Duwei had entertained many speculations, pondering what might be sealed within the painting.
The "video" left behind by Semel through the magical array had already indicated that it was a magical being created by Semel herself.
Perhaps it was a ghost? A monster? Even if Semel had left behind a talking skeleton, Duwei would not have been the least bit surprised.
Yet, ironically, all his conjectures were wrong!
What stepped out of the painting was Semel herself!
Gazing at the silver-haired woman before him, clad in a red robe, Duwei took a deep breath, murmuring to himself, "I never imagined... never imagined..."
"What didn't you imagine?" Semel spoke, her voice as soft and melodious as it had been in the magical video, with a faint, sensual rasp.
"I never imagined you would seal yourself within a painting," Duwei chuckled wryly. Having already endured countless surprises, the shock was brief. He quickly regained his composure and regarded the woman before him. "How should I address you? The great Semel? Or perhaps... my great-great-great-grandmother?"
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"Neither," Semel smiled, her eyes curving like a crescent moon. "I am not Semel herself, but merely... a copy."
Duwei stared at her, puzzled.
"I was left behind by Semel as a guide for her descendants. I am a magical being, inheriting part of her knowledge. More precisely, I am an entity of spiritual energy. I have no physical form, no tangible body... I am but a shadow, a phantom." She smiled at Duwei, extending her hand slowly towards his face.
Soon, her delicate hand seemed to "pass through" his head.
"See? My body is formless, without fixed shape... I am simply a fragment of Semel's memory. As for my appearance..." She suddenly blinked, "I chose it myself. My memories are all hers, the memories of a woman. And Semel was the only woman I have ever known... In a sense, I am Semel, though only a fraction of her. So, I chose this form, to meet you as Semel." She lowered her voice, casting a knowing glance at Duwei. "My... master."
Heaven bear witness, when she uttered the word "master," a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes.
Duwei immediately realized that the magical being he had just released was not going to be simple... She was far from the obedient type!
Not Semel herself...
This realization was a relief. One more unexpected complication was the last thing he needed to deal with.
"Can you take another form?" Duwei sighed. "The way you look now... it's quite overwhelming. And what if someone else sees you like this?"
"Don't worry," she replied with a smile. "I was released through your spell, and I am bound only to your mental energy... Others cannot see me."
"Then, what should I call you? Surely, you must have a name?"
"Semel," she mused for a moment, "I prefer this name. Call me Semel."
Duwei wiped the sweat from his brow... Great, now she was his great-great-great-grandmother.
•
"Can you teach me stellar magic now?" Duwei frowned.
Semel seemed to have been locked away for far too long, her curiosity now piqued by everything around her.
She had even perched herself on Duwei's desk, swinging her pale, delicate legs in front of him... Good heavens, did she not realize that the hem of her robe was rather short?
At this rate, there was a definite risk of an accidental wardrobe malfunction.
Having such a beautiful woman in front of you was one thing... but when she looked exactly like your great-great-great-grandmother, it became deeply unsettling.
Though Joanna bore a passing resemblance to her, she was, after all, a different person. Despite the resemblance, her personality and demeanor kept Duwei from feeling uncomfortable.
But the woman before him... Semel—she not only looked like her, but she also shared memories that were entirely Semel's!
"Alright, get down from there!" Duwei turned his head, trying to ignore her, and walked to a corner of the study, grabbing a blanket from the sofa and tossing it at her. "Cover yourself with this."
The blanket had been prepared by the servants for Duwei's overnight stay in the study.
In an instant, Semel vanished from the desk, and rather than being covered by the blanket, she seemingly "slipped through" it, emerging from beneath with a teasing smirk. "Oh, young man, why the blush? Do you not find me beautiful?"
"No, I'm just... embarrassed." Duwei maintained a stiff face. "You are beautiful, but I can't help but think of you as my great-great-great-grandmother."
Semel burst into laughter, then winked mischievously. "Well, that might make things even more interesting!"
Duwei was starting to feel a headache coming on.
This Semel was no mere mindless tool—she was practically a living being. Originally created as a mere copy of Semel's memory, sealed away for nearly two centuries, she had likely been pent up for far too long!
Though she was created as an empty vessel for memories, after two hundred years, her personality had undoubtedly developed.
"Do you know, my sweet, handsome little master?" Semel suddenly leapt off the desk, her body floating towards Duwei like a ghost. Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "I've spent the last two hundred years in this very study! I've witnessed many, many things here!"
Duwei's curiosity stirred. "What kinds of things?"
The ancestors of the Rowlin family had often made important decisions here! There were many matters crucial to the family's prosperity that had been decided within these very walls.
Of course... there must also be many family secrets!
But Duwei's hopes were quickly dashed.
Semel wasn't speaking of any hidden family matters or major decisions...
She was talking about gossip!
Yes, standard gossip!
For example... how a certain young master had once had an affair with a beautiful maid in this very study. Or how a past family patriarch had written love letters to his mistress on the desk in this room... Duwei even learned of his "grandfather," the current Earl, who had been thought of as a stern and stodgy man, once hosting an unabashed revelry with two noblewomen after a castle banquet..."All of this... I saw it with my own eyes!" Semel spoke, her gaze tinged with curiosity and excitement. "And I also know that on one of these bookshelves in the study, there are 'forbidden' books hidden. Would you like to see the private treasures your ancestors left behind, my darling, handsome little master?"
Duwei forced a smile, though it seemed somewhat strained. He looked at the mischievous smile on Semel's face and sighed, "I'm not interested... Listen carefully! Your darling, handsome little master is only interested in one thing right now... stellar magic. I want to learn the stellar magic that Semel left behind, understand?"
"Stellar magic... again, stellar magic..." Semel's expression suddenly darkened. "Why does everyone always want to learn magic... Is magic really that fun?"
The mischievous grin faded from her face, replaced by a more somber look in her eyes. "You wish to learn stellar magic? Well, I must warn you: you might regret it. Let me tell you, if it weren't for stellar magic... Semel wouldn't have met such an early death."
Duwei's heart stirred. "What did you say? Wasn't Semel's death due to her heartbreak over her husband's passing? She died from grief, didn't she?"
"Apologies, but... that's the one secret I cannot reveal," Semel winked. "The order I was given was clear: unless you master the final and most difficult spell of stellar magic, I am not allowed to tell you this."
Duwei grew impatient. "Fine, I don't care much for secrets. Can we start learning now?"
"Apologies, not tonight," Semel shook her head. "Stellar magic is unlike ordinary magic. We cannot practice it here. Semel left the White Tower in this castle. It is the best place to observe the stars clearly. It is a perfect place for practice... This study is dark, with no view of the heavens. It is not suitable for learning stellar magic."
The White Tower...
Duwei frowned. "Must it be the White Tower?"
Semel thought for a moment. "Without the White Tower, the best alternative would be a spacious, quiet place where you can clearly observe the sky. The key is that it must offer a clear view of the heavens."
Duwei checked the time. "Then we can only begin tomorrow night... Let's meet then."
Duwei had no intention of engaging with this "Semel" any further... After all, seeing his great-great-great-grandmother twirling around in front of him, exposing her legs, was hardly an enjoyable experience.