The fourth-dimensional 'mirror' continued to captivate Rizal and Professor Indri with reflections that sparked curiosity and fear alike. They saw familiar worlds, yet with different touches, details diverging from the reality they knew.
In one reflection, Rizal saw himself wearing an astronaut suit, standing on the red surface of Mars. In another, he witnessed Professor Indri receiving a Nobel Prize in front of scientists and world leaders.
"Incredible and terrifying at the same time," murmured Professor Indri, his eyes fixed on the scenes before them.
"Are all of those... real, Professor?" Rizal asked, his voice barely audible.
"Reality is a relative concept, Rizal," Professor Indri replied, his tone serious. "In this dimension, the boundaries we know begin to blur. Perhaps all those possibilities are equally real."
A disturbing thought crossed Rizal's mind. "If we can see those possibilities... can we also... enter them?"
Professor Indri turned towards Rizal, his expression difficult to interpret. "That's a very dangerous question, Rizal."
He looked back at the 'mirror' as if its surface held the answers to all the mysteries of the universe.
"The many-worlds theory is still just a theory. We do not know for certain the consequences of 'jumping' into different timelines. Could we change the past? Destroy the future? Or even... become trapped between dimensions?"
Those questions haunted Rizal. The possibility of exploring parallel worlds, witnessing different versions of their lives, was incredibly enticing. But the risks... they were too significant to ignore.
"But, Professor..." Rizal began, an idea forming in his mind. "What if this 'mirror' isn't just showing possibilities, but also... a way out?"
He pointed to one reflection showing their laboratory in the three-dimensional world. "What if we could use this 'mirror' to return to our starting point, to the moment before we became trapped here?"
Professor Indri fell silent for a moment, considering Rizal's proposal. The idea was bold, dangerous, but also... very tempting.
"Perhaps you're right, Rizal," Professor Indri finally said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Perhaps this 'mirror' is not the end of our journey, but... a new beginning."