At 2:00 PM, the classroom door creaks open, cutting through the murmur of students and interrupting the conversation between Isaac and Xuě Xīlián could continue further. Archivist Orlan Peña Quintana strides in.
Bloody hell…
His demeanor hasn't softened since orientation; there are no pleasantries. He stops before the lectern and immediately begins.
"Good afternoon." His voice is dry. "History of the Elenos Kingdom and Wave Binders."
A beat of silence. Then, without warning.
"Question. Let's take this much further back." His gaze sweeps the room like a scribe's quill, ready to ink judgment. "Who knows how the universe was created?"
For a moment, only the rustle of parchment answers him.
Isaac was tempted to answer.
But—
Lady Celeste Laurent Bianchetta kept her chess set and raised a single, gloved hand. The Archivist approved, and she cleared her throat.
Digital artist gloves?
"Ahem. The 26 dimensions in Closed Unoriented Bosonic String Theory can be reinterpreted through the mathematical framework of the traceless Jordon algebra J₃(O)O, which consists of 3 x 3 matrices over the octonions. Each of the three octonionic components of this algebra corresponds to distinct physical aspects. One encodes our 4-dimensional spacetime alongside a 4-dimensional internal symmetry space, whilst another represents the eight fermions of the first generation; and the last accounts for their eight corresponding anti-fermions, which would align this model well with viewing strings as worldlines across parallel universes in the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, where the 26 dimensions reflect the full range of degrees of freedom distributed among those alternate quantum worlds."
A pause. The other students nodded their heads.
"However, for us, and more realistically, it is theorized that the 'Pre-Universe' State, per se, had an initial condition of only 11-dimensional quantum foam supported by M-Theory's framework in a false vacuum state.
However, a topological defect called a cosmic string in that bulk space collided with a Dirichlet membrane, releasing enough energy for a spontaneous symmetry-breaking event to occur, which separated the four fundamental forces. Gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear forces that govern our 4D spacetime."
Correct once more, as affirmed by Archivist Orlan.
"Therefore, the universe's step one was particle genesis, about 0 to 10⁻¹² seconds after the big bang, hereinafter referred to as the BB. Next, Quark-Gluon Plasma & Baryogenesis. The four fundamental forces, except gravity, were unified at 10²⁹ K, where the Higs field gave particles mass when the electroweak force split at about 10⁻¹² seconds. Quarks, gluons, and leptons formed a superfluid plasma and CP violation, via The Sakhirov Conditions. This allowed a 1-in-a-billion matter-antimatter imbalance, preventing total annihilation of the universe."
Archivist Orlan takes over next.
"Good. The resultant universe emerged with precisely tuned fundamental constants permitting the eventual emergence of complexity, life, consciousness, and us."
Lady Celeste takes it again.
"In addition, this is the time when hypothetical micro-black holes may have formed from density fluctuations, possibly seeding dark matter. But, we do know that particles underwent Bose-Einstan Condensation in high-curvature regions, forming a macroscopic quantum field."
Celeste's chin lifts; her smirk was evident. Around her, the other students shift in respect but mostly knowing agreement.
The archivist proposed. "Full marks and more. Would anyone like to continue with planetary abiogenesis?"
A young chap, no older than 1,6 took over Lady Celeste's speech.
"Second, planetary abiogenesis, post-Nucleosynthesis begins. Neutral Atom Formation happens around 380,000 years after the BB, electrons bonded with nuclei, creating the 75% hydrogen and 25% helium needed for star formation. As such, starting the release of CMB, Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation."
"Good," Archivist Orlan takes over again. "For 200 million years, the universe was opaque until Population III stars of 30–300 solar masses ignited, ionizing hydrogen via UV radiation. Approximately 4.3 billion years after, signs of the first life began.
Most likely, Silicon-Based Life thrived in high-pressure mantles, metabolizing liquid metals. Ammonia-Based Life exists in cryogenic hydrocarbon lakes, and unfortunately, Boron-Based Life in desert planets that leverage borophane superconductivity for neural analogs. But, Carbon-Based Lifeforms only began existing 10.1 billion years after the BB. We do know that Agerea was formed approximately 4.54 billion years ago as well."
"All this without considering Thaumitonic Physics, of course."Archivist Orlan chuckles as he has the last say to end the yap session.
The class bobs their heads in unison, as if these facts were casual dinner talk rather than the foundation of reality itself. Archivist Orlan's lips twitch, not quite a smile, but the closest thing to approval his stone-carved face allows. His voice, not as dry as before, praised the class.
"Well done, students! Cohort of 2409, you have clearly read up and done your research before attending my lecture. Wonderful! I love this kind of enthusiasm! Keep it up!"
The class claps both for the Archivist and the student who volunteered to answer.
Internal Monologue Mode: Activated
Hold up.
What the fuck?
I AM studying the History of the Kingdom and Mages, right? Not Advanced Cosmological Theory 401, right? Since WHEN do high schoolers casually discuss physics at an MSc or PhD Level?
Isaac scans the room once more.
Nodding heads. Thoughtful hums.
BRO! Xue'er gives me this cultivating bullshit, and now this too?
Celeste is over here dropping ball knowledge like she's Stephen Hawking reincarnated and your NODDING? That suggests that these kids know of the other basic fundamentals of quantum mechanics, like Kaluza–Klein, Quantum Field, and Maxwell's EM theories, with some basics of the Minkowski space.
Nah.
Fuck that man.
This is some bullshit. I said to myself they were all smarty-pants, but these motherfuckers are BEYOND Prodigies what the fuck?.
And also, what the hell is up with their names???
Jordan Algebra -> Jordon Algebra???
Higgs Field -> Higs Field???
The Sakharov Conditions -> The Sakhirov Conditions???
Bose-Einstein Condensate -> Bose-Einstan Condensate???
Is there some God that forbids copyright?
"Any additional notes?" the Archivist asks.
A random fucking NPC raises his hand, of course.
Let me guess, lore drop of the century?
"We observe 4 dimensions in the universe, 3 spatial and 1 temporal. This is supported by physical laws like Newtunian gravity and electromagnetism, which behave correctly only in 3D space via the inverse-square law, and by Quantum Field Theory, which relies on a 4D spacetime framework."
Supported by the girl sitting next to him.
"While theories like Kalaza–Klein Theory exist at only the 10th and 11th dimensions. The Bosonic String Theory Lady Celeste mentioned mathematically allows extra dimensions; however, no empirical evidence supports their existence. These theories are intriguing, but until they make testable, correct predictions, they remain speculative."
The Archivist concludes.
"In short. M-Theory's extra dimensions are mathematically elegant but not empirically confirmed, yet are the most highly likely. Very impressive, my students!" A full-blown smile from him. "Yes! Good! That's your evaluation marks, students. Remember what Min-Ho has added onto your answers."
SEE? I KNEW IT. THEY KNOW.
Isaac sank lower in my seat. Xuě Xīlián looks over in confusion as Isaac presses his fingers against his temples. The headache of his injuries was amplified by his own confusion.
You want my fucking theory for you, Archivist?
I think I'm in the wrong fucking game!
Isaac looks towards Xuě Xīlián.
"Did you understand all that, Xue'er?"
"Mhm, do you want me to explain anything to you?"
You know what? Why am I even surprised anymore?
Do I even need to test her to see if she knows all this shit?
Of course not!
But… Tsk… But I just can't accept that these 16-year-olds are smarter than the 18-year-old Earth me.
"Could you explain what's meant by M-Theory's framework in a false vacuum state?"
"Sure! But my Ageri will limit the explanation a little."
Ageri?
"No problem."
"Okay, imagine all science like a giant puzzle, and M-Theory is the biggest piece that might connect everything, gravity, quantum physics, all. It says our universe isn't just the 3D space we see, but act…"
Yada yada yada…
"So… it's like string theory's upgrade?"
"Mhm! It's string theory that ties all string theories together. Math says parallel universes on other branes, gravity leaking from higher dimensions. But we can't test it yet because we'd need to accelerate particles at the size of a galaxy to probe those tiny extra dimensions, approximately 10¹⁹ GeV energies. So, it's the ultimate 'trust the math' theory."
"I see. Thanks."
…
I-I won't even…
Nevermind.
My conclusion… Every EINA student is a hyper science/mathematics/intellectual and emotional genius superior to the Earthly me…
What the fuck, man?
I'm also cooked in terms of what I said to Headmaster Orthellius… If she said her 'Ageri' is bad, and proceeded to use English, then Ageri = English.
I fucking said to the Headmaster I know 'English, Malay, Chinese, French, and German'
Shit! He wouldn't know what the fuck I'm saying!
Oh my days… Mistake on my part again…
That's very concerning… The only two confirmed languages here are English and Chinese.
And still… It requires an unreasonably large inferential leap to treat New EAA as a perfect projection of Earth. Even if EAA was originally scaffolded on English as a base linguistic substrate, any internally consistent transmigrated world would necessarily diverge over time through compounding historical drift, phonological erosion, semantic shift, dialectal stratification, and sociopolitical fragmentation, each contributing to measurable linguistic divergence.
I theorized on this when doing my paper on the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.
The implication that Ageri corresponds directly to English is therefore anomalous. The fact that Ageri functions as modern English… What could be the reason? What's written in the lore of EAA is a separate thing from a fully fleshed-out and real, as they put it, 3+1D Universe…
Just what could have happened in those years before my transmigration?
Was English really the most dominant language even in this world?
Shouldn't an HDS develop a more sophisticated way of communicating?
Hah…
In that logic, off the top of my head, words such as 'platonic' and 'Thursday shouldn't exist, for they were named after Plato and Thor.
Perhaps Plato is more explainable; the Agereans would have this universe's counterpart.
Hell, maybe his name is Plate for all I know.
But Thursday is more ambiguous and less of a coincidence.
It suggests that Norse Mythology exists in Agerea.
Unless there are other reasons for the naming of 'Thurs'...
In specific, words whose origins and etymology are largely unknown, such as chaos, erotic, fury, music, mentor, and even etcetera, are all words that should not exist in the universe of New EAA.
It is right to find this point unsettling.
For it posits that there was direct, non-altered Greek influence at one point.
If so,
How?
.
.
.
Archivist Orlan's voice reverberates again.
"Now, let's fast forward to 6 million years ago. Early Homo sapiens emerged in modern-day Elenos during the late Scalithic Era. Before the separation of ancient supercontinents like Ondratha, these hunter-gatherers survived by developing tools, fire, and language while migrating across land bridges."
Pangaea = 'Ondratha'.
"Now interestingly, this is the approximate time we think Ondratha was a single, unbroken landmass, lush jungles where Knyagatyrsk now stands in the East, glacial tundras in future Wùhuán Dàlù up North, and volcanic badlands venting residual heat that fuel Veledônia in the West."
"But…"
"One of the most interesting details is that… Agerea is a planet primarily composed of water. At that time, Ondratha would have no means of attachment to the crust, no mantle plumes, no structural roots. Tectonic plates alone."
"It should've shattered under its weight. So I ask. Why are we here today?"
Silence.
First-years exchanged glances. A Meris student tentatively raised her hand. "Noësical buoyancy? Perhaps an ancient—"
"Wrong," Orlan smirked. "Next."
Students gave their attempts one by one.
All rejected by Orlan's ruthless mouth.
"The correct answer? We lack sufficient data." He shrugged and chuckled, "But if you're curious… study the seismic patterns beneath the Institute's oldest buildings. These stones remember, and I'm sure that the founders didn't choose this location for no reason. Perhaps, it's a sentient LLSVP? Who knows~."
Isaac bit his tongue. He knew the answer once more.
His answer is close…
Old EAA's lore was extremely clear.
Under the Three Kingdoms, there is a World-Bearer who knelt.
"The spines of continents were keystones of the world entire, and limbs the ancient chains by which the lands were held apart from the bosom of the Earth and the vault of the heavens."
A memory surfaced.
Act VII's cataclysm was an Atlas waking up.
Never mind all the super smartypants that changed.
I NEED to ensure that, even with my interference in the story, the ending where Elenos's entire East coast and Knyagatyrsk's entire West Islands are eviscerated as that titan rises IS avoided.
For a heartbeat, the Archivist's eyes flicked to him.
Does he know? He suggested a sentient LLSVP, so he should have some ideas of a planetary-sized object holding up the continents.
"Moving on, this is when we think different Element-Based lifeforms started to emerge as well. Fossils that we have collected and done back dating show that this is the relative time period where Carbon met its matches."
"By 12,000 BCE, the last Ice Age retreated, sea levels rose, and continents neared their modern positions. This Neolithic Revolution saw humans transition from nomadic life to farming in fertile river valleys."
"The earliest known civilization, Serin, arose in Elenar, olden Elenos, around 3500 BCE. The Serinians invented cuneiform, built massive ziggurats, and developed laws and trade networks. Other river valley civilizations soon followed, each contributing advancements like bronze tools, organized governments, and monumental architecture."
It makes perfect sense why the top north of Elenos is called the 'Permafrost'...
It is because primordial 'Wùhuán Dàlù was the continent that separated off that part of Elenos, leaving a piece of it behind.
That means as well, the murim of EAA, the home nation of Xuě Xīlián…
It is a cold, frigid kingdom of Cultivators… One where everything is slowed to a dilation…
Including, apparently, mental age…
Interesting…
"These early societies thrived because of agriculture, which created food surpluses and allowed labor specialization. Trade, defense, and governance became necessary, laying the foundation for kingdoms, written language, mathematical/scientific theories, and the complex societies we know today."
Right… I'm interested in all of this. But I'm waiting… What I'm truly interested in is…
"Archivist!" A student raises his hand. "What about how Noësis interacted in the past?"
Orlan glances at the clock. So far, the speech has taken 1 hour and 29 minutes. 31 minutes till the lecture ends.
He smirked.
"Good question. Since you all are such wonderful students… Why not? Let's discuss it now. Separate from History's syllabus. The Origins of Noësis."