Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion
The periodic table of elements had been used for more than two years, and its periodicity had been suggesting the arcanists and sorcerers that an atom was way more complex than they thought. When the senior level, including Morris, Raventi, and Gaston, gradually pointed out the problems and suggested the possible errors in atom theory, most middle and senior-rank mages started to feel suspicious of the theory.
In the closed training, Hathaway gave another heavy blow to atom theory established by herself using the discovery of the isotope. Almost all the middle and senior-rank mages had accepted the fact that atom theory might be wrong. As for the junior-rank mages and apprentices, accepting a new theory was not that difficult for them.
And it was even easier for the sorcerers and arcanists who did not specialize in the field of Element to switch their belief.
It was an era when all the theories were developing rapidly. Not only the Congress was working on it, but also the South Church, the North Church, and the druids, all seizing the chance to grow. Whoever was left slightly behind would probably completely disappear one or two hundred years later. Therefore, when seeing the positive trend of the switching of viewpoint, the highest council had decided to publish Lucien’s new paper, The Discovery of a New Particle, as the leading paper on the issue of Arcana in October, and the curtain behind which the microworld was hiding should now be pulled up!
As for those stubborn ones who still stuck to atom theory, the Congress had decided to abandon them.
“It’s cruel. But we have to.” Outside of Sorcerer Administrative Department, Lucien said to Lazar and the other sorcerers.
Lazar was an elemental sorcerer with a firm belief, and when hearing Lucien’s words, his smile looked a bit sad, “I still remember what you said before, Lucien. The wheels of history are always rolling forward. No matter what is in the way, it will be completely crushed into pieces. But it is still hard for me to accept the fact that those outstanding arcanists have been abandoned just within a month.”
Lucien was in charge of Atom Institution, so it was also his responsibility to switch the belief of sorcerers and apprentices from his institution.
Fortunately, as the finder of the periodicity among the elements, and the first arcanist ever who dig into the law behind it, Lucien’s attitude had influenced his friends directly and indirectly. Also, the arcanists and sorcerers also contributed to many of the experiments of finding the cathode ray. Two weeks earlier, Lucien had sent them the paper and showed them the experiments in person. All of the institution members had successfully changed their belief.
“It is cruel. But we have prepared them for the cognition shift, and they still have the hope to restart over again if they could force themselves to accept the new theory with their modified cognition world.” Lucien tried to comfort Lazar.
Lazar grinned, “Thanks, Lucien. I am just being a bit emotional. Many sorcerers have stopped making any progress because of all these reasons, but they’re still much luckier than those who somehow died from doing the experiments in the lab.”
Then Lazar pretended a cough and lectured in the way of a divine judge, “Those sorcerers try to pry into the realm of God. They have violated the law. Thus they become exhausted; they die; they are cursed! That is the cost!”
“No! The so-called God of Truth is afraid of us! The closer we are to the real truth of the world, the more terrified the so-called god is! We are cursed because we are on the right path. One day, we shall tear up the pretender’s mask!” Lucien also joked.
These were the lines from the most popular play in Allyn these days. The opera named Siroid was loved by many sorcerers and the lines could be heard everywhere. The main character, Siroid, was a made-up figure who had outstanding arcana and magic talent. Siroid managed to improve many powerful magic spells but he was later betrayed by his lover and was burned to death by the Church. The lines that Lucien and Lazar just repeated was from the part of the inquisition scene.
And the author of the play was the grand arcanist, Oliver.
Watching them playing the roles, Rock said to them, “If you guys are that fond of the play, go directly onto the stage. Lucien, you’re always talented in music and perhaps you can turn the play into an opera. Anyway, I need to go now and update my arcana badge. I can’t wait to see it when I can become a middle-rank!”
Nagging, Rock walked between Lucien and Lazar, followed by several apprentices. Although the apprentices cast Lucien a sorry look, in the next second, their faces were written with great excitement—they were going to become real arcanists now!
Before they were being busy with all the experiments, and it was Lucien who reminded them to come here and update their badges.
“Maybe… I am already a middle-rank…?” Lazar realized why he came here and quickly walked to Eric’s office. In the past month, he still got some citation credits.
Lucien slightly shook his head and smiled. He also walked into Eric’s office.
Today, all of the institutions’ members were here updating their badges.
“You only need another five arcana credits to reach level three. Lazar, the finding of cathode ray has really fed you full.” Eric made fun of Lazar using the slang in Allyn.
If it had been before, there should have been a big smile on Lazar’s face. However, Lazar sucked his lips and shook his head, “Still needs five more credits…”
Seeing that Lucien came in, Eric stood up and shook his hand, “Congratulations, Evans. When you first started Atom Institution, many committee members were taking a rather pessimistic attitude, and they did not believe that you could achieve anything in three years. However, you’ve proved them wrong. Unfortunately, my major is not Element, or I would have quit my job and applied to join your institution.”
“Thank you very much for your trust and compliment, Mr. Eric. At least, we don’t have to worry about the three-year target anymore, and so we can focus on our research interest.” Lucien handed his arcana badge to Eric, “Sir, can you please update the badge for me?”
There was a small smile on Eric’s serious-looking face, “The Influence Factor for each journal has been decided. Among the journals, Arcana and Magic are the highest—3.0. Anyone who is capable of publicizing his or her paper on the two journals should get a very good reward, and of course, including you. You’re probably going to become a level six arcanist in two to three years. Your arcana level is going to be higher than your magic level once more.”
As he was saying that, Eric put Lucien’s arcana badge in the cage and rang the bell.
“Today should be the day when the system of Influence Factor comes into effect. What about the other journals?” asked Lucien.
Eric picked up a newly-received piece of document and said, “2.5 for Electromagnetism, Force Field, Element, and the other four schools’ individual journals. 2.0 for Light-darkness, Illusion, Transformation, Summoning, and the six small branches including Golem and Snow. 1.5 for the nine smaller journals including North Magic Newspaper, Solar Island Journal, Sound Wave. 1.0 for the four small-field journals including Blessing and Cursing, and the five comprehensive journals including Arcana Study.”
Because there were more sorcerers now, Arcana Review Board had approved the establishment of some more journal branches.
As for the evaluation standards, as the committee member-to-be, Lucien knew better than Eric. The reason for setting up the standards was to encourage the development of arcana and magic study.
At this time, the cage burst out the silvery light, but it was also mixed with milk-white light.
Eric slightly frowned, wondering what was going on here.
The corner of Lazar’s mouth twitched. Everywhere Lucien showed up, something different should happen…
Besides the arcana badge, there were other items: another badge with its back upwards, two documents, and a journal in black cover.
“Arcana?” Eric picked it up. He never expected that the journal would be sent directly to him through the magic circle.
There was a line of silver-stamped letters on the cover of this month’s Arcana,
“The Gate of the Microworld is Opening for Us. – Lucien Evans”
Eric turned around and looked at Lucien, feeling shocked. Those times when Arcana had an inscription on its front cover were very limited—about thirty times so far. Every time when this happened, it meant that something very important and groundbreaking had been discovered, and thus a grand arcanist or a legendary sorcerer would develop the inscription to show its value. However, this time, the inscription was from Lucien Evans?!
Lucien thought to himself in his mind that he wished to add another sentence:
“Arcanists, if you want to ascend the Throne of Arcana, go to explore the unknown microworld!”
