Duwei refused the servant's offer to assist him with his grooming, and even when it came time to bathe, he locked the door behind him.
Standing before the mirror, Duwei gently parted his hair, revealing a small, short protrusion on the top of his head... a horn.
"Chris... could he not have made this thing look a little more presentable?" Duwei sighed. It seemed he would have to be constantly vigilant from now on to ensure that no one touched his head.
Fortunately, the horn was small and short, easily concealed by his hair if he fluffed it out a little—his hair was quite long. Moreover, in the future, he might need to wear a hat at the right moments.
As Duwei gazed at his reflection, a curious and peculiar thought suddenly crossed his mind...
The eyes that Chris had gifted him...
Yes, the Eyes of Enchantment. In Duwei's view, these were by no means some trivial magic to make women fall in love with him. Rather, they were a form of highly effective... instant hypnosis.
Duwei couldn't help but recall the moment when he had bargained with that demon's servant...
Faced with an offer from someone representing the forces of darkness, what had Duwei truly desired?
At that time, what Duwei had wanted to say most was:
I want to go home!
To return to the world he once knew!
The world where his parents were alive, where his friends were, where the girl he liked was, and where everything was familiar to him.
This world, though mysterious, intriguing, and brimming with magical fantasy, was, after all, not his home.
If it were possible, Duwei would not have hesitated for a moment to demand to go back!
And so, Duwei carefully asked Chris, "Tell me... do you know spatial magic?"
After a pause, he added, "I've always been curious... Is it possible to use spatial magic to transport me from here to another world?"
Chris was understandably surprised.
Oh, no, he was not unfamiliar with spatial magic.
For a servant of a demon, one who possessed near-immortal life, his knowledge was unparalleled. What was there that he couldn't do?
Yet, Chris was still intrigued. The pursuit of spatial magic's secrets was a dream for many powerful sorcerers... but for a mere teenager, one who had not yet truly tasted the pleasures of life, to ask such a question was... perplexing.
"I know some spatial magic," Chris replied. "However, I cannot use it."
This explanation clarified things for Duwei, and Chris continued to explain, which immediately made Duwei understand.
"I'm confined here," Chris smiled wryly. "If I could use spatial magic, I would have long since escaped."
It made sense.
Duwei nodded, and with that, the hope of returning home was shattered.
Fortunately, after spending many years adapting to this world, Duwei was not as disappointed as he had imagined. After a brief pause, he voiced a new request: "Then... I wish to learn magic."
The young noble pointed to his head. "I believe I have some natural talent for mental power. However... my sensory perception is problematic. I cannot sense the fluctuations of magical elements around me."
And then...
Then Duwei grew another horn!
It was... well, it was as though Duwei's head, staring into the mirror, had been compared to a radio that couldn't quite pick up signals—until a new antenna was added!
That horn, in essence, was Duwei's new antenna, enabling him to perceive the magical currents in the air! And, thanks to this horn, his sensitivity would surpass that of most other mages.
That, of course, was Chris's gift.
Perhaps Duwei's request had been so simple, so innocently direct, that it even embarrassed the powerful demon's servant. So, Chris offered, "Your request is simple, little friend. As part of our agreement, I won't let you leave empty-handed. I'll throw in something extra... You can choose one additional gift from the list I mentioned earlier."
Ah, yes—the Eyes of Enchantment, the mighty Dragon's Heart, and the ability to hear people's thoughts, to see through their disguises...
Quite naturally, being a man—a true man—Duwei selected the Eyes of Enchantment.
Imagine, with these eyes, he could hypnotize any beautiful woman with a mere glance. It was quite wicked, wasn't it?
As for the Dragon's Heart... Duwei had no interest in becoming a muscle-bound brute.
And the ability to hear others' thoughts or see through their pretensions? That was more suited to politicians, not Duwei. He had no use for such abilities.
Thus... Duwei chose the Eyes of Enchantment.
A form of advanced hypnosis.
No matter how powerful the female sorceress, or how pure the holy maiden, none could escape the power of those eyes.
However... there was one catch:
It only worked on women.
Duwei closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He extended his arms, palms open, and focused intently on the sensations around him.
The feelings of confusion and helplessness that once plagued him had vanished!
The sense of having gained nothing was gone as well.
At this moment, Duwei could perceive everything around him with remarkable clarity! His mental energy expanded, unfurling like tendrils that seemed to touch every corner of the room, every inch of space! The rhythmic dripping of water, even the sound of a porcelain tile corroded by water stains in the corner, or the subtle pop of a bubble bursting in the bathtub...
It was so clear! The sharpness of it all was exhilarating!
Duwei couldn't help but let out a soft moan of pleasure.
Though he had yet to master magic, under the influence of his mental power, he waved his hand gently, and instantly, countless droplets of water gathered into his palm, coalescing into a small, shimmering sphere.
The water sphere remained intact, crystal clear, slowly rolling in his hand...
"This... this is magic," Duwei murmured, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. "It feels amazing." Without thinking, he squeezed his hand...
The water sphere shattered, and the droplets scattered, evaporating into nothing.
He had already begun to sense the magical elements. Within the confines of this bathroom, Duwei could easily sense and manipulate the water element.
Now, the only thing he needed was to learn incantations!
With abundant magical energy, sharp sensitivity, and the right spells...
He could then truly consider himself a mage.
•
Duwei spent two full hours in the bathroom. When he returned to his study, fully dressed, the elderly butler, Hill, was standing with legs stiff from waiting.
"Master, your dinner..."
"Let's eat in the study," Duwei waved his hand dismissively, catching the butler's hesitant expression. He smiled and preempted Hill's words. "Alright, my dear butler, I know Father has tasked you with keeping a close eye on me, but don't worry. For the next year, I will strictly follow Father's orders. I won't step foot beyond the castle's walls, nor will I interfere with the affairs of the estate. As for my monthly allowance... you need not worry, I won't be asking you for any."
He paused, looking directly into Hill's eyes. "I don't hold any grudges against my father... I understand perfectly. From his perspective, he is not just a father, but also the patriarch of the family. Sometimes, a father may not have the heart to punish his son in such a way, but as the head of the family, he has no choice but to do so. I understand that fully."
Hill was momentarily stunned. The comforting words he had prepared were immediately silenced by Duwei's calm, insightful response.
Now, it was clear to him: this young master was no fool, but a peculiar individual whose way of thinking set him apart from others.
Just as Hill prepared to take his leave, Duwei asked, "The cabin I requested to be built before I left..."
"It has been completed," Hill replied promptly. "It was built exactly as per your specifications. You can see it tomorrow."
"Thank you, I'm quite pleased," Duwei said, his gaze drifting elsewhere. With a subtle gesture, he signaled the butler to depart.
Once the study door was closed, Duwei ascended the stairs, randomly selecting a book on astrology from a high shelf and settled down to read in peace.
Time swiftly passed, and soon it was midnight.
As the clock chimed twelve, Duwei stretched lazily, then checked the door to ensure it was locked. He brought over a ladder and carefully removed the oil painting from the wall.
It seemed that the servants had done their work with great diligence, as there was not a speck of dust on the painting. Duwei gazed at the eyes of the figure portrayed within.
After midnight, those eyes seemed to come to life, their gaze now expectantly focused on him.
"Well, after all this time, I suppose you've been waiting impatiently," Duwei smiled. "I've already explored the secret chamber below and seen what the great astrologer Semel left behind... Now, I have a spell, one that can release you."
This would be Duwei's first attempt at magic, and he felt a flicker of nervousness deep inside.
Unconsciously, he began mimicking the gestures he had seen other mages perform when casting spells... arms slightly raised, expression solemn, softly chanting the incantation...
What Duwei didn't realize was that his posture and movements were strikingly similar to those of the young fool, Vivian.
As the final words of the incantation left his lips, Duwei suddenly felt a strange, mysterious energy stirring in the air around him...
Almost immediately, he felt a subtle undercurrent within his mental energy, as though an invisible straw had quickly siphoned away a sliver of his focus...
Then...
A faint glow erupted from his fingertips, and with a rush, the light was absorbed into the painting!
...That should have done it, right?
Duwei stepped back two paces, watching the painting intently.
Boom!
A burst of flame shot from the canvas, and the painting quickly caught fire. Duwei jumped back in alarm!
He knew all too well that the painting was a priceless family heirloom! If it burned, the old butler would surely report it to his father.
But Duwei didn't even have time to grab the water glass from the desk to douse the flames. The fire was spreading too quickly, too violently!
In the blink of an eye, the entire painting was consumed by flames, turning to ash. The fire continued to float upward, spreading across the desk and onto the floor... the ashes swirled, and the flames danced.
Then, Duwei saw it.
A pale leg, delicate and graceful, stepped lightly out from the flames...
The skin was as white as snow, so soft it seemed one could squeeze water from it with a gentle touch... The toes were exquisite, resembling pearls, and the soles of the feet were like fine jade, small and delicate.
The legs themselves were perfection—long, firm, straight, and graceful...
A bright red robe, vivid as spring roses, fluttered about her, the contrast between the vibrant red and her snow-white skin almost blinding.
And then, a cascade of silver hair, as white as the purest snow, framed her lithe figure, the red robe barely concealing the curves of her body. From the exposed neck and the subtle rise of her chest, Duwei couldn't help but wonder... was she wearing anything beneath that robe?
Finally, Duwei saw her face.
It was the third time he had seen such a face!
The first was in the secret chamber below, within the magic circle left behind by the great astrologer Semel, where he saw a spectral image of Semel herself.
The second was the formidable sorceress, the ice-cold beauty, Joanna!
And now, for the third time...
This face, so different from Joanna's aloof coldness, radiated a calm, subtle allure. Her eyes, like pools of still water, seemed gentle, yet far more captivating than Joanna's piercing gaze.
Duwei stood frozen, staring in disbelief.
White hair, an ethereal beauty, a vibrant red robe...
The woman who stepped out of the burning painting before him...
Was none other than the great female astrologer, Semel herself!