<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><channel><title>Victor&apos;s Printer</title><description>No description</description><link>https://strailico.me/</link><language>en</language><item><title>Shortcut Mosaic Syntax Test</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/shortcut-mosaic-syntax-test/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/shortcut-mosaic-syntax-test/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;This draft post exercises the custom image shortcut parser with iPod captured images.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Single Image: Auto Gallery&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img ipod-01.jpeg&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!img ipod-01.jpeg
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Single Image: Width&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img ipod-02.jpeg 70%&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!img ipod-02.jpeg 70%
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Single Image: Manual Gallery&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img ipod-03.jpeg 65% @ipod-single&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!img ipod-03.jpeg 65% @ipod-single
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Single Image: Legacy Order&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img ipod-04.jpeg ipod-legacy 55&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!img ipod-04.jpeg ipod-legacy 55
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Flex: Inherited Auto Gallery&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!flex 90%
:!img ipod-05.jpeg
:!img ipod-06.jpeg
:!img ipod-07.jpeg
!:flex&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!flex 90%
:!img ipod-05.jpeg
:!img ipod-06.jpeg
:!img ipod-07.jpeg
!:flex
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Flex: Manual Gallery&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!flex 85% @ipod-flex
:!img ipod-08.jpeg
:!img ipod-09.jpeg
!:flex&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!flex 85% @ipod-flex
:!img ipod-08.jpeg
:!img ipod-09.jpeg
!:flex
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Grid: Square Cells&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!grid 3 2 1/1 90%
:!img ipod-10.jpeg
:!img ipod-11.jpeg
:!img ipod-12.jpeg
:!img ipod-13.jpeg
:!img ipod-14.jpeg
:!img ipod-15.jpeg
!:grid&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!grid 3 2 1/1 90%
:!img ipod-10.jpeg
:!img ipod-11.jpeg
:!img ipod-12.jpeg
:!img ipod-13.jpeg
:!img ipod-14.jpeg
:!img ipod-15.jpeg
!:grid
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Grid: Manual Gallery and Wide Cells&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!grid 2 2 16/9 85% @ipod-grid-wide
:!img ipod-16.jpeg
:!img ipod-17.jpeg
:!img ipod-18.jpeg
:!img ipod-19.jpeg
!:grid&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!grid 2 2 16/9 85% @ipod-grid-wide
:!img ipod-16.jpeg
:!img ipod-17.jpeg
:!img ipod-18.jpeg
:!img ipod-19.jpeg
!:grid
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Mosaic: Group Ratio&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!mosaic 90% 4/3
:!img ipod-20.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-21.jpeg
:!img ipod-22.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-23.jpeg
:!img ipod-24.jpeg
:!img ipod-25.jpeg
!:mosaic&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!mosaic 90% 4/3
:!img ipod-20.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-21.jpeg
:!img ipod-22.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-23.jpeg
:!img ipod-24.jpeg
:!img ipod-25.jpeg
!:mosaic
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Mosaic: Row Ratios&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!mosaic 90%
:/ 16/9
:!img ipod-26.jpeg
:/ 1/1
:!img ipod-27.jpeg
:!img ipod-28.jpeg
:/ 4/3
:!img ipod-29.jpeg
:!img ipod-30.jpeg
:!img ipod-31.jpeg
!:mosaic&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!mosaic 90%
:/ 16/9
:!img ipod-26.jpeg
:/ 1/1
:!img ipod-27.jpeg
:!img ipod-28.jpeg
:/ 4/3
:!img ipod-29.jpeg
:!img ipod-30.jpeg
:!img ipod-31.jpeg
!:mosaic
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;Mosaic: Manual Gallery Override&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!mosaic 75% 3/2 @ipod-mosaic-manual
:!img ipod-32.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-33.jpeg
!:mosaic&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;pre&gt;&lt;code&gt;:!mosaic 75% 3/2 @ipod-mosaic-manual
:!img ipod-32.jpeg
:/
:!img ipod-33.jpeg
!:mosaic
&lt;/code&gt;&lt;/pre&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 03/06/2026 21:21</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:21:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; To get rid of repetitive actions, I built some small Python programs with Codex to help me. Then I thought since I&apos;ve built them, why not push them to GitHub?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Here they are. Maybe that&apos;s why I can always find some small, strange but useful tools on GitHub that do some ununsual or even weird tasks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Of course there are apps that can do the same jobs but they are either too complicated for a small task or not free. One of them even asked me to watch ads before using shamelessly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0306262121-vhl1d62e-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 03/06/2026 18:22</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:22:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Painted some icons.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0306261822-wsz1353z-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 03/06/2026 15:23</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:23:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; こなかちゃん可愛いいね&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0306261523-x3d2t54h-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 03/06/2026 12:24</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:24:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; New music collected!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0306261224-yes2j597-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>I. The Conductor</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/i-the-conductor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/i-the-conductor/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THIS IS A &lt;em&gt;DRAFT&lt;/em&gt;, WHICH MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, READ &lt;a href=&quot;/about/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;ABOUT&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; PAGE BEFORE YOU READ IT.&lt;/strong&gt;
LAST EDIT: 1 June 2026&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;lt; &apos;Hello?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Someone was knocking the door behind.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The carriage shuddered.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I raised my head, staring at those dark crimson eyes in the mirror. There used to be a gleam in them, but now they looked murky and bloodshot.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Who are you?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The boy in the mirror stared at me. Smoky dark-blue T-shirt, large and over-loose; bandages wrapping around his head dyed brown by the dried blood and stained with sweat and dust; dishevelled dark hair also damp with sweat. I couldn&apos;t tell how many times we&apos;d been here in this long trip.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was you who put them in danger?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You cowa—&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I felt my legs soft and almost knelt down. My head drooped again, burying into the basin.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dizziness swept over me. I felt cold and sick, but cold sweat kept coming out from my back and yet I haven&apos;t ate anything today up to now .&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Why!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tears trickled down my cheek constantly, as if the time has become static and I just stood in front of the mirror, torturing him and crying again and again&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Hello?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Someone knocked the door again. This voice was much lower than the previous one.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;How long have I been here?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I don&apos;t know; I don&apos;t have a watch.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Are you alright? Need any help?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I tried my best to pull myself back to the reality: Whatever I must have been in the loo for long.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The knocking became louder. I washed my face quickly to make myself look better.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Say something, okay? If you&apos;re unable to response we will open the door.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I opened the door.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Phew, I thought it might be an accident. — What are you doing inside, boy?&apos; A man in uniform sighed in relief and asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was a tall and a bit strong man, with brown bearded around his round face, dark red eyes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I...nothing...&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He glanced at a sheet in his hand. On his chest clipped a badge read: S, Rayner, Conductor. &apos;12C, Carriage 15. Is that your seat, boy?&apos; he asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Seat number? I don&apos;t even remember that.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Well... I don&apos;t remember, sorry.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;There&apos;s a dark grey coat on it.&apos; He pressed his lips together and raised his eyebrows, giving me a suspicious look. &apos;You don&apos;t remember?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Maybe it is... What&apos;s wrong?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;We&apos;ve just been inspecting the tickets. May I have a look at yours?&apos; He smiled.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ti...TICKETS!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nobody told me about the ticket!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gladiolus Station had been absolutely empty who would sell tickets there!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A little boy stopped beside me and peered into the lavatory.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Excuse me, sir, would you mind—&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Oh... sorry.&apos; I stepped out into the corridor, much closer to that frightening man.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;No ticket?&apos; He smiled politely but I felt he would bite me at any time.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Well... No.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You travel along?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Yes.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was raining in torrents outside the train and raindrops hit the windows heavily like bullets while the the whole carriage suddenly became silent like a graveyard and some passengers nearby were peeping into me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Behind him there hung an announcement. Though the text were tiny, the last line was strangely easy to see.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;The United Railway reserves the right to take any necessary action against any passenger found without a valid ticket.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What the !?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What will he do?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will he throw me off the train?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will they send me into a jail?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will I —&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Then where are you from, boy?&apos; He sized me up and asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Lu... Lumen.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Lumen?&apos; The mention of Lumen intrigued him. His working look suddenly became friendly. &apos;Any identification?&apos;&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Identification?&apos; I suddenly remembered that paper. &apos;It&apos;s in my coat.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I walked to my seat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dad didn&apos;t even told me what the use of it is.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Here.&apos; I fished the crumpled paper from the coat and handed it to him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The conductor studied the paper for a while, as if wondering if the stamp was drawn.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Follow me, this way.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I hesitated for a while, then picked the coat up and followed him to the dining car. At the corner of the carriage there was a table stacked with books, files and document boxes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Take a seat, please.&apos; He sat down among those stacks and pulled a form from under a book.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You&apos;re really from Lumen?&apos; He studied my face again, then wrote something down.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Absolutely.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He passed the form to me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;How was Lumen then when you left?&apos; He asked seriously and attentively, &apos;It&apos;s said the Rowanites have entered the city, is that true?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I glanced at the title of the form.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Refugee Transfer Application&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Name... Date of Birth... State Index... Identification No.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I...I don&apos;t know.&apos; I paused, staring at the form. &apos;I didn&apos;t see them, but my dad said they have, and the government had collapsed.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You&apos;re a soldier?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;A soldier?&apos; I looked at him in doubt and suddenly realised what he meant as I glanced down at the field shirt I was wearing. &apos;No, these are my father&apos;s clothes.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But you don&apos;t look local.&apos; He smiled, looking less frightening, &apos;Not born there, then?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;My family moved there when I was seven.&apos; I signed at the bottom and passed it back to him. &apos;What&apos;s wrong?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;No... nothing... &apos; He froze for a moment, his pen still above the paper. &apos;You look like my son.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Your son? How old is he?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Sixteen.&apos; His smile faded. &apos;If he were still alive.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Sorry.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Never mind. That&apos;s not your fault.&apos; He shook his head. &apos;Where are your parents? You don&apos;t look well.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;My father is still in Gladiolus, and my mother is waiting for me in Calluna.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Your father is a Gladian soldier?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Yes.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Brave men.&apos; He nodded his head a little, &apos;There are infirmaries at the stations; go there if you need to.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Thanks.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;As for the ticket,&apos; he gathered the papers on the table and passed me a slip. &apos;You have to pay the fare within three days of arrival at your destination station.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Okay.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The conductor stood up and stuffed the papers into a cupboard behind the booth.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;May I leave now, sir?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Sure.&apos; He locked the cupboard. &apos;Or you can just stay here if you like. I&apos;ve got to go now anyway.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He straightened himself and walked through the dining car, the automatic door shut behind him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Another dizziness swept over me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It rained much more heavily. Dark clouds shadowed the cliffs opposite the lake and mist swallowed everything. The raindrops, they were not drops any more. Seen from a distance they became ribbons hanging from the heavens and waving in the storm.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A cold and dry gust of wind rushed by my neck.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whoa...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I felt something covering me and instinctively tucked it closer, but it didn&apos;t work. It had grown much colder around me as if the Dementors I read about in books were truly nearby.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I propped my hand against the seat and sat up. Something slid down my body, falling on my thigh.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A white blanket, who&apos;d got a UR emblem embroidered in one of its corner.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Another gust of wind blow rushed on my face from the direction of the door, and I could hear the clamour on the platform —&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Bye, mum! Take care!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I&apos;ve told you the meeting is scheduled next Monday, why you — &apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The train had arrived!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The carriage had emptied&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Huge signs read &lt;em&gt;CALLUNA&lt;/em&gt; hung outside the window from the arched ceiing of the station, and the&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I&apos;d got no time to think about where it&apos;d come from. I just folded it and and left it on the seat hastily, then rushed out of the door.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;lt; The Birchbrook Halt could hardly be noticed from the rural train until the it stopped beside its small platform. The benches on the platform has been drowned in the overgrown bushes and a faded sign stood next to the shelter. At one end of the platform was a small house as an entrance where there put a small machine that sold tickets. Some snow remained on the platform, glittering in the glow of the setting sun.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So cold in Calluna, and away from the city Birchbrook was even freezing. The coat dad gave me was no use at all in the roaring gusts of Calluna that cut my face and my neck at will and blows on my dizzy head.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You might get hypothermia if you did.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Walking down the slope where the halt sat, vast fields gilded in the evening glow stretched out in front of me. Right middle in the valley a river flows through which reflected the sun falling on the edge of the mountains.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some kids were playing football in a vacant lot beside the road, and suddenly the balls flew to my direction and stuck in the bushes behind me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;remember to describe how his felt worse as he became relaxed gradually on his way to Birchbrook — as the threat of death was not so strong as he felt in Gladiolus.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I glanced at them, then as if something in my memory started to work I bowed and picked it up without hesitate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Hey! Mister!&apos; A boy with emerald eyes rushed to my front. &apos;Thanks!&apos; He took the ball from my hands happily.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Other kids ran up behind him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;try describe their looking and age&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;That&apos;s fine.&apos; I managed to make a smile.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Are you a soldier?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 28/05/2026 15:39</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 07:39:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Bloody ironic. It has been one month since that day, a turning point.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 2805261539-sni3mzbu-1.png 50&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 26/05/2026 20:48</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 12:48:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; 我也想体面啊我他妈又怎么能体面我也想摆出一副身残志坚的模样装作若无其事地该吃吃该睡睡不和任何人哭诉但我只是区又不是蠢睡觉眼睛闭上就是那天在白云顶拍下的照片下山意气风发的模样琅岐回来的暮光沙滩上的合影三叠井的田野长乐的工业园区道庆洲桥的车水马龙南台的夕阳跟死前的走马灯没差过去的28天跟断片一样好像我只要睁开眼我还在车座上前面拐个弯就是十八景的休息站而我会一路溜坡到底穿过鼓山的人群汇入余晖中的车流中为什么骑车路上的每一帧都能截图般刻骨铭心为什么我会记得二环交叉入口的打量我的小孩哥为什么我会记得我那天午饭吃的什么明明过去了一个月为什么我什么都忘不掉我真的活过那个下午了吗还是说我其实已经翻车落到悬崖下了现状只是我在ICU里半昏迷中安慰自己编织的幻境呢日日夜夜眼泪落了又擦擦了又落乱抹一脸还会粘住眼睑音乐库里翻出来每一首都能绑定一个画面越听越哭翻来覆去查保守治疗成功可能性找手术利弊自体韧带会削弱肌肉力量人工韧带又有老化翻修风险谁又能保证接下来五十年那塑料条不会冷不丁找个我缺钱的日子开口向我再要三万外加一个月的瘫痪不起但是我带戴护具前耽误了三周拖着失去支撑的膝盖上蹿下跳肆意弯曲以为不痛就没事了不敢相信是大毛病不敢去医院怕要花钱屁都查不出不敢一直找导员怕被当麻烦精一拖再拖花了一周当个懂事的乖孩子妈了个逼的一把年纪了装什么通情达理现在看到当时记录的日志汗流浃背了没有胜算低叫赌没有胜算是骗自己错过了关键恢复期带护具到底是赌还是骗自己呢拼命安慰说保守治疗就好了妈的再过两个月捅破窗户纸到时候做手术又能骗过谁呢钱该掏还是掏白瞎前四个月在医院来来回回又是MRI又是排熟人插队号医生问半天也是极其敷衍爱答不理那医生真算熟人吗排到号之前那位家里朋友和医生连微信都没加过后抽屉也就随便摸摸说I到II度协和那边说III度一共就三个等级三位医生硬是穷举了个遍应力片也说不用拍我真不想做无谓的挣扎浪费三个月等死还是说我不该查太多资料知道太多反而不好但是我又怎么坐得住不多看看资料我也想回去骑协这么多人又有几个人能等到我回来的那一天明年又会来一批新的后年又会再来一批等老登们走光了我就算能骑又有什么用呢小登们面面相觑这谁啊不认识是传说中那个骑个瓜不瓜公路不公路的破车菜的一批下鼓山把自己腿摔断的那个老登吗真是闻名不如见面见面不如闻名哪凉快哪呆着去吧抱着嘎吱作响的膝盖在后面喊着跟无能的丈夫一样喊着まてください保守治疗的路希望渺茫而手术怎么选都是死路一条保一保当下的体面藏住未来的狼狈蹲家里什么都不想干蜡笔小新一集又一集地看呆在家里像个啃老族vscodeblenderarcadeword关了开开了关不知道的还以为是皇帝翻牌子晚上哭了睡睡了哭一点躺到三点饿了不敢吃怕长膘高蛋白又不敢不吃怕辛辛苦苦大半年攒下来捉襟见肘的肌肉量前功尽弃到时候堪比蜘蛛看着瘦肚子大像小新奶奶奶子一样松松垮垮沙袋般飞来飞去饭后体重居然比之前空腹还轻这才几天以后康复期怎么办网上病友案例花了整整一年半这一年半我又该怎么办以后又该怎么办我高数还一点没读期中考33这鬼样不如重修算了我地信实验课作业还没交但是我真的什么都还不想动麻绳专挑细处断偏偏我大学的一切动力和大部分朋友都寄托在一个摇摇欲坠的爱好上如今落得个祥林嫂一样的处境逢人张口骑车闭口腿伤自己听了都嫌烦在家跟一摊稀屎粘在床上有劲无处使和撞棉花自杀一样奇异搞笑写完这条继续哭看天先亮还是我先哭睡着&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>From iPod to Navidrome</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/from-ipod-to-navidrome/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/from-ipod-to-navidrome/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THIS IS A &lt;em&gt;DRAFT&lt;/em&gt;, WHICH MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I&apos;ve just deployed my own Navidrome music library, and got rid of the restrictions from Apple Music. A big step forward on my way pursuing a perfect music library.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was about eleven when I began to realise that I should have &apos;my own music library&apos; for the first time, while I didn&apos;t know what to listen then. It was at the dawn before the short-video era. Like most of the people at that time I bagan to know about some pop songs and electronic music via the short videos.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, I didn&apos;t really understand what kind of music could be considered &apos;excellent&apos;. My only standard was &apos;fun&apos;. Songs like &apos;학교를 안갔어！&apos; by 량현량하, &apos;无敌&apos; by 邓超, &apos;海草舞&apos; by 萧全, or something like that, were more likely to catch my eyes (Oh shit why did I like them at that time &amp;lt;°O°&amp;gt;). They all sounds silly to me now but also catchy back then, I have to admit.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thank goodness they were not all I listened to. When I was younger I listened to C-pop songs introduced by my parents, such as &apos;后来&apos; by 刘若英 (I still love it today.), but I didn&apos;t know too many C-pop songs at that age and I thought my taste must be &lt;em&gt;different&lt;/em&gt; from my parents, so purposely I looked for English songs rather than Chinese ones. I even didn&apos;t know about 陶喆 until I went to the senior high school.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And here it came: &apos;Move your body&apos; by Sia and remixed by Alan Walker. I don&apos;t remember how I found it, but I didn&apos;t care that anyway: I did like it and played it on my father&apos;s car stereo everyday, which almost drove them mad.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Speaking of Alan Walker, we people living in a small county weren&apos;t really sensitive to a new trend and I&apos;d never heard of Alan Walker before until that night when I hear &apos;Faded&apos; loudly played in a bar opposite to the building where my Uncle&apos;s apartment was. I remembered its melody but unfortunately I didn&apos;t have anything to record and search for it. The bar always played it at midnight and I could&apos;t even wake my uncle and my aunt to borrow their phones to do so.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The turning point was a housewarming banquet. The boy from that family knew me and asked me to go upstairs when the grown-ups were still having the feast in the garden downstairs. He told me he found a &apos;really sweet song&apos;. When he pressed the play button on the TV remoye I felt like almost crying.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was just &lt;em&gt;Faded&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It felt like I got a gift which I&apos;d be longing for years. I screamed and told him that how I looked for it painstakingly those days.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Besides those pop songs I also listened to the soundtracks from some cartoon films, like &apos;Telling the World&apos; by Taio Cruz from &lt;em&gt;Rio&lt;/em&gt; and &apos;Good to be alive&apos; by Meghan Trainor from Snoopy: The Peanuts Movie. I created a playlist in the music app in my mother&apos;s streaming account and added all of them into it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;When I was 11, a small thing that made a great difference came to my life. It was an iPod shuffle, given by Aunt Anne, which had ever been a gift she got from her ex when she was a university student.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I&apos;d ever found a MP3 player in my grandmother&apos;s drawner where there were all kinds of old stuff. It was two fingers long and one thumb wide, in a shape of American football, with a mono and rough screen whose pixel was giant. It has a dark red plastic casing and a gray front panel, and the backlight was blue. Even though it looked cheep but for me it was like a treasure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;My precious~&lt;/em&gt; (*Gollum Voice*)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I didn&apos;t tell anybody about that old thing. But soon it was found by Aunt Anne, and she told me it used to belong to my another uncle who&apos;d passed away and it was a keepsack to my grandmother.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Unwillingly I returned that little thing back to her. Perhaps it was to make up for it she gave me the iPod.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was a pink one, tiny but elegant. Looking closely the reflection on the its brushed metal casing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Damn, how could it be so ... &lt;em&gt;sexy&lt;/em&gt;!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was a great shock to me&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 19/05/2026 16:14</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 08:14:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I don&apos;t even dare to look at the photos I took back when I was still able to ride my bike.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Regrets&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, like bayonets through my chest.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; To get rid of repetitive actions, I built some small Python programs with Codex to help me. Then I thought since I&apos;ve built them, why not push them to GitHub?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Here they are. Maybe that&apos;s why I can always find some small, strange but useful tools on GitHub that do some ununsual or even weird tasks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Of course there are apps that can do the same jobs but they are either too complicated for a small task or not free. One of them even asked me to watch ads before using shamelessly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img github_profile.png 030626 75
:!date 03062026&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Painted some icons.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img neco_icons.png 030626 75
:!date 03062026&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; こなかちゃん可愛いいね&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img konaka_wallpaper_sunrise.png 030626 75
:!date 03062026&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; New music collected!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img feishin_new_030626.png 030626 75
:!date 03062026&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 17/05/2026 21:33</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 13:33:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; My friends say it looks pretty cool, like an exoskeleton.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; To be honest I’m not exactly optimistic at the moment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 1705262133-qy2a78xc-1.png 50&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 17/05/2026 18:34</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 10:34:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Finally get you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Only when you get some things for free do they become keepsakes.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!flex 75
:!img 1705261834-bd44cdbz-1.png
:!img 1705261834-bd44cdbz-2.png
!:flex&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 15/05/2026 21:07</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 13:07:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I&apos;ve decline the sugery: I want to give give myself a chance.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 15/05/2026 18:08</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 10:08:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; 原来等待，真的可以成为遗憾。&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 1505261808-2nmkc7ho-1.jpg 50&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 13/05/2026 21:01</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 13:01:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Busy running around hospitals these days.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 13/05/2026 18:02</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 10:02:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; If I were a quadrillionaire —&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 1305261802-ewd016b0-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 13/05/2026 15:03</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 07:03:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; My mum and I had lunch at a hotpot buffet restaurant after seeing a doctor. She and her mother — my grandmother — love the seafood there, while I don’t like it at all. So to me, there’s no difference between it and malatang.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; It’s such a pity the old girl isn’t here today — I have never seen her so mad about a restaurant.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 1305261503-dlzzb7bx-1.jpg&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 13/05/2026 12:04</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 04:04:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Heading to the hospital to see a doctor again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Damn it, how dare McDonald make such a microscopic burger for breakfast!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I will switch to KFC once I move to the new dormitory building. — Don&apos;t let me down, okay?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 1305261204-gi60h6b6-1.jpg 50&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 12/05/2026 12:47</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 04:47:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Posterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 11/05/2026 20:46</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 12:46:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I had an MRI scan this evening and I have to wait until tomorrow afternoon to get the report.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; &amp;lt;span lang=&quot;ja&quot;&amp;gt;苦しい。&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 10/05/2026 12:41</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 04:41:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Domain purchased; GitHub branches sorted; everything is just on track.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!flex 100
:!img 1005261241-mqwy28xn-1.png
:!img 1005261241-mqwy28xn-2.png
!:flex&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 09/05/2026 21:30</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; Before a mathematics examination —&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!flex 100
:!img 0905262130-93fv3jbt-1.png
:!img 0905262130-93fv3jbt-2.png
:!img 0905262130-93fv3jbt-3.png
!:flex&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 09/05/2026 18:29</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 10:29:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; A tenth day without my bike. Fairly depressed.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 08/05/2026 21:41</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 13:41:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; What a relief to be with someone you can get along well with.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0805262141-jstr6pbn-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 08/05/2026 18:42</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 10:42:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I go to the hospital with the company of my friend, but the queue of MRI is long and I have to wait until next Monday.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 07/05/2026 12:45</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 04:45:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; My left knee get even worse after I go to the university.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 06/05/2026 10:26</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 02:26:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; What&apos;s the meaning of the existence of my legs if I CANNOT ride my bicyle any more?
— Thank goodness it has got better today.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 05/05/2026 15:23</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 07:23:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1guRiBsEnC&quot;&amp;gt;AP is a love letter to a marvellous chart.&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0505261523-6tdutqhb-1.PNG&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Recollection of Pebble</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/recollection-of-pebble/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/recollection-of-pebble/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;lt; Yeah, &amp;lt;a href=&apos;https://x.com/pebble&apos;&amp;gt;Pebble&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is so memorable to me that it deserves an individual page to record its stories along with me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It all started with &amp;lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV17s411c7cg&quot; class=&quot;video-link&quot;&amp;gt;that video&amp;lt;span class=&quot;preview&quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;img src=&quot;/images/posts/recollection-of-pebble/htx_pebble_cover_thumb.webp&quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which was short, but still made Pebble less obscure. Pebble attracted me in every aspect: its smooth animations, its button-based interaction design, its e-paper screen which never turned off; but those were not enough though. As a student of junior high school, a boy rarely got his phone due to the restriction from his mother, I was thirsty for something to entertain my boring school life. From that video I knew that Pebble was able to install apps. You know, do not try to trifle humans’ eager for games. Anything that can be programmed can be turned into a gaming device, whether it is a CASIO calculator or a Mi Band, and Pebble is also included obviously.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After a long hunt I found a merchant selling unboxed new Pebbles — Pebble Time, which had got e-paper screens that displayed up to 64 colours rather than the monochrome on Pebble and Pebble Steel. I didn’t trust Pebble Time Round then. The community-driven nature that Pebble was born with made me sceptical about the compatibility between the round screen and the apps. Also, the screen of the Round was so telescopic, and the bezel was terribly thick. It couldn’t be a perfect gaming console for me then.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In fact, the compatibility between them was just right.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If there was any other reason that Pebble attracted me, I’d say it’s unique, not just unique among those watches my peers were wearing, but among all the wearables I’d ever seen, a brand new and unique experience.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Anyway I got one finally. I got about ￥400 from my grandma at a dinner one day and no sooner had I paid than I got the money. I dared not to tell my mum how much it was them. It was a large amount of money, not just at that moment, but I&apos;ve set my mind.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I bought a black one. Do not ask why I didn’t pick the white one. Of course I preferred the white ones but nobody was selling it then.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img first_pebble_order.png Pebble 75&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A few days later I got my Pebble. According to the description, it was nearly new, and so was it, at least it looked perfect without scratches and well maintained.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Following the instructions from the merchant I installed Pebble app on my mother&apos;s Android phone. The merchant didn&apos;t tell me about Rebble — after all not all of the customers were willing to visit a strange English site and register a strange account they&apos;d never heard of before.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Of course to download apps in a browser and add them locally was a complicated progress, and could even cause errors. In the first week I downloaded almost every app I could found and tried them out. Most of them were useless actually, and some of them even had some errors: some lacked icon resources, some cannot access to Timeline, some had got their servers down. At last I just installed some essential tools — Timer, Stopwatch, Calendar, Calculator and Compass. Most of the calculators on pebble used gyroscope to detect the user&apos;s motion to move the cursor to select and press numbers, except for this one that uses the tree buttons on the right to add value, switch mode and add digits/point. That meant it could be used without looking at it and struggle with the cursor running here and there. It has got a great idea though I used a real calculator. You couldn&apos;t just sit there and pressing buttons just for a simple calculation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And then the games. Yeah, the &lt;em&gt;games&lt;/em&gt;, that was the most important part. Pebble had got hundreds of games in its app store. And just like the ordinary apps, most of them were of no fun in many reasons, maybe restricted by the e-paper display, the buttons-only control, or the tiny screen.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Certainly there were lots of excellent games, too. But the game impressed me most was not a &lt;em&gt;good&lt;/em&gt; game in my judgement: &lt;em&gt;Pixel Miner&lt;/em&gt;. I couldn&apos;t understand why such a boring game could be one of the top 10 games in the store: You player launched the game and the little miner began to dig and your pixel amount increased.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yeah that was &lt;em&gt;all&lt;/em&gt; you need to do. Then you could leave it in the background and come back later. The miner might found some treasures like diamonds or old boots and you could sell them in the shop — to hire more miners and buy fancier facilities and ... dig faster. And no more than two weeks everything in the shop would be sold out and the whole application would become a dull animation player.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Who on earth would enjoy that? Comparing to the &lt;em&gt;Tetris&lt;/em&gt; and 2048 it felt less like a true game.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Writing these down, I glance at the Pebble on my wrist and suddenly realise that in fact few people will play games on such a device seriously. Yeah creative geeks do turn anything into a gaming device, but that doesn&apos;t mean that their games can break through the barriers brought by the physical restrictions from the device itself. Pebble is simply a watch with a &apos;light-weighted&apos; belief and maybe none of its inventors had ever considered about its gaming function seriously, too. They might expected there would be games but didn&apos;t think about it too much. I&apos;m not a kids lacking entertainment any longer. To me as an adult, a university student with all kinds of devices I need, a Timeline allows me to visit viewing the upcoming events with only a single click is much more appealing than a true fun game on my watch. Kids are never the customers as it is always the parents who pay for all those gadgets their kids want.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Soon I deleted it. There were some other games anyway. &lt;em&gt;Fitcat&lt;/em&gt;, a virtual petting game that tracks your steps in the background and converts your step statistics into coins to feed a cat and buy new street scenes. The kitty even walks on the streets in its own world when you are walking; &lt;em&gt;Pebblemon&lt;/em&gt;, a fanmade Pokémon game, where you can explore and collect up to 251 Pokémon. I was totally amazed by such a mini but vivid pixel world created by its genius developer, and the changelog shows that it was initially released in 2021 even if it had been nearly years since Pebble was sold to Fitbit. After a couple of necessary updates the developer seemed to give up Pebble but four years later in 2025 when Eric had just announced the revival of Pebble new updates emerged again. &lt;em&gt;Tiny Bird&lt;/em&gt;, a Pebble version of &lt;em&gt;Flappy Bird&lt;/em&gt; but is much harder since the gaps between the two sewers are narrower than than usual so I hardly played it. What fascinated me most was &lt;em&gt;Flood&lt;/em&gt;, start from the up-left corner and select the right colour to fill and connect the other pixels with same colour and finally &lt;em&gt;flood&lt;/em&gt; the how board in 26 steps at most, simple but fun.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Has it entertained my school life? Well, maybe not really since I don&apos;t quite remember.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;One third of our county was on the slope of a hill to the north, and our school was on the slope too, among old houses and alleys. Everyday after school we a gang of four boys went down along the alley together, chattering and even buying some snacks — or what grownups called ‘junk food’ — and our parents would wait for us on its end. There was game on my Pebble, &lt;em&gt;Ledge Climber&lt;/em&gt;, which allowed you tilt your watch and make the ball on the screen move left and right and then bounce and jump to a higher pedal when you hit one. One of us, the boy whose seat was in front of me, was deep addicted since he found it on my Pebble and asked often if I could lend it to him to play those days. Of course I won’t decline that. But I was worried if his grade dropped since he was a extraordinary student in all subjects, a genius. Oh my, would this game ruin him? What if his grades dropped? Would I be blamed? Thank goodness he didn’t, obviously. Soon his interest was worn off. It was just a mini game after all.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gaming could be my initial&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Prol. Into the Eternity</title><link>https://strailico.me/posts/prol-into-the-eternity/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/posts/prol-into-the-eternity/</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THIS IS A &lt;em&gt;DRAFT&lt;/em&gt;, THIS IS A &lt;em&gt;DRAFT&lt;/em&gt;, WHICH MAY BE REVISED FROM TIME TO TIME, READ &lt;a href=&quot;/about/&quot;&gt;&lt;em&gt;ABOUT&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; PAGE BEFORE YOU READ IT.&lt;/strong&gt;
LAST EDIT: 27 MAY 2026&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Thank fuck I finally shat this damned prologue out AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I know the grammar is a miserable pile of shite to a native English speaker and the spelling is unchecked and you know what I didn&apos;t even write the last few lines but damn it who fucking CARES this bastard has taken me nearly one year and bloody hell it is finally &lt;strong&gt;OUT&lt;/strong&gt;! &lt;strong&gt;FINALLY—SHAT—OUT&lt;/strong&gt;!!! And know I can SHIT the next chapter OUT AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;lt; Bloody dark.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was lying on my stomach, yet I was possessed by a splitting headache, feeling like somewhere inside my skull was throbbing painfully.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It took me a great while to get used to the lack of light. I pushed myself up on my hands, eager to see where I ---&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;BANG!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A rock with a slight sharp edge hit my head.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A moan was squeezed out from my throat, and I gasped like a leaky ballon as a pain shot through my head at that moment then a sudden dizziness swept over me. I dropped my head and clutched it reflexively, feeling like my skull smashed. The headache intensified, as if the spot was gradually swelling up as it throbbed and squeezing my brain and I felt my skull would crack at any time.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Something warm oozed under my fingers. It seems on my head there had been a wound before and now the rock had torn it open again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Damn it...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I found my ankles were stuck among the rocks when trying to creep forward.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I buried my head between the rails, waiting for the pain and the dizziness to pass so that my mind might clear, or at least I wouldn&apos;t be so insane.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I sank into thought, thinking about my current plight in spite of the headache.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;No, no, it doesn&apos;t matter now, forget it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I strained to recall what had happened before I fainted, but except for the vague impression of that shadowy tunnel I remembered nothing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Debris?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Debris.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yeah, debris, but, what kind?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I don&apos;t know.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will there be someone to save me?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Well, even having a rescue team nearby will not help, okay?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Also, I don&apos;t even have any idea about this ruin.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Have a shout? Maybe someone will hear you?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Never mind, save your strength first.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Oh, stop kidding, as if you&apos;ve got enough to survive until somebody finds you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As for the lack of strength, to be frank, I began to feel drowsy, since the headache was severe enough to create an illusion of sleepiness, as though only the slumber could relieve me from the misery.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I yawned, mouth wide open.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;That wasn&apos;t a good sign...My head had just been injured and I wasn&apos;t even sure how serious it might be...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I still fell into a nap finally, eyes flattening against my right arm, became semi-conscious once again and didn&apos;t wake until a kind of light sounds --- clamour of people, footsteps, and the scrape of gravel moves --- reached my ears through the firm barrier of fragments of stones surrounding me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I lifted my eyes slowly from my arms&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Light, a ray of light, with a vibration of rubble slipping, shot through the dusty air ahead of me, so &lt;em&gt;blinding&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Even though I knew I couldn&apos;t move any, I stretched out my hand forward, hands spreading out, attempting to seize it.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Does that still hurt, dear?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was reclining against the light cyan fence, arms crossed, head hanging, staring at the ground and waiting for someone when I heard someone asked, in a low but soft voice.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Who am I waiting for?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I raised my eyes. A little girl with a red ponytail had just skipped by me, after her followed a man, lean and tall, face covered with thin, fluffy, brown moustache.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What drew me attention was the blood-and-mud-stained shirt he was wearing, especially the bloodstain blooming near his chest.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But you said it won&apos;t hurt any longer, dad, didn&apos;t you?&apos; She turned to that moustached man and said, walking on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was a bridge, a vast bridge floating in the air of an endless sewer, brightly lit, nearly ten floors high from its ceiling, blinding radiance pouring in from its two ends and blurred the faraway scenes, resembling those underground labyrinth where alligators were crawling. Behind the fence under my elbow, between the edge of the floating bridge and the wall several meters away was abyss. Sticking my head out, what could be seen was total void: dark and bottomless.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Apparently, this girl and her father shared the same space with me: actually, thousands of people were just passing by me, walking from my right to my left, then gradually disappeared somewhere in the distance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A dark streak of blood peeped through the short, wafting hair in front of her brow.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Oh, yes,&apos; the man raised his eyebrows, pressed his lips and managed to make a smile; the skin on his forehead creased slightly, &apos;but dad just want to check again if his baby Lily is still suffering.&apos; The smile on his red face looked a bit reluctant for him at present.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He glanced at her daughter&apos;s brow, then lowered his head, blinking and nodding his head thoughtfully.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Well, I&apos;m fine,&apos; she didn&apos;t notice her father&apos;s expression, &apos;then how about you, dad?&apos;&lt;br /&gt;
&apos;Not bad.&apos; He answered briefly, a relieved smile floated onto his face.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;That&apos;s all right.&apos; Hearing that apparently gave the little girl a good relief. She turned back and they two kept walking forward.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Though I hadn&apos;t got a kind of ability to look through anyone&apos;s clothes but from those patches of blood I could still guess how it might look like under that shirt.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Will you always stay with me, dad?&apos; After a few seconds she slowed her steps, muttered to ask and turned her head back again, as if something had just struck her. &apos;I&apos;m not doubting you, dad. I&apos;m just...a bit...well...a bit afraid.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Certainly I will.&apos; The man smiled, then crouched down by her side and gently tucked her head into his arms. &apos;Dad will always be with you, honey, from now on, and, for ever.&apos; He said in a soft but firm tone, stressed the last few words.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her magenta eyes sparkled and scanned over his shoulder. &apos;Then, where are we going?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;--- ETERNITY.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Eter-nity?&apos; She moved her stare back on her father&apos;s face.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Yeah, eternity, where time and space lose all their meanings.&apos; He replied.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;What is that supposed to mean?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Nothing--- I made it up.&apos; He smiled archly. &apos;I don&apos;t know, either, to be honest.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Will we see mum there?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Perhaps?&apos; He rose his eyebrows: he&apos;d never came up with such an idea, though it sounded a little childish for him as an adult, but what his daughter fantasised wasn&apos;t exactly what he truly wished? &apos;It can&apos;t be better to see her somewhere far away, just like you say?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I hope so.&apos; She pursed her lips, hands gripping her skirt.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Then, let&apos;s just keep going --- you wanna ride on dad&apos;s back, honey, if you do feel tired?&apos; The father suggested and turned back, ready for her daughter to climb on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Great!&apos; The frustration on her face just now was entirely swept away. Like all the kids in the world, riding on dad&apos;s shoulders was always something she would be excited with. She beamed, climbed onto her dad&apos;s shoulders and shouted like a captain ready for sailing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her laughter suddenly reminded me of those days when I spent with my grandpa in the Camellian countryside when I was still a little boy with snot running out of my nose all the time---&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Here we GO!!!!!&apos; Their fading laughter woke me from my recollection. I raised my head, staring at those figures merged into the blinding radiance far away along with the girl&apos;s shouts of joy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;--- &apos;Greg!?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A kind of astonished voice pulled my eyes to another direction, where the girl and her father came. Now there stood another girl, the same age as me, white dress with washy light purple patterns draping down and slowly waving along with her dark hair in a faint draught.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her lilac gaze bore into me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;--- &apos;Iris!?&apos; I shouted with surprise.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thank goodness you&apos;re fine.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, instead of the joy as mine, her eyes were filled with shock.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Hey, wait, wait!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She dashed up to and seized me by my arm rudely like a crab then pulled me to a corner behind a huge column.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;What are you doing here!?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She demanded like a sister scolding her little brother, while I didn&apos;t get it, stunned like a puppet for her furious reaction.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Below those cold lilac eyes her hands grabbing my wrists were trembling lightly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Looking for you, of course.&apos; I shrugged, raising my eyebrows, &apos;Man! You panicked me, what the hell you&apos;re doing here? I&apos;ve been searching for you for ages under the ruin after I woke!&apos; I glanced at the crowd, &apos;And who are they? Where are we? Why do you have to be so frightened?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;That&apos;s not your business, and you shouldn&apos;t be here either.&apos; She interrupted.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Hey, why?&apos; Her words turned my head back, &apos;That&apos;s not your style, Iris. We&apos;ve been living together for years and except for the loo there&apos;s nowhere you can stay where I &lt;em&gt;can&apos;t&lt;/em&gt;.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I&apos;m not joking!&apos; She cut in and slapped my shoulder heavily.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Anyway I can&apos;t leave you alone here.&apos; I took her hand and scanned around, trying to figure out from where we could slip out, &apos;Your mum&apos;s waiting; everybody is waiting for us! And now they must be worried sick! Also---&apos; I felt my throat twitched, &apos;I promised, to take your mother and you to leave Gladiolus.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;No, she doesn&apos;t have to,&apos; Iris didn&apos;t go with me, rooted and muttered, voice falling lukewarm unexpectedly, &apos;mum doesn&apos;t have to get worried any more.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Wait...&apos; I froze, thousands of hunches flashed through my mind, &apos;Wh...what do you mean?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Once again I glanced at the streaming crowd, which I instinctively considered to be an answer to all my current confusion.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;None of them were complete --- physically. Everyone was wounded: kids covered in blood, soldiers with empty sleeves hanging, mothers with dents on their skulls, and some pale old people, whose veins didn&apos;t seem to have blood flowing in them for a long time. Nobody looked alive, but they dramatically alive, as if puppets walked down the stages on their own. They talked, laughed, and some of the kids whose eyes were sticking out were chasing each other.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Iris?&apos; I called her cautiously. Now my hunches upon Ms Luminescence had been switched to her daughter, and I was feared, feared that those illogical thoughts would be true.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Yes?&apos; I glimpsed those lilac eyes flicked to this direction, but she didn&apos;t turn her head. Like me, she was just staring at the crowd streaming by. Her voice trembled more heavily than before.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Tell me this is a dream, would you?&apos; I turned to her, whom I could only see the side of her face now, await for her reply.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I...I don&apos;t know... Greg.&apos; A teardrop slid along her cheek, outlined a shining curve on the edge of her face. &lt;em&gt;&apos;Mum&apos;s... dead.&apos;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was suddenly aware that I&apos;d never seen her cry before, never indeed. She used to be the kind of girl who wouldn&apos;t stop her fists before she&apos;d seen blood streaming out from the noses of those bullies on her own, to make their blood her tears.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;But he started the fight, mum... Okay... Fine... Maybe I shall hit him more lightly next time? ...&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Then, Iris,&apos; I asked, tried to focus on the reality rather than those haunting memories, &apos;Who are you waiting for... For Ms Luminescence?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Obviously.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;May I---&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;No.&apos; She interrupted me. She truly understood me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Why---&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I&apos;ve told you shouldn&apos;t be here.&apos; She emphasised again, in a cold and flat voice, &apos;They need you, don&apos;t they? Your parents, or someone who may met you in the future, you clearly know what you mean to others as an individual.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Hi, Greg! You come for Iris? Sure, she is in her room.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;I&apos;m serious, Iris! Justice is always right but violence for justice doesn&apos;t always work. And Greg needs to be independent.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;I know what you mean, but I do not hope to get such a call with something like &apos;your daughter wounded my son&apos; any more. Also, your help might make Greg embarrassed, he&apos;s a boy anyway.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Memories flooded. Maybe Iris was talking about something heavy but I couldn&apos;t follow her pace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Your mother isn&apos;t home this afternoon, isn&apos;t it? Kathy and I have got a thing, so I&apos;m not home, either. No, Iris you cannot come, that&apos;s women&apos;s business... You haven&apos;t been a woman yet. Be a good girl and stay with Greg, okay? ... Just feel at home, Greg. Come on, no need to be so careful, Iris won&apos;t bite! Bye, kids!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I finally confirmed her resistance to my stay.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;It looks we bound to be separated... Since that, which way should I take?&apos; I sighed, as heavily as I could deliberately to show my protest and disappointment without words.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Simply towards where they are coming from.&apos; Her voice still sounded grave. She never changed; therefore I wouldn&apos;t make any other useless attempts to persuade her.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I supposed you to know nothing, but you didn&apos;t. Since you know the way out why you have to stay?&apos; ahead of her, facing the light, I tilted my head and looked back before I took a first step, asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You know the reason, Greg. You always know, everything, but you always choose to be dull.&apos; She ended her talk, with a conclusion which seemed also to be a reply to my question, &apos;I hope you know that, Greg, I don&apos;t mean to drive you away&apos;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;She might be right.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My foot touched the ground. She understood me well, too well to make me easy sometimes, at present for instance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Farewell.&apos;/&apos;Fare-well.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her voice sounded grim, without emotion still, but the unsteady, feigning peaceful tones could not be so easily hidden, though it was she hardened her heart to drove me back.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nevertheless, it came to me that this might be our last met after a short walk, as I became aware of that the distance between us now had been able to dissolve us in the haze and the light.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I couldn&apos;t help but turned my head back. Her figure had already become hazy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But on the indistinct face of that image something was shimmering, slowly moving downwards. &apos;I shall be waiting for you, Greg.&apos; I heard her voice, unbelievably clear, of which the warmth of her returned.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Raindrops fell upon the eaves and dripped down along its edges steadily like strands of broken necklaces, ringing like wind chimes in the wandering breeze when they touched the surface of the puddles below and making wavelets spread out large.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I dragged my stiff left leg and moved outside from my sickbed sluggishly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The side of my left knee had been hit before and the muscle at the back would hurt sharply like a jolt through my leg as the knee was bent. My head was bandaged&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I leant against the wall, and my backside sliding slowly down until it touched the stair. I sat down.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was drizzling. Dark clouds rolled like tides overhead. My breath hung and lifted in the moist air.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It should&apos;ve been fairly relaxed to stay at home in such a rainy day, to help mum cook, to listen to the radios, or simply lied on my bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. If she was free, we might go and find somewhere outside to spend a whole afternoon, maybe a bookshop or a tuneshop, to get some books or put some music onto our sonets.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My father didn&apos;t appear on my way out, neither outside the shelter. I expected to meet him here. A medic had just told me that it was my father and his mates that rescued me from the debris.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On an empty plot a few steps away from me, medics in dark blue were carrying stretchers out of a van that had just pulled up.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Here it is the plaza in front of the Gladiolus Railway Station.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Theoretically, the ownership of any railway stations belonged to the United Railway rather than Gladiolus, so here we were safe for now.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The city had emptied, so had the station. The branches in the plaza swayed in the gust and the rain as usual.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The soldiers found an empty shop and turned it into this small field hospital where injured civilians could stay until their condition stabilised.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The soldiers were just talking when walked by me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Is he the final one?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Not yet, there are still ten more.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But we&apos;re running out of space!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Then tell Eric---I&apos;m not in charge!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Their voice faded away as they walked to the van for another stretcher. Then there came a smell of cigarettes from the van.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Why are you still here?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Someone sat down next to me. It was a man in dark blue with shaved beard around his face and short, pale blonde hair, not high but strong.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Dad?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A puff of smoke lifted.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;How you feel now?&apos; He put off his gloves and stroked my injured shoulder. &apos;Nobody told you to take a train to leave here?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His tone was flat, as if his son had just come back from a small trip.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;My left leg still hurts when I bent my knee.&apos; I coughed and said, &apos;No one told me about that...dad you promised to give up smoking...and where&apos;s Iris?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Something in his eyes flickered.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Still...not found yet.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My heart sank. I felt the beats in my chest became slow but heavy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But we were buried together!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;It wasn&apos;t just you two who were buried there.&apos; He took another drag, smoke curling into the air. &apos;And listen, rescuing civilians is just one part of our primary job; on the front line we are still trying to hold them back so the rest can get out!&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;...&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The last ember in my heart died out. Helplessness, disillusionment and the rage towards myself, and my father, took over me. My head hung, my teeth gritted, and my fist clenched. I even felt like yanking him up by his collar and barking at him why they were not able to save even a girl.&lt;br /&gt;
You know what we mean to each other, don&apos;t you!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You know what she means to her single mother, don&apos;t you!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And you know she is the only daughter of your wife&apos;s best friend, don&apos;t you!?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But I throat only twitched and swallowed all of the words back. The raising tides fell.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was me who suggested taking a shortcut, which crossed the combat zone.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I will let you know once we found her.&apos; He paused for a few seconds, said, &apos;We&apos;re still trying our best---Have you seen Carolina?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Well...No.&apos; I almost forgot her.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Mum&apos;s dead.&lt;/em&gt; I heard a voice in my head.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her mum&apos;s &lt;em&gt;dead&lt;/em&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;What did Iris say about her?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Nothing at all. She was in a great hurry then and grabbed my hand once she saw me and gave no time to explain anything.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;...&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Now it was my father who fell silent.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;What&apos;s wrong?&apos; I brushed the bandage in front of my eyes aside, asked, hoping things could go against my memory.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You saw her?&apos;&lt;br /&gt;
&apos;To some extent...Yes...&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He closed his eyes, burying his rough face in his hands.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;If you didn&apos;t see her, then &lt;em&gt;that&lt;/em&gt; must be her.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;&lt;em&gt;That ...&lt;/em&gt;&apos; I checked again and prayed that there should be something wrong with my ears. &apos;Who is &lt;em&gt;that&lt;/em&gt;?&apos; I asked.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;My mates saw a body after a fight, and they asked me to check it out.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He put his hands down and looked up, as if someone was looking at him overhead, fingers crossed under his jaw.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You know I didn&apos;t come back home for months since the crisis, and I couldn&apos;t even remember your face or Katharine&apos;s in the Territorial Defence if there weren&apos;t your photos. I didn&apos;t dare to say if she was just Carolina.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Have you got a photo?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I&apos;m just planning to send it to Camellia to ask about Katharine.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Give me have a­---&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;---Never.&apos; He refused coldly.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Why?&apos; I frowned. &apos;I think I have the right to check it out too.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I will post the photo to Camellia after it&apos;s been processed.&apos; He ignored me and continued.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Is it too bloody for your baby son?&apos; I snapped, &apos;I&apos;m not a kid.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He shook his head.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Alright.&apos; I finally gave up. &apos;Then how will you explain her death to mum, if that is true?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I ...&apos; he paused, &apos;I don&apos;t know.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But she must know that.&apos; I added.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I need some time...to think about it ...&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He sighed deeply.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;­---Eric!&apos; Someone shouted from the pulled van.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I&apos;ll be right there!&apos; He took a glance at his watch. &apos;The train is about to arrive; don&apos;t miss it.&apos; Dad said, &apos;Send me a telegram once you arrive home.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was an old digital watch, white band, blue and yellow bezel. At the bottom of the dial there wrote a tiny line of text.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;E---G---K.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;And then what should I do next?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;...Stay alive.&apos; He gazed at the faraway buildings for a few seconds and answered.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But...&apos; I hesitated.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But what?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I don&apos;t wanna go.&apos; I&apos;d been thinking for a while and finally I nerved myself and told him.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;You don&apos;t wanna go?&apos; His eyebrows raised.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I want to do something here, too.&apos; I said, &apos;for you, or anyone else, and I want to search for her---&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Who do you think you&apos;re, boy?&apos; The gleam in his dark eyes flickered. He rolled up his left sleeve and reveals his arm wrapped by bandages, stained dark brown with dried blood.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I was shot last week, from the side.&apos; His voice suddenly became nearly cold-blooded. &apos;If you were me, what would you do then?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I can still help in other---&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;One of our medics has just been shot this morning on his way to the hospital when carrying a stretcher.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;But what about you?&apos; I asked. &apos;Will you be back soon?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Not really.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;The government has collapsed, don&apos;t they?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Some soldiers gathered together. And we&apos;re not Gladiolus Territorial Defence any longer, we&apos;re now &lt;em&gt;the Reapers&lt;/em&gt;.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;The Reapers?&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;His ear went a bit red.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;Who came up with this name?&apos; I glanced at him, &apos;That sounds silly.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&apos;I did.&apos; He coughed, glanced back. &apos;We&apos;re still think about the name. Anyway, I can&apos;t go Camellia with you for now.&apos;&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 28/04/2026 16:01</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:01:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; I got injured when coasting down the hill on my bike and sprained a ligament in my left knee. It seemes I won&apos;t be able to ride my bike for a couple of weeks... Hope it will get better after the Labour Day holiday.&lt;/p&gt;
</content:encoded></item><item><title>Timeline: 06/04/2026 10:25</title><link>https://strailico.me/timeline/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://strailico.me/timeline/</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:25:00 GMT</pubDate><content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; It’s been a while since the last time I played the track Infinity Heaven. I suddenly feel like to cry when hearing its melody today, for no reason. Maybe I finally begin to understand the emotion behind it or I just get its magic too late.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:&amp;gt; The minijacks in this chart are so horrible.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;:!img 0604261025-6vcw6nbg-1.png&lt;/p&gt;
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