Part 1: A Children's Game

Sophia: The lab's light bulb needs changing, and we may need more paper for calculations ...
Sophia: 37 mentioned last time that we need—
Believer II: Oh, hey, Sophia!
Believer II: You look like you're in a rush. something urgent?
Sophia: Not exactly, I’m just heading to the lab to check on 37's progress.
Believer II: 37 ...  It's been a while since she's made an appearance on the beach.
Believer I: Perhaps she's still digging into those remaining records? No one else can handle them ...
Every time the "Emanation" came up in conversation, the atmosphere seemed to darken in response.
It was as if navigating around the edge of a storm.
Believer II: Don't worry, 37 will figure it out.
Believer II: And hey, take care of yourselves. Both of you. We don't need you to wear yourselves out ...
Sophia: Thank you both so much.
Sophia: Sophia extended her hand in a gesture of goodwill.
After sharing those brief pleasantries, it was time to continue on their way.
Scattered scribbled notes, piles of thick books, and stray strands of critter hair ...
It looked as if a flock of Abraxas had visited, or the lab had been caught in a whirlwind for centuries on end.
Anyone would have been exhausted by such a sight.
And amidst the panoply the lab director herself lay sprawled across a table, lost in her own head.
Sophia: Umm ... 37 ...  Have you considered tidying up this room?
She moved nimbly, stepping over scattered books, as she approached the long table.
The notebook which lay beside 37 looked oddly familiar.
Sophia: Is this ...
Someone had treasured this notebook, adorning it with illustrations and notes.
Flipping through its pages, Sophia found meticulous data validation records accompanied by engineering sketches.
After a few more pages, the content started relating to things on the island, interspersed with sheet music and simple sketches, documenting seagulls flying by and the silhouette of a little girl playing.
Finally, her fingers halted on a page with grids and a few math problems written on it.
37: Oh ...  Sophia? You're here!
37 rubbed her eyes and quickly shifted her attention to the notebook Sophia was holding.
37: Oh, I found this little book while looking through the one of these piles!
37: There’s an absolute plethora of notes inside. I wanted to see if there were any records relating to the "Emanation".
37 straightened up, carefully inspecting the page Sophia was reading.
Sophia: I remember this page ...  I was so young then, standing on my tiptoes to reach my father's desk.
Sophia: I told him how my friend seemed uninterested in games, and that I was struggling with math ...
Sophia: He brought a stool so I could see the words as he wrote in his notebook ...
Sophia: ... Sorry, this isn't really important.
She closed the notebook and turned to 37.
Sophia: These are riddles for kids, far too simple for you.
Sophia: Don't waste time on them ...  Everyone's waiting for the next phase of your research.
Sophia: I'll take this notebook with me.
37: No, Sophia! These aren't just for kids—
37: I just found out that the answers form an interesting sequence!
37: They might relate to celestial rhythms, that's Hugh's area of study, right?
37: Look, this number seems to follow an octave pattern with the next one ...
37: And these symbols are unique too!
37: They’re all related to the number 3. It must be a trick using a combination of triangles! I've tried several solutions ...
She listed one intriguing discovery after another.
37 pontificated, glowing with increasing focus and enthusiasm.
It was reminiscent of her past lessons on the beach and countless nights researching the "Emanation".
Armed with that intense curiosity, she sought answers in everything.
—Unwavering, unchanging.
Sophia: ... Fine.
Sophia: If that's the case, then I'll help you find the answers, 37.
Sophia: But let's be quick. Afterward, you'll refocus on your main research, right?
37: Of course! It shouldn't take long, I'm almost certain!
37: First, we should find a spacious spot, something close to the one described in the notebook ...
The notebook rustled in 37's hands.
Her fingers skimmed the pages, capturing fleeting sparks of inspiration as she sped toward the lab's exit.
Sophia: Sigh ...
Sophia: I hope this won't take too long ...
Sophia: ... should I really let her waste time like this?