"This news, I believe, has captured the attention of Archanists far more than Monday's Holm Crown Award. Ever since His Excellency the Speaker's speed-of-light experiment powerfully challenged the existence of 'aether,' the wave-particle debate has erupted once again and been pushed to new heights by Mr. Evans's light quantum hypothesis. Three years have passed, and it still hasn't subsided—truly earning its place as the third Wave-Particle War in the history of magic."
"Looking back at the previous two 'wars,' the wave theory led by His Excellency Brooke had already come close to utterly crushing the particle theory, leaving the last diehards to console themselves with the feeble excuse that aether's existence had yet to be proven—just to keep their Cognition Worlds from collapsing. But then the particle theory suddenly staged a 'resurrection from the dead' through the speed-of-light experiment and the light quantum hypothesis, launching a fierce new assault on the wave theory. The speed-of-light experiment and the photoelectric effect became mountains pressing down on the heart of every wave theory supporter, yet they could never find a self-consistent theory to explain these two phenomena."
Lark's concise introduction had sketched out the contours of the Wave-Particle War, setting the young mage Blake's blood boiling. He clenched his fists, wanting to knock those absolutely-minority, stubborn, despicable fools to the ground. At the same time, from the open windows, he could faintly hear other mages at the branch loudly cursing. Without question, there wasn't a single particle theory supporter among them.
"After three years of brewing, the Wave-Particle War seems to have reached a stage where victory or defeat can be decided. His Excellency Brooke and Mr. Roland have simultaneously completed improvements to their magic circles, establishing the foundation for conducting precise photoelectric effect experiments. If the experimental data and imagery can powerfully demonstrate the error of the light quantum hypothesis, then the particle theory will return to its former half-dead state, clinging to life through the speed-of-light experiment alone."
"This will be a historic event for the Parliament—an event marking the future direction and the true nature of the world. Therefore, we have randomly invited several Archanists to ask for their views and see what opinions exist within the Parliament on this matter." Lark's clear yet passionate and infectious voice seemed to burrow into the depths of everyone's heart. "Hello, everyone—I am Lark, host of the Allente Weekly News Review."
"Hello, Miss Lark—you are just as beautiful as your voice." A clear male voice answered without any trace of nervousness, tinged with what seemed like delight and excitement.
Several other male Archanists shrank back a bit, greeting her stiffly.
"Hello, Miss Lark—I really enjoy listening to your Allente Weekly News Review. You're even more beautiful than we imagined." A female Archanist's gentle voice answered on behalf of several companions.
Lark laughed softly: "Thank you all for your support. The reason I've invited you here today is to ask about something. What are your thoughts on His Excellency Brooke and Mr. Roland about to conduct the precise light quantum experiment?"
"Mm, this is something we've been waiting a long time for. Ever since Committee Member Evans proposed the light quantum hypothesis, we've been waiting—waiting for someone to step forward and prove this hypothesis wrong. Our own strength hasn't yet reached the high-level, and our improvements to magic circles are still in the exploratory stage, so all we could do was wait. Three years have passed, and finally the day has come—the day we can openly refute this absurd hypothesis. I believe His Excellency Brooke and Mr. Roland will produce convincing experimental results." The clear male voice spoke at length, his eloquence seemingly quite impressive.
"I'm so glad to see His Excellency Brooke and the others complete the circle improvements. I've had enough of those particle theory people."
"The experimental results will prove the wave theory correct."
Several male Archanists answered one by one.
"Although I personally admire Committee Member Evans greatly—admiring his numerous arcane achievements, admiring how he earned the highest honors in four different fields before even being promoted to high-level, tying for first in Parliament history, admiring how he became a high-level mage before the age of twenty-five—I don't believe the light quantum hypothesis is correct. Committee Member Evans can make mistakes too. Mm, that makes him more like a real, flesh-and-blood person, more approachable..." The gentle female voice seemed ready to ramble on further, but was cut off by her companions.
After listening to the answers, Lark spoke with a hint of puzzlement and a trace of a smile: "It seems no one believes the experimental results will favor the light quantum hypothesis? Is the wave theory's dominance really that unshakeable? Three years, and still no other theory can explain the photoelectric effect. Every imprecise experiment conducted during that time has perfectly matched Committee Member Evans's light quantum hypothesis—even one phenomenon he predicted has been confirmed. Are you really that certain the experimental results will prove the light quantum hypothesis wrong?"
"Certain."
"It's inevitable."
"Without a doubt."
...
Nearly ten Archanists who were interviewed all gave affirmative answers, but their voices seemed to carry a hint of weakness and uncertainty compared to before.
Blake loosened his clenched fists. The deep-blue pupils that surged with waves every time he was excited now lay calm as still water, revealing deep doubt and insecurity. Indeed—three whole years, and still no other theory could explain the photoelectric effect. All experimental results pointed to the correctness of the light quantum hypothesis. Similarly, several theories attempting to explain the speed-of-light experiment had been disproven one by one. The existence of aether hung by a thread.
Was the wave theory really correct? Could this experiment's results truly disprove the light quantum hypothesis?
.........
A crackling electrical sound rang out as a slightly wrinkled hand came to rest on the button, pressing gently to switch off the alchemical radio.
Having done this, Balak saw his teacher Brooke standing with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window at the distorted magnetic fields and crackling arcs of his electromagnetic kingdom, looking down from on high like the master of all things. He carefully drew a breath: "Teacher, you listened to the Allente Weekly News Review just now, didn't you?"
"Mm, a very fine program format. Evans never fails to produce astonishing results, no matter what field he enters." Wearing his wig, Brooke nodded slightly, like an elegant and conservative old gentleman. "It's just that his humor and the vocabulary he creates—sometimes I'm not quite accustomed to them."