boyutpedia Page 140
Page 140
The central library was far larger than Casalos had imagined. Rows of bookshelves stretched to the horizon like a maze, each three stories high, requiring magical gliders to reach the books on the top shelves. The air was filled with the smell of parchment and ink, occasionally punctuated by the faint scent of mint from embalming spells.
"Let me see, the arcane scholars' research area should be in the east wing," Casalos muttered to himself, following the directions on the index sign. The scribes passing by were all busy with their own work, and no one noticed this strange visitor.
The third floor of the east wing is a dedicated arcane research area, housing a vast collection of works ranging from the fundamental theories of the magic network to advanced super-magical techniques. Casalos casually picked up a book titled "On the Spatial Distribution Laws of Magic Network Nodes," flipped through a few pages, and then shook his head and sighed: "Still using Euclidean geometry to analyze the magic network structure? No wonder you can never accurately calculate the node positions. The magic network encompasses the continent of Faerûn and even the planet Torriel; it's essentially a non-Euclidean geometric system. At least Riemannian geometry is needed to accurately describe it, and relativity must be introduced..."
As he flipped through the pages, he muttered to himself, "This law of conservation of magic is well-summarized, but the derivation is flawed. This wretched place has a magic network constantly smoothing out peaks and valleys, so conservation is a joke. Unless we can find the self-regulating coefficient constant of the magic network... Forget it, Feren's mathematical foundation is too weak. Just explaining what a partial differential equation is would take three books. I can get the a priori answer through chaotic calculations, but I can't provide any derivation process."
Setting down the first book, Casalos picked up "Principles of Construct Dynamics." This time, his expression was even more resigned: "They're using gear transmission! Even a slight increase in stroke results in an efficiency loss exceeding 90%. If an electromagnetic system could be introduced, the output power could be increased at least tenfold with the same magic power consumption… not to mention the precise control and reliability of servo motors. Unfortunately, this world hasn't even established basic electromagnetism yet. It's strange, considering that the existence of magic inherently solved several major problems in the application and promotion of electrical energy."
"Strange terminology." A clear, ethereal voice suddenly sounded from behind. "What is electromagnetism? And the servo motor you mentioned earlier, it sounds like some kind of new magical construct?"
Casalos closed the book without a sound and slowly turned around. There was no one behind him, but he could sense a unique magical fluctuation, a special form of existence that existed between solidity and nothingness.
"Interesting, it's in ghost form," he muttered to himself. "And it maintains such a clear sense of self-awareness; the binding magic array is quite powerful. Let me guess, you must be Mireem?"
Ripples spread through the air, and a semi-transparent figure gradually solidified. It was a beautiful elven woman with cascading silver hair, clear eyes, and a soft, moonlit glow. If it weren't for her semi-transparent body and floating posture, one would almost mistake her for a living elf.
"You know me?" Mireem tilted his head, curiously examining Casalos. "That old geezer Ulland rarely mentions my existence. Who are you? Why is your aura so... peculiar?"
"Edwin Meredon, a merchant from Moonshadow Isle." Casalos gave a slight bow. "Nice to meet you, beautiful lady. As for anything special, perhaps it's because I've seen things outside of Faerûn."
Mireem circled him, her silver eyes filled with inquiry: "No, you seem to have the aura of a dragon, but not entirely. How strange, in all my years in Candlehold, this is the first time I've encountered such an interesting being. Where did you learn all those words you just used?"
"Well..." Casalos smiled mysteriously, "It's a secret. But if you're interested, I can explain some basic concepts. For example, electromagnetism, which, simply put, studies the laws and applications of electrical and magnetic phenomena."
42. Electromagnetism and God
"Electricity and magnetism?" Mireem's eyes lit up. "You mean lightning spells and magnetic spells? What's the relationship between them?"
"Of course there's a connection." Casalos casually cast a bolt of lightning, stretching and curling it into a closed ring. The lightning created by the spell was not an arc that pierced the air, but rather a photoelectric effect produced by an electric current on a spell structure based on "magic." The closed ring of the spell lightning naturally formed a closed circuit, and a unidirectional magnetic field that was easily perceived appeared.
Electromagnetism and electricity are inseparable; electric current will generate a magnetic field.
Then Casalos took out a copper coin, heated it with hot metal until it was red-hot, stretched it into a thread, wrapped it with paper and wound it into a coil with only a few turns. He then twisted the two ends to sharpen them and led them out at 2mm intervals. He then held the wire in his mage's hand and spun it at high speed to cut the unidirectional magnetic field created by the closed lightning ring. Crackling arcs of electricity jumped between the tips of the copper wire.
"Wow!"
"A conductor cutting a magnetic field can induce an electric current. This is the basic phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. Once you grasp this principle, the efficiency of many magical devices can be greatly improved. Magnetic field spells are too rare and too complex, while lightning spells are much more common and easier to cast..."
Mireem listened intently, leaning closer. His invisible, ghostly form passed through Casalos's body, a strange, icy sensation, unlike anything perceived by the naked eye, coursing through Casalos's humanoid tissues. "Go on," he said, "this is fascinating! I've read thousands of books in Candlehold and never seen a theory like this before. From which plane did you learn it?"
"Ahem, ma'am, you're getting too close." Casalos took a half-step back to avoid the ghost. "Even though you're in ghost form, this 'distance' still makes me a little uncomfortable."
"Ah, I'm sorry." Mireem drifted away a little, embarrassed. "I was too excited. You know, I haven't heard anything truly new in over three hundred years. Candlekeep has a rich collection of books, but most of them are repetitions and refinements of known fields. The concepts you brought are a completely new system!"
Casalos looked troubled: "This knowledge isn't something that can be easily imparted. In my hometown, it's top secret."
"Please!" Mireem clasped her hands together, looking at him pitifully. "I've been trapped here for eight hundred years, spending all my time reading and reading. I've finally met someone who can bring me new knowledge, please have mercy! I can trade you the entire library of Candlekeep!"
"The Candlecastle's library?" Casalos stroked his chin. "But Ulland said that knowledge is sacred and cannot be spread casually."
Mireem rolled her eyes. "What does that old fogey know! Knowledge only has value when it's shared. Besides, I'm the guardian of Candlekeep, and I have the right to decide how knowledge is shared. Whatever you want to know, I can tell you."
"Really anything?" Casalos's face flashed with slyness.
"Of course!" Mireem assured him, patting his chest. "I remember every book in Candlekeep, from the oldest elven poetry to the latest magical theories; there's nothing I don't know."
Casalos pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, let's make a deal. I'll teach you some new knowledge systems, and you help me find some specific information. For example... the history of the Ismaka Empire, and records related to the Dragonfall War."
Mireem's expression suddenly turned serious: "The Dragonfall War? Why are you interested in this almost forgotten event?"
"Because the Dragonfall War is about to begin again!" Casalos, of course, didn't answer Mireem; he simply smiled mysteriously. "So, how about it, are you in or not?"
"Deal!" Mireem agreed without hesitation. "But you have to tell me about that motor first. I'm particularly interested in improving the construct; the cleaning golems in Candlekeep are too inefficient. It gets me anxious every time I see them cleaning so slowly."
Casalos found a table and sat down, beginning to explain the principles of the motor in detail: "As I just demonstrated, magnetism and electricity can be interconverted, and the most direct effect of magnetism is the output of force—whether it's the repulsive force of like poles or the attractive force of unlike poles. Thus, as long as electricity is input, force can be obtained..."
Mireem listened attentively to Casalos's explanation. Her ancient dragon intellect allowed her to easily grasp the relatively simple principles, and she even occasionally raised insightful questions. Having lived in Candlehold for eight hundred years, her knowledge was vast and she quickly integrated new concepts with existing magical theories.
"That's brilliant!" she exclaimed excitedly, spinning in the air. "If we apply this principle to constructs, and combine it with the torque you mentioned, wouldn't it allow us to adjust the force output of constructs at will?"
"Indeed," Casalos nodded. "Besides, it allows for more precise movements of the construct, and the convenience of lightning magic and the efficiency of electricity conversion also make it more energy-efficient. Of course, theory is one thing, but practical application still requires solving many problems. After all, while the lightning created by magic is powerful, it's difficult to maintain a stable and continuous output."
"That's simple, just add a delay and a super magic effect." Mireem waved his hand.
"?" A question mark appeared above Casalos's head: "Don't you think it's a bit too extravagant that a single cleansing construct needs two constant supermagic powers just for its primary energy source?"
"Extravagant, huh... Okay, then what do you suggest we do?"
"It's actually quite simple. All we need is a container to store electrical energy and a voltage regulator circuit..."
The two—or rather, a dragon and a ghost dragon—began their discussion, taking turns to talk. The conversation jumped from engineering to physics, then from physics to chemistry, and even touched on some biological concepts. Mireem was like an insatiable glutton for knowledge, greedily absorbing every new concept.
Three hours had passed in the blink of an eye. Casalos, still not quite used to human form, felt parched, while Mireem remained energetic.
"Take a break," Casalos said, rubbing his forehead. "I need some water. By the way, aren't you worried about being discovered by others?"
Mireem waved his hand dismissively: "Don't worry, they can't interfere with my affairs."
"Speaking of which, how did you end up trapped here?" Casalos asked casually.
Mireem's expression darkened slightly: "It's an old story. When I was young, I clashed with a group from Candlehold during a routine hunt, accidentally eating two scholars and destroying many irreplaceable books—actually, I don't remember much about it anymore, as the constraints have worn me down, but as far as I can remember, it was all a misunderstanding."
Even so, I should bear the consequences of my mistakes. I accepted the punishment of Yego Thors, the legendary sorcerer of Candlehold, who used magic to bind me within Candlehold, requiring me to protect it in this servile state for 20 years…
"Year 20?"
"Yes, it's only a 20-year sentence, how lenient! Yet fate played a cruel joke on me."
"What kind of joke turned your sentence into eight hundred years?"
“Eight hundred years? You’re wrong.” Mireem smiled bitterly. “In the nineteenth year, Tors died suddenly! It was just a joke, a joke that was praised by countless people in the days that followed.”
I don't know the specifics of what happened, but it's said to have started with a magical research project that should have been a sure thing. Thors opened a portal to the underworld, and the breeze from the River Styx dispelled the great sorcerer's resilient soul; everything was so irreversible.
Perhaps it was the magical power he left behind, or the negative energy leaked from the Gate of the Underworld, that strengthened the still-operating contract in every way. That wisp of aura originating from the River Styx made the archmage's colleagues, in their grief, dare not act rashly, for fear of following in his footsteps. Thus, I became a slave of Candlecastle forever.
The sudden tightening of the bonds binding my soul made me realize my fate. On the heavy "chains" that suffocated me, an additional sentence was written: forever.
Casalos actually knew this story. The reason it came to Candlehold at this point was that it intended to make contact with Mireem—an ancient silver dragon who possessed all the knowledge of Candlehold. If it could gain her friendship, it would be of immeasurable value to the development of Dragonflight.
The important thing is that it first needs to confirm whether the silver dragon has already gone mad.
"Oh, right, the information you asked about regarding the Ismaka Empire and the Dragonfall War, I'll go find it for you right away." Mireem suddenly remembered the important matter. "Candlehold doesn't actually have many records about these two things; the memories of the two-legged sheep can't reach such distant history. However, there are indeed a few specialized research works. I suspect they were put in by other disguised old dragons, and some may even have come from the surviving Ismaka people? Give me a quarter of an hour."
With that, she vanished into thin air. Casalos leaned back in his chair, a slight smile of delight on his lips: it seemed that Mireem's mental state was relatively stable, which was good news for the dragon.
"Knowledge for knowledge, it's a good deal," he muttered to himself. "And having a learned friend is much better than facing Urland's sour face all the time."
A moment later, Mireem returned with a stack of books. Her movements looked as if she were actually carrying physical books, but the books were faintly visible in her translucent hands, creating a peculiar interplay of reality and illusion.
"Found it!" she exclaimed excitedly. "The Travels of the Iskama Empire, A Study of the Beginning and End of the Dragonfall War, The Lost Dragon God, and a handwritten copy of 'The Last Elegy of the Platinum Dragon.' This last one is a memoir by an elven ranger who claims to have witnessed the final fate of Bahamut, one of the instigators of the Dragonfall War—listen to that! This is hardly the kind of knowledge those pointy-eared people are qualified to witness and bring back tens of thousands of years later." (The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)
"Thank you. In return, I'll teach you another interesting concept—the application of psionic teleportation." Casalos casually flipped through the book, his mind elsewhere: he hadn't expected Candlekeep to have books directly related to Bahamut, and Mireem's seemingly cruel punishment...
It wasn't that Casalos was trying to label Bahamut, but that platinum dragon really was that petty. At least before its will was forcibly reversed by the new rules of the gods in AO, it was just that kind of dragon.
"Great!" Mireem sat back up in mid-air. "Tell me quickly! I've long suspected there was a problem with the mana consumption of astral teleportation. So it was because the connection between the astral plane and psionic energy wasn't taken into account?"
Time flew by in the exchange of knowledge. Casalos only realized he had been in the library for most of the day when Solaran came to inform him of dinner time.
"Will you come again tomorrow?" Mireem asked expectantly.
"Of course." Casalos put away the books. "Our deal has only just begun. Tomorrow I'll bring even more interesting content, such as... Maxwell's equations, known as the 'formulas of the gods.'"
"The Formula of the Gods?" Mireum's translucent eyes lit up like light bulbs.
43. Persuasion
"What kind of 'formula' could be named after the gods?" Silver Dragon didn't doubt that Casalos was exaggerating. This might be due to his personality, or perhaps Casalos's "knowledge" had already left a sufficient impression on her, or maybe it was her mysterious sixth sense at work. In any case, she was very much looking forward to the exchange the next day, and Casalos wouldn't disappoint her, arriving on time.
"You're finally here! I've been thinking about those theories you mentioned all night, they're absolutely brilliant!" Mireem circled around him. "Tell me what the Formula of the Gods is!"
Casalos put down his backpack and took out several prepared charts: "Don't rush. Before discussing the formulas of the gods, we need to establish some basic concepts. For example, what is your understanding of the nature of the material world?"
"The material world? Our material world is a world built on the foundation of the six elements of wind, fire, water, earth, positive and negative energy. Isn't that basic common sense?" Mireem's voice carried a slight disdain. After all, for an ancient silver dragon who had lived for hundreds of years, such a question was far too basic.
Casalos showed no displeasure at her attitude; instead, he gave a mysterious smile. "Indeed, this is the 'truth' revealed to us by 'magic.' Through the spirit realm, we can enter the semi-elemental realms between the six elemental realms and the main elemental realm, witnessing firsthand the composition of this world. But…" Casalos paused, posing a new question: "Is what we can see necessarily correct?"
"Even what I saw with my own eyes isn't real?" Mireem's tone rose slightly, and her transparent elven form flickered slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.
"We—whether mortals or gods, all living beings in this world—have our senses essentially born from life's exploration of its environment. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, spirit…sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and the perception of magic are all based on our unique physiological foundations. Different races, despite having the same senses, have different ranges of perception. Dwarves can see in the dark, humans can see richer colors, dwarves can see finer details—they see the same thing differently, so which one is correct?" Casalos's voice was calm yet powerful, each word carefully chosen.
"You mean?" Mireem hovered in the air, slowly lowering his altitude, as if wanting to listen more carefully.
"Perception is not omniscient, and even unreliable. If you blindfold someone and make them touch a dragon, they will never be able to describe its true appearance. Instead, the information from touch will mislead them into believing they are touching a wall with neatly carved patterns." Casalos was merely making a rough analogy, prying open a small crack in the ancient silver dragon's rigid worldview, making it easier for her to accept new knowledge: "And we, whether mortals, gods, or those with godlike powers, are all people who have touched dragons blindfolded. Our perception is limited to our innate conditions. To truly understand this world, perhaps we need a more complete tool of exploration, completely different from our common understanding..."
Casalos's words possessed a strange power, as if each syllable subtly altered the surrounding air. Mireem listened quietly, her mercury-like eyes reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window, her thoughts already wandering among these new concepts.
"Is this the kind of tool you're talking about, the Equation of the Gods?" she finally asked, her voice filled with both doubt and anticipation.
"This is merely a preliminary answer provided by one of these tools. I hope this introduction will inspire you and prepare you to follow me, to begin exploring the true nature of this world through thinking..." Casalos's fingers traced a faint line in the air.
The translucent, elven-like ancient silver dragon pondered carefully for a long time before nodding to indicate its readiness. Casalos conjured another schematic model of electromagnetic phenomena in the air. "Yesterday we discussed that magnetism is electricity, and electricity is magnetism. So, have you begun to consider where electricity, or magnetism, truly comes from, and what its relationship is with our material world, and even the elemental world that constitutes it…?"
His fingers continued to trace in the air, outlining a series of complex symbols and equations. These symbols began to slowly rotate in the air, forming a three-dimensional model. Each symbol shimmered with a faint light, and there were hidden connections between them, as if revealing some fundamental law of the universe. (The remaining text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the preceding sentences.)
"This is Maxwell's equations, consisting of four fundamental equations that describe the nature of electric and magnetic fields and their interactions." Casalos's voice became solemn and mysterious. "These equations reveal the unity of all electromagnetic phenomena; from the smallest particles to the vast emptiness of space, all are subject to these fundamental laws."
Maxwell's four equations together describe how electric and magnetic fields interact, how they are generated by electric charge and current, and how they form a dynamic electromagnetic field that changes over time. They can be expressed in differential form for local fields or integral form for global fields. This reveals the unity and universal applicability of electricity and magnetism.
Understanding gleamed in Mireum's eyes, and her transparent form seemed to solidify further under the influence of these wondrous equations. "These symbols, these equations, they contain such profound meaning," she murmured, her voice filled with awe.
"Yes, and it's much more than that," Casalos continued. "These equations tell us that electric and magnetic fields are not isolated, but rather mutually induced through changes, forming a unified electromagnetic field. Changing electric and magnetic fields can stimulate each other, forming self-propagating electromagnetic waves, such as light—the noble property of radiance is thus incorporated into 'lightning' and 'magnetic energy.'"
Mireem's eyes widened in surprise: "You mean, light and lightning are essentially the same thing? How is that possible! The priests of the Church of Light would never accept such a claim."
Casalos smiled slightly: "The priests see the phenomena, while we explore the essence. Like two sides of the same coin, they may seem different, but they share the same origin."
This is just the beginning.
After confirming that Mireum had memorized the equations, Casaloz began to use electromagnetism to simulate almost all common interactions in the material world, introducing the concept of fundamental forces. On this basis, the six elements became phenomena that the "blind" could touch.
"The strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, electromagnetism, and gravity—these four fundamental forces govern all phenomena in the material world," Casalos's voice was steady and powerful. "The six elements we are familiar with are merely manifestations of these fundamental forces under specific conditions. The element of air is the movement of air currents, the element of fire is the release of energy, the element of water is the manifestation of fluids, the element of earth is the condensation of matter, and positive and negative energy are even more fundamental manifestations of force fields."
Mireem listened intently, but suddenly she realized something: "Wait!" Mireem abruptly interrupted him, "If, as you say, the six elements are merely phenomena, shouldn't they appear differently to different observers with different perceptions? Why are all the records, from different races, and even different life forms from different prime material planes, so consistent in their observations of the elemental realm?"
Her question was like a sharp sword, piercing straight to the heart of the theory. Casalos stopped explaining, a look of appreciation on his face. He pondered for a moment, then took a deep breath.
Casalos sighed. "Your insight is truly remarkable; you quickly spotted the blind spot… Indeed, this has been a long-standing question for me. I have a vague idea about it. Remember the connection between psionic energy and the astral plane? Everything in the material plane seems to involve the interaction between consciousness and matter—magic originates from this, becoming one of the intrinsic properties of all things, born from the fundamental forces, yet transcending them… Perhaps you can help me unravel this mystery?"
These words contained an invitation, a yearning for equal exploration. Mireem sensed this, and her ancient heart was touched by this sincerity. In her long life, few had truly treated her as an equal, as a companion of thought, rather than merely a guardian of knowledge or a powerful dragon.
"Fantastic!" Mireem somersaulted in the air. "This knowledge has opened up a whole new world! I would love to join your research, but..." Her voice trailed off, and worry appeared in her eyes.
"The contract isn't a problem!" Seeing her excitement, Casalos felt the time was ripe. He cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious: "But there's a problem. Are the scholars and monks of Candlehold willing to let you leave? Or rather, will they allow you, the magical catalogue that holds the memories of all the books in Candlehold, to escape their surveillance?"
Casaloz's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing Mirim's newly ignited enthusiasm. Her body trembled slightly in the air, a complex expression appearing on her translucent elven face. This question touched upon the most sensitive part of her heart, those long-buried memories and doubts.
"..." The silver dragon fell silent for a long time before asking uncertainly, "You mean, Thors's accident wasn't an accident, but rather the collective will of the Candlehold scholars? Because... in my nineteen years in Candlehold, I've memorized so much knowledge that they're unwilling to reveal?"
When the name "Thors" was mentioned, a barely perceptible pain crept into Mireem's voice. That distant, now blurred memory was ultimately the turning point that changed her fate—Ascraz had endowed his children with constant memories, and how could a dragon's memory be blurred unless deliberately forgotten?
44. Debate
Three days later.
Mireem's ghostly form drifted among the bookshelves, his mercury-like eyes scanning the rows of ancient texts. Six great readers occupied the six main seats in the council chamber, each perusing their materials, attempting to make final preparations for the upcoming debate.
"Are you really going to do this?" Mireem lowered his voice, hovering beside Casalos. "You know, in the eight hundred years of Candlehold, I have never seen Ulland allow this form of public debate."
Casalos smiled slightly, flipping through the notes in his hand, still maintaining his identity as Edwin Meredon.
Over the past three days, through Mireem's introduction, he had met with six great readers of Candleburg and made a bold request to them, asking permission to question Candleburg's millennia-old policy of monopolizing knowledge and to hold a public debate on the matter.
"I think knowledge is like honey; the longer it's stored, the more easily it crystallizes and spoils," he replied casually. "And Ulland agreed for a simple reason: he believed that publicly humiliating an ignorant arrogance would effectively deter those who were dissatisfied with Candlekeep's 'traditional policies'—the power of pride and prejudice."
A smile flickered across Mireem's silver face: "Don't underestimate the abilities of those six, especially Xavier Arc; that geometer's way of thinking is completely different from ordinary people."
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time." Casalos turned a page of his notebook, his tone still calm.
He had made thorough preparations, not only studying the management regulations of Candleburg in detail but also obtaining detailed background information on six prominent readers from different sources. These readers, each with their own agendas, might be the breakthrough point for him to dismantle the rigid system of Candleburg.
While the evocation mage Tavel Starlink sided with Candlehold, he had long harbored resentment towards traditional rules; and Xavier Arc's geometric theory needed verification from a broader academic community. These subtle contradictions and rifts might serve as leverage—of course, everyone understood that a debate, regardless of victory or defeat, could not sway Candlehold's future decisions.
Ultimately, Faerûn is a world where might makes right. A public debate is merely a means to obtain the moral high ground that justifies the use of force.
Mireem was probably well aware of this.
Urland strode into the council chamber, his magnificent robes billowing behind him. His sharp gaze swept over everyone present: "The debate will begin in an hour. Is everyone ready?"
"Of course, Lord Urland." Elvara Flameheart stood up, her fiery red robes revealing an equally fiery temperament. "I have prepared ample evidence to prove just how dangerous and impractical Mr. Meredon's theory is."