Conflicted.

—

Finally realizing something, Margarita was no longer sad. Instead, she was conflicted about whether to follow her husband or her daughter. Once the Bagua Engine started running, she knew her husband would begin at level 1 while her daughter would start at level 120. 

Not only that, she was well aware of her daughter's stubbornness when it came to making the multiverse civilization run smoothly. This also meant Ember would always want to remain at the highest level of the known world to pave the way for future generations.

Regretting her decision to introduce the concept of managing an organization, which led to this motivation, Rita then heard her husband's reasoning.

"My melody, in the scope of eternity, not seeing you for one eon is the same as not seeing you for one minute. And… haven't I already prepared you for this Xuanhuan world prediction? Do you forget how resilient our daughter is when it comes to patience? And are you forgetting our joint family training two months ago being quantum locked for eons to retain our sanity? So, you don't need to worry, my Rita. For our bond that will last eternity, time is just a meaningless concept."

Letting out a breath she had been holding and resting her head on his broad shoulders that could weather all problems, Margarita nodded and said, "You are right, my symphony. Time is just a meaningless concept."

"Moreover, Rita, I think we will still be able to see each other from time to time."

Knowing that higher-level individuals can communicate with lower-level individuals, which means they can still connect and meet in dreams, Margarita nodded sadly and said, "Yes. We will still be able to reunite in dreams. I was foolish to think there was nothing else we could do."

Chuckling and shaking his head, Yoriichi replied, "No, my dear. What I mean is that we can literally see each other in the flesh. Remember the two Doctors' messages? The one that mentioned a place to meditate and natural pocket dimensions."

Confused about why it had anything to do with meeting in a physical sense, Margarita saw Jaina with a look of realization, followed by a chuckle, as if she knew something hidden that Margarita did not. Becoming even more confused about the connection between this topic, she then heard her husband's explanation that finally made her mind click.

"This place of meditation and pocket dimensions, my dear, is where I believe we'll be able to connect the lower-level world to the higher-level world. According to the definition, this is the place that will allow a lucky individual to jump several levels higher without having to cultivate step by step from one stage to the next. Not only the lucky individuals but also the hardworking ones will be able to advance to the next stage instantly, perhaps by contemplating the tangible and substantial laws. Essentially, it allows individuals to leap from one level to the next without going through that process."

Her eyes lit up with excitement as she asked, "Does this mean you can instantly arrive in Ember's world? And because of that, we won't be separated again?"

Chuckling sadly with a bittersweet emotion, Yoriichi replied, "Well, let's just hope that's the case. The new physics and science that will emerge once the Bagua Engine starts running might be very different from what Nadine and I are used to. It's possible that traditional science will no longer apply, making my scientific knowledge less useful since I am too focused on classical physics."

Shoulders drooping, Margarita questioned in sadness and confusion, "But you said before that science functions consistently across every stage without any differences. Does this mean all our knowledge about it is useless? Are our experiments and understanding merely fleeting thoughts that can easily change when the world changes?"

Shaking his head, Yoriichi clarified, "That's not what I meant. Do you remember when I was trapped in a quantum lock?"

Nodding, Margarita recalled that her husband escaped from the predicament by using the Sonic Screwdriver to understand the constants of that level. She then had a look of realization, "Ah… I see. So, the principles of science remain the same, but some properties may be hidden."

Smiling at her correct answers, Yoriichi nodded and explained further, "That's right, my love. You understand my point, and in a sense, the point of the two Doctors regarding why they created the new world as it is. Once everyone can perform quantum leaps simply by acquiring knowledge, they will start understanding the Dao, rather than merely drawing energy for menial tasks and progressing step by step. To achieve this, everyone will need to rediscover the new physics and develop new theories."

Placing his hand on her cheeks and pinching them slightly, Yoriichi continued, "So, Rita, it depends on your husband's performance. If I can achieve a good score, I will arrive at your and Ember's place instantly. But if I end up stuck in the past with a poor score, please be patient. I will still try my hardest to reach your level, whatever it takes."

Caressing the hand that was on her face, Margarita nodded, "We will trust you completely."

Thinking about the new physics, Jaina suddenly had a thought, "Now that I think about it, what about math? What about quantum mechanics? Does it change as well? And if it does, does this mean your models for fate, karma, destiny, and luck will become non-absolute too, Richard?"

Laughing and shaking his head, seeing that it seemed his childhood sweetheart had forgotten the fundamental basics of the quantum world, Yoriichi reminded her, "Dear, did you forget the essential principle of quantum mechanics?"

Seeing Jaina's look of realization, he nodded and answered, "Yes. In quantum mechanics, there is nothing absolute to begin with. This means there is no concrete wave function or superstring theory that can completely describe the universe. It also means that my models for fate, karma, destiny, and luck are not fixed facts like 1+1=2, but rather a continuous dexterity of mental gymnastics to calculate something that is inherently not absolute."

Shrugging, he continued, "Even if the math changes from something like 1+1=2 to something bizarre like 1+1=3, disregarding hard facts, I will still be able to build new models from the ground up using the new mathematics of the future. Like I said earlier, quantum mechanics, after all, is a continuous dexterity of mental gymnastics. Once proficient, I can reach the same conclusions with minimal effort, as the pattern will translate my skills to the next field of study."

—