Chapter 438: The Second Reward

Annonis, the Astrologer, took out a unique-shaped bracelet, on which a pocket watch was attached. He said in a serious tone, "many thanks to Mr. Lucien Evans, for putting forward the mathematic model and demonstration for Levski Geometry, which freed us from our own arrogance and prejudice and made us see the beauty of math from another perspective. He showed us the great necessity and sufficiency of correct axioms and rigorous logic. Only an arcanist with such courage and intelligence like Mr. Lucien Evans can make such a great contribution.

"... Also, many thanks to Mr. Lucien Evans again for building another new geometry system, and making our overall geometry system more complete. Using the twenty-second Arcana Scepter, we commend him for Evans Geometry and his outstanding contribution to mathematics."

Lucien had Sun Staff already, therefore he asked Tower to turn the Arcana Scepter into a bracelet-like accessory — a "hand watch".

Touching the silver-grey watch, on which constellation patterns and diamonds were engraved in golden ratio, Lucien left his spirit imprint in the core of the sun pattern surrounded by the zodiac stars.

"Arcana Scepter: Evans Geometry. Level-seven perfect rank item. Requirement: Sixth-circle spiritual power and primarily-substantialized cognitive world.

"This unique-shaped bracelet is enchanted with two permanent magic effects: Improving the accuracy when casting Horoscope, and increasing the owner's presentiment against danger by allowing him to connect to his Host Star of Destiny without entering meditation status

"As a piece of work from a Tower alchemist, it is also enchanted with the power of stars and destiny. Its owner could cast the fifth-circle spell Curse of Doom twice a day, the fifth-circle spell Star Blessing twice a day, and the seventh-circle spell Destiny Interference three times a day.

"January, year 820. In acknowledgment of Mr. Lucien Evans' great contribution to mathematics.

"The flow of time is independent, absolute, and mathematical; so is destiny. We can observe it, refer to it, predict it, and even interfere it to a certain degree!

"—— Caxias Annonis"

Putting on the watch, Lucien turned to the arcanists down the stage and said to them meaningfully,

"from the ancient Magic Empire to the Congress of Magic, hundreds of years have passed. During which, there were many times when an initially ignored research finding became widely recognized when arcanists encountered bigger difficulties later.

"Our research projects should be practical, of course. But we should also encourage the arcanists who have spare time and vigor to be more far-sighted and take on projects that are more advanced than what we understand right now. Only by so can we have handy tools in future explorations to guarantee the rate of our development ."

Neeshka, Milina, Gaston, Rachel and many started smiling. Lucien was obviously very stubborn. People were saying that his new geometry system was of no practical use, so he now was repeatedly arguing that his system was, in fact, too advanced to be employed right now. Was he right? No one knew it.

Lucien did not stop because of the kind smile on his acquaintances' faces. "Mr. President's artificial planet experiment has proved to us the rationality of his celestial bodies motion system, and also the profound mystery of the universe. When the gate of micro-world first opened, we saw for the first time how small a world can be. As we can see, there is a world way bigger than we can imagine, and another way smaller than we can imagine, and both of them are beyond our current ability of direct observation by using magic. Recently, I believe all of you have experienced, or are currently experiencing, the helpless feeling of unable to carry out experiments despite having ideas and theories."

Studies of the micro- and macro-world had also attracted the attention of countless sorcerers. It was currently the second hottest topic aside from the debate war of the wave and particle theory of light. Most sorcerers attending the ceremony had more or less ventured into it. They nodded as they could all relate to Lucien's words. When studying the micro- and macro-world, the current magic methods have reached their limitations.

Lucien's face had the same gentle smile as ever. "Therefore, math becomes the only tool that we can rely on. We observe the phenomena, and we find its rules. Math is going to play a vital role when we explore the micro- and macro-world and will beacon the darkness in front of us!"

Raventi listened to Lucien's speech seriously. Although there were vague concepts of micro- and macro-world before, Lucien was the first person who clearly categorized the two and used them to divide magic sectors.

The look on Lucien's face suddenly became serious, "The world we live in is totally different from the micro- and macro-world. In the future, maybe we will find our theories and beliefs totally inapplicable to them. Maybe everything in the two worlds goes far beyond our imagination. Maybe what can be considered miracles in our eyes aret nothing more than normal there.

"Then, we cannot rely on our eyes, ears, or even soul; neither can we depend on our past experience and theories. Math will be our only tool!"

The arcanists present started applauding, showing their respect to the winner of the award, but they were not paying real attention to Lucien's prophesy since it still sounded too bold to be true. The field of Math was set in an abstract world, and it was thus understandable that unimaginable new geometry systems could be found. But it is hard to believe that, in the real world of arcana and magic, unimaginable miracle-like phenomena and theories could appear.

Although the School of Transformation, Summoning, and part of Illusion still could not be brought into the current arcana system, the arcanists believed that with a more in-depth understanding in the human body, time and space, as well as the application of electromagnetic waves, these schools that still bore the impression of the ancient Magic Empire would also fit into the system.

Using the grand arcanist Brook's words, "They should be included in the arcana system, and will be!"

At this moment, they had forgotten Lucien's Energy Quantum Theory which they left behind their mind on purpose, the hypothesis seemingly containing the power that could destroy the entire arcana world.

...

In the garden villa.

Lucien put on the monocle that he had improved himself, and turned on Electromagnetism Messaging. After a while of electric current noise, he heard Natasha's surprised voice.

"Lucien? Are you close to Aalto right now? Again?"

Through the satellite, her voice sounded a bit different, and the quality of the connection was not very good.

"No, I'm calling you at a super long distance through the artificial planet." Lucien smiled. The quality of the call was within his expectation, and it could be improved later after they had more experience.

To utilize a satellite properly for communication, locating, and monitoring was not an easy job. With the more extensive applications, more and more problems would appear, some were going to cause a headache for the grand arcanists as they would not be able to find the reasons behind.

However, problems were exactly what Lucien was expecting!

He had two major aims behind putting forward the package plan besides proving Douglas's celestial body system: First, to talk to Natasha; Second, to make the problems emerge, and thus the foundation of the special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity could be laid.

Although the related books in his spirit library had not yet been unlocked, Lucien still got to know the great influence that the two theories of relativity had on satellites, such as the velocity time dilation effect and the gravitational time dilation effect. Without a doubt, the problems were caused because of them.

Since he was using a synchronous-orbit satellite, the velocity time dilation effect can be ignored. Lucien only had to consider how to deal with the gravitational field. Also, because the satellite system was still very simple and there were very few users right now, he was able to talk to Natasha.

Natasha remained silent for a moment and asked, "So the newborn star that day... was an artificial planet? No wonder the Pope used God's Arrival..."

Then Natasha recalled the scarlet moon, and she asked with complex emotions, "you made it?"

"I made a proposal. Mr. Douglas put forward the theories and made it." Lucien answered honestly.

Natasha clicked her tongue. "I knew it! It was your idea. I feel like I am lagging behind those all kinds of thoughts of yours. And you're always able to turn these thoughts into reality! Making friend with you is something full of surprise, but I'm also concerned that maybe one day, you will fool me easily. Anyways, talking to you like this makes me feel we're in fact not far away from each other. I like it."

"So I called you immediately after I could," said Lucien ambiguously. He was too shy to say it out directly that talking to her was one of his main purposes for launching satellites.

"Haha, it's my great pleasure that you still remember... me." Natasha laughed, but her voice paused a bit. Maybe it was because of the quality of connection, or something else.

Their conversation was very convivial, and it lasted until both Natasha's and Lucien's spiritual power could not support the calling devices anymore.

"Right, I noticed that the Grand Cardinal Sard disappeared from the public since what happened to the scarlet moon. No idea what he is doing right now." Natasha gave Lucien a warning.

Lucien nodded as he felt the heat of the monocle that he was wearing. "Considering what has happened, it's not surprising that he's behaving weirdly. Well... I'll put a cryptographic magic circle on the electromagnetism messaging devices as soon as possible, or our conversation can be easily exposed."

"I see." Natasha did not know much about electromagnetism, but she was rather assured that Lucien would take care of it.

After the conversation, Lucien saw Annick walking towards him, surrounded by the other apprentices. The apprentices all talked at once,

"Sir, Annick's paper has been published on Arcana! He's a level two arcanist now!"

Due to the citations of the study on cathode ray, Annick was not far from promoting to the next level. After gaining fifty credits this time, he became a level-two arcanist naturally.

"Really? Let me take a look." Lucien was quite gratified and took over the journal. At first glance at the table of contents, he saw Artil's name. His paper was the last one in the issue and was still a discussion paper. The title was

A Reward offered for Theory Explaining the Photoelectric Effect.

"... From Annick's paper we can see that the electric currents produced by casting light on a piece of metal consist of electrons, which has made the question even more prominent: For light under a certain frequency, no matter how we try to increase its 'wave' intensity, photoelectric effect and electrons are always absent. Why? And also why, when we increase the energy intensity of the same frequency light, more electrons were emitted, but they are of the same intensity? It obviously contradicts the classic wave theory of light.

"... Here I offer a fifty-thousand-arcana-point reward to seek explanations, especially from you who support the wave theory! Use your imagination!"

Seeing the second declaration, Lucien became silent. He wondered if he should say something to first plant a seed in the arcanists' mind.