Left Behind: Prologue

A quarter of a century ago, fear and death gripped the world. A single sorcerer made the entire world tremble.
A quarter of a century ago, this sorcerer was sealed away.

This sorcerer, Asgir, had once been a loyal servant and subject of the Empire of Liu. A protector of the emperor, the empire, and its people. He not once succumbed to the temptation of his power, and was thought to be a sign of the emperor's enduring just rule.


One day, Asgir changed.


He assassinated the emperor, then continued to murder each child of the emperor. His rampage continued in cold calculated brutality. Each of the mothers of the princes, every concubine, child noble or common. One by one, the emperor's blood was exterminated to the last drop. Its ruler gone, the empire fell to its surrounding neighbors in short order.

No one knows why Asgir had betrayed his oath of fealty, and rebelled against the empire.

He did not once sit or show interest in the throne after removing the emperor. He would only appear as he liked, and killed. His victims were unpredictable. It was at times the people of the Liu Empire he had once sworn to protect, and at other times invading soldiers, even the king of an invading country on occasion.
He seemed to appear and use his powers and monsters he created to kill at whim, leaving the stink of corpses in his wake.

It did not take long for the continent to fear the name of Asgir. No one was safe from him, or his monsters. He lurked in every shadow, and deep in every child's nightmares.

A band of four brought an end to that age of fear.

Kaos, the surviving knight of the lost Liu Empire. Reinhart the prince of Wilaan. The sorcerer Filnes and Sera.

The four were the best in the world.
Even the four could not kill Asgir. In the end, Filnes created a barrier to seal Asgir, anchored by Kaos and Reinhart's blessed blades. There, Sera sacrificed herself and threw Asgir and herself into the seal.

The Black Sorcerer Asgir was thus sealed away in the massive limestone caverns in the Levano mountains in the Northwest of the continent. Called the Great Seal of Levano, the caves and its once beautiful and enchanting stalagmites are gone. Shattered by the battle of years ago, the cave shows the marks of an unnatural battle, leaving only one massive stalagmite with two swords struck into it.
Kaos and Reinhart's blessed swords.

This magical seal is watched over by the kingdom of Ixan. Sent from the king seated at the foothills of the Levano Mountains, Ixani soldiers stand watch before the paired blades, and at the entrance of the cave. It wasn't known if the unbelievable power of Filnes or the periodic reinforcement of the magic seal were to credit, but nothing had ever happened to the seal.

Yet, change comes. Without forewarning.

The first change in a quarter of a century.
The first thing anyone noticed was a sound. It was too wet and heavy to be a footstep, but unmistakably coming from the stone. The soldiers one by one turned to face the limestone and the two swords.

One gasped a breath of surprise.The soldiers struggled to comprehend what they were seeing.

The cool stone surface became clouded, and wavered like a white smoke. A shadow appeared against the face of the rock, and became something they could recognize as human. Almost like a mother giving birth, a body spilled forth from the stone.

One of the soldiers breathed cursed behind clenched teeth. "The Black Sorcerer!"


--


The Great Seal of Levano was broken, and the Black Sorcerer appeared from within.
We have captured this, and have chained it within a cage.

The report reached the King of Ixan, Kaos, within hours. The knight of Liu, one of the four to challenge and defeat Asgir.
The now lord and protector of the kingdom of Ixan.
Kaos could not hide his surprise. He could remember that day in the caves vividly.

Magics beyond belief made the mountain shake. Blasts of power carved the cave walls as if it were cheese. Columns thicker than men were turned to powder with nary an effort. Even with swords that would slice steel apart, Kaos could not inflict wounds that would not heal in mere moments.

Asgir was too powerful to kill.

In the end, all they could do was sacrifice one of their own to distance Asgir from the world. If Asgir had truly escaped his prison and appeared before the world again...

Kaos brought a strained smile to his face. Not borne of mirth, but of his defeat.

Asgir's power had carved its mark on Kaos. Not Kaos, not the kingdom of Ixan, not even the entire continent had the power to stop the Black Sorcerer. There would be nothing to stand before Asgir this time.

"Get me my horse. I will go to Levano"
Kaos looked to his young chancellor as he stood up, ready to run to his horse.
There would be no time to waste.

As he strode across the courtyard, and his man prepared his armor, his eyes caught sight of something unexpected.

"My Lord, I bring you the captured the Black Sorceror Asgir!"
Called the proud young soldier.

Behind him, was a large cage used to capture monsters on a horse drawn cart. They reached the palace within an hour after the messenger, no doubt hurrying with excitement. That much was obvious in the ruddy red face and the elation in the soldier's voice. The young man proudly cast aside the large cloth covering the cage, presenting his prisoner.

Kaos breathed in sharply, and cursed the soldier's stupidity behind clenched teeth.
Bringing in something as dangerous as the Black Sorcerer near an inhabited area? The palace no less? Its been only 25 years, and yet it seemed long enough to dull soldiers into fools. The fools!

Angry beyond words, Kaos glared at the soldier. The red of excitement turned blue, as Kaos' grey eyes stared him down. A soundless yelp escaped as the soldier looked for an avenue of escape.

Kaos reached down to his sword. His hand rested on the grip, and he could only laugh at how pointless it was. His sword was only steel, without the blessing of magics. It could kill a man, but was inadequate a weapon to face a sorcerer.

Asgir could only be harmed with blessed blades. But the sorcerer had to been weakened by his escape. There was no other way that embodiment of destruction would be caught in a cage of metal. There was a sliver of hope that perhaps the sword would not be useless.

Kaos strode towards the cart and cage. He could feel his right hand shaking on his sword. The soldiers quickly parted to make a path, fearful of their king's anger.

As Kaos approached, he could finally see the form of Asgir, curled on the floor of the cage. Unconscious, the body did not stir on the cold metal floor. Manacles bound each limb, thick iron chains connecting them to the cage bars. Ropes and chains criss-crossed over the body, further securing it in place. If it were any normal prisoner, the weight of the chains alone would have been enough to make breathing difficult. The secure web of chains and ropes made it impossible to move. As his eyes quickly studied the cage, a feeling of uncertainty came over him.

This is Asgir?


What little he could see, a single hand extending out of the mass of chains was delicate. The limbs bound in black iron seemed thin and lithe. Obscured by the chains, he could still make out what could be a small and soft body covered by light green clothing. Golden locks of hair was covered in something sticky. Kaos had seen those before.

Impossible.

Kaos leaped up to the cage, both his hands on the bars, trying to catch a closer look. He couldn't see the face, as the body inside the cage was curled towards the floor. He didn't have to. He already knew who it was.

"My lord! You mustn't expose yourself!"

The chancellor called out in surprise, but his words were swept aside by his king. Still pressing his face against the bars, Kaos bellowed out orders to bring the keys.

"The key! Open this cage!"

"My lord! Opening the cage would be dangerous! Please!" The chancellor yelled as he grasped his king's shoulder. He tried to look into Kaos' face, and calm him down. The chancellor saw his reflection in the silver grey eyes, but not the madness he was afraid to see.

"Open the cage! It is not Asgir!"

Still, the chancellor furrowed his brows at his king's words. He had served his king from his birth. In his life, he had never seen his king be so agitated. Confused by this sight, the chancellor hesitated for a moment before reiterating the king's order to open the cage.

"Bring the keys!"

The soldiers petrified by fear finally seemed to find their feet at the chancellor's command, and hurried to open the locks of the cage.

Kaos watched impatiently as one by one, the heavy locks that held the chains to the bars were removed with a heavy clank. When the soldier began to undo the ropes with trembling hands, Kaos drew his sword.

"Move."

He stepped forward, and swung his sword to cut apart the thick knots. The ropes fell by twos and threes to the bright steel. As the soldiers watched in uncertainty, then terror as Kaos bent down and stepped into the cage. He knelt next to the body, and moved the chains off the body, baring the green and gold. His trembling hands reached out to hold the small figure. His hands seemed to dwarf every delicate feature. Covered in some sort of sticky fluid, Kaos took care to not slip and drop what he held. Carefully, he cradled the figure in his arms. His fingertips brushed away the golden hair over the face, as he stared with disbelief. The eyelids were locked shut, and the face was white and was cool to the touch. The body was cold as if chilled, and greedily stole the warmth from his body. Even so, Kaos was relieved to find the chest rising and falling in an even rhythm.

Tears welled in his eyes.
Kaos called to the girl, in a hoarse whisper.

"Sera..."

The girl had returned to Kaos' arms exactly as he remembered; exactly as she had been when she threw herself into the seal 25 long years ago.

学生デモとその効用について。

前提を前に押し出そう。一般人にどうして学生がデモを行っているのかが理解されていない。これは問題だ。

今、カルフォルニアは財政難だ。それは州立大学などの公的資金によって運用されている教育機関にも言える事だ。つまる所が、学校にお金が無い。

そして、この三月の頭に学費の吊り上げと学生の締め出しに対する学生デモがあった。

日本にはあまり無い事なのだが、カルフォルニア大学というのは、カルフォルニア州民の税金によって運用されている学校だ。世界レベルの研究・教育を行う場所であり、公的資金の代わりに「入学に値する学生をすべて受け入れる」という公約があるのだ。来るもの拒まず。すごく、壮大な夢を根本とした学校である。

その結果として、州の人口が増えると共に学校の学生数も増える。その中で学生数を絞るというのは大きく学校の行動原理に反する行動である。どれだけの財政難か、はそこで察して欲しいのだが…

もっと実直に事を説明しよう。前年度の学部予算が１５％削減された。研究、人員、資材。すべてにだ。そして今年の学部予算がさらに１３％削減される。同じく、研究、人員、資材だ。院生を教員として給料を払う予算もなくなっている。基礎化学の講義にはTAと言う院生講師がさっぱりいなくなるという話だ。その代わり、ネット上のFAQと外部の委託業者による授業が行われる。

化学部のもっとも大きな講義であり、学部のすべての学生が取る基礎の基礎の基礎が、だ。

それが委託業者のネットFAQで賄えるようなものではないはずだ。

とはいえ、予算の二割が削られるというのはそれだけに逼迫した状況だ。その上にある問題が学費があがった事だ。去年は１４％増し。今年の頭で３２％増し。学生にしてみたら水増しされて薄くなった授業に法外な料金を支払っている物だ。怒りたくもなる。

しかし、それはカルフォルニア州民の税金から生徒一人当たりに掛かるお金の６割を免除しているからだ。もし生徒が全額支払うとなったら、スタンフォードのような私立校と並ぶ現在の三倍の額になる。そのうち、米国政府からの資金もある。公的な学校は公的な結果を出す、投資なのだから。

そして、昨日バス停で話した一般の人にしてみれば不可解な事らしい。「大学に行った事が無い、一般の社会人」な人にしてみればあれだけ支払っている多大な税金で学校に行かせてもらっている金持ちの子女達がもっとお金を欲しいと駄々を捏ねている。こう見えるみたいなのだ。

学力と一家の収入は比例する。裕福な地域は進学率が高い。そして、文系はその学ぶ意味がつかみづらい。文系の学生でさえ「別にこれでなにか職に就くわけじゃない」とあきらめが見えるのだから外から見て「文学の勉強してなんの役に立つ」といわれると反論が難しい。

教育そのものに意味や意図は無い、といえば楽だろう。基礎研究をしている身としては自分のしている事が目に見えるような実を結ぶ事はまず無いと思う。それでも、どうこうするための工学部とは違う探究心、好奇心、知識欲を満足させる為の基礎研究は必要と感じる。半導体や発光ダイオード。こういった技術革新もまたそうしようとして発見したわけではないのだから。（とはいえ、エンジニアは重要だ。発見した物を形にするまでが純科学者には難しい）文系もリターンが少ないからと切り捨てるようでは、文化衰退する。歴史や社会学。文学や音楽。価値は人間の価値観と思考能力をを養う事にある、と思うのだが。

教育機関をすべてFor Profitな利益を出す会社にしてしまうべきだと言われて初めてそういう視点に気づく。恥ずかしい事だ。市民は結果を求める。警察には犯罪の取り締まりを、市には道路の穴をふさいだり、消防所には火消しを。その中で大学は何をしているのかがさっぱり分からない。大学経験者は理解できるが、大学に興味が無かった人や行かなかった人には理解ができない価値。工学部や科学部は目に見える結果を出すからいいだろう。でも、利益を出すのならその基礎研究は会社がすべきじゃないのか？なんで税金という名の搾取を受けているんだ？

こういった疑問なのだ。結果が見えない。そういう事だ。

その上で「お金をもっとだせ」。意味が分からないというのも頷ける。

一方には収入源が削られ、学費が大幅に上がる中。本職である研究もできずに必死にバイトに走ってギリギリの生活を挑んでいる院生からしてみれば理不尽に感じる所だが。また、一般の人もデモを不可解な理不尽と感じるのだろう。

基本的に教育の恩恵を受けていない人は教育の価値を理解できていない。その必要性に対する感情が希薄なのだ。なぜ学校があるのかすら理解しない。根本から違う価値観。教育は金持ちの道楽、とすら考えているのだろう。なぜなら、教育による社会への貢献が彼には見えないのだから。

色々と考える所があるが、まぁこんな所かもしれない。

今現在駐車場で酔って騒いでいる学生が青春を楽しんでいる中、その感情も理解できる。だが、立派に貧困者として社会援助を貰ってなんとか食いつないでいる学生もいるとアピールしたい。みんな厳しいんだ。深夜に騒いでる駐車場のヤツラは別として、だ。（笑）

I am amazed at the Tate Unilock

Bicycle security locks are big business. Even with a gold standard (and expensive) Kryptonite lock, my bicycle got stolen last year in San Francisco, from in front of the Cartoon Art Museum. It sucked, on several different fronts. The kryptonite lock warranty only applies within 1 year of purchase and registration. In addition, you must present a piece of the lock to prove it was compromised. Both reasonable, but both insufficient comfort to assuage that sinking feeling of not finding the bicycle where it was parked.

Good bye, my beloved Trek. You were a part of my life I will never have back. The thieves had taken the bike, lock and all.

So the nicer of a bicycle I get, the more significant of protection I need to keep it safe. The 40$ for a new lock every year to re-up the kryptonite protection would be almost worth it, if it were not for the utter waste of piling up old U-locks. Given that there is no bicycle theft insurance available in California, this is the closest I can think of protecting myself financially against theft. Even if there were bicycle theft insurance, I'd imagine the premiums in the SF area would be higher than the bike's worth in short order. (There apparently is bicycle theft insurance in the UK. One more idea I'd like to have stolen from across the Atlantic.)

The heft and amount of metal that goes into the locks and chains are amazing, as the war between thieves and locks continue to escalate. To the burden of the bicycle owner. Literally so, as 4.6 pounds of hardened steel in the New York Fahgettaboudit, the ultimate of kryptonite's offerings, deters thieves. 2.2lb for the smaller Evolution Mini, with a corresponding drop in sturdiness.

I mention all of this, because it isn't like this everywhere in the world. For instance, the country of Japan. The bicycle thieves there are nonexistent, or not very well armed. With nary a u-lock in sight, the bicycles are "locked" in place by immobilizing the rear wheel. For the more security minded, there are portable locks to secure the bicycle to something. Dear Goodness Me. Understandable, as not everywhere has a handy anchor to secure a bicycle to it. To this end, there is a very cool product.

the Tate (pronounced Tah-Tey) Unilock. The concept is based on a pocket sized instrument of folding steel plates. 330 grams, or 0.7lb. It is compact, and has high carbon tempered steel sheets inside the plastic skin. The steel sheets even have cutouts to reduce the weight. The unit has a slight curve to it, to make it less uncomfortable in a pocket. Portability and convenience has been maximized. It is a completely different concept from the 13mm thick hardened steel shackle of the kryptonite U-lock. It is meant to be reasonably fashionable, to the traditional sense. Whereas a U-lock hanging off the belt, or a heavy duty chain around the waist as a belt combined with a Chrome messenger bag or pack is the fashion of the cyclist in San Francisco, this lock attempts to fit into a normal person's life.

And this lock, which I cannot imagine surviving for more than a few short moments in SF, is something I envy. I really wish I were in a place where 330g of tempered steel can be expected to protect a bicycle. Instead, I'm destined to carry 3 additional pounds of weight wherever I am going, with security cables and ties to hold down my nice seat and wheels.

The cultural expectations, and the role placed onto the bicycle is radically different.

I'm just tempted to spend 30$ on the tate lock, and see how long it will take to destroy it, all while filming it to post on youtube. I bet I could crack that unilock open with a steel pipe! anything, to warn the Japanese; Stay away from these shores full of thieves. You've got it far better where it would be unthinkable to take a bolt cutter out on the streets to steal a bicycle. Perhaps if I had parked my bike in Japan, my old bicycle would still be with me.

乙嫁語り 第一巻

さすがGoogleIME。ニッチ入力に強い。乙嫁語りも一発変換。クラウドの威力ここにあり、と行った感じ。でも今回はそんな事について書くわけじゃない。

森薫作、乙嫁語りは１９世紀初頭のカスピ海近くの中央ユーラシアで１２歳の男の子が年上のお嫁さんを貰う話。「山を超えて遠くの村から馬にのってやってきた花嫁さんは花婿より８歳年上だった」というのが作中の文章。

森薫先生の代表作である「ｴﾏ」は１８９０年辺りのイギリスの社会構造、生活、文化などを適度なフィクションを混じらせて淡々と描いたけど、弟嫁物語もほぼ同じ。違う時代の空気、違う世界の「普通」を感じさせてくれる。それだけに細かく、綿密な絵が何気なく舞台を描き出している。

嫁ぎ遅れの花嫁さんのアミルと少しずつ打ち解けてゆく花婿のカルルクをゆっくり、優しく見守っている感じ。

正直、憧れるような人が一杯登場していく。馬に乗っての物追い射でウサギを狩るアミルは綺麗で、作者も本当にこういったのが好きなんだなと伝わる。馬に乗る事はできるし、弓も多少は扱う経験もある。それだからこそ駆ける馬の背からウサギに矢を射かける難しさは理解できる。それが普通に生活の一部であるアミル、と同じ時代に住みながらもその技術を必要とせず驚嘆を覚える新しい家族。とりとめのないやりとりが惜しみなく魅力たっぷりに綴られている。

さらにいえば年が行き過ぎた嫁に心配する親戚。他の氏族との関係を保つ為にアミルを返せという実家。１２歳でも「若い大人」として扱われ、お酒を振る舞われるカルルク。生活習慣の違いがファンタジーに匹敵する。本当にありそうな分、非現実的に感じる所もまた面白い。

何にしろ、これはオススメ。乙嫁語り　第一巻。

狼と香辛料XIV 感想

狼と香辛料、いよいよ１４巻。かなり時間をかけて読んだせいか、余韻が残る。

ネタバレ無しで感想を綴るとなると、大きく話を要約しなくてはならない。

「ラストスパート」だろうか。

ホロとロレンスの関係も不安定ながらも落ち着きを見せ始め、見ていてもどかしいと思えたそのやり取りも大きく変容をする。どうにもニヤニヤと嫌な微笑みを拭えない。１４冊の本と４年近くの時間を掛けて歩んで来た二人のキャラクターの旅路は長く、ようやく精算を始めた所。話の中だとまだ半年も過ぎていないのだろう。刈込の秋から雪が降り積もる冬。雪解けの春に近づいている作中でこの二人は波乱万丈な旅を続けている。

先懐かしいキャラも登場して、自分たちの行った事が何を起こしたのか。その効果を目の当たりにし、ロレンスも少しずつ自己の変化を見つめるだけの余裕ができたのか。突拍子もない行動力はやはり、他の作品の主人公とはかなり印象が異なる。

もう話の終わりまでも秒読みに入っている感じがする。そして、その終わりは二人の関係そのものと同じくせつない別れとなる予感だ。こうも作品に思い入れを持つオレ、キモイぜ。

自嘲しながら感想文はこれで終わり。

The relative youth of the Internet culture in Japan.

I have a blog! This is the rambling discussion on the nature of information culture in Japan, and its evolution in comparison to the United States originated elsewhere. It just wasn't relevant enough to keep, but too much to just toss into the trash.

The relationship of internet media and society is being developed even now, in both the United States and Japan. I make particular note of Japan, as the tools, content, and demands placed upon the data communciations is quite different than in the United States. Especially interesting is the differing legal battles that take place regarding the medium, the front lines of defining society's relationship with its information. Privacy, free speech, and the like. These are elements of the internet which are relatively solidified in the United States. There is case history and legal precedents being set regarding the use of the internet. Spamming, wire fraud, gambling, internet bullying, and so forth. In this aspect, the social landscape of the internet in the United States is still better defined, and less volatile than in Japan. This is in comparison to Japan, where certain types of cracking, or malicious code development is not illegal. There are no legal statutes that cover these new crimes. Its relationship is thus still quite young, and yet underexplored. Is it the less litigious nature of Japan? Perhaps.

But one thing is clear, the internet and the technology in Japan is only reaching the youth now. As they explore and utilise the technology in their own methods to connect, they redefine the face and nature of the internet. The leading technology developers pull in one direction, the masses push another. Conflict is there. More pronounced in some ways than in the United States.

Another aspect to note is the differing method of innovation in Japan. In japan, the internet as we know it (a computer connected to the WWW through a browser) is less prominent in comparison to the ubiquity of mobile phone access. Mobile phone access is rather limited, and most of the use is through apps and sites through the phone browser, accessed through the phone's portal links. What difference does this make? The difference is the ability for US developers to really be free in developing new tools. getting a URL is cheap, and finding an audience (while not easy) is not difficult. The Japanese developers have to work much much harder to find their audience. Getting a sponsored link on a portal site is extremely important. This means that the creativity is more constrained, but far more explosive in the enclosed boundaries. Think haiku. In the severe restrictions and stiff rules blooms a spectacular creativity. It is as much as what one can do within a boxed garden, as it is about the ability to break out of a box. In a way, the Americans build a new mousetrap. The Japanese make the current mousetrap work better, and more elegantly than before.

Wolf and Spice Vol1 (English)

A long awaited English language adaptation of one of my favourite novel series.

I've now purchased several copies of it in English, distributing it to various peoples I imagine would enjoy the book.

The writing is slightly stiff, and certainly shows the reason the book is aimed at an age 15 and up crowd. The vocabulary is limited, and certainly doesn't stretch beyond what most people would know. Some of this is the reason the setting of the story, a pre-Renaissance pseudo-European society, just doesn't come to life. As a historical fiction, the story simply does not provide enough material to bring the time and place forward, much beyond the plain backdrop that it provides. There is no sense that there is much more of the world existing beyond the pages of the book. Good fiction, science, historical, or otherwise - should be able to construct a world with a depth and detail that extends beyond the last page turned.

This is particularly difficult. It does not mean to describe everything in detail, and bog down the narrative. The world should however be a real enough location to bring a believability around the character's drive, ambition, fears and hopes.

Some books can rest on precedent. Books based on movies, TV shows, and video games need not place their heft into constructing a world. The groundwork is already laid out.

As very good stage actors can act on a stage with only the barest of props, the characters and how lively and naturally they act on stage can set the tone.

This book, with the character of a young, inquisitive girl who is out of touch with the life of the merchant, does not deliver. The girl's inquisitive nature should be leveraged to provide insight into the daily life of a merchant, but only does so as an exposition device. The dialog fails to invite the reader to learn more, and gain interest about the girl asking the question. It seems slightly flat. A question is quite telling of the person doing the asking. Why is the question being asked? what is the interest behind it? How does the person react to the answer?

This opportunity is lost, as the novel hurriedly fills in the set pieces. I want more. Much more.

As a history fan, the tectonic shift of a society away from pagan harvest rituals and festivals carried on under the nose of the church to a more modern agriculture is one of the largest interests of this book. And yet, the sense of something changing - several hundreds of years of history being cast aside - simply does not appear. It is of phenomenally good plot construction that places such a historic shift into a personal perspective, and of one guy and one girl.

The multilayered plot, starting from the core relationship of Holo and Lawrence. Wrapped by the plot regarding a specific scheme, and the final realization of the greater plot afoot - one that will shake the kingdom to its (financial) roots. There is the larger, and infinitely historically meaningful conflict, of which only the reader should be aware of.

The intent is not to have either of the main characters be aware, or even have any interest in the "big" picture. The big big picture, this part which extends the stage past the last page of the book, never really seems to coagulate into anything. The stage is set, but half blue-screened. The post-production will fill in the blanks.

It is only because the story is so attractive, that these decidedly minor faults irritate. There should be so much more. But as I read it, it takes several tries to really get the characters to start speaking in their own voice, and imagine them walking through the hard packed roads of this town, surrounded by people who are selling their wares, hurrying to and from the shops, living their lives.