18 choice (1/2)

Vector tracing and rendering wasn't as simple and smooth as it seemed at first glance. We had to juggle around with the parameters, more than a few times, before arriving at the tablets that made sense in terms of accuracy. It was three whole weeks before we had the complete tablets and the whole story of the heavenly war.

I certainly did gain a whole lot of respect for vectors. Also grew a teeny bit of excitement toward the process. Couldn't compare with Catarina and Nisha, but wasn't disenchanted. And that kept us going, aiming for perfection. We still ended up at a juncture of disagreement.

”You still think this is a temple for the sun?” Catarina asked stubbornly.

”It couldn't be more obvious,” I answered. ”The story details the fall of the heavenly court and the heavens. Ends with a new beginning with cosmic darkness and the sun coming together. If anything, it must be a temple for the couple, in which case, it is also a temple for the sun.”

”There is a significant difference between the two.”

”Fine. I agree. There is definitely a difference. It is a temple for the sun and the darkness. Wait, that would change quite a bit. A temple representing the union of a couple from the opposite ends of the cosmos. It could be a representation of creationism.”

”Don't change it into something else now. Almost every ancient civilisation subscribed to creationism. That's not the point. The story details the heavenly war. So, the temple could actually be a mausoleum for the heavens. In which case, it means something else entirely.”

I didn't agree. But I didn't really have standing for my argument.

”I have nothing to say, but I can't agree. Mausoleums are a concept of the western civilisations that came much later. Faery was more in the central regions. From the temple design and the tablets, it has influences of the east. Or maybe it's the other way around. Either way, it cannot be a mausoleum.”

”Like you said, it could be the other way round. It could be a mausoleum. And Faery could have influenced the western civilisations.”

Catarina was very good at getting her way. I wasn't very good giving up on my point. And so, we were at a standoff.

”You're not convinced,” Catarina said.

I nodded.

Nisha finally spoke. She had been a silent witness all along.

”I guess that answers the question.”

Catarina sighed, with some disappointment. I looked between the two, confused. Nisha smiled, cleared her throat as if she had something important to say. And spoke.

”First, let me congratulate you. The both of you. The deciphering of Faery Long Arc has been registered with CURASS, as an achievement of the two of you. So, congratulations. How are we celebrating?”

”Are we celebrating?” I asked.

”Sure. Hot cocoa by the lakeside?” Catarina suggested.

”Sounds good.”

”I knew you'd like that.”

Nisha wore the disbelief now, staring at Catarina and me. The question was clear on her face, without her needing to voice it. How was the a celebration?

The answer must have been on our faces, because Nisha sighed and nodded, almost in grief. And then murmured something about some people being beyond help. She was just too mysterious. And that made her so much more adorable.

”I'll get started,” Catarina said, heading to the stove.

”What's the question,” I asked.