Aldith was still out of breath, so I let her rest for a while. I had to admit I was worried for a moment, unsure if there was a path forward for us. Aldith finally calmed her breathing a bit.
"S-science, is it really as powerful as you say? Can your knowledge really beat magic?" she asked.
I chuckled. "I don't know much about magic, I will admit, but yes. On Earth, we might not have had magic, but we had our own means of fighting."
Aldith tilted her head. "Means of fighting?"
I nodded. "Wars in my world were never actually fought face-to-face."
Aldith seemed even more confused. "How can you have a war if nobody actually fights face-to-face?"
I smirked. "Bombs."
Aldith frowned. "Another weird word. Explain yourself."
I chuckled, amused. "Before I explain bombs, let me ask you something. What if every country on the planet had a weapon that, if used, could blow entire countries off the face of the planet? Do you think anyone would want to press that button first?"
Aldith gave a puzzled look. "No, I imagine nobody would want to press their button for fear of retaliation."
I nodded. "Exactly. Which answers your first question—how powerful science really is. With the world in a stalemate, if a nation gets into a disagreement, instead of sending groups of men to fight in battle, they threaten to push that big red button. Usually, that results in threats, more stalemates, and finally, they negotiate and peace comes once again."
Aldith asked, "So you are saying that the looming threat of annihilation keeps nations from going to war?"
I nodded. "Correct again."
Aldith pursed her lips. "Is that the bomb you talked about? What kind of weapon could cause such destruction?"
I took a deep breath, deciding how to explain it. "A bomb is essentially a device that releases an immense amount of energy in a very short time. There are different kinds of bombs, but the ones I'm talking about—the most dangerous ones—are nuclear bombs. These devices unleash the power stored within tiny particles called atoms, resulting in an explosion that can destroy entire cities, even countries, in seconds."
Aldith's eyes widened, her face pale as she absorbed this information. "That... that sounds like the power of a god..."
I nodded, my face stern. "In a way, you're right; it is the power of a god. That is why nobody wants to be the first person to press that button. Think of the lives that would be lost, the devastation that could bring. We're talking billions, not millions, of lives that would be lost."
Aldith looked surprised. "We only have a couple of million lives in this world. Are you saying you have billions on Earth?"
I smirked. "In the current year of 2040, we have around 9 billion, close to 10 billion."
Aldith couldn't believe what I was saying. "That many? That's utterly ridiculous. With that many people at stake, this science business seems incredibly dangerous."
I frowned. "It can be, but science is a tool. It isn't inherently good or evil. It all depends on how it's used. In the right hands, it can bring prosperity and progress, like the lantern I made. But in the wrong hands... well, you can imagine the rest."
Aldith remained silent for a while, her mind clearly processing the weight of my words. Finally, she spoke again, her voice quieter than before. "Your world sounds... complicated."
I smiled wryly. "It is. But it's not all bad. We have our moments of beauty too. So many beautiful things created by human hands. Things you probably couldn't dream up. So, to answer your question, I don't know the capabilities of magic, but I can pretty much tell you that science won't lose to magic. Thankfully for you, I am a pioneer in my field. I guess you can call me the grand mage of science."
I chuckled a little to myself. I admit I did indulge in fantasy novels a bit back home. The challenge of beating that fantasy power with my own modern knowledge excited me.
I got to my feet again, my butt a little sore from sitting on the hard ground for so long. "So what do you say? Do you want to learn the power that humans cultivated for over 2,000 years?"
Aldith remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground as she processed everything I'd said. Her breathing had steadied, but her expression was one of deep contemplation. Finally, she looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
"This science of yours... it sounds both fascinating and terrifying. The power to create, to destroy, to shape the world in ways I can barely comprehend. But..." She paused, her voice softening. "It also feels like a heavy burden. To wield such power responsibly, to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands... that's a great responsibility."
I added, "Science is a gift above all. Science has the potential to improve lives, to solve problems, to bring light where there's darkness. It's not just about bombs and destruction; it's about healing, creating, and making life better for everyone. Now, what do you say? Are you motivated to mushroom hunt again?"
Aldith snorted a little, which was uncanny given her personality. "Yeah, I guess so."
I pointed ahead. "This room is the last one on this path, and it looks promising. I saw a few mushrooms on the far wall." I made my way over; there were some green-pulsing rocks next to a growth of mushrooms. These mushrooms were brown with small stalks. Their caps almost looked like buttons.
I yelled out in glee, "Aldith, look!" I pointed excitedly at the mushrooms. "These are a variant of button mushrooms. They are not poisonous; we can eat these! This is a rare find!"
I examined the mushrooms closely. They looked like shiitake mushrooms but were a bit different; their shape was more button-like, and they had a smaller, flatter stalk. I held up the mushroom with glee. "Aren't you excited?"
Aldith turned her nose away from the mushroom. "Really? We're going to eat that?"
I smirked. "We're going to cultivate it! We will have to save some, but I'll need a few to pass around tonight."
I thought of trying it now but decided it was too risky. "Aldith, bring out the basket; let's bring the entire batch!"
Aldith muttered, "Ruze, I told you I am not your assistant."
That was the first time someone had called me by my first name in a long time. I was a bit bashful, but it was overshadowed by my excitement. This batch would be large enough to grow and eat tonight with the villagers. Once we had gathered all the mushrooms, I turned to Aldith. "Let's head back; we're eating good tonight, partner!"
Aldith cringed. "Don't call me that."
I ignored her as I walked behind her, inspecting one of the mushrooms. We would need to carefully extract the spores and cultivate this delicacy. Aldith saw me examining the mushrooms as we walked and sighed. "I know I am going to regret asking, but why are you so excited anyway? I mean, they're just mushrooms?"
I grinned, holding the mushroom up to the light as we walked back through the dim tunnel. "These mushrooms aren't just food, Aldith. They're the start of something bigger. Cultivating them means we won't have to rely solely on hunting or foraging in dangerous places like this cave. We can create a steady food source, something sustainable. This small discovery can change the entire village's way of life."
Aldith glanced at the mushroom, still skeptical. "All from some fungi?"
"Yes, from fungi," I said, excitement bubbling in my voice. "Mushrooms are incredible—they grow in the dark, require minimal resources, and yet they provide essential nutrients. Back on Earth, people cultivated them to sustain entire communities. Imagine what we can do here. If we can teach the villagers to grow these, they won't have to rely solely on what little they can gather or hunt."
She seemed to consider my words, her pace slowing slightly as we approached the cave entrance. "So, you're saying that with this... science of yours, even something as small as a mushroom can make a difference?"
I nodded enthusiastically. "Right you are. Just think about all the different things waiting to be discovered, Aldith. Endless discoveries. This is just the beginning."
Aldith finally smiled a little, the tension easing from her features. "I guess I never thought of it that way. If your science can make life easier for the people in the village... maybe it's worth giving it a shot."
I smiled. "That's the spirit! Now, I'm no chef, but I know how to make a stew. Are you ready for your first good meal in a long time?"
Aldith gave a wry smile. "What do you have in mind?"
I laughed. "Mushroom stew, of course. For right now, it's all we can really make. But that's fine because I happen to know a good recipe."
We made it back to Sanguine Village. I asked Aldith, "You cook your meals over a fire outside, right?"
Aldith nodded. "Yeah, like most of the villagers. We've got to make do with cooking over a fire."
I smirked. "That's perfect. The smell of the stew should get some people to try it, given that it'll be the first time they've encountered a stew like this."
Aldith had some basic cooking ware, so I got started on making the stew. I glanced around and asked, "Do you have any salt?"
Aldith frowned. "Uh, salt? For cooking?"
It was my turn to frown. "Well, obviously?"
Aldith looked surprised. "No, we don't cook with that."
I gave her a confused look. Just how primitive are these people? "No salt or spices? Truly, this is an outrageous world."
I set the pot down for a moment. "Stop everything; I think we should get some salt first."
Aldith's frown deepened. "How?"
I smirked. "Salt is easy to come by. Time for your first chemistry lesson, Aldith."