Alonium

Academic Description of Alonum

Episode Ⅰ The Impact of Unknown Chemistry.

　When chemistry becomes a topic of discussion, people convey information like waves. Ironically, their behavior exhibits predetermined reactions akin to chemical substances: a coldness devoid of warmth, unchanging movements, almost as if following pre-programmed patterns. However, when it comes to something they are interested in, they display entirely different characteristics. In other words, people aren't particularly interested in the broad study of chemistry. That's simply how it is.

　Yet, the impact brought about by chemistry rivals that of a major explosion. This is not an exaggeration. The crystallization of achievements, born from pooled wisdom, slowly decomposes over time and seamlessly integrates into the gaps of everyday life.

　When people finally acknowledge its existence, they are astonished. It appears suddenly, almost like magic or a sleight of hand. Such misconceptions arise because chemistry is, in fact, a science, distinct from magic or sleight of hand. Chemistry itself is established through the accumulation of theories and logic, vastly differing from elements containing non-logical elements.

　So, what are the elements that constitute chemistry? Chemical equations, of course, and even the existence of scientists themselves, can be interpreted differently. This is because chemistry has evolved alongside history, and indeed, by looking at the periodic table, one can see how many chemical substances have been discovered. And each of them has been counted as an independent element.

　Naturally, there's no falsehood there. However, the periodic table didn't grasp everything. Consequently, unknown chemical substances significantly disrupted the nearly complete common sense of chemistry. Anything foreign is perceived as such, steadfastly rejecting bonding with different entities. Thus, someone named it Alonium and popularized the name. But who was the namer? There are various theories.

　First, the most plausible is the Kyle Robertson theory. One would normally think Kyle, who published astonishing research results in the early Alonium era, is the correct one. However, Kyle himself staunchly denies the possibility of being the namer of Alonium. Perhaps because of this, there are not few who believe this theory is incorrect.

　So, they put forward the alternative theory of the journalist, Allo Munier. Of course, the reason isn't just because their names are similar. Allo was originally adept at writing scientific articles, and with sharp analysis and deep contemplation, was known among certain circles, although not widely recognized. However, somehow, Allo became a well-known figure that everyone knows now. This timing coincides perfectly with the Alonium era.

　However, the Allo Munier theory isn't entirely complete either. Hence, the third theory surfaced: the Suzette Sars theory. Unlike the previous two, Suzette has almost no relation to chemistry. However, as an influencer, Suzette is active in the media and frequently appears. Once, when making a statement on a certain media platform, Suzette retracted her words midway.

　Of course, that alone isn't usually significant enough to mention. Almost everyone has retracted statements at some point. However, what makes the Suzette Sars theory garner minority support is deeply related to what Suzette was about to say. So, what was she about to say? Supporters unanimously answer: Alonium.

　Is it true? It's uncertain, but it's hard to outright deny. That's because among the short comments Suzette already made, fragments of information like 'chemical substance,' 'loneliness,' and 'Aloniu' were included, which were mysterious at the time. Therefore, considering these elements, the probability that Suzette's intended continuation of 'Aloniu' was Alonium may not be 100%, but it's extremely high.

　Thus, it's speculated that Suzette, unable to voice 'Alonium' in the media, named the unknown chemical substance Alonium as a placeholder and subsequently utilized her fame and connections to spread it. This is the main content of the Suzette Sars theory.

　However, besides these, numerous other theories exist only as rumors. Nevertheless, despite the plethora of theories, clear evidence regarding the namer of Alonium has yet to be found. So, many aspects other than the features of this chemical substance and research achievements are still unknown. That's one way to look at it.

　But, now there's hardly any sight or sound of these myriad theories. This is because Alonium has become a thing of the past, and its development, use, and sale are strictly prohibited worldwide. Consequently, many countries raced to enact laws to regulate Alonium, which many speculate marks the true end of the Alonium era, apart from scientists.

　Yet, two questions inevitably arise. Has the Alonium era already ended? If so, did the Alonium era suddenly come to an end? The answers to these two questions differ depending on what they signify.

　When answered broadly, both questions are responded to in the negative. The reason for this lies in the fact that the central figure around Alonium has shifted from scientists to others. This is commonly cited as an explanation when talking about it. In other words, it's akin to saying that denizens of the underworld use Alonium for gold or nefarious deeds.

　Indeed, denizens of the underworld greatly favor Alonium. Perhaps that's why. A woman named Shiola Nare refers to the modern era where Alonium trends in the underworld as the Dark Alonium Era, ironically mocking the international regulatory system for Alonium.

　However, the term "Dark Alonium Era" isn't widely recognized, contrary to her expectations. This is because the term itself is not an academic neologism and the alternative name of the Second Alonium Era is more favorably accepted by people.

　In other words, by dividing the period into the first period when Alonium research advanced by scientists and the second period when movements related to Alonium became active among denizens of the underworld, even those deeply involved in the underworld don't know the full picture since the Second Period began.

　Therefore, by sequentially tracing the fundamental events of the first period, focusing on research and social aspects, we aim to shed light on how Alonium surged and declined and to provide necessary supplementary information as we proceed with the explanations.