Ray had finally learned to make one talisman, but this was only the beginning. This didn't make him a talisman master—he was still a beginner and had a long way to go. Selene was very proud of Ray for managing to complete his first talisman. She began thinking about making him her student.
So she said, "Ray, I see that you've learned how to make talismans. I want to keep teaching you. Would you like to become my student?"
Ray looked at her with a confused expression, tilting his head to the left, and asked, "Third Mother, why are you demoting yourself?"
Selene gave him a puzzled look, not understanding what he meant.
Ray explained, "You are my third mother, which means you are my mother. A mother is above the level of a teacher. So if I call you 'teacher,' wouldn't that be demoting you?"
Selene smacked her forehead in realization. Suddenly, everything made sense. Would she ever tell Angelina to become her student? Of course not. But would she teach her daughter regardless? Absolutely. Even though Ray wasn't her biological child, he was still her son—being the child of her husband. So naturally, she would teach him. But that didn't mean she'd teach any of her husband's other children.
Ray chuckled at his third mother's reaction. Angelina, who had been observing from a distance, initially thought Ray was rejecting her mother as a master. But then she realized her own mistake—she had forgotten that Ray was also her brother. She followed her mother's lead and smacked her own head.
Ray enjoyed watching their reactions but was also deep in thought, contemplating whether or not he should include Selene in his grand future plan of connecting to the internet. Before deciding, he knew he would need to discuss it with his mother first.
Just as the laughter subsided, a knock was heard on Selene's door. It was Diana, who had come to check on how her son was doing.
Diana entered and heard from Selene that Ray was a genius. He had learned how to make a talisman on his very first day. Selene requested Diana to allow Ray to continue learning talisman-making and proposed to divide his time to include a few hours a week with her.
Hearing that Ray would have to spend time with Selene meant Diana would lose some of her time with him. However, after realizing that her son had a talent for talismans—and with Selene being a master—Diana knew she couldn't be selfish. The discussion soon turned into a battle over the timetable.
Ray and Angelina watched, wide-eyed, as their mothers fiercely argued. For the first time, they saw just how intense their mothers could be. In the end, Selene managed to secure only three days per week for a few hours. Diana had clearly won the argument—and quite brutally at that.
Before Robert had married Diana, Selene had always been bullied by his first and second wives. But once Diana entered the family, Selene gained a powerful ally who always protected her. Despite this alliance, invisible battles constantly raged between the first and second wives and the third and fourth.
Diana examined Ray's first talisman and smiled with pride. But her smile carried an underlying message: "You've got some explaining to do." Ray simply pretended not to notice and planned to explain everything once they were back in her room.
After some more conversation, Ray and Diana bid Selene farewell. Before they left, Selene handed Ray a book, instructing him to read and further his understanding.
Ray followed his mother to her room. She shut the door and activated a formation that sealed the room, ensuring no one could eavesdrop on their conversation.
Ray waited patiently. Diana then looked at him and asked, "So, tell me, why did you go to Selene to learn talismans, little mister?"
Ray chuckled. "Because I need both formation and talisman skills to create the internet. And it seems Third Mother genuinely enjoys teaching me."
"Third Mother?" Diana asked, raising an eyebrow. "I never taught you to call her that. Aren't you supposed to refer to her as the Third Duchess?"
"You didn't teach me that, Mother—remember?" Ray said, nodding his head. "Third Mother told me I should normally call her Third Duchess or Aunt, but she gave me permission to call her Third Mother. She even told me never to call her Third Duchess again. So the next time I meet the First or Second Duchess, I'll make sure to address them with 'Duchess.'"
Diana shook her head, beginning to understand Selene's motivation for wanting to teach Ray. The boy had used his charm—and the 'Third Mother' card—to win Selene over. Selene was soft-hearted, and that's exactly why she had agreed.
Now that Ray had answered most of her questions, it was his turn to ask. He looked at Diana and said, "Mother, should we include Third Mother in our grand plan to create the internet?"
Diana shook her head. "We don't know yet. Selene and I are on good terms mainly because we have a common enemy. We'll observe things for now and make decisions slowly. For the time being, you can go ahead and learn talisman-making. Also, your maternal grandfather has asked me to bring you the next time I visit him. So be prepared."
Ray had met his maternal grandfather and grandmother a few times before, and they absolutely doted on him. This occasionally stirred a little jealousy in Diana. Ray had also visited his grandfather's shop before, so hearing he'd get to go again made him excited to see his grandparents.
After that, Diana began teaching Ray protection-related formations. These functioned like shields; if someone attacked Ray, he would be able to defend himself. But Ray sensed something was off—his instincts told him something was coming. Why was his mother teaching him protection formations now? And giving him a bangle that could activate them?
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Ray finally asked, "What is it, Mother? Why are you giving me protection formations?"