Lucian picked up the Feather Pen and drew two lines on the paper. "First, I'll admit that this theory of relativity is still far from complete. It can't explain inertia, it's limited to uniform reference frames, and it can't be extended to accelerated ones."
"But, strictly addressing the question you raised, within this framework we can still see that it isn't a paradox. These are the two timelines of the two brothers — let's analyze them separately. For the older brother to fly away at a speed approaching light, there must necessarily be an acceleration phase from rest to his final velocity. That process can't be ignored. And if he wants to return, there's an equally unavoidable reverse acceleration phase — he has to overcome inertia, which also can't be ignored… Meanwhile, according to the principle of relativity, the younger brother doesn't undergo any process of overcoming inertia…"
As he analyzed, Lucian worked through assumed data and calculations. Introducing general relativity to account for inertia and gravity, then deriving the time dilation in the acceleration phase, would have been the most convenient and straightforward approach — but Lucian couldn't do that right now. Instead, he had to introduce the concepts briefly, analyze each timeline in detail, then use calculus to compute the time paths and arrive at a result.
"…So the older brother will end up slightly younger than the younger brother. More precisely, the changes to his body will have been slowed down…" Lucian reached his conclusion.
Oliver fiddled with the Feather Pen, studying Lucian's calculations closely and reviewing his reasoning. At last, he nodded. "I didn't consider it thoroughly enough — I overlooked the acceleration and deceleration phases. But what if the older brother never returns and just keeps going, drifting among the stars? Once he's reached a stable velocity, which one of them would be younger?"
"That has no practical significance," Lucian replied with a smile. "If the older brother never returns and never meets the younger brother again, they're each in different reference frames with no way to compare — like two people living in entirely separate worlds, each with their own lives and their own rules, but having nothing to do with one another." He gestured at the empty air beside him. "For all we know, there could be a real, physical world surrounding us right now — one that overlaps with our own but has absolutely no effect on us. They could pass right through each other without any interference. Perhaps in that world, right here in this very spot, someone is holding a lively ball."
Fernando, who hadn't found fault with Lucian's preceding explanation, grew grave upon hearing the offhand, somewhat imprecise example. "That's a rather peculiar notion. If such a world truly existed, then our research into spacetime and similar domains would still be in its infancy. It's hard to imagine that worlds composed of the same matter could overlap without affecting each other at all."
Lucian quickly shook his head. "That was just a tangential thought of mine. You needn't give it any weight, Professor — it has no theoretical basis and no practical significance."
He'd let something slip just now — a fragment from one of the discussions on spacetime concepts within the Soul Library. But that was unverified speculation, extrapolated from quantum theory, and not well regarded even in mainstream texts.
"Then let's move on to the next question…" Oliver spoke up again.
After a lengthy exchange, and given that the relativistic effects on accelerated particles had already been experimentally confirmed, Oliver tentatively accepted this framework. However, he and Lucian and Fernando reached a shared understanding: it was still an incomplete theory with many flaws. For instance, according to its calculations, artificial satellites should experience slower time than ground-level observers — yet the actual data and the post-adjustment changes in communication quality suggested that the opposite was true.
"Regardless, we've finally taken a solid step forward along this path. I have a feeling this will bring about a great transformation in the macroscopic domain. We'll need to guide the other Archanists carefully." Oliver paused, then added with a refined smile. "Lucian, you have outstanding abilities in both the microscopic and macroscopic domains. When the time comes, choosing a legendary profession is going to be a real dilemma. Others agonize over the fact that they can't find or construct a legendary profession that suits their cognitive world — but you're tormented by having too many options. That's truly enviable." He expressed his praise in his characteristically courteous manner. "I'll submit the transformation equations as quickly as possible and try to make it into the early-month issue of *Arcane*."
Lucian had always approached this matter with caution, basing everything on experimental results and concrete phenomena — no reckless leaps, no complacency. Who knew whether, when the research progressed far enough, the theory of relativity or the system of quantum mechanics might suddenly reveal something that contradicted the fundamental laws of this world? The Soul, spiritual energy, spatial barriers, world feedback, spell models — these things reminded Lucian at every turn that this world, while superficially identical to Earth, very likely harbored profound differences at the most fundamental level.
But lacking any good means to investigate these aspects more deeply, Lucian could only proceed cautiously along the path he was on, feeling his way forward step by step.
And after establishing his relationship with Natasha, Lucian had laid out his future course in greater detail. He intended to adopt a more conservative approach — after all, he was no longer walking this road alone. His plan was to place quantum mechanics at the center of his cognitive world's construction, use the theory of relativity in a supporting role, and be ready at any moment to revise relativity based on findings from quantum mechanics.
As far as Lucian could see, quantum mechanics was the only theory that might plausibly explain why two worlds could share so many identical physical constants yet still differ in the existence of Arcane Magic, spiritual energy, bloodline fusion, and other such phenomena.
If he had to place his bets, Lucian leaned more toward quantum mechanics than general relativity!
Of course, the gravitational manipulation and time manipulation that general relativity inevitably entailed were things Lucian couldn't simply discard.
"For now, the New Alchemy isn't yet complete, and the construction of a legendary profession is still nowhere in sight. I'm not thinking that far ahead." Lucian suspected that when the time came, the legendary profession that emerged would be something like "Atomic Dominion" — a path that would lower the threshold for studying "fission" and "fusion." Perhaps "Atomic Fission" and "Eternal Burning Sun" were the foundational spells of that profession, just as the Demigod Lich's "Wail of the Demigod Lich" and "Soul Imprisonment" were for the Demigod Lich, and Hathaway's "Elemental Decomposition" was for her.
Lucian didn't dwell on this topic any further. He shifted the conversation: "Lord Oliver, I hear you've been researching the Dark Dragon God. Have you learned anything of note?"
Since Lucian had submitted the *Report on Divine Attribute Changes of El*, placing him among the leading researchers in this field, Oliver made no attempt to conceal anything. He said directly, "The problems are significant. The moment the Dark Dragon God leaves its own demiplane and enters the primary material world, its divine attributes decay. It seems that 'faith power' has great difficulty penetrating the spatial barriers to reach it, so the source of its power drops dramatically, forcing it to rely on previously accumulated reserves. I suspect the reason the false gods' territories near the Dark Mountains have established and occupied so few demiplanes is related to this as well."
"But why is the Church of Truth completely unaffected? Is this the difference between a false god and a true god?"
Though he spoke of true gods, Oliver held no particular reverence — a god was, to him, merely a term, an object of study.
Lucian didn't fully understand the matter either. After recording Oliver's concerns in his Magic Notes, he bid farewell and prepared to leave Thunder Hell to apply for materials at the Affairs Committee.
"Evans, wait a moment." Oliver suddenly called after Lucian.