i_speak_softly | Twentieth Theory [Voice]

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Twentieth Theory [Voice]

To all of you from post-1776 America, happy Fourth of July. [Thoughtful pause.] Well, I suppose it's the fourth of July for everyone else too... I hope you're all having a nice day.

Um. [A throat-clearing, a clanking of metal.] If anyone is interested in current events from - October 9, 2006... I found a newspaper.

[Long pause.] I'm not the only one - seeing things, am I? I thought I was just hallucinating, but the newspaper seems pretty real...

Filtered to the Genius Pirate || Not Really Sure This Is Going To Work

Captain - Might I have a word with you?

Filtered to Winry || Unhackable

Winry, do you have a minute?

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If I may ask, what's so special about the fourth of July? It's some sort of holiday for a few people, isn't it?

[She knows she read something about it, but it was a long time ago and there's just so many holidays out there...]

Yes - the Fourth of July is when Americans celebrate gaining their independence from Britain. Even though, historically speaking, it isn't a very significant date.

Then, America and Britain were once under the same rule?

Yes, America was once a colony of Britain. [Feels totally awkward about explaining things to a teacher, btw.]

[Ironically, she can't help but think Don would make a fine teacher himself.] Ahh, I see. They must've been quite relieved to gain their independence, if it was turned into a holiday.

[Aw, go on.] Exactly. The colonists had first gone to America in search of freedom, so to finally be politically free was something worth celebrating.

Now I'm curious. How long did it take for them to gain political freedom, after settling down in America?

Honestly, that's kind of up for debate. The Americans declared their independence in the year 1776, but it was only some signatures on a piece of paper and it had no political effect. There was a war, for real independence, which ended in 1783. As for when the colonists first arrived... British settlers started establishing themselves in the early 1600s. But before that, there had been settlers from other European nations, as well as many tribes of native peoples. It's pretty complicated.

Interesting. It seems political disagreements are a trait shared by quite a few worlds. It makes me a bit glad this village isn't under any sort of official rule.

And we seem to get along pretty well for it.

What about your world, Professor? What is your country like?

My country... is part of the Malkuth empire. It's a fairly peaceful place, though war was always just on the horizon. You see, the world of Auldrant is divided into Malkuth, the kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear and the neutral country of Daath. Tensions between Malkuth and Kimlasca have existed for many years now, as they're both very intent on getting their hands on Fonstone fragments. [She pauses for a moment.]

Fonstones are large tablets on which the Score, the planet's future is documented. The Holy Order of Lorelei, which rules over Daath, is dedicated to reading the Score, upholding it and keeping peace between the two countries. However, the people of Auldrant live their lives according to the Score's predictions. If the Score ultimately predicts war, that is what will happen and the Order or Lorelei will do nothing to stop it.

[Donatello will listen intently, absorbing all this. Then he'll ask a question:] Professor, I don't understand. How can your world have a record of its future?

Our world is composed of elementary particles called fonons. By using the seventh fonon, the fonon of sound, one could read the future. A powerful fonist called Yulia Jue used her abilities to read the planet's future for millennia to come. All her knowledge was documented on the Fonstone tablets Kimlasca and Malkuth would later be arguing over. Though, no doubt, that in itself was already a part of the future Yulia predicted.

Professor, that's fascinating! In my world, there's a theory that if we knew the future, we would have no free will. Are you saying that the people in your world have to do what these tablets say?

... No, I wouldn't say that. They believe in the Score, which promises to ultimately bring prosperity to the world. It's their belief that makes them walk the path the Score has laid out for them. To divert from the future that's already been predicted would be like heresy.

[She pauses for a moment.]

Though I've been told that roughly twenty years in the future, the people of Auldrant have learned to reject the Score and live their lives freely.

Seems like kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy, then.

On a science side of things, though... the future of your planet is encoded in these particles? But not deterministically so?

I've heard of instances where people performed actions that weren't foretold in the Score, yes.

And what do you think about the Score, Professor? If I can ask?

The Score predicts both happiness and sadness. If people willingly accept this sadness, I believe they'll cope with it better. However, the thought that they won't even try to avoid it... [She trails off, here.]

... People have willingly committed murders because the Score predicted they would do so.

So it can be a helpful warning of what's ahead... or it can be an excuse to do terrible things.

Thanks, Professor. This has given me a lot to think about.

... I've lived my life according to the Score for so long, it was quite a change when I arrived here. I had no idea what was in store for me and had no way to prepare myself for catastrophies. Even so, I prefer living without the Score's guidelines. The freedom is very refreshing.

[It... hadn't really occurred to him that Luceti could represent an increase of freedom for someone.]

Then... would you rather stay here?

I'm certain that I would, yes.

[Though, not for the reason Don would expect. She wants to stay because when she returns to her home, she'll be dead.]

I'm... undecided, myself.

[Yeah, that reason sure knocked him for a loop the first time he heard it.]

I suppose there's something that binds you to Luceti as well?