After half-revealing his "conjecture," the study fell utterly silent, as though the air itself had solidified and refused to carry even the faintest whisper. On the matter of atomic theory, Lucian had directly discarded one of the core definitions underpinning modern Arcane fundamentals — the very foundation of "atomic theory." He had expected his "ideas," outrageous as they were, to be met with roaring rebukes. Instead, Fernando maintained his smile, his crimson pupils fixed on Lucian's eyes as though they could peer straight into his soul, and for a long while said nothing at all.
Just as this oppressive silence was making it difficult for Lucian to breathe, the Storm Ruler Fernando gave a gentle nod. "Truthfully, after you discovered the periodic law of the elements, Heather and I spent a great deal of time in discussion and reached a consensus: if we wish to continue probing the deeper questions of elements and atoms, we must temporarily set aside certain preconceived notions — including the definition that atoms are the most fundamental components of matter. Such ideas don't help us solve problems; they only constrain our thinking. And the basis for that consensus was precisely the principle you just mentioned — that the most fundamental should be the simplest."
"What?" Lucian hadn't expected the two Great Archanists to have already taken a step down this very path. Weren't they afraid that their cognitive worlds would shake and collapse, blowing their own heads apart?
Perhaps sensing Lucian's confusion, Fernando flashed that roguish grin of his. "Lucian, surely you don't think we Great Archanists are all stubborn old fossils who refuse to accept any new idea and won't admit they were wrong?"
Without waiting for an answer, he chuckled on. "To stand at the pinnacle of this world, to draw near to the essence of all things, we understand one thing: if Truth is an infinitely vast starry sky, we have merely glimpsed a handful of its stars. We must always remain humble and open-minded, and when it's time to let something go, we let it go decisively. Once a problem reveals itself, we cannot pretend not to see it — we must investigate why it exists."
"For a Legend-level mage's cognitive world to truly collapse, the disruption must completely overturn the very foundations of their understanding — arriving as a sudden, forceful shock backed by powerful evidence. Otherwise, at most a portion of their cognitive world cracks and solidifies, and they can no longer advance. Of course, perhaps we simply haven't explored deeply enough yet. No brand-new understanding has appeared that leaves everyone bewildered, shaken, and unable to comprehend."
Lucian noticed that Fernando's description of cognitive worlds differed somewhat from what he had known before.
"In contrast, Legend-level mages are equally tenacious in their views. Without rigorous, comprehensive, and compelling proof, there is simply no way to sway their position. Heather and I reached our consensus gradually — through the deepening of our research, through the discovery of problems, and through contradictions that arose in philosophical reasoning."
Lucian nodded thoughtfully at Fernando's somewhat self-contradictory description. These were precisely the two conflicting qualities his master had spoken of before: persistence and humility.
Fernando offered a final summary: "Every Great Archanist has one truth carved into their heart: 'Sometimes, past experience and knowledge become the very obstacle to our progress.'"
Once the Storm Ruler finished, Lucian quietly let out a breath of relief. He put on a "sincere" smile. "Master, since your and Archduchess Heather's views on atoms are so close to my own, would you support my proposal to establish an 'Atomic Research Institute'?"
"A single viewpoint hardly seems sufficient. Do you have any other novel insights, Lucian?" Fernando's grin turned fox-like, convinced that Lucian's head was bursting with extraordinary ideas — squeeze a little more, and perhaps an inspired perspective might fall right out.
Lucian shook his head firmly. "No, Master. That's exactly why we need to establish the Atomic Research Institute — to explore gradually."
"How about this, Lucian. Before you reach the Fifth Circle, I'll observe your progress under my tutelage. Otherwise, if I back an Atomic Research Institute that produces nothing, I'll be a laughingstock among the other Legends." Fernando wore a lecherous "show me what you've got, young man" sort of grin.
Lucian understood this carried an implicit test. He nodded solemnly. "I'll work hard, Master." At the very least, before he advanced to the High-rank, his mathematical foundations and his command of elemental, electromagnetic, and other branches of magic were more than adequate. The main issue lay in his area of greatest strength — Astrology, with its entanglement in Destiny, Blessings, and Curses — which proved difficult to integrate with Celestial Mechanics.
With the agreement settled, Lucian seized the moment to ask, "Master, how should I revise this application? It's far too pompous and empty."
"Why change it?" Fernando's face twisted in theatrical surprise. "With only your signature on it, of course it's pompous and empty. But if you add Heather's and my supporting signatures, it becomes visionary and profound — filling a gap in the Council's arcane research programs and pioneering a new research format."
Lucian was struck speechless.
"Good enough. Lucian, come read these letters — read them out loud, one by one." Fernando leaned back in his high-backed chair and closed his eyes, as though sinking into contemplation.
Though puzzled as to why Fernando didn't simply read them himself — that would have been far more efficient — and certain the man wasn't the type to put on airs, Lucian picked up the first letter with a heart full of curiosity.
Elegant, beautiful handwriting filled his vision. Lucian glanced at the envelope: "Yalolan Heather Hoffenberg" was written on it.
"Letters between Great Archanists, and I'm reading them aloud? Won't I be leaking state secrets?" The sheer surprise nearly stunned him into stillness.
"Read," Fernando urged.
Lucian suppressed his astonishment and began: "'Fernando, following your suggestions, I attempted to improve the Magic Circle design so that it can isolate even subtler differences. Below is the improved Magic Circle…'"
As he read on, Lucian felt both surprised and amused. Surprised, because the topic the two Great Archanists were discussing was one of the very research directions his Atomic Research Institute aimed to pursue: isotope separation! Through the practical application of the periodic table, an increasing number of Archanists had come to recognize that those atomic weights which never changed no matter what data was measured were indeed erroneous — yet current methods were insufficient to correct them. Fernando and Heather had pinpointed the problem as lying specifically with atomic weight. Since atomic weight corresponds to an object's mass, they were attempting to use electromagnetic and centrifugal methods to strip away "impurities." Only Legend-level mages could construct suitable Magic Circles under current conditions.
Lucian found it amusing because Heather's writing style didn't quite match her status as a Great Archanist — her words often failed to convey her meaning, and her prose was stiff and disorganized, forcing her to rely heavily on arcane symbols for description.
Once Lucian finished reading, Fernando smiled mischievously. "Reading Heather's papers and letters is always an ordeal. I hear that back when she was still a princess, she never once passed her literature class. Every one of her papers has to be polished by her students or little upstarts like Morris before it can be published in a journal."
Arcane gossip about a Great Archanist — would I be silenced for knowing this? Lucian thought with dry humor.
"Lucian, what do you make of the content of this letter? I recall you once mentioned the possibility along these lines." Fernando's question came without warning.
Lucian organized his thoughts. "Separating by this method, the greater the mass difference, the easier it should be. Heavy elements would be the best choice for initial experiments…"
After he finished speaking, Fernando posed several more questions drawn from the letter. Where Lucian couldn't answer, Fernando explained in detail — even setting up ad hoc Magic Circle experiments on the spot to demonstrate.
When the questioning was complete, Fernando slowly dictated a reply for Lucian to write.
By now, Lucian finally understood why Fernando had asked him to read the letters aloud. The man was using the cutting-edge exchanges between Legend-level mages as an opportunity to guide his teaching — broadening Lucian's knowledge and vision as he learned. Such guidance could only work if the student's arcane foundations were rock-solid; otherwise it would be nothing more than "casting pearls before swine." So when Lucian read the second letter, he marshaled his full attention, focusing with absolute concentration — lest he be stumped into silence and earn a thunderous reprimand.
……
The author of the second letter was even more famous. Meticulous, composed handwriting spelled out "Derek
"…Every Archanist knows that the propagation of waves requires a medium. But what medium do light and spiritual energy travel through in the cosmos… Any substance that exists, no matter how hidden, will eventually manifest characteristics that allow us to detect it. Yet the medium of light — the 'Aether' — has been proclaimed since before my birth and still remains unverified."
In the Arcane Empire, the mysterious "Aether" had also been adopted as the name of an alchemical material, one that beginners frequently confused with the concept.
"…Brooke and the others believe the wave theory has won a complete victory. I do not share that view. I have designed a simple, direct experiment to test the matter. If the Aether truly exists and pervades the cosmos, then as our world orbits the Sun, there must be a corresponding resistance — one that would alter the speed of light…"
Fernando listened in silence, then offered a casual assessment. "Douglas has put considerable effort into the particle theory of light and spiritual energy, delaying the wave theory's triumph. His persistence on this front surpasses anyone's, and it has forced more Archanists to confront the medium problem that wave theory raises. What's your view on this experiment, Lucian?"
"Even if the experiment proves that no 'Aether' exists, the Chairman's efforts won't be taken seriously — because the experiment is predicated on his cosmological model holding true, and to date we haven't confirmed the existence of even a single star beyond our own. An experiment built on a hypothesis is hard to convince anyone with." Lucian offered his pessimistic assessment.
Fernando nodded gently. "A reasonably clear-headed view — though it won't persuade that stubborn old Douglas. He'll keep experimenting. Still, such experiments do have a certain value. At the very least, they point toward a method for verifying the existence — or non-existence — of the Aether. Sooner or later, someone will design a similar experiment that doesn't depend on unproven hypotheses."
He then fired off a barrage of questions on the particle theory and wave theory of light and spiritual energy, pressing Lucian so hard that he had to push his mind to its limits to answer. By the time Fernando finished, Lucian found himself somewhat exhausted — such intensive thinking drained both mental energy and spirit.
As for the places where Lucian's answers were less than perfect, Fernando took the time to walk through specific light-and-dark and psychic-type spells, gradually explaining and reviewing them in a way that left Lucian with rich new understanding.
After the two Great Archanists came letters from more than a dozen Legend-level mages and senior Archanists, covering eleven different schools of thought. This all-encompassing guidance left Lucian simultaneously drained and exhilarated. He hadn't expected Master Fernando to hold such distinctive insights in Transmutation, Summoning, and Necromancy as well.
By the time the last letter was read, it was nearly noon. Fernando led Lucian to the laboratory, where they set up a spherical cavity painted black — an ideal model for thermal radiation.
"Right, Lucian. Tomorrow remains the same: read the letters first, then we begin the experiments." Fernando indicated that Lucian was free to leave.
Lucian walked out of the laboratory with a bone-deep sense of depletion. Hours of intense intellectual stimulation were truly exhausting — being an assistant was far more grueling than he had imagined.
Just then, Tampu approached from the opposite direction. Seeing Lucian's face, he smiled with understanding. "Evans, that must have been tough. But it'll do wonders for your arcane growth."
"Both agonizing and satisfying," Lucian sighed. Then, with a hint of regret, he asked, "Why is it that even though the Electromagnetic Telegraph has already been invented, Master and the other Archdukes still correspond by letter?"
"Partly because letters can convey arcane content that's difficult to express verbally. And partly," Tampu paused, glanced furtively at the laboratory, and snickered, "the other Archdukes would simply prefer letters."