Part 8: Endless Shoreline

Sophia: I used to think other people's opinions didn't matter to 37.
Sophia: Even in the most heated arguments, she never paid them much attention.
Sophia: With ordinary eyes, it's difficult to perceive changes in the vastness beyond us.
Sophia: But now I understand how to notice them. The faint scrape of fingers brushing over geometry, the different grains of sand I scoop up when I bend over.
Sophia: The changes are slow and gradual, but they're there.
Apollo's star had risen high, and the Star of Hermes's game had ended.
It was time to head back to that room filled with scattered papers.
Sophia: ... ? 37, what's on your mind?
37's steps were unusually slow. She wondered if the verdict had hit her harder than she predicted.
The ever-scrupulous Corrector began to regret her decision—perhaps it would have been better for 6 to maintain the balance.
37: ... Sophia.
37 started somberly, her words flatter than usual.
37: I hope I didn't waste your time.
37: Do you think it was all just a pointless game?
The doubts spilled out of her, eagerly awaiting an answer.
Sophia: Of course not! That song means a lot to me, it's a precious memory.
Sophia: Are you upset, 37? You didn't seem so down when we listened to the song earlier.
37: Well, that’s because it had such a lovely cadence, and you sang it so well!
Her praise came sincerely and quickly, no doubt about it.
37: But what surprised me was when you mentioned that proof about infinite primes ...
37: I remember it, but I have no idea when I told you about it.
Sophia: ...
Sophia: Of course, I remember, 37. It was a beautiful proof.
Sophia: I’ll always remember it.
But that didn't comfort her much. Distractedly, 37 grabbed at her hair.
37: ... So, have I messed up your memories of Hugh?
37: Barging in disrupting your memories, and leaving a mess behind ...
Sophia widened her eyes slightly.
Sophia: ...
Sophia: 37, are you still bothered by what 210 said?
She averted her eyes—that was rare.
Sophia: ... Hahaha!
37: Sophia, what's so funny!?
Sophia: Sorry ...  I just never thought I'd see you care about something he said.
Sophia: You're right, you really have changed a lot after all.
37: Of course! Didn't I tell you that?
37: It's not just my height ...  I've even changed where I sit at the table.
37: As the distance between me and the table changes, so does the best angle for catching the sun.
Sophia: I’m not talking about height or seats ...
Sophia shook her head with a soft smile.
It was a gentle, rare, loving gesture.
Sophia: 37, do you know why I've never forgotten that proof about infinite primes?
Sophia: Because it made me ponder such distant things for the first time.
Sophia: Before, I didn't care about what "eternity" meant; it felt like nothing. Some far away notion.
Sophia: Now I stand here, fully aware that the island under our feet will one day disappear, washed away like sand by the tide.
Sophia: —But I also believe some things will endure, like grains of gold buried in the silt.
The island was vast enough to house an entire school of thought.
Yet it was also so small, a speck in the waves.
And we, living amidst it, could only remember fleeting moments.
37: Yes, because the world we see is transient.
37 nodded seriously; this topic was more familiar to her than discussing dinner plans.
Sophia: You shared it with me because of the eternity and beauty that the infinite holds, and its universally true nature. From then on, I’ve seen the gold in the sands.
Sophia: And in turn, I shared Hugh's song with you. If it brought you joy, that means it has meaning for you too.
Sophia: Maybe it's not the transcendent essence you were seeking. But those who hear the song will feel it, remember it—maybe even hum it one day.
Sophia: That is universal beauty too.
37: ... ! So that's it—I get it now!
The confusion vanished from 37's face, and she returned all at once to her usual cheerful self.
37: This song isn't just for Hugh and Sophia anymore because you shared it with us ...  right?
37: So it's universal and belongs to everyone who hears it! Just like the proof I shared with you!
37: ... Why are you laughing again, Sophia?
Sophia: ... Oh, it’s nothing.
Sophia: I’m just thinking about how you’re always turning everything into a proof to understand it ...
Sophia: When it's as simple as enjoying music with friends.
37: ... Hmm!
37: I suppose I still can't quite grasp this kind of simplicity ...
37 thought hard about this, puzzling over it like a new problem.
But thankfully, she soon had a new idea, as always.
37: "Sharing" is really a solid argument—I bet 210 would struggle to argue against it!
37: I knew my viewpoint was right! I'm going to tell him right away!
Sophia: ...
37 hurried off and caught up with 210, who was leafing through another magazine.
210: What now? Sophia's declared I won and nothing can change that.
37: You were just a spectator, making random guesses, while I uncovered a valuable song!
210: Believe what you want—I've said enough today; I'd like a bit of peace and quiet now.
He deliberately slowed down, trailing behind Sophia and 37.
37 took it as 210 conceding, and her steps became light as air.
37: Well, except for some trivial details, everything went smoothly today.
37: It's the number "9", the trinity of peace, friendship, and harmony. Absolutely perfect.
37: Oh, that’s right!
37 turned to Sophia with a sudden recollection, a joyful smile spreading across her face.
37: Come on, Sophia, give me your hand—
37: This is for you.
The feathers, shells, and pebbles formed a lovely decorative chain.
There was a lone pebble next to it.
Sophia: ... Is this for me?
37: Of course! And this one, I found it on the beach just now.
37: The pattern forms a fantastic number! You can add it to the chain or, you know, give it a toss into the waves!
Sophia: ...
Sophia: Thanks, 37.
37: I came to the beach this morning to give it to you.
37: But I found myself sidetracked and completely forgot ...
Sophia: That's alright, 37, I really appreciate your gift.
37: That's great! Shall we hang out again tomorrow, Sophia? I'll catch up with my research in no time.
37: Oh, the day after tomorrow could work too. We could make this a regular island activity—
Sophia: ...
Now was the time, relaxed and pleasant enough, for her to ask what she had left unsaid.
Sophia: 37, do all these numbers have this infinite meaning to you?
37: Of course.
37 answered without missing a beat.
Sophia: So 37 is just one number in the infinite progression?
37: If it's not, what else could it be?
37: 210, 37, 6 ...  Even if we're gone, these numbers won't disappear.
37: Just like you don't need three seagulls, three stones, or three people to prove the number three exists.
37: Numbers exist outside of all that.
Sophia: ...
Sophia: Thanks, 37. I think I understand your answer.
Sophia: I've got some other things to take care of. Let’s hang out later if there's time.
37: Deal!
37: Wait, I see 6 coming back!
37 waved at the dot on the horizon, as a seagull swooped above them.
She sprang up, greeting the leader.
37: Good morning, 6! 210 and I had a disagreement over something ...
37: But the sequence, it's connected to a song ...
6: I'm afraid I don't know much about songs.
37: But it's only logical, isn't it?
37: Is there any doctrine from our past that fits this situation?
6: ...
6: Thinking things through can help purify one’s intellect.
6: Perhaps a period of quiet contemplation would be helpful.
37: That doesn't suit me well, I'm afraid. Alright, I'll come up with more convincing new arguments on my own.
It was clear that 37 wasn't satisfied with 6's suggestion.
The debate would keep going in the coming days.
Sophia: Watch your step, or you'll trip.
37: Don’t worry. As long as I stick to the right order of steps, I won't fall!
210: Don't forget, we've got to hurry or we'll miss mealtime.
210: That seagull looks as starved as her.
37: We could calculate the seagull's speed by counting steps ...
37: Where did we stop counting?
210: You can spend all day counting seagulls on the beach tomorrow.
210: That could be the topic for my next essay.
37: Planning to cover up a weak argument with a bunch of superfluous dribble again?
Sophia: Alright, you two let's pick up the pace.
Sophia: There are other ways to figure out its speed.
6: 284 steps.
37: Thanks, 6!
37: And the time it took us to get here is ...