33. The Convergence of Magic and Science
“At last, we’ve discovered it. We’ve found it… We’ve done it!… Oh, thank heavens. Thank you so much.”
Suri’s father shouted, tears streaming down his face.
The three fathers embraced each other and wept like children.
“All this time, we’ve been striving to scientifically prove possession magic… Science proves theories only through repeatable and verifiable experiments. But the effects of magic were inconsistent each time, and reproducing them was much more difficult… We felt disappointed and even considered giving up… But we’ve overcome such adversity. No professional had ever succeeded in theorizing possession magic into formulas scientists could understand. We’re the first. We’ve succeeded. I’m so happy… so thrilled…”
Suri’s father gazed at the notebook filled with formulas, tears dripping down his cheeks.
Since being abducted by the Emperor of the Nova Empire, the three fathers had never used holo screens. Because holo screens had storage capabilities, using them would have been like handing over their research processes and results to the Nova Emperor. So, though it was old-fashioned, they insisted on recording, erasing, and recording again in notebooks.
Suri’s father was flipping through the pages one by one. The notebook was packed with numerous formulas, and they were overwhelmed with emotion.
“Hahaha… Look at this… We tried all sorts of things… It says here that to summon the moon’s power, we should use this formula? Hahaha… f(x) = A sin(ωt + φ), where A is the amplitude of the tidal force, ω is the angular frequency, t is time, and φ is the phase constant… So, how about it? Shall we order some magic, or maybe just some food delivery?”
Suri’s father laughed innocently. It was unmistakably the laughter of an adventurer who had spent his life researching and exploring.
“Ordinary scientists could never do this… Right? Only explorers of civilization like us—archaeologists, physicists, astronomers—can achieve this. Isn’t that so? Suddenly, I feel hungry… Should we eat something? How about throwing a party?”
Maru’s father laughed, his laughter mirroring Maru’s exactly.
“Hahaha. It’s like we’ve become wizards, don’t you think? Hahaha…”
Sabi’s father took a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket and put them on.
“We’ve always insisted that science and magic should be placed on the same level, that science is magic… Of course, ordinary scientists hurled insults at us for even mentioning it… But so what? We didn’t yield to such ridicule and scorn… That makes it even more remarkable.”
With his glasses on, Sabi’s father looked precisely like Sabi.
“That’s right… Our assertion has always been the same… Magic is science we don’t yet understand… In the end… Our claim was correct. Absolutely correct.”
Suri’s father pumped his fists vigorously.
“Our ultimate goal goes beyond proving that magic is science; it’s communication. We’ve developed communication… The fact that we’ve transformed magic into scientific formulas proves that we must acknowledge each other’s differences. At first glance, magic and science seem different. Completely different. We’ve not just created formulas but a language—a language devised to facilitate understanding and communication!”
Suri’s father was immensely proud of himself.
“This could make us rich! The Elixir of Life, I mean… It can extend life, right?… Hahaha.”
The formula Maru’s father was pointing at was the equation for the aerobic respiration of glucose:
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Energy
Besides this, the notebook contained many ingenious formulas.
- Teleportation Spell → Manipulation of space-time curvature using quantum tunneling phenomena
- Shape-Shifting Ritual → Control of gene expression through epigenetic modifications
- Mind-Reading Incantation → Empathic understanding through non-verbal communication and micro expression decoding
- Precognition Spell → Predictive modeling using extensive data analysis and machine learning algorithms
- Memory Alteration Magic → Memory reconstruction through regulation of neural plasticity in the hippocampus and amygdala
“This is the most important one!”
Suri’s father pointed to a formula with his finger.
B = ∫(Ψ * δ) dt + α(ω – ω₀)² + β|E|²
- B = Strength of Possession
- Ψ = Consciousness State Function
- δ = Brainwave Synchronization Coefficient
- t = Time
- α = Resonance Coefficient
- ω = Natural Frequency of the Possession Target
- ω₀ = Natural Frequency of the Possession Initiator
- β = Energy Coupling Constant
- E = Quantum Entanglement Field
The term ∫(Ψ * δ) dt represents the integral over time of the consciousness state and brainwave synchronization.
The term α(ω – ω₀)² denotes the “frequency resonance” between the possession initiator and the target.
The term β|E|² signifies the intensity of the quantum entanglement energy.
This formula combined concepts of consciousness state, brainwave synchronization, energy resonance, and the hypothetical idea of “quantum entanglement.”
It was assumed that if the value of B exceeded a certain threshold, “possession” would be successfully achieved.
Each variable and constant were hypothetical values that needed to be measured experimentally.
“This is a masterpiece! A masterpiece… I can’t believe we created this with our own hands…”
Maru’s father still seemed incredulous.
“By the way, we can’t leave this formula here. The Nova Emperor will surely find it.”
Sabi’s father quickly wore a worried expression.
“More importantly… we must relay crucial information to the children.”
Maru’s father’s face darkened.
“…The Lightning Shield… I mean… sigh…”
Sabi’s father tightly closed his eyes.
“Yes, that’s right… I’ve heard that the Nova Emperor has constructed a Lightning Shield to prevent the lightning—which occurs once every 72 years—from reaching Malta. But Earth won’t remain unharmed when this Lightning Shield is activated. The quality of the atmosphere will change completely… Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon 0.93%, Carbon Dioxide 0.04%… and gases like Neon, Helium, Methane, Krypton… the composition ratios of these gases will change… It’s the end of Earth.”
Suri’s father kept sighing.
“As oxygen decreases, most living beings will die from breathing difficulties. With the increase of carbon dioxide, Earth will heat up… An increase in nitrogen will also make breathing difficult for organisms… The ozone layer will be destroyed… sigh, it’s the end of the world… Indeed.”
Sabi’s father let out a deep sigh.
[To be continued…]
** Starting November 2023, The Korea Daily is excited to publish the fantasy novel series “Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years” on our website. This new captivating series follows a trio of young adventurers on their quest to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Inca. In an exciting development, Netflix is currently adapting the novel’s storyline into a film.
The ‘Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years’ is the latest novel authored by Jeeyoon Ha, who created the “Pangaea series.” Ha’s debut novel, “The Pangaea: Finding Xibalba,” was selected by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2022 as part of their initiative to support the global export of fantasy literature.
Readers can eagerly anticipate the online publication of two installments each month, with new chapters appearing bi-weekly, offering a regular escape into this magical realm. *Mark Oh translated the Korean novel into English.
