Nick stared at his teacher on the podium, tense and stubborn. For someone as introverted and shy as he was, standing up directly to challenge his teacher's theoretical interpretation was practically the same as jumping from the top of Arlin to the ground without any magical enhancements. But the understanding of the microscopic domain that had been building inside him was growing louder and louder, urging him on, giving him the courage to do something he would never normally even consider!
Would the teacher be angry? Disappointed? Furious?
His gaze met Lucian's without flinching, and to his surprise, Nick found not the slightest trace of anger or disappointment on his teacher's face. It was calm and deep, without a single ripple.
"What problem do you think there is?" As all the archanists watched this scene of dispute between teacher and student with varying emotions, Lucian inclined his head slightly and spoke in a calm, steady tone.
Annick took a deep breath. "Observation does indeed alter results, but observation absolutely cannot be interpreted as the influence of consciousness or as requiring an intelligent, thinking observer. Observation is an objective act. Intelligent beings can do it, ordinary cats and dogs can do it, experimental apparatus can do it, and even microscopic systems composed of vast numbers of particles can do it. As for at what scale quantum superposition states exist, that remains to be explored and researched further."
He only had vague ideas and couldn't express them precisely.
"That's what I think too." Sprint was surprised to discover that Annick hadn't been so nervous as to become incoherent — he had basically laid out the ideas the two of them had discussed on a daily basis. He voiced his enthusiastic agreement.
Douglas also nodded slightly. "Although there's no precise mathematical model to support it yet, this is a relatively objective explanation. Lucian, your theory is too subjective."
Fernando said nothing, but the expression on his face made it abundantly clear which side he stood on — Annick's side, naturally. This wasn't because he had accepted their interpretation without any experimental results or mathematical models; it was simply that, by comparison, Lucian's was even more absurd!
Brook, Oliver, Helen, Hathaway, Bagner, Lavendy, and the others each displayed the same attitude in their own ways.
"But if that's the case, how do you explain Arcane Magic? How do you explain Divine Arts? How do you explain the power of faith? Annick — your interpretation leaves no room for supernatural forces." Lucian maintained his refined and gentle manner.
Annick opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but had no idea where to start.
"Lucian, don't force two unrelated issues together. The fact that the microscopic domain has no place for Arcane Magic doesn't mean other domains don't." Fernando spoke in a low voice.
Lucian let a faint smile cross his face. "My theory is at present merely a conjecture — one that aims to encompass all supernatural forces. Arguing about it now in a vacuum would be a waste of time. Let us explore and experiment at a measured pace, and hope to uncover the truth of the world."
Hmm? The archanists couldn't quite tell whether they were disappointed or relieved. Lord Evans hadn't produced a barrage of irrefutable experiments and theoretical predictions to declare his victory — that didn't match his usual style at all!
Wait, no — this was the normal case!
Suddenly, Lucian turned his faint smile toward Oliver, Fernando, Douglas, Annick, Sprint, and the others, and shifted his tone. "I have three experimental ideas that we currently can't carry out. I'm raising them here in the hope that with everyone's combined efforts, we can complete them sooner rather than later. They would provide powerful evidence for our interpretation of the microscopic domain."
"The first experiment: we all know that temperature is a manifestation of molecular thermal movement. So as long as we suppress the motion of microscopic particles, we would theoretically produce cold closer to absolute zero. In such a confined environment, the microscopic particles might all exist in the same quantum state. At the same time, this would also allow us to realize many of our ideas..."
Lucian briefly outlined the idea of using strong magnetic fields and lasers to create "traps" to confine microscopic particles, and roughly described how, in such an environment, through the proper experimental steps, one could observe the quantum superposition state of specific microscopic particles in an extremely brief instant.
Strong magnetic fields — no archanist was unfamiliar with them. And since Lucian had introduced the concept and general principles of lasers not long after learning Gaze of Vengeance, many mages already had some understanding of them. Equip them with magical crystals like rubies, and you could amplify your light-ray-type magic to some degree, producing searing heat — though this came with distance limitations.
Therefore, listening to Lucian's speculative descriptions, the mages had little trouble grasping them. Helen, in particular, hadn't blinked once. This seemed to explain many of the incomprehensible aspects of her ice-type legendary spells! As for how to actually build the "traps," even if Lucian already had ideas, he certainly wouldn't reveal them here — that would be for his own research!
For a Grand Archanist, direction was more important than any specific steps!
Oliver's expression darkened slightly, yet also carried a flicker of excitement. If they could actually observe a quantum superposition state, that would thoroughly prove the Secrets of the Demigods truly resided in the microscopic domain! But the experiments Lucian described were fraught with difficulties and couldn't be completed in a short time.
"But this is useless for explaining the transition from the microscopic domain to the macroscopic world. It merely confirms that quantum states involve the superposition of many possible configurations..." Annick and Sprint attached great importance to the experiments their teacher had described — they would help validate the wonders of the microscopic domain — but they were also filled with doubts.
Lucian didn't give them much time to think. "In the arcane experiment we just conducted, we can introduce two more variations."