I stood in front of the mirror in the dean's office bathroom, adjusting my tie for the third time. It was strange how mundane rituals like dressing properly still seemed important, even when I was about to announce a discovery that would fundamentally redefine human understanding of reality.
"Navy blue was a good choice," Katharina said, entering the office. "It conveys scientific seriousness without seeming intimidating."
"What about the tie?" I asked, still adjusting it.
"Perfect. You look exactly as you should - respectable academic making an important announcement, not a charlatan selling magic tricks."
Through the window, I could see the MIT open-air campus filling up quickly. We had chosen the large central courtyard specifically for its visibility—a wide area surrounded by iconic academic buildings, where any trick or illusion would be impossible to hide.
The news had leaked, as expected. For the past three days, rumors about a "revolutionary discovery" at MIT had been circulating through science blogs, social networks, and specialized news channels. The reactions were... varied.
"Dr. Thorne Allegedly Developing 'Real Magic' - Scientists Skeptical," read one headline.
"MIT Promises Announcement That Will 'Change Everything' - Scientific Community Divided," read another.
"Missing Researchers Return With Extraordinary Claims," a third speculated.
Skepticism was expected. In fact, it was useful—it created dramatic contrast that would make the actual demonstration even more impactful.
"Five minutes," Dr. Anderson announced, entering the office. "Media team confirms presence of reporters from all major news networks, plus science correspondents from international journals."
"And security?" I asked.
"Perimeter established, but not intrusive. We wanted an open academic atmosphere, not a military operation."
I walked to the window to survey the growing crowd. I estimated about two hundred people—journalists, cameramen, curious students, MIT faculty members, and probably representatives from various government agencies trying to appear inconspicuous.
"Nervous?" Markus asked, joining the group.
"Excited," I replied honestly. It was true—not nervousness, but intense anticipation. This was the moment I had been planning for months. A public revelation that would establish my position as a central figure in the next phase of human evolution.
"Latest checks," Dr. Hoffmann said, carrying a checklist. "Documentation prepared for immediate distribution after demonstration. Backup videos uploaded to online platforms simultaneously. Legal team on standby for intellectual property issues."
"What about our fellow researchers?" I asked.
"Strategically positioned in the audience," Dr. Li confirmed. "Ready to provide scientific confirmation if asked."
"Perfect." I checked my watch. "Time to change the world."
The courtyard was packed when I emerged from the administrative building, followed by the other eight researchers. Microphones and cameras were positioned in a semicircle around the makeshift lectern, with the audience spilling out into the open area.
The murmur of the crowd gradually died down as I approached the pulpit. It was a strange moment of calm before the storm—hundreds of people awaiting words they didn't know would change literally everything.
"Good afternoon," I began, my voice amplified through the sound system. "Thank you for attending this historic occasion."
Camera flashes began immediately. Reporters prepared notebooks and recorders. Camera crews adjusted angles.
"My name is Dr. Kai Thorne, an assistant professor of computational neuroscience at MIT. With my colleagues," I gestured to the group behind me, "we have spent the last six months investigating a discovery that we believe represents the most significant advance in the history of human science."
Murmurs began in the audience. Some skeptical, some curious, some clearly doubtful.
"Over the past century, quantum physics has revealed that reality at subatomic levels operates in ways that defy classical intuition. Consciousness and observation affect the results of experiments. Particles exist in superposition until measured. Entanglement connects objects across impossible distances."
I paused, letting the concepts settle.
"Our research has found that these quantum phenomena are not limited to the microscopic scale. Through specific methodology, human consciousness can interface directly with the fundamental structure of reality."
A reporter immediately raised his hand. "Dr. Thorne, are you suggesting that you have developed some sort of... telekinesis?"
"I am suggesting," I replied calmly, "that we develop a reproducible methodology for consciously manipulating physical properties through structured linguistic commands."
"Language commands?" another reporter asked. "Like mantras or incantations?"
"As a verbal interface to underlying quantum systems," I corrected. "Not mysticism, but applied science operating at levels that transcend classical physics."
"Dr. Thorne," came a CNN reporter's voice, "these are extraordinary allegations. How can you substantiate them?"
I smiled. It was exactly the question I was waiting for.
"Science advances through empirical demonstration," he said. "Theories are validated by observable evidence. Methods are confirmed through replication."
I walked slightly forward from the pulpit, into a more open area where the entire audience could see me clearly.
"Allow me to demonstrate."
The courtyard went completely silent. Hundreds of people held their breath, cameras focused, reporters prepared to document whatever was about to happen.
"VEXIS THALAR ZEPHON," I said clearly, directing the command not to an external object, but to myself.
I felt the familiar sensation of the interface activating, but this time applied to my own body. It was strange—as if gravity had suddenly become optional.
Slowly, I began to climb.
First just a few centimeters, then half a meter, then a whole meter above the ground.
The audience's absolute silence was broken by collective gasps, exclamations of disbelief, and the sound of cameras clicking frantically.
"My God," someone whispered.
"Impossible," another muttered.
I continued to rise until I was floating ten feet above the crowd, clearly visible to everyone present and all the cameras. There were no wires, no supporting equipment, no tricks possible. I was simply suspended in the air through directed will.
"IS THIS REAL?" shouted an NBC reporter.
"Completely real," I replied, my voice carrying clearly through the sound system. "And reproducible through proper training."
I began moving horizontally across the courtyard, passing over the heads of the audience. People instinctively stepped back, then looked up in utter astonishment.
"How are you doing this?" shouted a BBC journalist.
"Through conscious linguistic interfacing with the underlying quantum field," I replied, now circling slowly over the entire area. "A methodology we discovered and refined over six months of rigorous research."
"Is this a trick?" shouted someone from the crowd.
"Search the area," I challenged. "Look for wires, hidden equipment, any support mechanisms. We're on an open campus, surrounded by buildings, in full sunlight. There's no way to fake this."
Cameras were pointed at me from every angle, zooming in every direction looking for evidence of deception. They would find nothing, because there was nothing to find other than direct manipulation of reality.
"Dr. Thorne," came the reporter's amplified voice with a megaphone, "are you claiming to have discovered real magic?"
I stopped in midair, floating directly over the center of the crowd, and looked down at hundreds of upturned faces.
"I am arguing," he said, letting the words echo across the campus, "that magic - defined as the conscious manipulation of reality through methods that transcend classical physics - is real, is learnable, and represents the next stage in human evolution."
Complete eruption in the audience. Screams, questions shouted simultaneously, cameras flashing constantly.
"HOW DO WE LEARN?" someone shouted.
"WHERE DID YOU GUYS FIND THIS OUT?" another added.
"WHO ELSE CAN DO THIS?" the third asked.
I gradually descended back to the ground, landing softly in front of the pulpit as the crowd approached.
"One question at a time," he said, raising his hands for silence. "We have a lot to cover."
A Washington Post reporter was able to get a first word: "Dr. Thorne, how many people currently have these abilities?"
"Our current research team consists of nine experts," I replied, gesturing to my colleagues. "Each has developed proficiency in different applications of the methodology."
"And can it be taught to others?" a Reuters reporter asked.
"Yes, but it requires intensive training and specific aptitude. It's not a skill that anyone can just 'pick up' casually."
"How dangerous is it?" a Fox News reporter asked.
"Less dangerous than nuclear technology, more powerful than any previous scientific development," I replied. "That's why we've established rigorous protocols for responsible development."
"Protocols how?" a Time reporter pressed.
"Dedicated academy for research and training. Careful selection of candidates. Education in ethical applications. Ongoing supervision of use."
"Where will this academy be located?" the international correspondent asked.
"Currently under negotiation with multiple nations interested in hosting," I replied diplomatically.
"SHOW MORE!" shouted someone in the crowd.
I smiled. "Dr. Li, would you like to demonstrate thermal energy transfer?"
Dr. Li approached, carrying two metal bars—one clearly heated, the other at room temperature.
"NEXUS KALAR FLUX," she commanded, pointing between them.
Visible flickers of heat began to flow between the bars, and a reporter with a thermal imaging camera confirmed the energy transfer.
"Directed heat transfer through space," I explained. "Without physical contact."
"THIS VIOLATES THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!" shouted a physicist in the audience.
"It expands the laws of physics," I corrected. "In the same way that relativity expanded classical mechanics."
"Dr. Thorne," CNN reporter asked, "what is the timeline for public availability?"
"The academy will begin operations in approximately a year," I replied. "Limited admissions initially, gradually expanding as we develop safety protocols and training methodology."
"What about medical applications?" the medical correspondent asked.
"Dr. Santos, demonstration of biological manipulation?"
Dr. Santos presented a plant that had been damaged - wilted leaves, bent stem.
"VORTH NEXUS THYMAL REGENERIS," he commanded.
The plant visibly straightened, leaves regaining color and expanding to a healthy size.
Audible gasps from the audience.
"Targeted biological regeneration," I explained. "Applications for human healing are extensive but require careful development."
"HOW DO WE KNOW THIS ISN'T AN ELABORATE HOAX?" shouted a skeptic from the crowd.
"Independent testing," I replied immediately. "We invite any qualified scientific institution to send representatives for verification. Our methodology is documented, our research is peer-reviewed, our results are replicable."
"What about governments?" political reporter asked. "How do they control this?"
"They don't," I replied firmly. "The academy operates independently, with international oversight but autonomous governance."
"But military applications—" someone began.
"This is precisely why academia must remain independent," I interrupted. "Power of this magnitude requires wisdom, not political agenda."
Question followed question for another forty minutes. Additional demonstrations, technical explanations, discussions of implications. Through it all, I maintained a calm scientific demeanor while revealing capabilities that fundamentally challenged every assumption about reality.
Finally, when the noise of the crowd had reached its peak and time constraints demanded closure, I raised my hands for a final statement.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice carrying across the campus, "today marks the beginning of a new era in human development. For the first time in history, we have the methodology to transcend the physical limitations that have defined our species."
I paused, looking across the sea of faces—some amazed, some skeptical, some frightened, all fundamentally changed by what they had witnessed.
"Magic exists," I stated simply. "It is real, it is science, and it is available to those prepared to pursue it responsibly. The academy we will establish will ensure that the next chapter in human evolution is written with wisdom, ethics, and dedication to the betterment of all humanity."
A final eruption of questions, but I stepped back from the lectern, indicating that the formal presentation had concluded.
As I walked through the oncoming crowd, still shouting questions and requesting further demonstrations, I saw Katharina's face.
She was beaming with a combination of scientific excitement and something that looked remarkably like pride.
Perfect.
The world had now witnessed the impossible made manifest. Governments around the world would have no choice but to take our capabilities seriously. The competition to host the academy would intensify dramatically.
And through it all, they believed they were witnessing collaborative scientific advancement, not orchestrated revelation designed to establish my authority over human evolutionary development.
Phase Four was complete.
Time for Phase Five: institutional establishment and systematic expansion of controlled magical education under my guidance.
Exactly as I had planned from the beginning.
Magic was real, public, and officially under my control.
Now it was time to build the empire.
Three hours after the press conference, I finally managed to retreat to my office. The campus had become a complete circus—reporters trying to intercept any member of our team, students milling around trying to get additional demonstrations, and representatives from various government agencies showing up with official credentials demanding "private briefings."
MIT had essentially become my gilded prison. Leaving campus would mean facing even larger crowds of journalists, curious onlookers, and probably a few less stable individuals convinced that I was some kind of messiah or demon.
I sank into the leather couch in my office, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV. It was time to see how the world was reacting to what they had just witnessed.
CNN was in the middle of a panel of "experts" debating the implications.
"...clearly some kind of elaborate illusion," a Berkeley physicist was saying. "Human levitation violates fundamental laws of physics. There must be a rational explanation."
"But Dr. Morrison," the anchor pressed, "there were hundreds of witnesses, multiple cameras, completely open environment. How do you explain that?"
"Advanced holographic technology, perhaps. Or some kind of invisible magnetic field. There are many possibilities..."
I laughed out loud. It was fascinating to see how minds trained in a rigid scientific paradigm simply refused to accept evidence that contradicted their fundamental beliefs.
I switched to Fox News.
"...obvious military applications are terrifying," a former general was saying. "If individuals can manipulate matter through vocal commands, every enemy soldier becomes potentially capable of massive destruction."
"But they said they will establish a gym for controlled training," the presenter replied.
"Controlled by whom? For how long? What guarantees that this 'academy' does not become a training base for hostile superhumans?"
Predictable military paranoia. I've moved again.
The BBC was providing more balanced coverage, interviewing philosophers of science about epistemological implications.
"If Dr. Thorne and his team are correct," the Oxford professor was explaining, "then our fundamental understanding of reality is incorrect. This is not just scientific discovery - it is conceptual revolution comparable to Copernicus or Darwin."
"And the social implications?" the interviewer asked.
"Huge. If abilities can be learned, then we're looking at potential divergence of the human species. Those with magical training versus those without. New form of elite based not on wealth or birth, but on transcendent ability."
Excellent analysis. I have switched to checking international channels.
France 24 was interviewing theologians about religious implications.
"This confirms that the divine can be accessed through human practices," a Catholic cardinal was saying. "Perhaps these linguistic commands are a modern form of prayer."
"Or," the Jewish rabbi countered, "it demonstrates that humans have a latent capacity for creation, a reflection of the divine image."
"Blasphemy," Muslim imam declared. "Only Allah has power over physical reality. This must be Satan's trick."
I switched to see the reaction of the financial markets on Bloomberg.
"Pharmaceutical stocks are in freefall," analysts were reporting. "If biological regeneration can be achieved through 'magic,' traditional medical industry faces potential obsolescence."
"But edtech stocks are soaring," another added. "Investors are speculating on massive demand for new types of training."
"What about energy commodities? If they can manipulate energy through vocal commands..."
"Oil has fallen fifteen percent in the last three hours."
I grabbed my laptop and opened Twitter. It was absolute chaos.
@CienciaBreaking: "MIT CONFIRMS: MAGIC IS REAL. Physicist demonstrates human levitation on open campus. Full video attached."
50,000 retweets in two hours.
@CeticaSarah: "Obviously CGI. No one can actually float. You're all so gullible. #FakeNews"
@VerdadeiroCrente88: "I ALWAYS KNEW IT! Governments have been hiding this for decades! Finally the truth comes out! #MagiaÉReal"
@ProfessorFisica: "As a physics teacher for 30 years, I can definitively say that this is impossible. There must be an explanation."
@ComunidadeBruxa: "WE TRIED TO WARN YOU! Witchcraft is real! Total vindication! #WeWereVindicated"
I went through the trending topics:
#MagiaEReal - 2.3 million tweets
#MIT - 1.8 million
#DrThorne - 1.2 million
#Levitacao - 900k
#NovaEra - 850k
I opened Instagram to see the memes that were inevitably popping up.
Someone had made a montage of me floating above famous historical images. "Dr. Thorne Through History: Crossing the Delaware, Gettysburg Address, Moon 1969."
Another showed a side-by-side comparison of me floating and Harry Potter flying. "Finally: Hogwarts in real life."
TikTok was even more chaotic. Hundreds of people trying to replicate our commands.
"VEXIS THALAR ZEPHON!" shouted a 16-year-old teenager, pointing to a pen on the table. Obviously nothing happened, but the comments were hilarious:
"It didn't work! Scam!"
"You're pronouncing it wrong!"
"Needs special training idiot"
"FALSE! It only works for special people!"
I switched back to CNN where they were interviewing people on the street.
"My whole life I believed that physics was absolute," the old man was saying. "Now I don't know what to believe. If they can make people float, what else is possible?"
"Do you think it should be available to everyone?" the reporter asked.
"It depends. It's like nuclear weapons - too powerful to let just anyone have."
"What if you could learn?"
His eyes lit up. "I'd be first in line."
I'm back on social media, this time Reddit.
r/science was having a civil war between skeptics and believers.
"MEGATHREAD: MIT LEVITATION DEMONSTRATION - REAL OR FAKE?"
Top comment: "Physicist here. I've analyzed the video frame by frame. I can't find any evidence of a trick, but this can't be real because it violates conservation of energy."
Answer: "Maybe our conservation laws are incomplete?"
Response to response: "400 years of physics aren't wrong because some guy at MIT claims he can float."
r/witchcraft was in celebration mode:
"VINDICATION! Witchcraft is real and now science has proven it!"
"We always knew magic was possible. Mainstream finally catching up."
"Does anyone know if Dr. Thorne practices Wicca?"
r/conspiracy was... being r/conspiracy:
"Obvious psychological operation by the government. They are preparing the population for the revelation of alien technology."
"Dr. Thorne is clearly an alien-human hybrid."
"This is a distraction from [insert random conspiracy theory here]."
I switched to YouTube where videos of the demonstration already had millions of views.
Main comment in the official video: "Fake or real, this changed my life. I will never look at the world the same way."
Response: "How can you watch this and think it's fake? Hundreds of witnesses!"
Answer: "How can you watch this and think it's real? Humans can't float!"
I opened WhatsApp to see messages that were piling up.
My mom: "Kai, I just saw you on TV. CAN YOU FLY?! Call me NOW."
Old college roommate: "Dude, what the hell? Is this real or did you become a professional magician?"
Ex-girlfriend from three years ago: "I always knew you were special. Can we talk?"
Undergraduate professor: "My former student is rewriting physics. Proud and terrified at the same time."
Unknown number: "Dr. Thorne! I am a Prince of Nigeria and I have an investment proposal..."
Spam already starting.
I went back to TV. Now they had a special emergency program on the Discovery Channel.
"MAGIC OR SCIENCE? Special Emergency Investigation"
They had brought in professional magicians to analyze our videos.
"As a professional magician for 20 years," Penn Jillette was saying, "I can confirm that this is not a trick we know. The environment was completely wrong for stage magic. Impossible to hide the necessary equipment."
"But there has to be an explanation," Teller added. "Humans can't actually fly."
"Unless," Penn replied slowly, "they actually can."
I switched to a Korean news channel out of curiosity. Even though I didn't understand the language, I could see excitement and confusion on the anchors' faces as they showed replays of my levitation over and over.
Japanese, German, Arabic – all the international channels were covering the story.
I went back to Twitter to see the latest developments.
@CasaBranca: "President is being briefed on developments at MIT. Official statement coming soon."
@NASA: "NASA scientists reviewing footage. Implications for space exploration being assessed."
@elonmusk: "Well, this changes everything. When can I get my admissions application? 🚀✨"
300k likes in 20 minutes.
@NoticiasVaticano: "His Holiness requests a meeting with Dr. Thorne to discuss theological implications."
@UN: "United Nations calling for international oversight of new human capabilities."
I switched to Late Night TV where comedians were already making jokes.
"So apparently humans can fly now," Stephen Colbert was saying. "Great! As if air travel wasn't complicated enough. Now TSA is going to have to check if you're hiding wings."
Audience bursting into laughter.
"And apparently you need special training. Because obviously normal college wasn't hard enough. Now kids are going to have to worry about getting into Magic University."
"Though honestly," he continued, "if I could levitate, I'd never touch the ground again. Just float everywhere. Traffic jams? Float over them. Long lines? Float forward. Annoying neighbors? Float away."
Saturday Night Live was obviously rewriting the entire show for the weekend.
I opened LinkedIn to see professional reactions.
"As the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, today's developments concern me deeply. Our entire business model could become obsolete overnight."
"As an educator, I'm excited about the possibilities but concerned about implementation. How do we prepare students for a world where magic is real?"
"As a lawyer, I am already drafting proposed legislation to regulate magical abilities."
I went back to the news channels. Now they were having a roundtable with ethics experts.
"The question is not whether it is real," the bioethicist was arguing, "the question is whether it should be developed further. Some knowledge is too dangerous for humanity."
"But if it is a natural human capacity," philosophy professor countered, "then denying access would be a form of oppression."
"Natural? There's nothing natural about flying humans!"
"Everything about humans is 'natural' by definition. We are part of nature."
I switched to financial news again. Markets were chaos.
"Gold is up 30%. People are buying physical assets."
"Bitcoin plummeting. Digital currency looks less attractive when reality itself is malleable."
"Defense contractors firing. Obvious military applications."
"Airlines are going down in general. Why buy a ticket when you might be able to fly yourself?"
I picked up my phone to check more messages.
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson: "Kai, I need to talk to you urgently. This changes everything we thought we knew about the universe."
Random celebrities trying to get meetings.
Publishers offering book contracts.
Film producers wanting rights to my story.
Universities offering positions.
Governments requesting briefings.
Religious leaders demanding hearings.
It was overwhelming and hilarious at the same time.
I switched back to CNN where they were interviewing people on the street again.
"My daughter asked if she can learn magic now," worried mother was saying. "What do I tell her? Is this real? Is it safe? Should I be excited or terrified?"
Perfect question that summed up the world's reaction.
Excitement, terror, disbelief, wonder, paranoia, hope - all mixed together in a cacophonous response to the reality shift I had engineered.
I looked at my watch. Only three hours since the press conference, and already the world was in complete turmoil.
Social media exploding, markets falling and rising simultaneously, governments moving, scientists questioning everything, religious leaders debating theology, comedians making jokes, conspiracy theorists creating theories, ordinary people trying to understand what this meant for their lives.
It was beautiful chaos.
It was exactly what I wanted.
In a few hours, I had transformed from an unknown MIT professor to the most famous person on the planet. Not just famous—a person who single-handedly changed human understanding of reality itself.
And through all the chaos, all the confusion, all the debates and arguments and panic and excitement - one thing was crystal clear:
Everyone wanted access.
Everyone wanted to learn.
Everyone wanted to be part of the next phase of human evolution.
Which meant everyone would be competing to get into my gym.
Which meant I would have absolute power to choose who would gain access to transcendent abilities and who would remain ordinary.
Which meant that I had successfully positioned myself as the guardian of human evolution itself.
Exactly as I had planned from the beginning.
I leaned back on the couch, still watching the world react to the revelation that would reshape civilization, and smiled genuinely for the first time in months.
Phase Five was going to be very interesting indeed.
I picked up the phone and dialed Neil deGrasse Tyson's number. It was perfect strategic timing—having America's most respected astrophysicist validate our discovery would be invaluable for public credibility.
"Dr. Tyson," he said when he answered. "I got your message."
"Kai," his familiar voice held a mix of scientific urgency and genuine fascination. "I need to understand what I just witnessed. As an astrophysicist, I have dedicated my career to understanding how the universe works. What you have demonstrated today... defies everything."
"I completely understand your confusion," I replied diplomatically. "I had the same reaction when I first found out. Do you want to talk in person?"
"I can be there in an hour. I'm in New York, but I have a private jet available."
"Perfect. But Neil, if you don't mind, I'd like to suggest something. How about we turn our conversation into a live interview? The scientific world needs to hear a discussion between the two of us."
Pause on the other end. "Public interview? Kai, that's... well, it would be historic."
"Exactly. A historic moment deserves historic documentation. And frankly, your presence and validation would help immensely in scientific credibility."
"Where would we broadcast?"
"Leave it to me. I have contacts on several networks. We can do it simultaneously on multiple platforms."
After finishing the call with Neil, I immediately started making strategic calls. CNN, BBC, Discovery Channel, YouTube Live, Twitch - they all wanted exclusive access, but I negotiated a simulcast. The bigger the audience, the better for my purposes.
Within thirty minutes, I had set up a live interview that would be broadcast globally at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Two hours for final preparation.
My phone kept ringing. TV producers, journalists, publishers, Hollywood agents. All wanting a piece of the most important story of the century.
I accepted three quick online interviews to maintain momentum.
First: popular science podcast with 2 million listeners.
"Dr. Thorne, thank you for joining us for this extraordinary moment," the host began. "First question everyone wants to know - how did you find out about this?"
"It started accidentally," I replied, using a narrative I had refined. "Neural algorithms I developed detected impossible patterns in medical data. When I investigated further, I discovered correlations between certain linguistic structures and anomalous brain activity."
"And when did you first try?"
"It was terrifying," I admitted honestly. "Seeing the pen float against every physics I knew... I questioned my own sanity for weeks."
"But he kept researching."
"Scientific method demands investigation of anomalies. The more experiments we did, the clearer it became that we had discovered a previously unknown fundamental principle."
"And other team members?"
"Each brought unique expertise. Dr. Hoffmann with theoretical physics, Dr. Li with energy analysis, Katharina with linguistics. It was truly an interdisciplinary collaboration."
"Future applications?"
"Unlimited, but controlled. Regenerative medicine, materials manipulation, space exploration. But everything requires responsible development."
Second interview: YouTube science communication channel with 5 million subscribers.
"Dr. Thorne, skeptics are saying this is impossible, that there must be a trick. How do you respond?"
"I invite any qualified scientist to come to MIT and see for themselves. Our methodology is documented, our results are reproducible. Science advances through evidence, not opinion."
"But this violates fundamental physical laws..."
"It expands fundamental physical laws," I corrected. "Newton did not 'violate' Aristotelian physics - he revealed deeper principles. Same here."
"Timeline for the academy?"
"Twelve to eighteen months for basic structure. Location still being negotiated between several interested nations."
"Admission criteria?"
"Rigorous. Psychological assessment, scientific competence, emotional stability, ethical commitment. We cannot allow capabilities to be misused."
Third interview: international news program with an audience of 50 million.
"Dr. Thorne, governments around the world are reacting intensely. Concern about military applications?"
"Understandable, but academia will operate independently of any government. Absolute neutrality is essential."
"How do you guarantee that?"
"International legal framework, multiple jurisdictional protections, transparent governance with international scientific oversight."
"What if governments try to force cooperation?"
"The academy will be established on sovereign territory with robust legal protections. Any attempt at coercion would violate international law."
"Personally, how has it changed your life?"
"Deeply. Realizing that reality is much more malleable than we imagined... is humbling and inspiring at the same time."
At 7:30 p.m., Neil deGrasse Tyson arrived at MIT accompanied by a small production crew. We had set up a makeshift studio in the main conference room, with professional lighting and multiple cameras.
"Kai," Neil said, greeting me warmly, "I'm still processing what I saw today. As an astrophysicist, I study phenomena that defy intuition on a daily basis. But this..."
"It really transcends quantum physics," I agreed. "It's a direct interface between consciousness and the fabric of reality."
At exactly 8pm, we went live. Initial audience of 15 million simultaneous viewers across all platforms.
"Good evening," Neil began, looking directly into the main camera. "I'm Neil deGrasse Tyson, and this may be the most important interview I've ever conducted. Today, Dr. Kai Thorne and his team have demonstrated capabilities that redefine our understanding of physical reality. Dr. Thorne, thank you for being here."
"Thank you for coming, Neil. I greatly respect your scientific perspective."
"Let's get right to the point," Neil said, leaning forward. "I saw you float ten feet above the ground with no visible support. As an astrophysicist, I know that this violates conservation of energy, angular momentum, and basic gravitational principles. Explain."
"It doesn't violate it—it transcends it," I replied calmly. "Just as quantum mechanics transcended classical physics without directly violating it."
"But quantum mechanics operates on subatomic scales. Are you suggesting that quantum effects can be amplified to macroscopic scales?"
"More than amplified. Directed through the consciousness-reality interface we discovered."
Neil shook his head. "Consciousness-reality interface. In forty years of studying the cosmos, I've never found evidence that consciousness directly affects physical reality."
"Because I didn't know where to look," he said softly. "Or how to look."
"Then teach me. Explain the underlying physical mechanism."
"Linguistic command 'VEXIS THALAR ZEPHON' accesses quantum field through specific frequency patterns produced by the combination of conscious intention and precise phonetic structure."
"Quantum field?" Neil pressed. "What field? Electromagnetic? Higgs? Some unknown field?"
"Underlying informational field," I replied. "If reality is fundamentally informational—as many theoretical physicists suspect—then appropriately structured commands can edit that information directly."
Neil paused, processing. "Are you suggesting that reality is... software?"
"Useful metaphor. Linguistic commands as programming code for the universe's operating system."
"But where does the energy for levitation come from? First law of thermodynamics..."
"It's not creating new energy," I explained. "It's redirecting existing energy through an interface that bypasses classical physical limitations."
"Overcomes how?"
"Imagine that gravity is an application running on the reality operating system. Our commands access the underlying system level, temporarily editing gravity application parameters."
Neil was silent for a long moment. "That's...elegant in theory. But extraordinarily radical."
"Every transformative discovery is radical initially," I observed. "Heliocentrism, evolution, relativity, quantum mechanics."
"True. But how do we independently verify? Science requires reproducibility."
"I invite you and any respected scientist to come to MIT. We will demonstrate methodology, explain necessary training, and provide full access to our research."
"What about reproducibility?"
"Dr. Li, demonstrate heat transfer for Dr. Tyson."
Dr. Li, who had been waiting outside the camera's frame, walked in carrying two metal bars.
"Dr. Tyson," she said respectfully, "this bar is at 60°C, this one at 20°C. I can transfer heat energy between them without physical contact."
"Show me," Neil said, clearly skeptical but curious.
"NEXUS KALAR FLUX," Dra. I commanded him.
Neil watched intently as visible heat began to flow between the bars. Infrared thermometer confirmed energy transfer.
"Impossible," Neil muttered, checking with his own hands. "The rods are balancing temperature across space."
"Three different members of our team can demonstrate this," I added. "Full reproducibility."
"My God," Neil said quietly, then looked directly at the camera. "Audience, as a scientist dedicated to rigorous skepticism, I must tell you that I have just witnessed energy transfer that I cannot explain through known physics."
Viewers jumped to 25 million.
"Neil," he said, "want to try it yourself?"
"Me? Can you teach me?"
"Basic command requires approximately one hour of training for people with a scientific background."
Neil looked at the camera, then at me. "Live? In front of 25 million people?"
"If you are willing."
"That's... well, it would be historic again."
"History is being made today anyway."
Neil took a deep breath. "Okay. Teach me."
For the next forty minutes, I guided Neil through the basic training process. Explanation of linguistic structure, mental focusing techniques, conscious intention alignment.
"System," I muttered quietly during a commercial break, "authorize basic access for Neil deGrasse Tyson. Demo level only."
When we came back on the air, Neil was standing in front of a simple pen, clearly nervous but determined.
"Dr. Tyson," he said to the camera, "is about to attempt something that redefines our understanding of human capability."
"VEXIS THALAR ZEPHON," Neil said, his voice carrying an authority that did justice to decades of scientific education.
The pen trembled, then slowly rose from the table.
The silence in the studio was absolute. Neil stood completely still, staring at the floating pen with an expression of pure scientific amazement.
"I... I'm doing this," he whispered.
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"As if I had just discovered a new meaning. It's... indescribable."
Neil looked directly at the camera, still controlling the floating pen.
"Audience," he said, his voice thick with genuine emotion, "in forty years of scientific career, I have never experienced anything that altered my perception of reality so fundamentally. This is real. It is reproducible. And it changes absolutely everything."
Viewers exploded to 40 million.
"Neil," he said, "do you want to talk about implications?"
He carefully put down his pen before answering.
"The implications are staggering. If consciousness can interface directly with physical reality, then the boundary between observer and observed—fundamental to modern science—dissolve."
"And cosmologically?"
"If humans can manipulate matter and energy through directed intention, then we are much more than passive spectators of the cosmos. We are active participants in the ongoing creation of reality."
"Does this change fundamental physics?"
"It doesn't change - it expands dramatically. Like discovering that the universe is much larger and more complex than we imagined."
"And for humanity?"
Neil paused, considering carefully.
"If these capacities can be developed widely, we are looking at the next step in human evolution. Not biological evolution, but conscious evolution. Deliberate development of potential we have always possessed but never accessed."
"Concerns?"
"Huge. Power of this magnitude requires commensurate wisdom. That is exactly why Dr. Thorne's academy is essential."
"Would you support the establishment of the academy?"
"Absolutely. In fact, I would like to contribute in any capacity possible."
It was a perfect endorsement from America's most respected scientist, broadcast live to a global audience of 40 million.
"Dr. Thorne," Neil turned to me, "a personal question. How do you handle the responsibility of having discovered this?"
I paused, pretending to consider deeply.
"It's scary, honestly. Realizing that you have knowledge that can transform civilization... it's a huge burden. But it's also a privilege. An opportunity to guide humanity into the next phase of development in a responsible way."
"And how do you ensure responsible development?"
"I cannot guarantee it alone. That is why I am committed to a collaborative, transparent, ethically guided approach. Academia will not be my institution - it will be humanity's."
Neil nodded approvingly. "Wise approach."
"A final demonstration?" I suggested.
"Of course."
"ORVEN THYMAL NEXUS DUAL," he said, pointing to the pen Neil had used.
A second identical pen gradually materialized next to the first.
Neil picked them both up, examining them closely.
"Identical mass, identical structure, even identical microscopic scratches," he confirmed. "Perfect duplication of matter."
He looked at the camera one last time.
"Audience, as a scientist who has dedicated his life to seeking truth about the universe, I must declare that Dr. Thorne and his team have discovered principles that redefine our understanding of physical reality. This is no trick, this is no illusion. This is revolutionary science that will change the course of human history."
When we went off the air an hour later, the final audience was at 45 million concurrent viewers. Worldwide trending topics were dominated by the interview.
"Kai," Neil said as cameras stopped, "do you realize what just happened?"
"Did we change the world live on television?"
"More than that. You have just received the most public and convincing scientific endorsement possible. No one can question its legitimacy after that."
It was exactly what I had planned.
Within hours, it had transformed local discovery into a global phenomenon, scientific skepticism into enthusiastic advocacy, and public curiosity into massive demand for access.
Academia was no longer a theoretical concept - it was an urgent need that the world was demanding.
And I was positioned as the only person qualified to lead the development of the most transformative capabilities in human history.
Phase Five was proceeding perfectly.
After Neil left and the production team dismantled the equipment, I returned to my office with a sense of profound satisfaction. The interview had exceeded all expectations—45 million viewers watching America's most respected scientist not only validate our discovery, but learn how to use its capabilities live.
It was time to see how the world was processing this dramatic escalation.
I turned on all my devices—TV, laptop, tablet, phone—and prepared to dive into the controlled chaos I had created.
CNN was already running post-interview analysis with an expanded panel of experts.
"What we just witnessed," the anchor was saying, "was Neil deGrasse Tyson - arguably America's most trusted scientist - not only endorsing Dr. Thorne's claims, but demonstrating the capabilities himself."
"It's a paradigm shift," agreed a Harvard philosopher of science. "When a figure of scientific authority like Tyson says something 'changes absolutely everything,' it has to be taken seriously."
"But the implications are terrifying," countered one sociologist. "If magic is real and can be learned, every existing social structure becomes obsolete overnight."
"Not obsolete - evolved," corrected one futurist. "We are witnessing the birth of a new era of human capability."
I switched to Fox News, where the tone was more alarmist.
"The question is not whether this is real - Tyson confirmed that it is," one political commentator was saying. "The question is who controls it. Dr. Thorne claims that academia will be 'for humanity,' but who will actually make the decisions? Who will decide who has access to capabilities that can literally turn people into gods?"
"And national security issues," added a former general. "If other countries develop these capabilities first, the United States will be at a massive strategic disadvantage."
I opened Twitter, where related hashtags completely dominated the global trending topics.
#TysonConfirms - 5.2 million tweets
#MagiaEReal - 4.8 million
#ThorneTypsonInterview - 3.9 million
#NewHumanEvolution - 2.7 million
#AcademiaMagica - 2.1 million
@neiltyson had posted: "In 40 years of scientific career, I have never experienced such a fundamental paradigm shift. What Dr. Thorne demonstrated redefines our understanding of physical reality. #ScientificHistory"
500k retweets in 20 minutes.
@MIT_Oficial: "MIT is proud to host a discovery that may represent the greatest scientific advance in human history. Continued collaboration with Dr. Thorne and team. #MIT #FutureScience"
@CasaBranca: "President called emergency meeting of National Security Council to discuss implications of developments at MIT. Official statement tomorrow morning."
@UN: "UN Emergency General Assembly convened to discuss international regulation of new human capabilities. Meeting in 48 hours."
@elonmusk: "Just saw a human learn magic live on TV. 2024 is insane. When can I sign up? Asking a friend who is me. 🧙♂️🚀"
1.2 million likes.
I switched to YouTube where clips of the interview were already getting astronomical views.
"Neil deGrasse Tyson LEARNS MAGIC LIVE - HISTORIC MOMENT" - 15 million views in 2 hours.
"Dr. Thorne DUPLICATES MATTER in front of Neil Tyson - IMPOSSIBLE MADE REAL" - 12 million views.
"THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS PHYSICIST CONFIRMS: MAGIC IS SCIENCE" - 8 million views.
The comments were fascinating:
"My worldview just completely imploded."
"If Neil Tyson says it's real, it's real. That guy wouldn't endorse something that's fake."
"FINALLY! Vindication for all who always knew there was more to reality than official science admitted!"
"This is the beginning of the end of humanity as we know it."
"Or the beginning of humanity as it should be."
I opened Instagram where influencers were already capitalizing on the moment.
Stories of celebrities trying to replicate commands (obviously without success).
Posts from spirituality "experts" claiming they "always knew."
Memes comparing Dr. Thorne to every fictional magical character in history.
Digital art reimagining a world where magic is common.
TikTok was absolutely chaotic.
Thousands of videos of people trying levitation commands.
Improvised "teachers" claiming they could teach magic.
Conspiracy theories about governments hiding magic for centuries.
Reaction videos to Neil's interview.
"Explanations" for why some people can do magic and others can't.
One particularly viral video showed a teenager yelling "VEXIS THALAR ZEPHON" at a pen for 10 minutes straight, becoming increasingly frustrated when nothing happened.
Comments included:
"Obviously you don't have the gift"
"You need to train first, idiot"
"Dr. Thorne said it takes an hour of training"
"False! If it were real, everyone could do it!"
I switched to international news.
BBC was providing more sober coverage: "Global Implications of American Discovery of 'Scientific Magic'"
"If confirmed through independent verification," the correspondent was reporting, "Dr. Thorne's discovery represents the most significant change in scientific understanding since the theory of relativity."
France 24: "Europe Calls Emergency Meeting on 'Advanced Human Capabilities'"
"The European Union is preparing a coordinated response to what some are calling an 'existential threat' and others a 'transformative opportunity'."
China Global Television: "China Reaffirms Offer to Host International Academy"
"China's Ministry of Science and Technology renewed its offer of sovereign territory for the establishment of the 'Arcane Academy,' citing China's tradition of preserving and developing advanced knowledge."
RT (Russia Today): "Russia Offers Full Protection for Development of Revolutionary Human Capabilities"
"Russian Federation guarantees absolute security and complete autonomy for researchers developing capabilities that 'represent the next step in human evolution'."
I went back to social media to check reactions from other public figures.
@BillGates: "If these capabilities can be developed responsibly, the potential to solve humanity's greatest challenges is limitless. I am critical that development be guided by an ethical framework."
@StanLee_Real: "I've always said superheroes were possibility, not fiction. Dr. Thorne proving that imagination becomes reality when science evolves. Excelsior!"
@Oprah: "Witnessing human potential being unlocked in real time is deeply moving. Excited to see how this transforms healthcare, education, human connection."
@RobertDowneyJr: "Real life finally catching up with the MCU. When do auditions start for Magic Academy? Asking a friend... 😉 #TonyStarkApproved"
I opened LinkedIn to see professional reactions.
Pharmaceutical CEOs posting about "massive disruption" and "need to adapt."
Educators debating how to incorporate "magical literacy" into curricula.
Venture capitalists speculating on investment opportunities in "magic-related technologies."
Military contractors discussing defense applications.
Religious leaders offering theological perspectives.
One particularly insightful post came from the CEO of a large consulting firm:
"Implications for business are staggering. If individuals can manipulate matter directly, manufacturing becomes decentralized. If healing can be accomplished through commands, the health care industry faces obsolescence. If transportation can be achieved through levitation, logistics revolutionizes. Every industry needs to reevaluate fundamental assumptions."
I switched to financial news where markets were in absolute chaos.
"After-hours trading shows extreme volatility," analysts were reporting. "Pharma stocks down 40%, defense contractors up 60%, precious metals soaring, cryptocurrencies tumbling as investors flee to physical assets."
"Ed-tech stocks explode higher as investors bet on massive demand for new type of training."
"Airlines, shipping companies, traditional transportation - all facing potential obsolescence if human levitation becomes widespread."
"But some analysts argue that this creates more opportunities than threats. Entirely new industries focused on developing magical capabilities."
I opened Reddit to see detailed discussions.
r/ciencia had a megathread with 50,000 comments debating implications.
Main comment: "As a physicist, I have spent my career studying the universe. Today I learned that the universe is much more malleable than any of us imagined. This is not just a discovery - it is a revolution."
r/futurology speculating about a world where magic is common:
"Completely restructured educational system."
"Scarcity-based economic models are obsolete."
"Social hierarchies redefined by magical ability."
"Exploring space, oceans, other dimensions."
"Medical revolution eliminating disease, aging, death."
r/philosophy discussing consciousness and reality:
"If mind can affect matter directly, materialism as a philosophy is dead."
"Consciousness is not an emergent property of matter - matter is the manipulation of consciousness."
"Reality is not fixed - it is collaborative creation."
I went back to TV where late-night shows were being completely rewritten.
"So apparently humans can fly now," Jimmy Fallon was saying. "Finally! I've been waiting for an excuse to avoid walking. 'Sorry I'm late, still learning how to land.'"
Audience laughing, but laughter had a tone of nervous excitement.
"And apparently you need special academia to learn. Great, another college application process. 'Please describe your magical potential in 500 words or less.'"
"But seriously," he continued, tone becoming more genuine, "if this is real — and Neil Tyson says it is — then everything changes. Everything. How do you process that?"
Stephen Colbert was taking a different approach:
"I've been saying for years that reality has a liberal bias. It turns out that reality has a magical bias too. Take that, atheists!"
"But honestly, if Dr. Thorne can teach people to fly, I want in. Imagine never having to deal with TSA again. Just floating through security, waving goodbye to minimum wage workers in plastic gloves."
Saturday Night Live had an emergency writers' meeting visible on social media, with cast members posting behind-the-scenes footage of frantic script rewrites.
I switched to international comedy shows. Every country was processing through humor.
British comedians joking about "Finally, something more unbelievable than Brexit."
Japanese variety shows demonstrating failed attempts at magic with elaborate physical comedy.
German cabaret artists performing satirical plays about "practical applications of levitation in efficient society."
I opened messaging apps to see personal reactions coming in.
Hundreds of messages from acquaintances, colleagues, strangers who somehow got my number.
University professors wanting collaboration.
Military officers requesting consultations.
Religious leaders seeking theological discussions.
Foreign governments offering citizenship in exchange for exclusive access.
Tech billionaires proposing partnerships.
Film producers bidding for life rights.
Publishers offering advance contracts.
Random message that caught my attention:
"Dr. Thorne, I am a pediatric oncologist. If your abilities can heal as demonstrated, please consider medical applications first. Children are dying every day from diseases that traditional medicine cannot cure. Whatever political or commercial considerations there may be, please remember that real people need help now."
The message struck differently than the others. A reminder that behind all the media chaos and geopolitical maneuvering, there was real human suffering that our discovery could address.
But also a reminder of why controlled development was essential. Imagine the chaos if healing capabilities were released without proper training, supervision, quality control.
I returned to news channels where programming had changed to 24/7 coverage.
"Breaking News: Vatican announces Pope Francis will address the world tomorrow on 'theological implications of scientific developments at MIT.'"
"European Union calls emergency session to discuss 'regulatory framework for superhuman capabilities.'"
"China confirms offer of territorial sovereignty to Dr. Thorne's academy, plus unlimited funding and military protection."
"Russia matches Chinese offer, additionally provides rare earth mining rights for self-financing."
"Japan proposes international consortium model with shared governance among allied nations."
"Brazil emphasizes environmental applications, offering access for research in the Amazon."
The phone rang. Katharina.
"Kai, are you watching this?"
"Everything," I replied. "It's insane."
"The world is literally changing in real time. Every government, every corporation, every institution is trying to figure out how to adapt."
"Exactly as I planned."
"Planned? Kai, this escalated far beyond anything that could have been planned."
"Was it really?" I asked casually.
Pause on the other side.
"You... you really planned this, didn't you? Everything. Press conference, Neil's validation, global reaction..."
"I did not plan the global reaction," he said honestly. "But I planned to create conditions that would make a global reaction inevitable and overwhelmingly favorable to our position."
"This is... brilliant and terrifying simultaneously."
"Welcome to paradigm-shifting realpolitik," he said. "Want to see something interesting?"
"What?"
"Check out the UN Security Council emergency meeting agenda that was just posted."
I heard typing through the phone.
"Oh my God. 'Regulation of Superhuman Capabilities: Threat Assessment and International Response Framework.'"
"And check the White House press schedule."
More typing.
"Presidential Address to the Nation Tomorrow Evening. 'Addressing Recent Scientific Developments and National Security Implications.'"
"Pentagon military briefing scheduled for tomorrow morning," I added. "NATO emergency consultation. G7 leaders' conference call."
"World governments are mobilizing as if it were wartime."
"In many ways, it is. Not war between nations, but war between old and new paradigm. And we are positioned as architects of the new paradigm."
"That's a huge responsibility."
"It's a huge opportunity," I corrected. "An opportunity to guide human development in a positive direction instead of letting chaos determine the outcome."
"What if we screw this up?"
"We won't," he said with confidence he truly felt. "Every move so far has worked exactly as intended. Trust the process."
After hanging up with Katharina, I continued to monitor the global reaction.
Social media metrics were mind-boggling:
15 most trending topics worldwide were related to our discovery
#MagiaEReal had reached 10 million tweets
YouTube views for interview content exceeding 100 million
Wikipedia page for "Kai Thorne" receiving 50,000 edits per hour
Google Trends showing "magic academy registration" as top search globally
Financial markets in different time zones showing consistent patterns:
Traditional industries plummeting
Educational technology taking off
Defense spending exploding
Precious metals hitting all-time highs
New "magic technology" investment funds being created
Government responses becoming more coordinated:
Five-nation intelligence briefing scheduled
International scientific verification committee being formed
UN Special Commission on Superhuman Abilities established
NATO Article 5 emergency discussion (treating this as a potential existential threat)
Religious responses polarizing dramatically:
Progressive denominations embracing it as "revelation of divine human potential"
Conservative groups condemn as 'satanic hoax'
New religious movements forming around "magical consciousness"
Theological seminaries adding courses in "ethics of supernatural abilities"
Educational institutions taking action:
Harvard Announcing Emergency "Consciousness Studies" Program
MIT creating "Department of Applied Reality Manipulation"
Stanford Proposing "Institute for Human Potential Development"
Cambridge offering visiting fellowship specifically for 'magical research'
It was beautiful chaos. Controlled disruption that had created exactly the conditions needed for the next phase.
Global demand for access to magical capabilities.
International competition to host academy.
Scientific validation from the most respected sources.
Political need for engagement on our terms.
Economic incentive for cooperation.
Social pressure for inclusive development.
It was exactly where it wanted to be: a center of global transformation, positioned as an essential figure to navigate humanity's next evolutionary step.
I looked at my watch: 2:30 a.m. The world had been reacting for only 18 hours since the press conference.
In less than a day, I had transformed from an unknown MIT professor to the most consequential person in human history.
And that was just the beginning.
Tomorrow would bring presidential speeches, UN resolutions, international negotiations, verification committees, academic collaborations, military briefings, religious pronouncements, and countless other attempts to understand and control what had been released.
But the center of it all would be me. And my gym. And my controlled access to capabilities that everyone now desperately wanted.
It was exactly as I had imagined from the beginning.
I turned off my devices and got ready for bed. Tomorrow would be busy.
There was a world to remodel.
I grabbed my laptop and stretched out on the couch, deciding to check out how the world was processing information about me. It was strange to think that 24 hours ago I was essentially unknown outside of medical AI circles, and now my life was being dissected by millions of curious people.
I opened the Wikipedia page for "Kai Eriksson Thorne" and nearly spit out my coffee.
The page had exploded. From a basic two-line entry yesterday to a full-length article with 15,000 words, 47 references, and seemingly professional editors working in real time to fact-check every detail of my life.
Kai Eriksson Thorne(born 1992) is a Danish-American software architect and artificial intelligence developer who revolutionized scientific understanding of human capabilities through his discovery oflinguistic manipulation of reality(also known as "scientific magic"). In June 2024, Thorne publicly demonstrated abilities including human levitation, matter duplication, and biological regeneration through structured vocal commands.
The doorbell rang—my delivery had arrived. I paused my reading to pick up dinner: a Thai combo that had become my default meal during weeks of intensive research.
I went back to the couch with pad thai and continued reading my own biography being constructed in real time.
Personal Life and Education
Thorne was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Dr. Erik Thorne, a renowned neurosurgeon, and Sarah Chen-Thorne, a software engineer. The family emigrated to the United States when Kai was 8 years old, initially settling in San Francisco before moving to Seattle.
A formative event in Thorne's life was his father's death from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when Kai was 28. Friends and colleagues report that Thorne became obsessed with "solving impossible problems" after watching his father's neurological deterioration, often declaring that "there is no problem without a solution, only inadequate methods of finding it."
It was disturbing to read a condensed version of the most defining tragedy of my life being presented as clinical context to journalists. But it was also impressive how quickly they had obtained such specific details.
Education and Early Career
He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Computer Science from MIT at age 20, the youngest in his class. He completed a master's degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Stanford in just 18 months. He began a PhD program but dropped out after two years to accept a position in industry.
Recognized as "30 Under 30" by Forbes in 2017 for developing optimization algorithms that improved AI medical diagnoses by 340%. Currently serves as Principal Architect at NeuralDyne Corp, a startup specializing in AI applications for neurological medicine.
He holds three patents in machine learning applied to early medical diagnosis. Colleagues describe Thorne as "obsessed with code elegance" and "unable to accept that any problem is truly impossible."
I pulled out my phone to check how many views the page was getting. 2.3 million in the last 6 hours. Editors working simultaneously: 47. Edits in the last 24 hours: 2,891.
I went down to the most interesting section:
Discovery of Linguistic Capabilities
In January 2024, while working on the NeuralDyne project for early diagnosis of neurological diseases, AI algorithms developed by Thorne began detecting anomalous patterns in medical data that did not correspond to any known condition. Further investigation revealed statistically impossible correlations between certain linguistic structures vocalized by patients and measurable changes in their brain activity.
Thorne initially assumed it was a programming error, but six months of testing confirmed consistent patterns. In June 2024, he began experimental testing that resulted in the first confirmed demonstration of physical manipulation of reality through linguistic commands.
It was a sanitized, "scientific" version of how I had actually discovered access to reality's operating system, but close enough to the truth to be believable.
I opened Reddit in a new tab to see more... colorful discussions.
r/science had pinned megathread:"Kai Thorne Megathread: Background, Verification, Implications"
4,847 comments, 89% upvoted.
Top comment with 15k upvotes:
SkepticCosmic_PhD: "Physicist here. I've spent the last 12 hours looking into Thorne's background. The guy is legitimately brilliant - his patents in machine learning are genuinely groundbreaking. But that doesn't explain how the hell he's making humans float."
Top answer with 8k upvotes:
NerdRedeNeural: "I work in medical AI. NeuralDyne is a serious company, not some random startup. Thorne is well-known in our industry. If he says he discovered something, it's worth investigating."
Full thread of professional verification:
AlunoMIT_2019: "I confirm that Thorne graduated from MIT. He was a legend in the Computer Science department. Professor said he was smarter than half the faculty."
StanfordPost-Student: "I was in the program when Thorne dropped out of his PhD. Rumor was that he found the course 'too limiting' and wanted to apply research immediately."
InternForbes: "I can confirm that he was indeed 30 Under 30. Profile article described him as 'obsessed with impossibility' and 'convinced that every problem has an elegant solution.'"
More interesting was the psychological analysis thread:
Licensed Clinical Psychologist: "Thorne's profile is fascinating. Traumatic death of father from neurological disease, subsequent obsession with 'solving the impossible', career focused on diagnosing neurological conditions early. Classic example of trauma turned into scientific motivation."
ComputerScientist_PhD: "I met Thorne at a 2019 conference. The guy is intense. His presentation on 'emerging patterns in neurological data' was brilliant but strange. He kept talking about 'hidden languages in brain activity' that no one else was seeing."
Employee_NeuralDyne(verified account): "I've been working with Kai for 3 years. He's exactly what you'd imagine - brilliant, obsessive, completely focused. But also a genuinely good person. Everyone here loves him. If he says he's discovered something revolutionary, we believe him."
Thread starting to get personal:
LocalSeattle: "I know a guy who used to frequent the same coffee shop as Thorne. He says he always sat alone, always working on his laptop, always ordering the exact same thing. Baristas called him 'Quiet Genius Guy.'"
MotoristaUberSeattle: "I drove this guy a few times! Super polite, always tipped well, never said much. I picked him up from the hospital once at 3am - he looked devastated. Now it makes sense if dad died of a neurological disease."
MIT_TurmaDE2012: "Thorne was in my dorm freshman year. Weird but incredibly smart kid. Never went to parties, always studying or coding. Roommate said he talked in his sleep, in Danish."
I moved to a more conspiratorial thread on r/conspiracy:
"Kai Thorne Deep Dive: Who's REALLY Behind the Discovery of Magic?"
AlienTruthSeeker: "No one just 'discovers' reality manipulation. Thorne is obviously an alien hybrid or time traveler or government asset. Timing is too convenient."
MKUltra Victim: "NeuralDyne Corp founded in 2019. Same year Thorne supposedly had 'breakthrough' in neurological AI. Coincidence? I THINK NOT."
Observer of the Illuminati: "Follow the money. Who funds NeuralDyne? Who benefits if Thorne controls 'magic academy'? Wake up, sheep!"
But even in conspiracy threads, there were voices of reason:
Cético Researcher: "Folks, I've been researching conspiracy theories for 20 years. Thorne's track record checks out. MIT records, Stanford records, Forbes article, patents, corporate employment - all verifiable through multiple independent sources. If this is a hoax, it's the most elaborate one ever constructed."
I went back to Wikipedia, which had expanded further:
Personality and Characteristics
Colleagues and acquaintances describe Thorne as intensely private but universally respected. Former MIT professor Dr. Jennifer Walsh notes that "Kai was always looking for patterns that others couldn't see. He had an almost preternatural intuition for spotting hidden connections in complex data."
Sarah Chen-Thorne, Kai's mother, said in a recent interview: "My son has always been driven by the need to help people. His father's death devastated him, but it also strengthened his determination to solve medical mysteries that traditional science cannot address."
NeuralDyne CEO Dr. Marcus Webb describes Thorne as "brilliant beyond measure, but also deeply human. He never forgot that behind every data point is a real person suffering."
It was strange to read an assessment of my personality being compiled by strangers based on interviews with people in my life.
Controversies and Skepticism
Thorne's discovery faces significant skepticism from the mainstream scientific community. Dr. Richard Dawkins tweeted: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Until independent verification, I maintain a healthy skepticism about 'magical' claims."
However, a public demonstration attended by Neil deGrasse Tyson and broadcast to 45 million viewers worldwide provided convincing evidence of authenticity.
The James Randi Educational Foundation has announced that it will lift restrictions on its million-dollar challenge to test Thorne's claims under controlled conditions.
I scrolled down to the Bibliography section, which already listed academic articles I had published, interviews I had given, and even comments I had made on online forums years ago.
References section had 127 entries and growing.
I went back to Reddit to see ongoing discussions.
r/IAmA had a fixed request:"Reddit Calls for AMA: Dr. Kai Thorne, Scientist of Magic"
12k upvotes, 2k comments requesting AMA.
Main request: "Dr. Thorne, if you are reading this, PLEASE do AMA. The world needs to understand what you have discovered and what it means for humanity."
r/todayilearned had multiple posts:
HEA that 'Magic Scientist' Kai Thorne lost his father to ALS and devoted his career to neurological research before discovering reality manipulation
HEA that Kai Thorne was the youngest graduate in his MIT class and was described as having 'preternatural intuition' for patterns
HEA that Kai Thorne works for a company called 'NeuralDyne' that specializes in AI medical diagnostics
r/AskScience had serious discussions:
"[Physics] Could Thorne's 'linguistic manipulation of reality' be explained through quantum field theory?"
"[Neuroscience] What neurological mechanisms could allow consciousness to interface with physical reality?"
"[Computer Science] Could Thorne's AI background have helped him recognize patterns that pure physicists would miss?"
r/philosophy was having an existential crisis:
"If Thorne is right about language affecting reality, what does that mean for the nature of consciousness?"
"Are we observers or creators of reality?"
"Implications of Linguistic Manipulation of Reality for Free Will and Determinism"
My phone was constantly buzzing with notifications. Wikipedia page had reached 4.1 million views. #KaiThorne was trending worldwide with 15 million tweets.
I checked Instagram: my old photos from MIT, Stanford, NeuralDyne events being shared millions of times. Photos of my dad from his 2020 obituary being reshared with captions about how "tragedy fueled genius to revolutionize science."
LinkedIn: Professional connections posting about having worked with me, studied with me, met me at conferences. Employment history being verified by dozens of colleagues.
It was surreal to watch my entire life being reconstructed and analyzed in real time by millions of people eager to understand who I was and how I had achieved the impossible.
But also satisfying. Every detail being verified supported the narrative I had carefully constructed. Brilliant but tormented scientist driven by personal tragedy to push the boundaries of known science. Perfect origin story for a savior figure.
More importantly, nothing being discovered contradicted my carefully maintained persona. I had spent years building a credible track record in exactly the right field—AI medical research—to make the "discovery" seem like a natural evolution of my work rather than a complete fabrication.
I finished the pad thai while scrolling through more Reddit threads:
r/GetMotivated: "Kai Thorne proves that personal tragedy can be transformed into world-changing discovery"
r/science: "Attempts to verify Thorne's claims: ongoing list of independent scientists attempting replication"
r/Futurology: "If Thorne is real, what will the world look like in 10 years?"
r/AskHistorians: "Historical precedents for paradigm shifts of similar magnitude to Thorne's discovery"
It was beautiful. Exactly as I had imagined.
The world wasn't just accepting my abilities—they were celebrating my background, analyzing my motivations, building a narrative that positioned me as a sympathetic figure driven by noble goals rather than a megalomaniacal manipulator.
Personal tragedy. Scientific brilliance. Humble origins. Dedication to helping others.
Perfect hero archetype for a person destined to guide humanity's next evolutionary step.
I closed my laptop and settled back on the couch, watching the evening news continue to discuss "the breakthrough that changed everything."
Tomorrow would bring presidential speeches, international negotiations, verification attempts, academic collaborations.
But tonight, I could just enjoy watching the world discover who Kai Eriksson Thorne "really" was.
Even if the version they were uncovering was carefully crafted fiction designed to support exactly the image I needed to achieve my goals.
Reality, after all, was infinitely malleable.
Especially when you controlled the narrative.
After reviewing the growing tide of information about me, I decided it would be strategically advantageous to engage with the public directly. Controlling the narrative was essential, and what better way to do it than to let others speculate freely.
"If you don't tell your story, someone else will tell it for you," I muttered to myself. "And rarely in the way you prefer."
I sat up straighter on the couch, adjusting my laptop. Reddit seemed like the perfect place to start—the platform was already buzzing with theories, analyses, and requests for me to speak out directly. A well-executed AMA could become a prime reference for future discussions about my capabilities and intentions.
I created a new account: DrKaiThorne_Official
I immediately emailed Reddit administrators from my newly-famous MIT institutional email address, requesting verification. I included a photo of myself holding a piece of paper with the date and username on it, as well as links to a press conference and an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Less than three minutes later, I received a response:
"Dr. Thorne, this is an incredible honor. Expedited verification approved. We can help set up a formal AMA with moderators if you'd like, but you're free to start immediately. All of Reddit is looking forward to chatting with you."
I smiled as I typed my reply:
"Thanks for the quick check. I'd rather start informally tonight. I'll let the moderators know when I'm ready for a more structured AMA."
Browsing to r/IAmA, I started a new post:
I'm Dr. Kai Thorne, the "magic scientist" who demonstrated levitation and reality manipulation yesterday. Ask me anything.
Verified by administrators
I hit "send" and sat back, curious to see how long it would take for responses to start rolling in. The response was instantaneous and overwhelming.
In 60 seconds: 5,000 upvotes.
In two minutes: 1,200 comments.
In five minutes: Post marked #1 on r/all, with an estimated 400,000 concurrent users viewing the thread.
"Well, that was quick," I muttered, adjusting the screen for better viewing. It was showtime.
First question, from a user called RealityPhysicist:
Dr. Thorne, as a skeptical scientist, I must ask: what is the precise mechanism by which vocal commands interact with physical reality? How can specific words influence fundamental fields when there is no obvious connection between sound vibration and altered gravity?
My answer:
"Excellent question, and I completely understand the skepticism - I was equally skeptical when I first observed the phenomenon. The vocal commands themselves are not mere sounds - they are structured interfaces that access what our team calls the 'underlying information field'. Think of reality as an operating system running in layers. Classical physics operates on the surface layer while our commands access deeper layers where information and matter are more fluid. The specific phonetic structure, combined with the directed intention of consciousness, forms 'code' that interacts directly with these underlying systems."
Next question, from MedicalResearcher_PhD:
Are your biological regeneration capabilities real? If so, what medical applications are your team prioritizing? I am particularly interested in potential cancer treatments.
I took a deep breath, remembering the message I had received from the pediatric oncologist. This response needed to hit just the right tone.
"Yes, biological regeneration is one of the most promising capabilities we have discovered. We have already demonstrated the ability to accelerate cellular healing and tissue repair using specific commands. Medical applications are our top priority in development, especially for conditions that traditional medicine has difficulty treating. Cancer, neurological diseases and acute trauma are at the top of our list. But I must emphasize that responsible development requires time to establish safety and efficacy protocols - we are committed to cure, but not at the expense of patient safety."
New question, from EthicalPhilosopher:
Dr. Thorne, your findings raise huge ethical questions. Who should have access to these capabilities? How can you keep them from falling into the wrong hands? And what's to stop someone with these abilities from amassing immense power?
This was exactly the kind of question I needed to answer carefully.
"Ethical issues are central to our discussions. That is why we are establishing an Academy with a rigorous international governance structure. Access will be based on a combination of aptitude (not everyone can easily develop these capabilities) and thorough ethical review. Multilateral oversight will ensure that no country, organization or individual monopolizes these capabilities. As for the concentration of power, we are implementing a system of checks and balances where advanced practitioners can monitor each other, as well as limitations built into the training itself. Advanced capabilities require a specific state of mind incompatible with malicious intent - we have found that anger, greed or the desire to dominate inhibit effective interface with the information field."
This last part was a complete fabrication, of course. But it established a convenient narrative of inherent security that would reassure the public while concealing my absolute control over the system.
The questions kept coming so fast I could barely keep up.
De SkepticalJournalist:
How can we be sure this isn't an elaborate hoax? Why should we believe that a computer scientist has discovered something that physicists have been studying for centuries?
"Healthy skepticism is essential for scientific progress. I invite independent verification by any reputable scientific institution. As for your second question - precisely because I have a background in computational patterns I was able to identify correlations in neurological data that traditional experts were not looking for. Scientific advances often occur at the boundaries between disciplines. Einstein was a patent office clerk when he revolutionized physics. Sometimes a fresh look is needed to see beyond established assumptions."
De MilitaryAnalyst:
Dr. Thorne, what are the defense applications of these capabilities? Governments will certainly be interested in the military dimension.
This required a particularly delicate response.
"The potential for military applications exists, as with any transformative technology. Recognizing this, we are establishing the Academy as a neutral international institution with robust legal protections against coercion or control by any specific nation. Priority will be given to peaceful applications - medicine, environmental conservation, space exploration. The Academy will also develop simultaneous defensive countermeasures, ensuring that no party can gain a disproportionate military advantage. Our goal is that these capabilities will elevate all humanity, not exacerbate existing conflicts."
The PotentialStudent_22:
How can I apply to be a student at your Academy? What kind of people are you looking for? When do admissions start?
"The Academy will begin a formal selection process in approximately six months. We seek a diversity of skills, backgrounds and perspectives. Qualifications include: a solid scientific foundation, psychological stability, strong ethical commitment, and an ability to learn interdisciplinary skills. Preliminary aptitude testing will identify candidates with the potential to develop skills effectively - as I mentioned earlier, not everyone has the necessary neurological predisposition. Unlike traditional institutions, financial factors will not influence admissions - we seek the best and most responsible candidates regardless of resources. Preliminary applications will open through an international portal in three months."
The PersonalTragedyThriver:
Dr. Thorne, I read about your father and am sorry for your loss. How did that experience influence your pursuit of capabilities that could potentially cure neurological diseases? Was that a deliberate motivation in your research?
This was personal but perfect to reinforce my carefully constructed narrative.
"Thank you for your consideration. Losing my father to ALS was devastating - watching someone so bright and full of life gradually lose basic functions while his mind remained perfectly lucid... it changes your perspective permanently. I can't deny that this experience was a profound motivation in my research. I promised myself that I would work to ensure that other families would not face the same helplessness we felt when doctors told us there was no cure. What I didn't expect was that this quest would take me beyond conventional medical solutions to something as fundamental as our understanding of reality itself. If I could go back in time, I still wouldn't be able to save my father with these skills - development takes years of refinement - but I sincerely hope that in the near future, no one will ever have to hear 'there's nothing we can do' when faced with devastating neurological conditions."
This response provoked a wave of emotional comments and messages of solidarity. Perfect. Public sympathy was an invaluable asset.
From NeilTysonAssistant (verified as Neil deGrasse Tyson's production assistant):
Dr. Tyson asked me to check in: would you be available for a special episode of his StarTalk podcast next week? He would like to dedicate an entire episode to the astronomical implications of his findings.
"Absolutely! It would be an honor to continue conversation with Dr. Tyson. You can contact my team at MIT to coordinate details. I greatly appreciate your rigorous yet open scientific approach during the interview yesterday."
De UserMoreThanZero:
I've been trying your commands for hours and nothing happens. Are you lying or am I doing something wrong?
"Neither by lying nor by doing anything wrong are you necessarily doing anything wrong. As I explained earlier, these abilities require specific training to establish adequate neural connections - a process that typically takes 1-2 hours for basic commands under expert guidance. Furthermore, we estimate that approximately 30% of the population has the neurological predisposition necessary for effective development of these abilities. The Academy is developing preliminary tests to identify candidates with the highest probability of success, which will be available online in the coming months."
From ReligiousLeader (verified account of prominent religious leader):
Dr. Thorne, many in religious communities are deeply concerned. Some see these abilities as a divine gift, others as a dangerous violation of the natural order. How do you respond to spiritual concerns?
"I deeply respect religious perspectives on these discoveries. Personally, I see the revelation of these capabilities not as a violation of the natural order, but as a deeper understanding of the nature of creation. Throughout history, many scientific advances were initially met with apprehension by religious institutions, but eventually incorporated into spiritual worldviews. I believe that different traditions will find ways to interpret these capabilities within their theological frameworks. The Academy is forming an interfaith council to engage in ongoing dialogue with religious leaders from different traditions as we move into this uncharted territory. We welcome spiritual perspectives on this journey."
From ConspiracyResearcher:
Is it TRUE that you are being controlled by government agencies? NeuralDyne is obviously a front for a secret military operation and you are a puppet!
I laughed as I replied:
"I am not controlled by government agencies, nor is NeuralDyne a front for covert operations. In fact, several governments are trying to establish control over our research, precisely because we have remained independent. This is exactly why we are establishing the Academy as an international entity with robust legal protections against undue influence from any specific nation or organization."
After three hours of continuously replying, I noticed a thread had accumulated:
14 million views
147.000 upvotes
32,000 comments
412 Reddit awards
#KaiAMA trending worldwide on all social networks
I decided to make a final statement:
"Dear Reddit friends, thank you for the incredible conversation. I tried to answer a broad representation of questions, but obviously I couldn't address all 30,000+. I will be doing additional AMAs as development progresses. At this historic moment, I want to emphasize three points:
We are committed to the responsible development of these capabilities, prioritizing applications that benefit humanity - starting with medical advances.
The Academy will be a truly international institution, not controlled by any specific nation or ideology, with admissions based exclusively on merit and ethical commitment.
Transparency and independent scientific verification will be critical at every stage.
For those trying to replicate commands at home: please be patient. Proper training requires specific guidance that will be available through official channels in the coming months.
And finally, to those who have expressed concerns about safety and ethics: I deeply share your concerns. That is precisely why we are proceeding with deliberate caution and establishing a robust oversight framework before broader expansion.
I will be back to answer more questions in the near future. Until then, follow @DrKaiThorne_Official for updates.
Humanity is entering a completely new chapter in its history. Let us navigate it together with wisdom, compassion and a shared vision of a better future.
With gratitude,
Dr. Kai Thorne"
I closed my laptop with deep satisfaction. The AMA had been perfect—it had humanized my public image, established a narrative of discovery driven by personal loss, emphasized a commitment to ethical development, and generated massive public support for the Academy.
More importantly, I had addressed more obvious concerns in a way that seemed transparent while effectively disarming significant opposition. Anyone who now questioned my intentions would appear to be attacking a sympathetic figure motivated by a genuine desire to help humanity.
My phone buzzed with a notification: the President of the United States had scheduled an address to the nation for tomorrow at noon. Official subject: "Response to Recent Scientific Developments and Establishment of International Academy."
I smiled as I got up to fetch more water. In just 24 hours, I had completely transformed the global geopolitical landscape. The world's most powerful nations were now competing for the privilege of hosting an institution that they would control through a system that only I fully understood.
And the global public was seeing me exactly as I wanted: a brilliant but tormented genius, driven by personal tragedy to develop abilities that could save lives and transform the world. Human enough to be relatable, exceptional enough to lead the next stage of human evolution.
Phase Five was exceeding all expectations.
"System," I muttered under my breath. "Present updated projection for Phase Six based on recent developments."
I felt a familiar sense of data streaming directly into my consciousness. Timeline for establishing the Academy had been accelerated significantly. Public support had exceeded projections by 327%. Organized resistance was 78% below expectations.
Phase Six – formal establishment of the Academy and initiation of controlled training programs – could begin much earlier than planned.
Instead of a year, we could be operational in four months.
Four months until the first generation of evolved humans begin training under my exclusive supervision.
Four months until formal establishment of new ruling class: those with access to transcendent capabilities versus everyone else.
And no one realized that all the "human evolution" I promised was completely under my control.
It was even easier than I had imagined.