Visions of You

History connects in slits of time
Moments born from flashes of changes

Past seemingly lost 

like tarnished silver 

yet lingering malevolence 

etches slowly in arsenic  

The abyss of longing 

From strands of your hair to the tips of your fingers

The visions of you

From the curve of your lips to the lines of your tears

One day my words may fail you or many days they may

One day my memories may fail me or they may yet so

I will forgive all your transgressions 

I will carry all my contradictions 

I just want to make you happier 

with a method I can understand

with as much effort I can muster 

I can apologize when I see my errors 

for misunderstanding you

for misunderstanding myself 

If apologizing simply for the sake of apology

it is empty

the moment of validation holds no truth

I can recall how exactly our paths cross
How each image of you pierces into me
A road tiled with fascination around attachment

vague in definition but pristine 
A vestige of you created in my mind in chaotic perfection

The Respawn

Best stories start in medias res

Why so? Isn't the beginning the brightest time

Without the burdens of misaligned interests

Without the conflicting paths of personal histories 

Without the jadedness towards failed revolutions 

Without the weariness from repeated disappointments 

But patience serves so far

We can only understand each other so much through words and paper

Those subtle hints that complete the frame

What could bring tears of joy

What could bring the smirk of ire

What could bring the eyebrow raise of disgust 

What could bring the stone-faced disinterest 

The beginning is a tale of unnecessary sufferings, unintended misunderstandings, unfilled potentials, and unwanted mishaps

Many say the simple course of inescapable certainty

While destiny will overlook the backtracked adventures 

Only the ember of impatience kindles and slowly crisps a light-hearted faith 

Again and again, a path of pain built on misguided hopes 

Drowning a cry that yearns for a simple truth 

Where is the end? 

But in all honesty, 

How much longer can I keep my head high until I get there?

But perhaps only in the abyss you can distinguish the faintest of bright

The intonation of the bleakest despair raises the stakes of survival

While my heart still bleeding, muscles still torn, and bones still broken

I am not without the struggle in my mind

With that, hope finds its respawn

Memories of the Stars

It is a wellspring of inspiration
based on an intuition without cause

It is a complexity's explosion
raced on an excursion without laws

A name once heard and told as mundane
But now precious
Entangled in the maelstrom of emotions

A face once seen and forgotten in passing

Now memorable

Restless treading in the path of a typhoon

On the slope that divided the night,
On the bank that flashed fireflies,
On the steps where solitude slew,
reasons, laid to rest,
I heard my resonating heartbeats flew
Unfamiliar, and afraid to move

Shall we dance for the waxing crescent?
Shall we drink to the passing stardust?

At the edge of the universe,
would my words still convey the same sense of longing?

On the slope that divides the night
I am still waiting for that one destined to appear

Her and Ultimatum

When I first held your hand
those fingers were special
The first impression indeed terrible
nonetheless
A crack on a shell,
the boundaries cease,
A new world to tell
with a stubbornness I treasured
and talents I admired

Yet that world is too precious
and this world too cruel
Those desires blinded me
confined me to a gamble
and those fingers slipped through my grasp
the ending was bound to fail

So I sought new paths
no longer daring as I thought foolish
The fire dies a little by a little
but the night is not dark
The paradise of sloth is emptiness
sailor I no longer am
sea still roam I can

I will not become a hero
but a simple seeker of truth
If avarice is the end,
let each man judge for his own
and make amends

But truth returns no joys,
my hands are still empty
Perhaps one day it will grasp your again
but would I make it
before the world ends

There are no flawless logic
There are no painless gains
There are no endless sufferings
Would everything be alright
before the world ends?
I hope it will
I hope it well

The Longest Night

The radiance of a full moon
hides not the void of starlight
Biting gently on my fingertips,
a seeping chill crawls into my heart

In this night that glimmer is distant
my lantern's glow rather inconsistent
Plunging into a dream seems pleasant
but waking suddenly, sweetness nonexistent

The distant horizon looks bleak
because it is not a crossroad I seek
Instead, an end to all journeys
as the summit eases
and my footprints cease
into those clouds
a mist-encased shroud

The thrill of travels
threading the fine fringe
comes with an understanding
that the eventual nesting
lies the familiar branches
above the roadside gravels

And so my steps continue and continue on
to that hill where the wind sang
in the crimson twilight
and a hand waiting to grasp mine

Oh the mighty
grant a blessing to the struggle
such that it is known--the longest night

In the Silence of Our Prayers

The crowd shuffled,
and the preacher went on.

Grandiose
principles in eager,
Promises of fates
"Strength and dignity"
Outcries blood for blood

The crowd dispersed,
and the preacher went on.
Fragile
unity in jeopardy,
Glares of antipathy
"Impenitence and loathing"
Swallow tears for tears

In silence, the crowd desists
Puzzled by vague sketch
Surely not all roads go to Rome
yet which one leads home?

Free Will

If we chose to be free,
then we are free to choose
The freedom to be evil
should it be a choice?

If we claimed to love all
then we cannot love a first
Without first comes none
should none be loved?

A fearless charge ends in brevity
The mist of contradiction hides all paths
Though I am their creation
I witnessed none of their glories
knew none of their nobilities
and nothing lingering on my fingers
have touched their eternity

So what is tingling my resting heart?

The land where intents lay bare
with obligations thin
Beyond the farthest reach of duty,
A flag still stands there
Though the body is feeble,
and the gears fade,
the momentum continues to carry
until ceasing of pains.

I may not possess a heart that is tender
But its echoes resound and do not wither

The deep roots sprouting a small herb
lush and vivid rivaling a full bloom
The brief spark may flicker
A blaze it will ignite, embracing all others

Though I may not hold anything
My soul is not empty
When everything is held dear
Transient it may be
A strong will that is free

Impassionate Youth

What effort will bring forth
A peerless specialty
Though graceful it may not be
Grinning in tears and sweats

Where yearning comes to rest
An endless homeland
Though fateful it may not be
Pinning with cheers and hopes

Logical, systematic, and complete
Even casual decision is held dear

Choices, fallacies, and exceptions
I err in heart but not in blood

An impossible scenery to reach
beyond an overbearing bulwark
Yet I lean on others' shoulders
where it draws closer, the heaven's border

From fangs to claws, and from claws to bones
Even when my strength is frail,
redo, redo, redo, Redo

For a greater ideal that I call justice
For a greater unity that I call peace


So pay thy prize
Rise again,
Once More
For those we treasure
and those we adore

Victory is ephemeral,
amidst furious battle cries
Let my soul be still, and
May the best player win

Senorious

The car has been roasting in the sun
My front row windows are half-down
and for once, my radio was sleeping

I did not make through the traffic light on yellow
Engines pulling away across the interaction,
leaving the dusty air and a hint of oil

I saw him, the man standing on the side of the curb

I sat in silence
The light turned red

On a small piece of cardboard, "Anything helps"
He wore a dirty jacket, bearded, a ragged baseball cap

I made eye contact,
and he approached

Two seconds of surprise
Two seconds of indecision
And blanking flat line, coming
The end of a familiar world

What is the natural reaction?
Should I pity him? As reciting a prayer...
Should I bribe his departure? How much is enough?
Should I stare into the distance and limit my attention?
Should I turn up the radio and look busy tuning frequency?
Should I roll up my windows?
Should I give him a hug and get back in the car?
Should I spit on him and curse his transgression?

I looked under my arm rest but then remembered
my changes are stored in a quart-size Ziplok bag
in my backpack but out of reach
I looked into my wallet
and there is a single $20 bill
Then I looked into his eyes
"I am sorry. I don't have my changes on me."

He didn't say a word.
He waited for a moment and he moved onto the car behind mine

I sat in silence
The light turned green

At the end of the world,
what would you do?
Are you busy?
Would you save us?
Can you save us?

The Year of 2016 in Review

Impression of 2016

Ferocity at its apex / merciless in its wake / Oh fear thy, the tempestuous force / tilting the earth with its trample / scattering the only shards of sanity / Yet when I wade through the abyss / I cannot help to tremble in its majesty

If 2015 was the rough sailing through the storm, then 2016 is where the storm gathered its strength and made its landfall. It lost the glorious luster while the ruggedness of hardship intensified. It was a year that I have entered the dense forestry, pricked by thorns of uncertainty, but ultimately stood my ground and inched forward--the familiar scenery that was oddly comfortable.

Personal

Living in a new city has brought me encounters with many new friends: some are acquaintance in passing, some are comrades in arms, and some are more intimate. 2016 is a year worth of celebration where old bonds are mend and new bonds are made, as I traveled more freely to see corners of my world. Waking up to an unfamiliar ceiling and taking detours into the unknown--life-work balance is important after all.  

I am officially a member of the Potter's Guild of Baltimore now. There is still a long long way before where I want to be, and I will not stop learning on the way, by my own desire or by osmosis. But there are definitely a few things that I am comfortable and happy to make no matter what for the foreseeable future. The emergence of a self-defined style, if I am allowed to say it more grandly. It is both a joy and a challenge. So to finish off the series I recently started will be a goal for the coming year, and let me tease with this,

"A sin comes in different forms, but always empty in its center."

Intrigued? I hope my work will live up to my expectation.

On a completely different topic, 2016 was also the first general election I have participated in the United States. Not sure if it is my luck or not, but the political process this time is quite an oddball in all perspectives. Also, it may not be surprising that all my blog posts, except the review on Stellar Glow, were referenced to the election. The Sword of Promised Victory is about a blonde woman trying to carry her family's legacy; Kotomine Kirei is about a man's intention to bring about utter destruction (or salvation) by the collective will; Mr. Trap on the Schrödinger Street is about the unbending will to seek justice and how machination from the powerful few can endanger the populous. Something as innocent as an anime blog is actually a political commentary? Maybe, you could read more to find out. As for the result of the election, I do not dispute with facts; however, please expect me to fight on for my causes with even greater tenacity.  

Career-Wise
Job searching is not easy, and I am still at it. You will not be updated.

Otherwise, the postdoc life is not bad. I am still doing a lot of lab setups, but also a lot of organic syntheses. Not quite any seventeen-step total synthesis, but a lot of scaling up of simple reagents. I guess you can easily outsource the work I am doing to a company probably with half the time, but probably not with say 30% of the budget. In the end, no matter what people may say, good postdocs are economical, readily available, and can do pretty much everything. Are good postdocs easy to come by? Who knows, it is likely shopping on Ebay. The deviation of your shopping experience scales parabolically with reviews.

So what's after this? Postdoc is a temporary position in most cases. Hmm, people tell me that I should prepare for industry or I should prepare for academia. Well, I am going to give a simple answer that as long as I get to do good science, it really doesn't matter where I end up.

Entertainment-wise:

Top tracks of the year:  

1. Trust in you (sweet ARMS, Date a Live II)
2. Ichido Dake no Koi Nara (Walkure, Macross Delta)
3. Fly High!! (Burnout Syndrome, Haikyuu)
4. Paradisus-Paradoxum (Myth & Roid, Re:Zero)
5. Tír na nÓg (Celtic Women)
6. Ten Kakeru Hoshi (Suara, Utawarerumono:  the False Masks)
7. Lost in Thoughts All Alone (Fire Emblem Fates)
8. Hoshi to Hana (Yuki Yuna is a Hero)
9. Light for Knight (Mimori Suzuko, Lance N' Masques)
10. Clever (Claris/GARNiDELia, Qualidea Code)

Games Completed: World End Economica (oh boy, that needs a separate review), Stellar Glow (see review, surprised that I finished it), Titanfall 2 single player (Yes, I brought Titanfall just to play the single player, and man it was awesome)

Games in Work:

Grisaia no Kajitsu (Sachi is just so badass that I am stalled), Ar Nosurge (MAN, this is a long and convoluted game), Starcraft 2: LotV, Fire Emblem Fates

Memorable Purchases:

Surface Pro 4, Spice and Wolf Collector's Edition, Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition + DS XL, and Guild membership fees (that check really makes me feel accomplished, in a way)

Seasonal Anime Impressions 

I am going to spend a bit more time talking about a few series this time. I always ran out of stream by the end of the summer season, haha.

Catch-ups:  Love Live!, Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Haikyuu

The longshots:  Cowboy Bebop, Gintama

Notable OVA/Movies:  Kizumonogatari, Gundam Thunderbolt, Gundam the Origin, Persona 3

Winter 2016

Series of note: Erased, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ashes, Durarara!! x2, Konosuba, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, Schwaresmarken, Nijiiro Days

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Dimension W, Gate: Season 2, Luck & Logic, Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle

Maybe at some point:  Assassination Classroom, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm, Dagashi Kashi, Haruchika

Overslept alarm clock:  Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2

I was pretty happy that the winter season was really diverse, and some of the titles this season are really awesome. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu was probably one of the strongest drama titles in 2016, while Erased the same for mystery. I liked Horimiya a lot, so I am very happy with the anime adaptation of Nijiro Days. The biggest downer this season is probably Dimension W, which had a lot of uncapitalized potential in character setting but never truly explored the dynamics in a more careful manner. I still don't know what I got out of Luck & Logic--at least I got fan service in Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle. Dagashi Kashi has a lot going for it, and it was unfortunate that I never got into it too deeply. Gate is at this point, pretty forgettable, if not infamous. 

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: In the era where light novel adaptations overwhelm audience with vast but shallow details, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu brought truly complex characters together for an unforgettable adventure. The triangle of Kikuhiko, Sukeroku, and Miyokichi highlights the mismatch between desires and reality. Tragedy befalls not due to one's villainy but to deliberate indifference. Of course, the incredible voice acting for the rakugo pieces brings forward an art form of a completely different tradition. 

Erased:  the strength of Erased is its villain, Gaku Yashiro. The machination of a single man brought forth the desperation of the protagonist in many hopeless situations, cruel yet amazing at the same time. For the longest time, I was misled by the portray of Kenya, and the series eventually points its finger to the true villain. However, the existence of one almost-all-powerful villain also created the series's downfall, especially when foiled with the all-powerful protagonist. The struggle of the charismatic villain at the end seems so meaningless. I am not complaining about a perfectly happy ending, and surely it is a reward for persistent heroism, but it does make the protagonist slightly less relatable comparing to say Re:Zero.

Konosuba:  A light-hearted stab on this "transported into fantasy world" genre. Irony of realism comparing to fairly manufactured angst in namely SOA. It puts us who wish for special talents into our places that we get by thanks to the connections we make, even though those characters can be a bit peculiar at times. Its unpredictability probably rivals Oregairu:  it makes me cringe at times because some of references I have surely encountered in real life. 

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ashes:  Probably the greatest foil to Konosuba that everything in this series is under a pastel seriousness. After watching a few series, there are times that you get the premonition that a character gets his or her back story in the episode just so he or she will depart forever with a trace of inspiration left to the protagonist. Death in the series felt sudden and empty with an agonizing after taste comparing to fairly manufactured jerk in namely SOA. It is a slice-of-life series with uncertain but permanent consequences.

Durarara!! x2:  As expected, Durarara likes to throw the audience in chaos and then slowly sorts out the giant mess of plots and characters. 

Spring 2016

Series of note: My Hero Academy, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Kiznaiver, Kuromukuro, Re:Zero

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Asterisk War 2, Joker Game, Macross Delta, Bungou Stray Dogs,

Maybe at some point:  Flying Witches

Overslept alarm clock:  Concrete Revolutio

The bomb:  Haven't You Heard? I am Sakamoto

Oh really...:  Bakuon!!, High School Fleet

Winter is the season of drama, and Spring is the season of action. It sure packed in quite a bit into one season. Re:Zero is probably my pick for Anime of the Year and deserves a separate review. I was surprised that P.A. Works decided to go mecha and pulled off Kuromukuro. Well, it is certainly a slice-of-life series at its core. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress was positively amazing in the beginning, so was Macross Delta. I couldn't get into Concrete Revolutio or Fly Witches but the few episodes I have seen are pretty impressive. Sakamoto now belongs to the too-good-to-watch (trademarked) series; it is hilarious, and I don't even know where to begin. Joker Game was really good, but a bit too episodic for my taste and a bit lacking in overall narratives. Asterisk War is just flashy. Bungou Stray Dogs really shined in its second season and its first season was rather mediocre.

Just a word on Bakuon!! -- I don't think high schoolers can afford their own motorcycles. What, you are letting your parents pay for your insurance. Surely, high schoolers are not going to operate destroyers for class credits either. 

My Hero Academy:  Classic Shonen. Enough said. Thumbs up.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress:  Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress probably has one of the best opening episode in the season. The intensity of the music plus the fluidity of the animation plus the classic feel in character designs all contribute to the enormous promises at the beginning. But the villain seems cheap and probably brought the downfall to an otherwise great series. The slip into plot mediocrity at the end is really painful. 

Kiznaiver:  It is a thoughtful and beautiful show in concepts and moments, but the overall composition is rather messy. Maybe choosing an extremely deadpan main character is a low bar to show character growth, but his role faces a lot of challenges from other more colorful characters. It is unique, in a very good way, much like Utena. 

Kuromukuro:  This is supposedly P.A. Works dig at Mecha anime. To be honest, the mecha is rather unimpressive; however, it does play into P.A. Works' strength in world building and dramatic relationships. 

Re:Zero:  This series is so awesome that it will need a separate full review. I mean...Rem is the waifu that broke the internet. 

Summer 2016

I spent most of the season counting on the next episode of Re:Zero, Kuromukuro, and Macross Delta.

Series of note: The Heroic Legend of Arslan:  Dust Storm Dance, Fate/kalied liner, Alderamin on the Sky, Planetarian

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: This Art Club Has a Problem, Rewrite, Qualidea Code, ReLIFE, Shokugeki no Souma, Tales of Zestiria the X, Regalia:  the Three Sacred Stars, 

Maybe at some point:  Sweetness and Lightning, Mob Psychoo 100, orange, Taboo Tattoo, Love Live! Sunshine!!

No, no dessert tonight:  91Days, 

So, what about Queen's Blade:  Hybrid x Heart Magias Acadmey Ataraxia (MY EYES, sound effects filled in with screams of agony)

I was really excited for Rewrite and also considered it one of my favorite visual novels (not the best, just like how Date a Live never made onto my top fifteen anime but remaining a long-time favorite). I was let down.
I was really excited for ReLIFE, because the manga is fun and deep at the same time. I marathoned it, and I regretted that.
I thought Qualidea Code had a good opening and ending, and the story seems to be promising. I ended up with a mess of really out-there characters in a ha-gotta story.
Tales of Zestiria looks great, but why insert a commercial for the new game. Regalia and Kuromukuro are both mecha series that played into mediocre drama. Macross Delta fell so hard on Mikumo's development.

Well, at least I have Re:Zero.

Alderamin on the Sky/Arslan:  Despite the deceptively ordinary cover art and somewhat meaty (?) character designs, Alderamin on the Sky is a serious contender for the best series in the season (unfortunately that's when Re:Zero really starts to get awesome). I love the character interactions, the politics, and overall strategies evolved in combat (no power-level stuff like SAO). A series that makes you weigh the livelihood of each pun instead of charging in shounen style. Arslan is very similar to that, but a bit more on the dramatic side. These two are similar in overall presentation, while Alderamin focuses on skirmishes and tactic maneuvers. Arslan focuses more on political and strategical maneuvers. Well, that's the difference between a platoon leader and a crowned prince.

Fate/kalied liner:  The darkest arc of the magical girl knockoff of Fate/Stay Night. My highlight is probably the return of Emiya Shirou and the dread of Heaven's Feel that has been lacking in the present of anime adaption of Fate. I guess I can go on and on about Heaven's Feel (or you can just read the blog post), but with a bit of manga spoiler, the next segment is going to be awesome!

Planetarian:  Too short and too beautiful to summarize. Read the novel first.

Fall 2016

Series of note: March Comes Like a Lion, Bungou Stray Dogs 2, Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2, Haikyuu!!, Hibike! Euphonium 2, 

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Working...??????, Izetta the Last Witch, gi(a)rlish number, Brave Witches, 

Maybe at some point:  Occultic:Nine, Magic Girl Raising Project, Flip Flappers, Drifters, 

That sure looks good:  Yuri!!! on ICE

I know people are raving about Yuri!!! on ICE. It is good, so I will not rave about it like fangirls. Izetta probably had the most promising opening episodes in the season but the story really went to a strange place, reminding me of Dimension W. Gi(a)rlish number is certainly cringe worthy at times, but fortunately the character development pulled off.

Bungou Stray Dogs 2:  When the main character acts admirably, everyone around is elevated. This holds true for Bungou Stray Dogs 2. Although I still hold doubts if both Atsuhi and Akatugawa can hold up as the main character, the series cannot live with Dazai. The first season sets up the two very important arcs that are great on their own, Dazai and Oda's backstory then forward to the three-way battle between the Armed Detective Agency, Port Mafia, and the Guild.

"Although the head may err, the blood does not." YOLO

Haikyuu!!: Just when you thought this anime can't get any better with the rematch of Aoba Jousai and Karasuno. The best paced shounen I have seen in a while.

Hibike! Euphonium 2:  Season 2 focuses on two third-year characters that were put on the back burner from Season 1, Mizore and Asuka (and the yuri drama is back on!). Consistently and extremely high production quality, a pleasure to watch.

Mr. Trap on the Schrödinger Street

Even at the world's end

Avarice invites ill intents

For the enactment of justice

Should the delusion of Avalon burn?

Together with the earnest wishes of millions



Yet we are here on Terra

Hatred bears self-conceit

Forth the cry of gripe

Should the circus of institution crumble?

Though still stand dignity and reason



No doubt that a day will the heaven fall

And what left in the ashes of quibbles

Lives cheapened to playthings

Puppeteers simply change hands

Shows go on with a sly smile



We all know what should not be permitted

We all know what needs to be done

When the day of reckoning comes

Raise your voice and offer a prayer

For the fight, it has just begun



Nothing in our hands will be perfect

but with nothing in our hands

it is perfectly stupid

I pray that the battle be neither absolute or holy

but simple, civil, and rational





The side of the night is at -250%



(Facebook Repost)

Kotomine Kirei

Rejoice, Fakers,
For your purpose shall be fulfilled
Witness the true face of evil
The agglomeration of madness and malice
the phantasm that will mark the end of the world

For whom the revolution that never stops
the end is near
For whom the anarchy that yet descends
the end is near
For whom the icon that never persists
the end is near
For whom the decision that yet concretes
the end is near

O brave souls, twisted souls, tormented souls
the torrential beast silently watches all
Your glory, your sin, and your agony
enshrine every aspect of humanity
and will erupt in unprecedented chaos
erecting a monument of what we cannot escape

Do not avert your eyes
Do not close your hearts
Embrace the tempest just beyond the horizon
and touch the nature's contempt

Review of Stella Glow for 3DS: the Faint Glow that is Not Quite Stellar

[Containing SPOILERS; You have been warned]

The first time I heard about Stella Glow is when I finished playing Fire Emblem Awakening. However, at the same time, I also got struck on Ar Nosurge fighting the 8th Dimension. The short story¹ is that I need a tactic RPG to hold me over till the release of Fire Emblem Fates, ideally with good music but not too much grinding. Since I was also a big Touhou doujin fan in the past, ideolo's distinct use of bold black lines guaranteed that the 2D sprites are beautiful to look at (and possibly to fantasize as well, because I doubt Atlus will spend that much on animating the sprites). Wal-lah, Stella Glow seems to be the perfect fit (recommended by Amazon Prime by the way)--a game that is supposedly a Fire Emblem with Song Magic with deliberately composed character designs.

Sounds good to me, and here is my money, Atlus.

I mean is it even a surprise that #FE is combining Fire Emblem and Persona?...and here is my money again, Atlus.

So I went with the launch edition, coming in a nice card box that said "English audio blends with songs from Japan's top voice talents." Should have done my research that the game is almost ENTIRELY in English audio, with exception of songs in Japanese.

Zetsuboushita! (The Lack of Nihongo Audio) Zetsuboushita!

No, not quite. To be honest, the English voice acting was quite alright. A lot of the characters turned out well (like sluggishness in Mordimort and quirkiness of Veronica, Ph. D.?). The part that really bothers me every single time is the difference between a mature speaking voice and a fairly pubescent singing voice of Hilda. Maybe I should not be. For a thousand-year queen witch nabe shogun, there are a lot of inconsistency to state in the character setting. Of course, the crystal garden fabric poster is a dead give-away for Hilda to become one of the main heroines. In addition, I thought Sakuya's singing voice is a bit too deeper for the snappy teenager edition. However, the English tsundere rendition has its own merits...?

What merits? Real life tsunderes are rare--if people snap at you, they probably are not likely to hold affections for you, even secretly. Game world is game world indeed, so idol dating is completely alright for my version of Alto. Yes, no head shaving for idols in games, although I was surprised that all the fans were instantly converted without any mishaps.

Alto...where did I hear that before...right...surprisingly the name of main character in Ar Tonelico 3.

On the other hand, your conveniently-plot-deviced-water-witch-childhood friend is probably going to get shafted. It is almost a trope now. Too bad the official-website did not have a character popularity poll, but the first- and second-place finishers on Gamefaqs end up with Hilda and Sakuya, as expected for strong female characters. In terms of supporting characters, Anastasia was interesting and also endearing, but unfortunately her screen time was fairly limited. Elmar was actually not as annoying as I would initially expect, especially when he actually demonstrated leadership during the time of crises. Klaus/Xeno was also interesting as an ally, especially his dessert loving alter ego. But man, he is such a boring and shallow villain. It would be much more interesting if Xeno was convinced rather than simply brainwashed.

Although Marie and Eve are supposedly people I should be caring about, the emotional attachment was relatively minor. It was even a bit disturbing that I preferred the normal ending than the true ending.²

Even Ar Tonelico let you really save the world if you try hard enough.

By the way, Hilda best girl (What do you mean I can't get Anastasia? Oh, right..."Stab")

In the end, the voice acting is passable. Music scores, which carried hopes of a strong point with the abundant voice talents, ended up passable as well. In other words, they made fairly limited impact on me as a gamer, unlike the Ar Tonelico series, where some of the stage themes were absolutely superb. I heard this is supposedly a spiritual successor from Luminous Arc, but I never played it so I cannot tell if those two are comparable.

Game mechanics are simple, but bosses at the end of the game are fairly challenging. It is fairly easy to abuse move disabling songs with Alto equipped with song orbs to gain gauges, a tactic I did not find necessary throughout. There are a few subtle touches on terrain effects and character movement affinities, but it was not a quintessential part of the game. Unlike Fire Emblem, where your characters are decidedly fragile and exit permanently upon death, Stella Glow allows some breathing rooms where resetting was not a part of the daily routine. For that, I give them a plus--Sunday gamers like me are not slaves to random number generators.

However, the game mechanics have some simple imbalances, which can be easily discerned within the first few chapters. High speed and high movement characters, with area damaging skills and counter abilities, have an absolute edge over anything else.

Simply put, Rusty is OP.

And team formation, which was essential in Fire Emblem to protect the glass canons, became more or less obsolete in Stella Glow. Sure that character boosts are nice; sure back attack does more damage and provokes no counter attacks--yet the actual effects on combat gameplay are rather underwhelming. Similarly, unlocked new skills do make battle flow differently. Although the small details make the combat system refreshing, it seemed each character is locked into a particular role in the party with few options, once their abilities and skills are determined. Sakuya and Hilda, traditionally the support bombard squad, are perfectly capable on the front line. That said, I do find the orbs to be an essential part of the battle system throughout the game. Pairing the right characters with the right weapon effects was rather enjoyable. The limitation on inventory, where characters can only use equipped items, also made decision making in battles a bit more challenging.

However, these game play gimmicks in the end do not hide the shallow characterization and even shallower ideology and the good-versus-evil plot line. The top voice talents for each character, probably the biggest selling point besides the gorgeous 2D sprites, are nowhere close being preserved through the localization. A saving grace (?) is that the innuendoes are preserved without distortion, just like pickled vegetables...if you are into that kind of things.

In the end, with uncertainty on Gust's next move on the Surge Concerto and the official American release of Fire Emblem Fates, Stellar Glow will fade into obscurity among other JRPG that made to the West but did make quite enough impact to be remembered. I personally did not find replayability to be a significant decision or quality of a video game, aside from online multiplayers. Of course, you can replay the entire game to max out relationship gauges, but I have a fairly narrow taste on characters, and there is this thing called Youtube.

In the end, Stellar Glow is an entry-level strategy RPG that brings straightforward characters, simple gameplay, and an unfulfilled promise of top Japanese voice talent. Although not a master piece, it certainly gave me the entertainment for a transition downtime.

[¹The long story is that I don't mind grinding at all. Heck, my Morgan's mother is a Rally-based Bride Emmeryn that passed down Lancefaire. For Ar Nosurge, I eventually grind through 8th Dimension, albeit after a few tries. Considering how much I ground for Kanoyeel's CG, I guess I only need to believe that the boss is a bishoujo in disguise and will purge like Soma in AT3.]

[²YOU CALL THAT THE TRUE ENDING? A LONELY GIRL SINGING FOR THE ETERNITY TO KEEP HUMANITY SAFE? HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING FROM AR TONELICO? That's why Phase 3 exists.]

The Sword of Promised Victory

Faith is for the transient people.

A spark that brightens the vast empty space
A ripple that tickles the everlasting eternity

It brings peace of acceptance
exclamation of camaraderie
and fulfillment of a greater destiny

Yet it is not perfect at times

It brings condescension of ignorance
malignancy of segregation
and rejection of a greater union

A refuge for our likeliness
and a cauldron for our conflicts

Then
whose responsibility to make so?
how far would these hands extend?
what means are not justifiable to the end?
All against the wheel of fortune,
ever-turning machinery of time...

The concrete limitation of being human


Yet indecision
among overwhelming confusions
does not obscure the spot of hope,
the eternal sunshine guided by reasons
and an unparalleled optimism

Thus, I placed my fate
into the hands of my brothers and sisters
entrusted with common decency.
Together a haven is built
not to shelter our fears or faults
but to cherish our shares of duty.

Victory may seem intangible
and by my arm's length,
out of reach
But in each of our heart,
a sincere wish for the happiness of all
will become a golden blade that pierces through the blinding darkness


PS: I will be switching to embedded code from pixiv on all the images that I manage to find, so look out for some updates on old pieces. 

Chronicle Keys

Through the morning mist
The shouts of the golden horns
draw the curtain of dawn

Over the night frost
The dew on the silver thorns
brew the gown of twilight

Cycling suns and stars
My footsteps never paused and never halted
Where is my destination
What will be my consolation

Ambition makes me sneer
Despair makes me hollow
Indignation makes me screech
followed by endless sorrow

It is too late to stop
It is too late to return
Maybe the road is full of madness
But there is nowhere to turn

Straightforward I say
Into the dark and uncertain fray
Even gods I will slay
If they do stand in my way

But no, this is not what I wanted

"Neither elegance nor dignity,"
fury stroke a march on cord
Give me instead,
a method to make a gentler world

A song that will free the hearts
A song that will link our hands
Turn another page in the chronicle
Turn another key for a future
not ordained by an oracle

I offer my prayer and my labor

Again, Blossoming of the Earth

Even if the world comes to an end
With a crumbled destiny that no one can mend
Stroke the melody of silent howls
Again, blossoming of the earth

Would you change the world?
Or, would you change yourself?
Trivial daily boons
swept away by the maelstrom of fate

Passing flurries of cherry blossoms
Last regret and first yearning
And the world ends
with the fulfillment of servitude

Bustling fields of sunflowers
Assured decay and chanced salvation
And the world ends
with the antidote to loneliness

Palliating wellsprings of daisies
Selfish wishes and encumbering duties
And the world ends
with the cognizance of reality

Star-crossed paths of catnip
Simple happiness and despairing chaos
And the world ends
with the promise of reunion

Blood-stained ladders of roses
Vanishing self and encroaching madness
And the world ends
with the atonement to sin

Life blossoms one thousand times
Withering fated and unaltered
in the desolated search with endless failures

Would love be the singularity?
Possibilities will rise from ashed branches
Burden is not yours alone

Keep dreaming
Cry out in the acrimony of the powerless
Repudiate weaknesses and corruptions
and march forward with all my might

Go on
Your million-year journey
When you finally rest
we will meet again

Ah, these ineffable feelings...


*Reconstruction from previous post of "Again, Blossoms of the Earth."

Heavy spoilers, maybe.

It took a while to finish the video, but hopefully it will stay out of the audio claim mute. Yuuhei Satellite's song was really the driving force behind the reorganization, as Senya's vocal is just amazing. BTW, this is their original and not a Touhou remix.

With regards to Rewrite, I definitely enjoyed it better than Clannad due to its more simplified flag paths. I seriously don't have that much time for gaming, so cramming the humor, the action, and the Key-special heart wrenching story into one package was rather thankful. So the heroine ranking follows:  Lucia = Chihaya > Kagari > Akane > Kotori = Shizuru. Maybe I am not a fan of classic Key heroine archetypes. Yoshino and other side characters didn't really fit into the music, so their cameos are rather limited.

This will make up for my blogging absence in the past nine months. Enjoy!

Katana

A katana is a type of sword specialized in cutting.
Its silhouette is curved but will not bend.
Its edge is hardened yet inside soft.
It embodies the pride of a warrior and safeguards the soul of a hero.
It is a cross in reverse, a prayer of sublime devotion.
It is a mark of passing, an icon of a finished journey.
It is a symbol of force, separating parts through sheer strength.
It is a keeper of memories, a chronicle of humanity in glory and in writhe.
It may be an offering for peace,
but not to forget,
its purpose may also be an instrument for death.
It cuts, or it breaks, or it is sheathed.
It is neither good or evil.
Instead, it prints the will and the nature of the wielder.
But not all,
for some, it is an extension of fresh;
for some, it is an burden of heavy steel.
It may grant great power, at the cost of great effort.
It may change the course of history,
but it may just be as useless as its target.
So many and so many aspects of it are unsure,
but its purpose remains certain,
it is born and lives to cut.

Lady of the Lake, Prelude

The Pact of Dressiden was often considered to be the conclusion of the Ahnmes-Leighu alliance that had dictated the political landscape of Ednia over three decades. The assassination of the former head of House Ahnmes, Cassius O. Ahnmes, by his brother-in-law, Jyn Leighu, also brought an abrupt end to more than two decades of Ednia's militant foreign policy towards the Nations of Yashu. The infighting over succeeding the household title severely crippled the influence of House Ahnmes over the rising houses of merchant nobles, whose interest lies in the construction of roads and bridges near the border to facilitate the exchange of wheat for timber and precious metals, which were abundant in Yashu territory. With the death of Cassius, the Western Campaign against the Nations of Yashu never came to fruition, which allowed the progressive moderates to take control of the aftermath. The equipment and resources prepared for the Third Western Campaign were taken advantages by the merchant nobles, notably House Glijja and House Miles, to lay down the foundation for what would later become the Crystal Trail. Shu Miles, the head of House Miles, led the rise of the progressive moderates in the Council of the States and put forth sets of rather radical foreign policy at the time, those which later would make Ednia an economic powerhouse on the continent. House Leighu did not openly support the expeditions proposed by the progressive moderates, but it was widely believed that the head of House Leighu facilitated the transfer of equipment and resources from Dressiden.

...

On a side note, due to Jyn's suicide following the assassination, the motive behind the act was never elucidated. While Cassius's political rivals are numerous, he is too formidable of a state man to succumb to his political enemy. Even with all their combined powers, the struggle would still be a mismatch. Though Cassius took concubines, Jyu Ahnmes, older sister to Jyn, was well-respected and in good relation with the rest of House Ahnmes. For many from House Leighu, the act of assassination was a shock because Jyn was often regarded as a well-mannered and kind young man, even though eccentric and quiet at times. However, Jyn did spend a year near the Yashu border during his time of service and might have developed some sympathy towards the Yashu'n from personal experience of fairly frequent harasses by the corrupted boarder patrols and greedy merchants. At this time, the record is incomplete and would require some further analysis.

#Stop here. The next paragraph is purely of speculations without concrete evidence for any claims. Focus on the effect on Yashu after the Pact of Dressiden. --KW

Furthermore, from disclosure of private sources as well as records in the Ednia Military Academy, Jyn was a part of a small survey squad that decided to embark on an expedition to uncharted mountain region west of Cymeblin as part their graduation thesis. By presenting the cartographical data for a significant amount of territory between Cymeblin and Lake Letra, all members of the survey squad eventually graduated the Academy with the highest distinction. Considering the geographic details in their map and the fact that the squad returned to their outpost headquarter ahead of the schedule, the efficiency of their teamwork was rather extraordinary. Since the Cymeblin territory was historically Yashu until the end of the sixth century, it is likely that the team had a local guide, possibly of Yashu descent. Interestingly, the report did not mention the existence of a guide and was particularly vague on some deviations from the original expedition route. While the private sources seemed to skit around the truth, the lack of contact with locals in the final report arose suspicions. There were a few days' worth record that read rather artificial and generic, contrasting the rigorously detailed descriptions in earlier and later sections of the report. The difference in style was especially noticeable when the team was exploring areas around Lake Letra before their departure returning to the outpost headquarter. As of now, something seemed amiss, yet no records could pinpoint the conflicts.


--- Excerpts from the draft of The Evolving Foreign Policy towards Yashu after the Second Western Campaign, Fumi Noya

The Status of the Ednia Project

I hope everyone has been enjoying the short sections on the Ednia project. There are still a lot of world-building I am trying to accomplish before diving into plots, so there will be a while before the entire story focuses on the journey of Sharron Miles. At this point, I am very happy that I was finally able to complete the Perspective series, showcasing some personnel that would directly affect the mindset and the actions of the said protagonist.

As a recap to the work has been previously posted here, I am just going to give a little bit of contexts.

Exchange series Prelude Part I Part II  Part III

On this day, I swear to you that this sword in my hand will answer to no one but you, who carried the blood of Le-Tel. Take my life to be your spear confronting your foes and your shield sheltering from harm. Your smile will be my ultimate glory. 

Mind Game series Prelude Part I Part II

If I have the chance to save the world again, would I do it as a dutiful tool performing its function or as a being with doubts and concerns? How many sacrifices is the maximum I can do away that the world would be saved? 

No, do you not understand? You cannot save the world without making sacrifices.  

Match with Kathy series Prelude Part I Part II Interlude Part III Part IV

I never wanted to become your enemy. You have always been a kind person, and I have always admired that. When we reincarnate in the next life, would you consider becoming my friend?

Of course, more will come, but at some slow paces. There are a couple of ideas being tossed around, but for now. 

Now, previews for the next three Ednia projects are

Wanderer on the Prairie series

Theme:  I know you are born to the nobility. But at least try to blend into crowds. 

Lady of the Lake series

Theme:  Maybe my prayer will not be answered, and that is also acceptable. 

First Encounter series

Theme:  You are one weird kid.

Happy New Year, everybody.

The Year 2013 in Review

Impression of 2013

If I want to summarize the year of 2013 in one adjective, it would probably be chaotic. So many moments have passed and yet the time felt so short (I feel old...in more than one way). It is nonetheless a productive and uplifting year.

Personal and World-wise:

Personal Achievements:  first year in renting an apartment and commuting mostly via bicycle. Nothing burnt down. The power did go out and I had to replace the fuse. We ended up replacing the oven afterwards.

Dad coming to the US during Fourth of July. A darn good time. Harpoon brewery tour earned a 4.5 star. First time whale watching.

Cousin's wedding in China. I was that emotional, but man, time flies fast.

Li's wedding back in Iowa. Guys, good luck, have fun, and do your best.

One of the ten people on dating sites is a scam. I am rather amused by that.

Congratulations to the Chinese Space Program. The lunar rover makes me proud.

A big sigh to the government shutdown. Guys, you are getting paid to do nothing. Well, you should all be fired.

Prayers go out to the victim of the marathon bombing and tsunami in Southwest Asia. I also donated to the earthquake relief in China. I didn't really feel the lock down. Sorry, I will try to stay more informed next time. I get my news from ESPN, IGN, Crunchyroll, Science, and Nature.

NOLA, you are teh behsht.

Career-wise:
Graduate school is still ongoing. I will keep going forward.
A big turning point is the end of the third-year oral. From that point on, there are no more bureaucratic formalities. From that point on, research is the only thing that will define me. Not everything is going according to plan right now and time is starting to run out. It is like down by 7 going into the fourth quarter with two time-outs--time to make things happen.
I am pretty confident on the electrodeposition project, but maybe I just have not been beating myself up for the progress. Things are not moving at top speed, probably because I hope someone will be able to catch up. It feels like waving to the rest of the touring group across the Grand Canyon.
NDI films have a lot of promise. I still have a lot of catch-up on synthesis, so it is time to settle down.
Can I make something non-zinc? Sure. Not everything, but sure something. Do I really care what that something is? Maybe. I just want to stop screening reaction conditions for a while.

Academic/Career Achievements:  passing 3rd year research proposal, second manuscript on layered deposition is out, third manuscript in work, 1 in BE cell made and good so far, finishing the NDI-Pyrazole story with Casey.

Entertainment-wise:
I have significantly expanded my anime collection and begin to shift my focus onto the last generation console (I mean from PS2 to Xbox 360 and PS3). It is also a year of following competitive SC2 casts, which have become a major source of entertainment for me (Jaedong vs Dear at BlizzCon, best game ever played, although my favorite player is still Polt).

Music Discovered:  Yuuhei Satellite (Daichi ni Saku Senritsu, Kodoku Tsuki, Iro wa Nioedo Chirinuru wo), Kurt Hymneth (Ar Tonelico Hymn collection),

Manga Discovered:  Knights of Sidonia, Yandere Kanojo, Nisekoi, Girls of the Wild,

Games Completed:  Halo 4 campaign, CoD Ghost campaign, Ar Tonelico, Ar Tonelico 2, Ys:  the Ark of Napishtim, Akiba's Trip, Oreimo, SC2:  HoTS campaign, Ef:  a tale of memories, Rewrite, Rewrite:  Harvasta Festiva

Games in Work:  Rewrite Quest, Eternal Sonata, Valkyria Chronicles, Memories Off series, Diablo 3 (co-op with Mike),

Memorable Purchases:  Fire Emblem Special Edition 3DS, Fate/Zero Box Set 2, Mahou Sensei Negima Vol 1-31,

Starting with the seasonal anime impressions

Jan:  Absolutely the worst season this year with nothing new and remarkable, some new highlighted titles include Puchimas!, AKB0048 Next Stage, and Nekomonogatari Kuro. However, the second halves of Psych Pass, Robotic;Notes, and Shin Sekai Yuri are absolutely fantastic. I am also watching Little Busters, but the overall adaptation is rather mediocre.

However, it was a season to catch up with older releases, which were of high quality. Kids on the Slope and Waiting in the Summer from almost a year ago are both amazing. I also finished watching Utena, which I prompted brought the new boxsets from Nozomi.

April:  Overall an incredible season. RDG is another P.A. Works highly-promising-yet-under-delivered series. Translation between medias, namely novel to anime, is still difficult due to the mind setting of the audience. In terms of active participation, novels probably require the audience to be more imaginative, which I personally felt is a part of the deeper appeal of RDG. Hataraku Maou-Sama on the other hand is an unexpected gem. It is a season of good Mecha, with Gargantia, Valvrave, and MJP. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU and Railgun S also ended on my weekly rotation.

Of course, Attack on Titans.

And I also tracked Date A Live and Oreimo (oh come on, you know harem sells for a reason: fantasy)

July:  Since Attack on Titans, Railgun S, and MJP are still ongoing, it is almost by default not a bad season. It is the Moe Mahou Shoujo season of 2013, with Day Break Illusions, Fate/Kalied Liner (acceptable), Rozen Maiden, and others. It is a season I dropped heavily. The Eccentric Family ranked on top, followed by God Only Knows.

Yes, I watched Free!. Yes, I watched Highschool DxD New. No, I didn't watch Watamote. And I am planning to watch Gatchaman Crowds if the female lead can stop talking. Once Monogatari is done, I will marathon it (I did. I ended up liking Kaiki a bit, but it might be a lie). Silver Spoon is on the waiting list once I have time to pick it up.

October:  Arpeggio of Blue Steel is very good, especially considering the graphic approach the product is using. I like Tokyo Ravens, a very standard shonen. Golden Time, Log Horizon, and Outbreak Company are quirky but fun. I am not sure I can take either Kyoukai no Kanata or Samurai Flamenco seriously, but I did watch them. Maybe Nagi no Asakura will end terrifically, but it is P.A. Works. It has potentials but is not yet True Tears.

Galilei Donna...it is a trap.

But yeah, it has been a good year.

Year in Review, Category Winner

Best Paper:  X-ray analysis on the nanogram to microgram scale using porous complexes. Nature. 2013, 495, 461. DOI: 10.1038/nature11990

Best Moment:  New Orleans, LA. Holding an opened can of PBR while walking down the street.

Best Game:  Rewrite

Top Thee Anime Series:  Attack on Titans, Revolutionary Girl Utena, the Eccentric Family

Top Three Music Tracks:  EXEC_CHRONICLE_KEY (Ar Tonelico:  Melody of Elemia), Daichi ni Saku Merodii (Nureta Kami ni Furerareta Toki), Sanka (Rewrite OST)

Best Beverage: Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro

Best Meal:  Dijon, New Orleans, LA.

Greatest Professional Achievement:  Machined a teflon cell cap for spec-echem

Greatest Personal Achievement:  Six glasses of wine