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

Match with Kathy, Perspective Part VI & VII, Sharmila Miles and Caren Miles

Sharmila (swinging the door open and jumping on the carriage):  Oh come on, Mom. Hurry up. I don't want to miss Brother Sharron's match. If only I get to skip my piano lessons, then I would have caught the entire match. Well, hopefully I can still see the end of it by the time we get there.

Caren (closing her parasol and steadily climbing on the folding step) :  Calm down, young lady. First of all, you need to take your music lessons more seriously. You cannot be a proper damsel if you are fooling around with magic every other day. You need to learn the right way to handle social situations. (turning a serious face, slightly annoyed) Hey, no fawning and no buts.

Besides, you have seen how much your brother Sharron has practiced in the past few months. It is true that his opponent is Lady Silverstone, and he did not have a good record against her. However, Sharfenn did say he is improving, so I think your brother has a good chance. (signals the coachman to make haste)

Sharmila:   But Brother Sharron has never won a single match with her, even sparring practices. Hnng, it took him a lot of hard work to get into the quarterfinals, but he ended up facing with that stupid Catherine Ahnmes. (resting her elbows on her knees and her chins between her hands) Erhh, that is frustrating.

Caren:  Hey hey, Lala, give her some respect. Lady Silverstone comes from a prestigious history of military service. She is in line to become the next head of the House Ahnmes once Master Claudio retires. Of course she is strong, but this much responsibility and expectation for someone so young...

Sharmila:  Oh mom, you can't be seriously sympathizing with the enemy now.

Caren:   Okay Lala, Cathy is not an enemy just because the House Ahnmes and the House Miles do not see all the politics eye-to-eye. You met her during the New Year's Ball, and she is a respectable and refined young lady. It is true that Sharron and her did not have a great history in the academy, but their interactions were reasonable and acceptable within such a competitive environment. Furthermore, ... (going into Lecture MODE)

Sharmila:  Alright alright, I get it. It is all because of the unfortunate circumstances as you always say. Let's just get there and watch the match and cheer for Brother Sharron.

Caren:  Good, I am glad you can understand. Now how is Cassandra doing? Is she getting better?

(Small talks went on for about ten minutes, mostly about Cassandra Ahnmes, Lady Silvertree, and how she is recovering from an accident during the horse riding lesson she and Sharmila were taking together. The street was not very busy, so the carriage quickly arrived at the Military Academy. Sharmila walked briskly to her brother booth off the lift, which caused her mother some dismay that Sharmila would care little of at this point.)

Sharfenn:  Oh Lala dear sister. How were your piano lessons?

Sharmila (while sitting down):  Oh nevermind the piano lessons. Ah, hello there, Mr. Rimond. I hope you are having a pleasant day with my brother.

Epillion:  Indeed, I am. Miss Miles. I assume you are here for your brother's match.

Sharmila:  Yes Yes. So when will it start?

(Sharfenn and Epillion exchanged a look.)

Epillion (slowly):  Well, unfortunately, it was already over. You have barely missed it. You brother put up a brilliant fight and it was rather close. However, Lady Silverstone won with superior techniques.

Sharmila (instantly turning dark):  But but, so nothing worked? How?

Epillion (slightly confused):  I would not say that, the disarming move was rather fluid, and ...

Sharfenn (pressing his hand on Epillion's forearm and interrupted):  He didn't use any of them. He fought fair and square. Lala, I think you should be proud of your brother. There were no tricks and no gadgets.

Sharmila: Alright alright, if you say so, Brother Sharfenn.

Epillion:  Now I am curious, what were those tricks and gadgets you were speaking of?

Sharfenn:  Surprised attacks that got him this far into the tournament. I am not sure if Kaen had a hand in this, but Sharron's modified weapons were accepted under the clause "any nonlethal weapons of choice if previously examined by three proctors." There were a quiver with a trap net, a five-sectioned staff, a dire flail with a build-in flash flint, a pair of tonfa with blade locks, a heavy hammer that sticks, a destructible shield with sleep gas, gauntlets with projectile roped hooks, and what else... oh right, knuckle gloves enchanted with paralysis magic. I am sure he had more in the stock and made an effort to master them. People would call him playing dirty, but they were really just underestimating their opponent.

Epillion:  Fascinating...

Sharmila:  Awh, I wanted to see Kathy's sour face after Brother Sharron beat her in the round.

Epillion:  You didn't miss old man Claudio's sour face though. I am sure he was not so pleased with a victory not so completely one-sided.

Sharfenn (standing up):  Either way, I rather not think about the politics concerning House Miles and House Ahnmes at this point. Let's go for some refreshment. I wanted to greet my mother and help out my little sister.

Sharmila (as if just remembering something important):  Oh wait, I ditched her. Ahhhhh, I am going to be in so much trouble.

Mind Game, Part II

In the gleaming twilight dyed in red, the cloudless sky extended far until it meets the stretching horizon, a thin dash of silver. I stood atop the octagon hill, a small protrusion out of this flat and featureless world. Maybe the word "hill" was not quite accurate; the crafted structure made of a marble-like material could be a part of some ancient religion's praying ground, emanating an austere aura . Around twenty wide steps extended from the center to all sides of a perfect octagon, elevating my position slightly above the barren ground. 

"Are you expecting something more?" She spoke, with a slightly condescending tone.

I shrugged. For a moment, I felt like I just lost a hand on all-in. But maybe the pure emptiness was so contradictory to my expectation that I felt a vague idea of more up her sleeves. 

"This is your capability so far, just this octagon hill. Of course, comparing to quite a number of contracts I have made in the past, projecting an area that can fit about one hundred people is actually quite good on your first try."

"You have talent." I ignored her smirk. The complement was far from genuine. 

"Nah, just kidding. I am just being nice." Nice was still an exaggeration. She was just saying that so I would not give up my effort immediately. 

"That said, the quality of your projection is above average. For example, the ground we are standing on right now is a perfect octagon."

"Well, with a margin of error of 1%. So not too great." Yeah, always with a bite in the end. 

"Anyways, since it is your first time. I guess I will help you out a little bit."

"Don't get me wrong. It is not like I feel compelled or anything." Right, you did not, and I was not expecting the dere side any time soon. 

"We are going to make a contract, so I kind of obligated to do that."

"And you are just...just pathetic." 100% Honesty. 

"Here, you have the privilege of holding my hand."

"I want to clear your mind. For example, think of a world of pure white with nothing in there, not even yourself. Once you have completely removed yourself from the picture, your world be imprinted to the outside and manifest in the project that will shape this ground."

"Now, Mashiro."

My mind went blank. For a moment, my vision was filled with intense rays that I could not block with the darkness of my closed eyelids. Even the surest path to obtain darkness had been tainted to a state of gray. Rather than projecting my mind onto my surroundings, the brightness eroded away my consciousness and transformed it to something foreign. 

"Not half bad. I have seen better, but this will do for now."

And I opened my eyes. 

Replacing the barren grounds were boundless acres of solid ice, polished to an almost mirror finish. More precisely, my logical description of the pure white world was a giant frozen block, while my intuition seemed to be different slightly. The ground felt harder and heavier. Even if I swung a hammer with all my strength, there was probably a good chance that I would chip the hammer, rather than a dent in the ground. 

She let me take in the moment and said slowly,

"Now, let them rise." 

-What do you mean, Viola? 

"No need to hold it back, and hold your own reality close. If the world rejects your vision, modify it such that it is strong enough to withstand the erosion and reconstitute so the principles align." Words, no meanings. 

-I still not quite understand. 

"Alright, you are truly pathetic." She took a deep sigh, "Repeat after me."

"Oh mighty wind, bring forth thy tempest."

I tried to open my mouth, but instead I didn't speak a single word. Somewhere, a trigger clicked and hot streams rushed through my body. A fierce sandstorm appeared out of nowhere, a huge cyclone encircling the octagon hill. 

However, I could see perfectly through the storm. Carved markings began to appear out of dusts while stone pedestals precipitated out of those same small dust particles. When the wind calmed, roads branched from the octagon hill in all directions, lined with pedestals on both sides and connected by paths radially spaced. 

"Good, keep going."

-and thousands of blades sharpened with thy fury.

A hail storm approached. Gleaming twilight washed away the perfectly spotless white ceiling, and the air itself felt now harder and heavier. 

That was what it felt like, but what fell were not chucks of ice. Instead, swords, cold steel fell in synchronicity. At each pedestal, a piece of weapon slid perfectly into the hard stone, giving off a faint noise. In a blink of an eye, the sound of raindrops stopped. All the swords were of one familiar shape:  slightly curve edge of a sabre, the simple basket-hilt covers from the crossguard to the sharp pommel, and the crest--the raven resting on two branches of cedar. 

"Now, that is more like it." She smiled. 

And that was genuine. 

The Stars of Youth

The stars are fluttering in the endless rhythms,
with their trails of endless glittering.
For youngsters have taken them,
into the never ending beats of joy.
Bursts of life and of love,
breaking restraints that have placed on them,
overthrowing the laws that have decreed on them,
shattering the shackles and the convention,
that kept them tamed,
that kept them regulated,
and kept them to what it thought need to be.
But the sparks, even though small,
from those together has brought light,
not a meteor shower,
the opposite of a solar eclipse,
the light in the deepest night that shines from the other horizon,
reborn with the smallest circles of radiance.
The steps synchronize in unison.
The swings rock in unison.
Every breath that manifests the representation of the time that we will never forget, never be able to forget,
and most importantly,
never will forget,
is now engraved in every drop of perspiration,
every cry against the flow of time,
every muscle contraction in the heart,
every amp of current that execute the nerve,
and it is the everlasting youth,
that will last the eternity.

Congratulations, and may you see the greatest fortune.

Revolution

Do you hear the tremor racing towards the end of the world
where the restless souls are pervaded with contempt
sprun by chains of chaos

Do you hear the curse drowning the never-reaching finishing line
where the brutal sacrifices are mistaken for glory
fabled by a falsification of ideals

Do you hear the sobbers echoing through the corridor of time
where the inevitable destinies are forsaken by malice
born from the cycle of calamity

Do you hear the outcry deafening the delicate sense of reason
where the grieving hearts are torn again
clicked once and halted everything to suspension

Nothing in this world is eternal
and nothing in this world stops you from changing
If revolution is the only option
then please not
lose your kindness or your nobility

Strength

In the drizzling spring night,
chilled air in the bamboo garden,
when bloody crimson flashes with a killing intent,
life flickers on a knife's edge,
I asked him,
is it trust that makes you strong?

In the starry summer night,
gentle air on the highway side,
when noble azure dyes in a darker shade,
life suspends on a foreign planet,
I asked him,
is it devotion that makes you strong?

In the windy autumn night,
tense air by the riverbank,
when patient indigo poises with dignity,
life heals scars and moves on,
I asked him,
is it redemption that makes you strong?

In the merry winter night,
soft air between two equals,
when fierce white softens and strides forward,
life wonders on another crossroad,
I asked him,
is it kindness that makes you strong?

In the blooming spring dawn,
sweet air of a flowering field,
when graceful pearl renders melodies of peace,
life finally brings an understanding,
I asked him,
is it perseverance that makes you strong?

In the bright summer dawn,
warm air between a parent and a child,
when shining golden hides the secrets of the world,
life has much sadness but also much hope,
I asked him,
is it family that makes you strong?

In the tearful autumn dawn,
unsettling air filled with scattered pages,
when flushing pink bids memories farewell,
life challenges miracles,
I asked him,
is it love that makes you strong?

In the harsh winter dawn,
cutting air in the snowy forest,
when endless black cries out with pain and hatred,
life fades into nothingness at the cost of triumph,
I asked him,
is it justice that makes you strong?

What makes a man strong?
How to make a man strong?
Twilight concludes the tales of the sun.
the tales of crescents are yet to begin.
Then one more day awaits.

To reach, to grasp, to strive, to pursue,
Not to lose heart
that made a man strong.