What if she's right?
Why am I so certain that I’m talking to three people from three feudal worlds, when I myself ended up in an isekai scenario?
What if Bella's and Mei's realities operate under entirely different physical and social rules?
But that's insanity! If parodies are as real as originals, then the same must be true for parodies of parodies, and so on! Endlessly.
Yet isn't that exactly how people imagine the multiverse? As something governed by malleable, chaotic, mad causality.
If that’s the case, then perhaps my world only seemed more causally coherent because of my habits. When in reality, its causality might - no, should - be just as bizarre as that of any other world in multiverse. Relatively to each other.
But then… wouldn't that also apply to the theory of the Multiverse itself? Why should there be any exceptions?
If the Multiverse exists, then known to me ideas about the Multiverse are no more accurate than my ideas about anything else.
Which means such knowledge doesn't really matter.
Like an uroboros devouring its own tail, the Multiverse devours its own conceptuality.
Who said that at some point the Multiverse wasn't just one, my own, universe? That right now it exists as anything beyond this single planet, this single moment?
Or that the Multiverse is anything other than a synonym for banal Perpetuity - temporal superposition?
Or don't existed only during a few moments of Big Bang, and latter will be subjected to heat death of Universe?
Or that it didn't exist except for a few fleeting moments after the Big Bang and will inevitably succumb to the heat death of the universe?
Yes...
Phew...
For a moment, I thought I was going insane.
But thanks to Astra's madness, I returned to where I was before my isekai - to the notion that the Multiverse is nothing more than an ignorant misunderstanding, not unlike such pseudoscientific nonsense as the aether theory.
I'll have to thank her by avoiding the mention of even more of historical facts.
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🔮Bella🔮▪️▪️▪️💬Mei: Anyone who have money. The more money - the more complexity and control. Though when it comes to control, it's rarely as effective as even mediocre personal magical talent.
⚜️Max⚜️ I have an important question for all of you. How do you understand word "evolution"? Literally, what does it mean to you?
❄️Mei❄️ Hardening through trials. Completing the Nine Cycles.
🔮Bella🔮 I don't understand, isn't development just development? Synonyms - growth, and improvement.
🌟Astra🌟 Oh, I get it! Clever. You already know my answer.
⚜️Max⚜️ And how do you understand the word "evolution"?
❄️Mei❄️ A personal and global cycle of life, growth, and death. "No mud, no lotus."
🔮Bella🔮 Natural mana-mutations?
🌟Astra🌟 Evolution, Darwin, all that. First time - the same word.
⚜️Max⚜️ Both times I wrote the same word, but with different meanings. The first time, I meant personal development. The second time, large-scale changes in nature.
We all speak and think in different languages, and the chat translates them. Not only our words, but also their original and intended meanings.
It's a very efficient way of translation. But even so, misunderstandings still occur because of enormous differences between our cultures, social norms, and what are we considering as acceptable behavior.
For example, in less hierarchical societies, like in Astra's and my original world, it was common to speak to complete strangers the same way one would speak to close friends. Especially in text-based communication, without any physical and status cues.
When in more hierarchical societies (like those in my world's past), even among trusted friends, such friendly banter and jabs are very rare. What I and Astra might consider playful or childish teasing is perceived only as rudeness.
I believe that to reduce such misunderstandings, and to better understand what we each need from one another, we should briefly introduce ourselves.
By the way, I hope that I'm not distracting anyone from something important. If I am, I apologize for that.
I'll start.
My full name is Maximilian, but I prefer the shortened form - Max.
From what I remember of my first life (though there may not be much to recall beyond excessive reading) I'm 18 years old and was studying to become an engineer. Only to suddenly woke up in a meadow, with part of my memory missing.
Astra and I are probably from the same, very technologically (machinery) advanced, world. A place where universal free education solves most everyday and social problems.
As a result, people there devote a great deal of time to very intricate forms of entertainment.
Many of which are also ways to explore complex rules behind different layers of reality without losing one's sanity. Too much of it.
That is how Astra and I know about Qi, mana, and situation like this chat - we encountered them through such entertainments. Though it seems Astra knows and understands far more about these things than I do.
❄️Mei❄️ I am honored to meet you, Max, Bella, Astra. My name is Mei Lin. I am 19 years old. Max was frank, so I will repay in kind.
I'm still suspect that this "chat" is a scheme or trial. I cannot imagine why anyone would design something so bizarre. Yet so far, I have seen no evidence that disproves such possibilities.
I'm a cultivator of 2nd stage of Qi Gathering. For my age, that is considered a very high, but not genius, level of talent. In my Thunder Gate Sect, my position when also not the highest among inner disciples, still very near to top.
▪️▪️▪️💬Max: By your own admission, you are not the one who created this form of communication, so an apology from you is unnecessary. For now, it causes me no inconvenience. And any intrusion it presents is balanced by its potential usefulness, and my right to sever the connection whenever I choose.
🌟Astra🌟 Second!
🌟Astra🌟 Hi, I'm Astra Cromfild, by memory 17+7, physically 18, years old.
🌟Astra🌟 I'm... well, it's complicated. No, really! The shortest way to explain my situation is this.
Back in my first life, I read a cheap novel about a bloody and doomed conspiracy carried out by a group of nobles against the royal family and other part of nobles.
Then I kicked the bucket and woke up in the body of the daughter of the main conspirator and sorta "alternative" claimant to the throne. That last part is known, for now, only to a handful of people, though many already suspect that something is wrong.
In the novel, the original owner of this body and her family were written as a caricatured stepping stone for the protagonist and her reverse harem.
Because of that, I'm sorta destined to face a mind-boggling number of problems.
Again, things aren't that bad right now, I'm near the top of the noble ladder. But since I'm not part of the main royal family, young, female, the most beautiful woman of the realm, a pawn in others people's plans and expectations, and so on, I have very little actual leeway and sway.
Oh! All of that gave me a brilliant idea! I might not be paying attention to the chat for a while. Ciao!
{{{ASTRA!}}}
🔮Bella🔮 I'm delighted to meet all of you. My name is Bella Talbot, I'm 18 years old. My father is one of the count's most trusted officials. And my mother was a battle-mage of strong blood. I currently study at the most prestigious magical academy in my country. Within my academy I rank mid-tier, though by standards of my Academy, and more so - other magical academies, my performances exceptional for someone of my social standing and background.
▪️▪️▪️💬Max: Don't worry about causing me any inconvenience. So far there hasn't been any substantial ones. Also, like Mei said, when I received this chat, I also received "impression" that I was free to use it however I wished. Including the option not to use it at all.
⚜️Max⚜️ Thank you, all of you. I truly appreciate what you're doing, especially given that, so far, there have been no tangible benefits for you.
🔮Bella🔮 Thank you as well, for being such a gracious host to unexpected guests. No benefits?! The ability to open important book pages and my notations inside my very head is an enormous benefit for me!
⚜️Max⚜️ Now, I'd like to know whether anyone objects to my taking the Wooing skill.
I'm not saying there aren't other possible approaches, such as my trying to send a bandage made from a piece of my T-shirt, or gathering plants that might interest alchemists from Mai's world.
However, believe it's better to go straight for the most universal solution. One that would allow me to quickly share important knowledge between all of you and reliably receive exchange points from each of you at the same time.
❄️Mei❄️ I don't mind.
🔮Bella🔮 I also don't mind.
⚜️Max⚜️ Then, although we could wait for Astra, considering what she told me in private, and the fact that we already have 3/4 votes, I think this is unnecessary. You don't mind?
❄️Mei❄️ No.
{{{FUCK!}}}
⚜️Max⚜️ I hear a wolf howling. Very close. What should I do? Hide? Run in the opposite direction?
❄️Mei❄️ Try sending me your shirt.
⚜️Max⚜️ Wrong target.
❄️Mei❄️ I formally request Maximilian's T-shirt, in any condition.
⚜️Max⚜️ Wrong target.
❄️Mei❄️ Take Steel Limbs and run in the opposite direction. Find something to cover your back. Do not attack first. Raise your hands, make noise, but avoid sudden movements or lunges.
Do not let yourself get knocked down. Do not try to win, only to cause pain and fear.
Aim for a nose, ears, eyes, tail. If it's a single wolf - try to jam your hand into its throat. Depending on the situation, take Slow Blood Regeneration or Triple-jump.
{{{Abilities, Steel Limbs!}}}
Author's Note:
Just because some things aren't explained outright doesn't mean they lack logical explanations or doesn't follow consistent rules.