P.S.: Wrote through the night, two chapters back-to-back. Looking for recommendations and monthly tickets on Monday!
Another make-up chapter tonight.
Inside Fernando's study.
After Lucian wrote out Planck's thermal radiation formula in his neat decorative script, the Storm Dominator completed the data verification in remarkably short time.
"Whether long-wave or short-wave, the results match the experimental data. At the very least, it appears to be a correct formula." Fernando nodded cautiously. "Still, we'd best run a few more experiments to confirm its correctness beyond doubt."
Tortured for two or three weeks by two formulas that each applied to only half the domain, the Storm Dominator Fernando felt his foul mood about to detonate completely. So the moment he saw Lucian's temporarily perfect formula, he cast everything aside — he just wanted to verify it as quickly as possible and then throw those two damnable formulas into the trash.
Since beginning his apprenticeship under Fernando, this was the first time Lucian had started an experiment without reading letters aloud.
Although a Grand Archanist's experimental speed far exceeded that of an ordinary mage, by the time they had thoroughly verified the thermal radiation formula with data, it was approaching noon.
"A formula actually 'derived' this way..." As Fernando relaxed with satisfaction, his usual slovenly, indecent manner began to show through. "Lucian, sometimes you really can't overthink things. Mm, when you're in love, never worry too much or dither."
How did those two topics connect? Lucian couldn't quite keep up with Fernando's mental leaps — more quantum than quantum itself. And his teacher appeared to be single, so while his theories on romance sounded plausible enough, they might not work in practice.
"Professor, since the formula has been pieced together, shall we write to Lord Douglas and the others?" Lucian ignored Fernando's tangential topic and deliberately steered his attention back to the formula.
Fernando nodded happily. "Of course. I imagine they've been troubled by those two formulas for quite some time as well. They never expected my student would be the one to solve it first. However..."
In an instant, he transformed from a seedy old man back into the fierce, irritable Storm Dominator. "Since this formula is correct, it means there are deeper laws hidden behind it — it reveals something essential about thermal radiation. Otherwise, it couldn't possibly be correct! We can't stop at the formula itself; we must dig into what it represents."
Though his tone was impatient and irritable, Lucian could sense his eagerness to explore — the impulse to seek the unknown and uncover the true nature of the world.
"Then should I still write to Lord Douglas and the others?" Lucian's plan was to let the Grand Archanists first become familiar with and accept the formula, so that they could gradually come around.
Fernando walked back to his desk without looking up. "Write to them. Let them join the discussion too. I have a feeling this is going to be a grueling piece of work. Oh, and write up the full process of how you pieced together this formula into a paper — submit it to the Review Committee together with mine and Douglas's, and then have it published in Arcane, so the Archanists can see the complete experimental data and formula derivation."
"If we can work out the true meaning of this formula before the next issue of Arcane is published, we'll publish that too, so the Archanists will understand the essential nature of thermal radiation and effectively improve the related branch of Arcane Magic. If we can't, then we can only hope that the discussions sparked by this issue of Arcane will bring us some inspiration."
His plan having succeeded, Lucian quickly wrote the formula into separate letters and sent them off via adamantine golems to the six Grand Archanists. Then he and Fernando began discussing the problems behind the formula.
The discussion was quite agonizing for Lucian, because it wasn't yet time to introduce the correct interpretation — he could only reveal it when every other path proved fruitless, so the Grand Archanists would actually accept it. He had to discuss thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and other fields with Fernando while carefully concealing his knowledge, making sure that nothing he let slip would give away the secret.
And disguising himself in front of a Grand Archanist was an extraordinarily difficult and painful thing. Fortunately, the Storm Dominator had placed nearly all his attention on discussing the formula itself and never once suspected that Lucian already knew the true meaning. This allowed Lucian to relax slightly and absorb "nourishment" from the discussion with a Grand Archanist, filling in the foundations of the relevant fields.
Time passed quickly to noon. As Fernando gestured for Lucian to leave, he suddenly mentioned: "Lucian, you should have advanced to the Fifth Circle by now?"
"Yes, Professor." Lucian was somewhat startled — he had only advanced last night, and the Storm Dominator had already noticed?
Fernando smiled with amusement. "Your mental power during the experiments has clearly reached Fifth Circle levels. As for your ability in Archanist theory and magical analysis, I can judge it fairly well from our time together. So unless you've been slacking, you could have advanced to the Fifth Circle within the past one or two weeks. Since you've already advanced, and your performance during this period has been noticeably better than Tangpu or Chloris were at the same stage — bring the Atomic Research Institute application tomorrow. I'll write up an evaluation and sign it."
"Thank you, Professor." Lucian had expected to wait another week or two, until the discussion about the thermal radiation formula concluded, before receiving Fernando's support. He hadn't expected to get the evaluation so soon, and felt a pleasant surge of surprise…
The next day.
"'On the Refinement of Fernando's Formula and Douglas's Formula in Thermal Radiation.'" After writing and signing the evaluation, Fernando casually picked up the paper Lucian was preparing to submit together and slowly read the title aloud, showing a rare smile during a discussion of Archanist matters. "From now on, this formula will be called the Evans Blackbody Radiation Formula, and the constant within it will undoubtedly be named the Evans Constant. Regardless of whether you produce any more major breakthroughs in the future, your name will be passed down alongside this constant and formula, spoken by countless mages."
The periodic table was considered a summative achievement in the Council's view — not a formula, constant, theorem, or unit system — so Lucian's surname hadn't been attached to it.
"The meaning of this constant is far from what you think right now, Professor." Lucian sighed softly to himself, put away the application and the paper, then opened Douglas's reply letter and read it aloud, as had become his habit over the past month and a half:
"…I am delighted to see that you and your student Lucian have solved a problem that has plagued me for many days. It left me entirely without the heart to conduct the experiments we previously discussed… Please convey my congratulations to Lucian Evans. Perhaps only a young man brimming with vitality like him could have made the decision to piece it together directly with mathematical methods, without regard for any practical Archanist significance. He is like an unpolluted diamond, radiating a pure light…"
"…Now that the formula is in hand, we should settle down and consider why it is correct, rather than the two formulas we derived before. I can assert with certainty that this formula must conceal a law we have not yet discovered, one that aligns it with the true nature of thermal radiation. What is it? Behind every phenomenon that seems coincidental or ordinary, there is inevitably a hidden law governing it. We cannot stop at the surface, intoxicated by the achievements we have already made. Instead, we must probe deeper and ask a few more 'whys'…"
"…I believe that we will eventually understand the true meaning of this formula, and through it grasp the essence and laws of thermal radiation — drawing ever closer to the reality of the world…"
"As expected — 'A Hundred Thousand Whys.'" Fernando quipped once again.
The letters from Briar, Hathaway, Oliver, Helen, and Vincent were largely similar to Douglas's, all discussing what lay behind the formula's validity…
Three days later, early morning.
"…Incorporating the assessment results of both committee members, the evaluation of Mr. Lucian Evans's formula is as follows: it thoroughly resolves the drawback of the two formulas in blackbody radiation, each of which was applicable only to either the long-wave or short-wave range. It aligns perfectly with experimental data and is a formula suitable for generalization and application. In accordance with the Council's naming conventions, it is hereby designated the Evans Blackbody Radiation Formula, with the constant therein named the Evans Constant."
"However, this formula was completed using purely mathematical methods and has not yet been backed by Archanist theory in the thermal domain, nor has the meaning of the formula been dissected. Further research is required. Therefore, a reward of twenty-five Archanist points and two hundred Archanist credits is granted."
Looking at the review document that Carolina had helped mail to his home, Lucian felt extremely pleased. The Council's reward for the formula exceeded that of most papers that lacked a second-tier evaluation. But that wasn't the point — the real point was the citation points for the formula and the constant! Unlike basic data such as atomic weights, which had to be shared with others, these belonged entirely to him, and the exclusivity period was three years!
As for the "Atomic Research Institute" application — since it involved many matters in the field, the review process was lengthy, and it would take another one or two weeks before a result came through.
Setting aside the review document, Lucian enjoyed his breakfast while opening another letter from Harrison:
"…The publication of Arcane has caused a tremendous sensation among all mages. Nearly every mage I've encountered has been discussing the 'Archanist significance' of illusion magic, as though Isabella's research has completely demolished the old theories of illusion. Ridiculous! Her little 'hormone' only applies to a tiny fraction of illusions!"
"…This atmosphere has put enormous pressure on the Wizards' Home. To preserve the honor and credibility of the laurel, after discussion among all senior wizards, it has been decided that in four days — on Monday — Isabella will be awarded the laurel…"
"…Regrettably, my proposal that you share the laurel was rejected. They don't really accept your brainwave theory — or more precisely, they feel it is still far too incomplete… I imagine you, Evans, will strengthen your research in this area and gradually perfect the theory. I hope that one day I'll see you claim the laurel, becoming the second mid-ranking mage in a century to receive the highest honor in a different field…"
"…This laurel-awarding ceremony will be held at the Wizards' Home headquarters. If you're free, Evans, you're welcome to attend…"
"They've decided to award the laurel to Ms. Isabella." Lucian set down the letter and remarked casually.