#and very pleased with how it turned out. would use the symmetry ruler again

[jichanxo]

judge eyes more like sex eyes. why are you booing

[noxshade]

Day 12 & 13: Temple & Light and Darkness

“If nothing else the residents of Gensokyo can respect meditation.  I do appreciate that.”

Byakuren Hijiri spoke to what should have been an empty prayer hall, her voice echoing slightly.  The sun had just set and halfway through her evening recitations, she had sensed someone enter the hall behind her, then wait just beyond the doors until she was finished.  There was a rustling of fabric, and the person walked past where Byakuren still sat, rolling a Myouren Temple relic sutra scroll back onto the ornate vajra rods that secured it.  After finishing, Byakuren looked up to see her visitor.

“I recall my days as a monk, I would never wish to interrupt such a process,” said Miko of the Toyosatomimi.  She stood a respectful distance away, with her hands clasped in front of her in the old aristocratic manner.  Byakuren stood with the sutra scroll and walked to the altar at the back of the hall, replacing the scroll onto its rack.

“I thank you for such respect,” Byakuren said, bowing to the statue of the Buddha behind the altar.  “What brings yet another powerful figure like yourself to our temple?”

“‘Another’?” Miko asked, confused.

“I had a not-so-enlightening conversation with the revered boundary youkai not but a few days ago, after she silently watched me meditate for nearly an hour,” Byakuren answered, but the look of continued confusion on Miko’s face answered itself to Byakuren.  “Ah, you must not have met the esteemed guardian of Gensokyo’s barrier.  Not to worry, I’m sure she is learning everything she possibly can about you before approaching.”

“I see,” Miko commented, shifting uncomfortably in place. “I was wondering if we could speak.”

“Of course, if you first answer how you entered the temple without alerting my disciples.”

“Well, they are all busy alternately performing or neglecting their chores, all too busy to notice a small stone in the graveyard lift as I entered via shukuchi,” Miko explained.

“Ah, Taoist spatial arts, I should have guessed as much,”  Byakuren said as she retrieved incense sticks from a nearby cubby. “What can I help you with today?”

“I just wanted to speak more candidly with you after the symposium,” Miko said, speaking of the religious summit held a few months ago. “I feel we may have gotten off on the wrong foot.”  Byakuren approached and offered the tips of the incense sticks to Miko, with a look of request, and Miko obliged, lighting them with a tap of her index finger and a minor manifestation of Wuxing, second form.  Byakuren nodded appreciatively, and turned to place the incense in the slots on either side of the altar.

“The symposium where you admitted to pretending to practice my faith of Buddhism in order to pacify the population?”  Byakuren asked, her voice holding none of the venom that her words implied. “The roundtable where you admitted  that your political dreams of becoming the immortal ruler of Japan were foiled by that same faith you abused and spread for your own gain?  I wonder why you might think you have offended a Buddhist monk with such a tale?”

“While I won’t dispute the facts of what I did,” Miko winced “There is some additional context I feel you should know.”

“Oh?  Do tell,”  Byakuren set a second cushion down on the floor beside hers, in front of the altar and gestured to it.  Miko bowed slightly, and moved to sit down.  She whipped her cape out from under herself and rotated the sheathed Sword of Seven Stars to lay across her lap as she assumed a proper lotus position.

“In the days when I was born, humans were as much a danger to themselves as youkai were.  I wanted peace, but without power humans could not stand up to the creatures who would devour them, so I looked for a way  to harness enough power to have humans be the masters of their own destinies,” Miko explained as Byakuren nodded along, her eyes closed in contemplation.  “But the most powerful teachings I could find would throw the country into chaos, I needed to find a way to preserve the peace I had hoped to attain.  So I did what I thought was best for, I gave them the teaching of the Buddha, to allow them to live in peace while I worked to free them from the shackles all humans are born into: mortality.”

“I can see your point and can even laud your goals as supremely noble,” Byakuren replied “Even if I will never come to peace with how your resurrection alters the classic lessons of Prince Shōtoku.  Those tales have a very different feeling to them, knowing what we know about you now, Majesty.”  Miko’s face reddened slightly.

“Please, it’s just Miko now,” she said, shifting in place, hands fidgeting on her sword. “I’m literally not the man I once was.”

“And yet propriety demands those of royal blood be addressed by their proper titles,” Byakuren returned.  “I hope you would not think of abandoning your royal titles and the responsibilities that come with such privilege, dear Prince Miko.”

“I would easily accept such titles and positions, if the world was as I left it, but I watched from within my sealed vessel as the world changed and evolved beyond me, and so I contemplated myself and my goals for 1500 years.  And this is who I wish to be now, an administrator and officiant,” Miko said.

“That is acceptable, Administrator,” Byakuren replied, saying the title with as much royal respect as she had ‘prince’, such that in tone, she had barely changed her stance at all.  “But you seem to be under the impression that I hold an ill opinion of you.”  She took a breath.

“Well, I mean, how could you no-” Miko began.

“Please allow me to finish, dear Administrator.”  Miko recomposed herself and allowed Byakuren to continue.  “I know what your aims and goals were better than you think, for I also once followed the teaching of the Buddha without meaning them for a time as well.  By harvesting youkai’s power, I stayed alive and staved off the cruelty of death that had claimed my brother when he was so young, as you sought to do.  But in protecting and understanding youkai as the source of my power, I began to see that they were captives of fate just as much as the humans were.  Spirits bound to a single task, forced to perform their purpose or fade into dust.  I wanted understanding between the two sides, for them to know each other’s pain so that it might be lessened, and it was for this I was sealed away, for in the time before Gensokyo, such an idea was laughable.”  Miko opened her mouth to speak, but Byakuren -eyes still closed- raised her hand and continued.

“No doubt, you see us as a mirrored pair, as so many others do, as avatars of both of those ideas.  The idea is appealing in its symmetry, to see the both of us as a dualistic pair.  The shrewd politician and the naive nun, the two humans who learned magic to live forever, each holding opposite views of what is right for the world.  Human and youkai, light and dark, the followers of the Dharma and Tao, emptiness and the way.”

“But we are these things,” Miko said.  “Are we not?”

“Not to me.  We are all the same. ‘Shiki soku zeku ku soku ze shiki,’” Byakuren recited, and Miko recognized it as the Heart Sutra. “Dualism is an illusion, truth lies in the interdependence, the unity of the existing and of the emptiness-”

“-Though things may seem to be different from one another in the eyes of humanity, their real state is equal,” Miko finished.

“Ah, she does remember her sutras,” Byakuren said, opening her eyes and looking at Miko with a smile on her face.

“I could only recall it thanks to a wise sensei,” Miko replied with the same smile of understanding. “I should be going though, the hour is late.”  She stood up as Byakuren also rose.

“Of course.  Please, if you ever wish to speak with me again, feel free to use the front gate of the temple next time.”

“I will think about it,” Miko said, before walking out the door and slipping beneath a tilted cobblestone in the footpath to the temple.  Byakuren turned to store the two cushions, then left to see what chores still needed doing with her companions.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/29772798/chapters/73934670

[dreamlandofelegma]

Chapter 2: Desira:

Elegma entered into her classroom as Professor Sam was about to begin the lecture.

There was a scraping sound of chairs, as the students settled in the class room.

Professor Sam:

“Good morning class,” Today we are going to learn about the Golden Ratio.

Later we will see, how the Golden Ratio is connected with Quantum Physics, which is our main subject.

So, does anyone have any idea, what is the Golden Ratio?”

There was murmuring in the class, when one of the students raised her hand to answer the question.

“Yes! Miss Margaret,” asked professor Sam.

“The Golden Ratio is a ratio of 1 to 1.618,” Margaret replied in a proud tone.

“Very good! Miss Margaret, anyone, who would like to add on to what Miss Margaret told us about the golden ratio?”, asked professor Sam.

“The golden ration is found in nature,” another student added.

“Yes! Precisely! It’s not just a mathematical formula. It’s a phenomenon we find in nature’s magnificent equilibrium”, said professor Sam in an enthusiastic tone.

“Tell me, my dear ones, what do you see, in the great Pyramids of Egypt, the great portrait of Mona Lisa

by Leonardo da Vinci, the flower petals arrangement and the shell of a snail?”, professor Sam asked with the

same enthusiasm.

“Symmetry”, a student replied from the back side.

“True! That’s why it’s also called Divine Proportion,” professor Sam added.

Elegma was taking notes on her slides’ printout. She had the similar set of slides on the paper, which

professor Sam was scrolling on the projector screen.

The image of the great pyramid of Giza was currently on the screen, with some length/ height measurements,

showing proportions of the two ratios.

“Yes, Miss Margaret, you have a question?”, professor Sam saw Margaret raising her hand.

“What is the golden ratio for beauty?” Margaret asked in the same animated tone.

“Well, Miss Margaret, if by beauty you mean the human face?

Yes, indeed, there are several golden ratios in the human face.”

Some mischievous boys took rulers to measure each other’s faces.

“Do not, pick up a ruler, and try to measure people’s faces.”

Professor Sam stressed each word while, warning the students.

“However, during the European Renaissance, renowned artists and architects had used the golden ratio to

map out their masterpieces.”

“Thousands of years later, scientists adopted this mathematical formula to help explain why some people are

considered beautiful…and others are not.”

“How do I know that I am beautiful professor?”

In her haste of asking the question, Margaret forgot to raise her hand and ask permission from the professor.

“Wherever there is number, there is beauty. A famous saying of Greek Philosopher, Proclus.”

“I give you an example, if we divide the length of the face by the width of the face, the ideal result should be 1.6 (the golden ratio).”

“Which means a beautiful person’s face is about one and a half times longer than its width?”

Margaret asked keenly.

“Precisely!”

Miss Margaret, you have successfully found out one of the golden ratios in the human face.

There are certainly more of them present. Some are discovered, and others yet to be revealed,” professor Sam said mysteriously.

The projector screen was now showing the image of the famous Vitruvian Man, a drawing made

by Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian painter. This image depicts a man, in two superimposed positions, with

his arms and legs apart. It is inscribed in a circle and a square.

“It’s assignment time, my dear ones. All of you are looking at this painting, which provides us with the basic information of human body proportions.”

Your job, is to find out, as many golden ratios in the human body, as you can.”

I will be seeing you tomorrow, good day.”

Professor Sam left the classroom.

“Hey Eddie, Would, you become my Vitruvian Man?”, asked a boy in a pleasing tone.

“Only for the sake of assignment, my friend,” he added after receiving fake disapproval from Eddie.

“You mean to say, I have to sacrifice my modesty!”, Eddie said, while stressing the word modesty in a fun way.

“Ha ha ha”, there was students’ combined laughter in the class.

“I might do it for someone like Miss Maggie, perhaps, if she asks me politely, that is,” Eddie winked at the other

boy, while commenting on Margaret.

“You wish. And the name is Margaret. I am going to the library, to finish my assignment, in the meantime,

you all can monkey around, till your hearts’ content. Farewell.”

Margaret left the classroom with all her pride as some boys hooted to make fun.

Elegma also headed towards the library. There is little time left before the next class, so she wanted to

borrow some books for her assignment.

She wanted to take Leah with her, but she was busy talking with the group of students.

They were discussing the assignment as well. So Elegma left by alone.

She didn’t forget the scene from the stairs earlier. She clearly heard someone, and saw a vague image of

a feather, just like a peacock. Something was telling her that it could be another character from her dreams

that materialised in the physical world.

While her brain was captured by scattered thoughts, she pulled the library’s glass door open.

There was silence, and a book scent which spread inside the library.

The books were arranged according to the subjects.

The Physics section was enormous, showcasing books as well as final year projects from the previous students.

Soon Elegma found out the books related to the quantum physics.

One was titled as the Golden Mean in Quantum Mechanics.

Elegma took three books, which she thought could help her in the assignment.

The library wall clock was telling her that there are still fifteen minutes left for the next class to begin.

She decided to sit down and have a look at the books she wanted to borrow.

“Hmm, let’s look at this one first, the divine beauty of mathematics, nice spiral image, must be drawn with

the golden ratio,” Elegma thought aloud.

There was a snail shell like image at the title of the book. She flipped pages to see the table of contents.

“Amazing! How accurately they measured the spiral in a three- dimensional drawing.

No wonder why it is so mesmerising to see such images.”

“Charming, isn’t it,” somebody whispered in her ears.

She looked around shockingly, but didn’t see anyone.

It’s the second time she heard this sentence. First at the stairs when Leah was introducing her to Eric,

and second, just a moment ago.

“Something is definitely wrong.”

“Never mind, I should concentrate on my assignment.”

Again, she tried to concentrate on the book she was holding, when the spiral image turned colourful.

Elegma rubbed her eyes and looked again.

“What’s this? These colours are just like the colours of a peacock feather.”

The image spread, and all she could see was the most beautiful bird that ever existed.

“So much more than a peacock,” Elegma exclaimed.

In front of her, was a bird.

It’s feathers, resembled the peacock’s, but peacock has round circle, with a design at the center.

This one had a spiral like design, which was changing colours every other second.

“Forgot about me little girl, I am with you, since the day you were born,” the bird spoke in the most

euphonious voice. The voice could beat the most melodious singers.

“Desira, I know you. What are you doing here?”, Elegma replied in discomfort.

“Well, well, well, is that a way to treat a guest? You have become disrespectful.”

Desira was moving around like a fashion diva. Unlike peacock, she had beautiful legs, just like a secretary bird.

“I am just curious, why all of a sudden, the likes of you are popping in front of me.

Did I do anything wrong?” Elegma tried to keep her voice low to avoid disturbance in the library.

Luckily no one was there at the Physics section at the time.

“My dear, nothing is wrong with you. It’s just that now you are able to see us, but that doesn’t mean we

weren’t there before.”

“Tell me, Elegma, Have, you not you seen us in your dreams as well?”

Desira was flicking her beautiful eye lashes.

“Can you please go away. I have to do my Physics assignment,” Elegma said hastily.

“As you wish.”

Desira vanished after spreading her wings like a peacock.

“Didn’t know she was that obedient,” Elegma said surprised.

“Let me annotate the text on my slides printout.

These books will definitely help me out to complete the assignment.”

Elegma flipped her printout till she got the slide showing the Vitruvian Man.

“What if we divide, the distance between the finger tips and the elbow, by the distance between the wrist

and the elbow?”

Elegma was taking measurements to get the golden ratio.

“It cannot be happening.” Elegma was still as a stone.

“What happened dearest? You only saw, what’s in your heart.” Desira’s voice was echoing in her head.

“When I said go away. I meant it. Stop manipulating my mind.”

Elegma tried hard to keep her voice low. Her cheeks were rosy from the feeling of shame and anger.

“Elegma. What are you doing her? Our English class is about to start.”

Leah sounded panicked as she found Elegma sitting in the Physics session alone.

She had her books and notes spread all over the table.

“I have been looking all over the school for you. “Leah added.

“I am sorry Leah, I just wanted to borrow some books for the assignment,”

Elegma forgot about Desira for the time being.

“Yeah, I can see it will take all eternity to get these books issue.”

Leah pointed at some opened and closed books on the table.

“You go ahead, I will catch up with you in no time.”

Elegma quickly started to put the notes in her file.

“Not at all, I am not leaving you from now on.

First the bus incident, and now this.

You need somebody by your side today.”

Leah sensed her new friend’s anxiety.

“Okay we will go together. Here, you take my ID card, and get these books issued from the librarian.

Meanwhile I will gather my notes.”

Elegma wanted to set her notes properly.

“Fine. Be quick. Only few minutes left for the class.”

Leah left her with a reminder.

“I have to talk to my grandma, this situation is getting out of control,” thought Elegma.

“Leah. Let’s go.”

Elegma saw Leah waiting for her at the counter.

She was holding the books Elegma wanted to borrow.

“Here, these books are issued on your ID card for a week.”

Leah handed the books over to Elegma.

“Thanks Leah,” Elegma was grateful.

“By the way, do you really think you need such heavy books to complete a simple assignment?” Leah, inquired.

“Yeah, I could have searched it on the internet.

It’s just that, Physics is my passion. I wanted to dig deeper in the topic,” Elegma said.

The way Desira manipulated her mind, gave her shivers down her spine.

“I was discussing about the assignment with fellow students, one of them has an elder brother doing

Master degree in Physics, he could really help us”, Leah seemed concerned.

“Yeah I saw you with them”, Elegma replied pushing back the disturbing thoughts.

“You could have joined us silly, “Leah prompted.

“Yes, you are right Leah! I am sorry, I wasted a lot of time in the library, and now we are late for the class,” Elegma apologised.

“It’s ok, next time I’ll take care of you myself. You can’t be left alone.

I know you are new in this school, but you have to mingle around to get the most of it. Do you understand?”, Leah explained.

English class was started. Both the girls entered after getting permission from Mrs. Barnett, their English teacher. Margaret was reciting a ballad from the book:

“Morning and evening

Maids heard the goblins cry:

“Come buy our orchard fruits,

Come buy come buy…””

Elegma, and Leah settled down together on the back bench.

Margaret was reciting the poem with proper rhythm, taking care of the meters of poetry.

“Figs to fill your mouth,

Citrons from the South,

Sweet to tongue and sound to eye; Come buy, come buy.”

“We have learned about ballad meters before.

I want you to think about these stanzas and tell me, which ballad meter is used in this poem,” Mrs. Barnett said in a sharp voice.

“Please take it as an individual task. I don’t want any group discussions,” she added.

There was silence in the class.

Elegma saw her cell phone blinking. It was a call from home.

She excused from the class to go to the girls’ rest room.

“It’s unethical to leave the class just to answer my phone call, but it could be important,” she thought.

The girls’ common room was at the basement.

Elegma used stairs to go there as she always wanted to avoid the elevator.

Girls’ room was filled with students of different classes, most of them were seniors.

Elegma found an empty sofa at the corner.

She was about to dial her home number when the phone started to vibrate again.

Home was glowing at the screen as she pressed the green icon to accept the call.

“Hello”, Elegma put the phone to her ear.

“Hi! Big sister, how are you?” a young boy spoke from the other side.

“Harry. Why did you call me at this time? You know I am at school.”

Elegma didn’t expect her brother on the phone.

“Yeah, yeah I know. I was missing you,” Harry said in a sad voice.

“Harry, my little brother. I am also missing you a lot.

I will come visit you all, at the weekend, and then we will play basketball together.

What say you?”

Elegma wanted her brother to cheer up.

“Yay! “Harry, seemed happy.

“I will go and tell grandma. She will be happy to hear this.

Grandma, Grandma.”

Harry was probably running towards his grandmother’s room as Elegma heard a disturbance on the phone.

“Oh no! Grandma!”

“Harry, Hello?”

Elegma heard her brother’s scream before the call was disconnected.