fandomhigh | Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts, Week 11 (Thurs/2nd Period)

The display screens at the front of the room were running a slideshow that consisted of images of fire, today, and to add to the effect Sakura had placed two small, ornate braziers one on either side of the screen, both of them flickering away.

“Today we'll be discussing the concept of fire and its role in the mystical consciousness," she said once the class had gathered. “Fire is one of the basic elements, held to be one of the classical elements of many philosophies, and as such plays a symbolic and ritual role in many cultures. Consider, for example, the concept of the eternal flame. For a few minutes, please discuss the concept of fire: what ideas and feelings does it evoke for you? What does fire represent? What are its uses, and what symbolism can be derived from them?"

She gave the class a short period of time in which to talk about the idea of fire before she continued. “The sacred fire of Vesta was a key part of ancient Roman religion. Vesta, the domestic goddess of hearth and the fire, was often personified as flame, and the sacred fire of her temple was believed to be tied directly to the fortunes of Rome itself. This isn't very surprising; in ancient times, allowing the hearth fire to go out was often a misfortune for the inhabitants of the household. If the sacred fire of Vesta was allowed to go out, it was commonly held as an omen of disaster for the city."

“An obscure text whose authenticity has yet to be determined tells of a fire that destroyed the Japanese town of Higuchi and killed 40,000 people whose souls were eaten by Lord Yodoshi," Sakura continued. “As I've said, we haven't been able to determine how much of this is fact and how much is poetic license, but it does seem to tie in, at least symbolically, to the Flame of the Ruined Country, whose name as you can probably guess comes from the fact that it is said to have destroyed an entire nation. Because it's so dangerous, I didn't get clearance to bring it to show you, but it is said to have been lit from oil made from the fat of cursed people and evil wizards, and burns eternally. It goes without saying that such a thing would be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands."

She looked at the class again. “So, for the second part of our discussion: what would you do with something like the Flame of the Ruined Country? Do you think it would be possible to use it for good?"

Once the discussion had subsided, she said, “Next week we'll be having a guest speaker; my colleague, Eiji Takaoka, will be coming to discuss the Hundred-Demons Mirror and the mythos of the demon race known in my world as the Ashu. I hope that you give him the proper respect . . . even if he doesn't appear to deserve it."

[OOC: Class Info Post is here, and OCD is up!]

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"So what you want to do is mock me and my car?"

"That's not the whole point," Sam said. "Just a bonus. I don't have a particular destination in mind, that's all."

"Okay," Dean said, thinking maybe Sammy missed the road sometimes as much as Dean did. "We've got detention with Zoe this weekend -- couldn't talk her out of it, though I did get called adorable -- so we could go Sunday if you want to just do a day trip?"

"That sounds good to me," Sam said, eying Dean curiously. "Zoe called you adorable? I thought pregnancy hormones weren't supposed to make women crazy until the 7th or 8th month?"

"Well, she hasn't called you adorable yet so I think it's safe to say she's still sane."

"Hey, I'm quite adorable, thank you very much," Sam protested.

"She's having a girl," Dean confided.

"Who...wait, she is? Zoe?" Sam asked. "Are you sure?"

"That's what she told me. Said she and Dad are going to call her Grace."

"We're going to have a sister?" Sam perked up visibly, grinning. "Oh my god, there's going to be a girl Winchester."

"Yep." Dean grinned hugely. "She's so not dating until she's 20."

"If any boy even attempts to touch her, I get the feeling he's going to have at least three people trying to shoot him. Possibly four, depending on how Zoe feels about the whole thing," Sam agreed.

Dean nodded in agreement, then looked at Sammy and observed, "We are so hypocrites."

"No, we're boys who are getting our first sister," Sam replied. "There's a big difference."

"I already can see the arguments we're going to have with her," Dean said with a fond affection.

"Like what?" Sam asked. "She's going to be so much younger...it's not like she's going to get into the same fights you and I do, I don't think."

"You're a lot younger than Dad -- that's never stopped the two of you from having some doozies of fights."

"Well yeah, but Dad's...Dad," Sam replied. "I'd like to think that Grace won't be quite so argumentative."

Folklore and Fact: Mystical Artifacts, Week 11 (Thurs/2nd Period)

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