisible to the naked eye, they still exist; the temples also tell us that this world was created by the gods, but I found that the substance of the stars is a type of stone never seen before, it doesn't belong to any known material in our world."
The great female astrologer, Saimel, finally lifted her head and uttered her last summary: "I began to doubt whether the stars were created by gods... and in the end, I began to doubt the so-called... gods!"
Looking at the holographic image of the female astrologer in front of him, Duvie suddenly felt a deep respect for this woman! Because she was the first person Duvie encountered in this world who dared to question and challenge conventional wisdom and authority!
Compared to those who wholeheartedly believed in "gods creating everything," this woman, who dared to question and doubt authority, and who spent her entire life studying and researching, earned even more respect from Duvie.
"All my life's research is hidden in this room. The rows of cabinets here are all the things I left for you. And the other door outside is the puzzle I left behind. If you cannot heed the hints I left about the stars, the visitors will only find the location of that false door outside. Behind that door, there are only some worldly treasures, but here is where I, Saimel; Rorin's true legacy remains in this world!"
Suddenly, the pillar of light flickered, and then the light began to dim. The holographic image of the female astrologer gradually became blurry, and her voice also began to weaken:
"One last hint, in the painting in the study, is a magical creature I created, and I sealed it in that painting. It will be your guide in learning all this. And everything in this room, you must have its help and guidance when studying. All the spells of star magic I created, for safety reasons, I did not leave them in writing or on paper; I left them to that magical creature. You must release it from the seal.
My child, although I do not know how many years it will be before you discover this place, I believe that the great Rorin family will definitely produce a genius in magic. You should understand that my lifelong research and discoveries questioned the authority of the gods, which is something this world cannot accept! Especially those who represent authority, they will try their best to destroy it. I cannot leave all this openly and honestly, so I can only leave it in this secretive way.
I cast a spell on that magical creature. Only at night can it be resurrected, while during the day, it falls into a deep sleep... Heh, just like the stars, it cannot be seen with the naked eye during the day. And only those with strong spiritual power can see its existence at night. I believe that since you have come here, your spiritual power should be enough to become an excellent magician. I can teach you all the star magic I created... Remember a spell, you can use this spell to break the seal on the painting outside, and once released by this spell, it will unconditionally obey your commands... And in the future, everything depends on your efforts."
The female astrologer slowly uttered the last spell, pronouncing each syllable very clearly, and then made several fingerprints slowly with her fingers... Duvie paid close attention to everything and then... with a sudden sound, the light suddenly brightened for a moment, and then abruptly disappeared!
The room suddenly plunged into darkness, and Duvie quickly lit a candle. After inspecting the room and finding nothing immediate to do, Duvie cautiously retraced his steps and climbed back through the secret passage.
By the time he returned to the study, Duvie was covered in dust, but fortunately, there were plenty of dusty account books in the study, so the dust on his body wasn't difficult to explain.
Closing the hidden door on the bookshelf, Duvie approached the painting. "I've been inside and seen everything, including her testament," he said.
The eyes in the painting seemed to relax, then revealed a hint of supplication.
Duvie understood its meaning and smiled. "You're asking me how to break your seal, aren't you? Oh, I've found it already. She left behind a spell. But, evidently, there was a small mistake..."
Duvie chuckled.
The initial clue left by Saimel was the painting on the wall! And only someone with strong spiritual power could see the painting! And someone with strong spiritual power was almost certainly a wizard! Even if not a wizard, they could still learn magic!
Saimel's star magic required a wizard to learn and inherit. So, she left behind this setup.
If someone couldn't see the person in the painting move, it meant they lacked spiritual power and had no magical talent.
But those who could see could learn magic... and then, Saimel's spell could unlock the seal on the painting!
However, even the intelligent Saimel probably couldn't have foreseen that, years later, the Rorin family would produce someone like Duvie!
He clearly possessed exceptional spiritual power talent! But in terms of magic sensing, he utterly lacked any talent!
In other words, Duvie couldn't use Saimel's spell to unlock the seal on the painting.
Without the magical creature left by Saimel... he probably couldn't learn Saimel's star magic! Because all the magic spells were recorded by the creature in the painting!
It seemed like he was stuck in a strange deadlock, wasn't it?
Duvie couldn't help but smile wryly.
Clearly guarding a huge treasure, with even the door open to him, yet still unable to enter. This feeling was quite helpless...
Suddenly, Duvie's eyes lit up... Didn't I catch a wizard?
That guy could use the most basic first-level magical ability, even using the top-tier "Teleportation Spell." Perhaps...