[Himeko: Stelle and Caelus are one person? What does that mean?]
[Herta: Exactly what it sounds like.]
[Herta: Let me think… how to explain this in concepts you can grasp—they're like superimposed particles collapsed from a higher reality dimension into two distinct entities. The special connection between their bodies resembles quantum entanglement.]
"Huh? Superposition? Collapse? What's all that about?"
March 7th tilted her head, her clear eyes wide with confusion.
I don't get it!
"Miss March, you should know about wave-particle duality, right?" Asta, recovering from her own surprise, began to explain.
"Quantum particles possess both wave and particle characteristics simultaneously – that's superposition. But superposition isn't just about wave-particle duality; it also includes other physical properties like spin, polarization, and momentum."
"If one particle undergoes decay and becomes two, their superimposed states are actually intertwined, no matter how far apart they become," Himeko picked up, continuing the impromptu science lesson.
"And this intertwining of superimposed states is what we call quantum entanglement."
"Since they originated from the decay of the same single particle, a connection was established in their initial state. Therefore, regardless of the distance separating them, this connection persists."
"The superimposed states of entangled particles interact across space and time. This isn't faster-than-light information transfer; rather, the concept of speed doesn't even apply. It's an absolute 'simultaneity'."
"Here's an easier example: imagine putting a left glove and a right glove into two separate boxes. Take these boxes to two distant star systems."
"When someone opens one box, they instantly know whether the glove in the other box, galaxies away, is the left or the right one."
This was the principle behind the strange connection Stelle and Caelus shared. It was a consistent fluctuation in their fundamental information entropy, manifesting macroscopically as a shared sense of 'touch'.
"But... how is that possible?" Dan Heng asked, his expression serious.
Hailing from the interstellar civilization of the Luofu Xianzhou and constantly immersed in the train's Data Bank, he understood the sheer absurdity of this situation even more intuitively than March 7th.
Quantum entanglement was a bizarre phenomenon occurring in the microscopic world. The microscopic and macroscopic worlds were, fundamentally, two different realms!
The number of microscopic particles constituting a human body was astronomical, countless like the grains of sand in the Ganges!
To achieve such a connection in the macroscopic world would require every single particle making up Stelle's and Caelus's bodies to have collapsed from the particles of a single, original 'person'.
Just hearing the description made the conditions sound impossibly strict – a probability with hundreds of zeros after the decimal point. It wasn't just incredible; it seemed utterly impossible!
[Herta: Interesting, isn't it? Utterly fascinating!]
[Herta: Heh~! It's a good thing I agreed to your request and gave these two a thorough physical examination. Otherwise, these treasures would have slipped right under my nose!]
After discovering Stelle and Caelus's unique nature, Herta's enthusiasm for the grey-haired pair surged to unprecedented levels, potentially even surpassing her interest in Seele and the Stigmata.
She was even tolerating Caelus curiously poking and prodding her puppet body right now~
Herta: [That's about it. I've told you everything about them. Don't bother me unless it's important; I need to get back to my research immediately.]
Actually, Herta had omitted one detail.
Stelle and Caelus's unique constitution wasn't just about their connection. Perhaps it related to the Stellarons housed within them, or maybe some fated connection truly existed in the grand scheme of things.
In any case, formulas derived from extensive calculations showed that these two kids were unexpectedly suitable for a major project Herta and a few colleagues were working on.
They were even more suitable than the simulated prototypes cultivated by Ruan Mei to be factored into the model of Akivili, the Trailblaze Aeon.
She and her team members were just discussing which node to start researching for the Simulated Universe. Talk about perfect timing – like getting a pillow just when you feel sleepy!
There couldn't be more perfect test subjects!
However, this particular matter didn't concern Himeko or the Astral Express. Himeko had already given her word anyway; Herta could just discuss it directly with the two youngsters.
...
In Asta's office, time seemed to freeze.
Staring at the chat log on Himeko's phone, everyone lapsed into silence.
Asta, Himeko, and Dan Heng were primarily stunned by the bizarre and incredible physical laws Herta's explanation had revealed about 'why Stelle and Caelus are one person'.
Only March 7th was different.
Her eyes were wide, her entire being seemingly reverted to the state she was in when frozen in Six-Phase Ice, drifting through the vacuum of space – her ability to think completely shut down.
Honestly, she hadn't really understood much of what Lady Herta had explained.
She had understood the simpler explanation Asta and Himeko gave afterward. And precisely because she understood it, she could grasp the fact that 'Stelle and Caelus are one person'.
And then, the scene from yesterday morning flashed back into her mind: Stelle, wrapped in Caelus's blanket, sitting duck-style on his bed, flushed red, completely bare underneath her clothes...
March 7th felt as if high-explosive shells were detonating beside her ears, leaving her dizzy, ears ringing, vision blurring, and head buzzing!
If Stelle and Caelus were truly siblings, well, that taboo relationship... as long as they were happy, she would offer her blessing and support their true love that defied worldly conventions.
Even if, as Caelus had blurted out, they were father and daughter – March 7th, having traveled on the Express and adventured on primitive planets with feudal civilizations, witnessing rulers proclaim things like 'my daughter's daughter is still my daughter' – could maybe, reluctantly, force out a blessing.
But now you're telling her these two are actually one person!?
This completely shattered March 7th's worldview. Her brain crashed under the shocking reality.
She didn't understand, and she was profoundly shaken!
Huh!?
Oneself... with oneself!?
...
"What is this material even made of? The texture could rival 'my' own face."
Caelus crouched slightly, playfully pulling at the delicate cheek of Herta's puppet.
"Could you be any more narcissistic... though I guess you're right!"
Stelle pinched the other side of Herta's face, feeling the jelly-like, soft, and springy texture, instinctively about to contradict Caelus.
But then she remembered she and Caelus were twins—well, essentially one entity—with nearly identical skin texture, so she amended her statement.
However, Caelus had actually been referring to Seele's face, though his own skin was indeed top-tier, fair and smooth like a newborn's – natural beauty is hard to hide.
"Are you two done pinching? If you are, let go already!"
A slightly haughty voice sounded as Herta's vacant amethyst eyes gradually regained clarity. It seemed she had just transferred her consciousness back from another puppet.
"Oh."
Feeling slightly embarrassed playing with the puppet right in front of the owner, Stelle gave a sheepish grin and released her hand.
"Not yet. Can I knead it a bit more?"
Compared to Stelle, Caelus was much more honest.
Unfortunately, in this world, it's always the sincere ones who get hurt!
His hand, caressing the doll's tender cheek, was ruthlessly slapped away by Herta. Caelus wore an expression of bitter sorrow, wounded by his own sincerity.
However, glancing at the top-right corner of his system interface showing 1147 crystals, the smile creeping onto his lips couldn't be suppressed.
Just over 450 more crystals needed for a ten-pull!
"You two, do you have any idea what your situation is?"
Herta looked up at the two grey-haired individuals. Though she was looking up, she somehow projected an air of looking down on them.
"Huh? What are you talking about? What 'situation'?" Stelle asked, scratching her head, confusion written all over her face.
"Your relationship, of course."
Herta glanced sideways at the still-smiling Caelus. Looks like this one already knows.
"Relationship? What? You mean I'm not Caelus's older sister?"
Stelle suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She leaned back in shock, aghast. "Am I his father? Or his mother?"
Smack! Quick as lightning!
Caelus, wincing from the pain blooming on the back of his own head, gave Stelle a sharp rap on the head.
"Here, see for yourself."
Ignoring their squabble, Herta casually waved her hand, pushing a holographic window in front of Stelle.
She couldn't understand the complex data or the worm-like symbols, but the conclusion, which Herta had deliberately written in plain language even a three-year-old could grasp, Stelle could definitely read.
She looked at the result, then turned her head to look at Caelus, her expression slowly turning blank.
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