Terminology

This page lists the terminology that is used in the story and their meanings.
== General Terminology ==
* Experiment: Someone, or something, that is hidden away from society due to their danger to the general public. They are often held captive, and generally aren't human. If any non-human is found, they are sent to the nearest scientific facility, whether forcefully or not. There, they become an 'experiment' and, as the name implies, are experimented on but also made into weapons, in a sense.
*Mission: An important assignment, generally involving taking down opponents in an open-ended battlefield.
*Operation: A type of mission that generally involves taking down opponents in an open-ended battlefield. This is the most common type of mission.
*Protocol: The procedure of taking down opponents as a way to test your skills away from the battlefield.
*Scientist: A person working either in the SSS or DC, generally those that take care of experiments and sending said experiments out for missions. Though some scientists do not work in any organization.
*Special Mission: A general type of mission that rarely, if ever, involves taking down opponents in an open-ended battlefield. These include undercover missions, infiltration missions, assassination missions, etc.
**Assassination Mission: A special mission which involves murdering someone, or a group of people, in absolute discretion.
**Extradimensional Mission: A special mission which involves traveling outside the known physical reality of the universe for whatever reason.
**Infiltration Mission: A special mission which involves entering and exiting a place without being detected, usually to receive an item or information.
**Undercover Mission: A special mission which involves investigating a particular event or place in secret.
*The SSS: A shortened version of the 'Special Sublimational Syndicate', often used by the general public.
== Figures Terminology ==
=== Modern Figures ===
* Artist "Z": An emerging artist who has garnered much attention and fame in recent years; however, their true identity remains a mystery. The similarity of their style to the works of Rembrandt has earned them the epithet "Rembrandt Jr." among connoisseurs.
* Sven Philips: A director at the Oil Painting Association and also an appraiser of oil paintings.
*Jenkins Wood: A private doctor whose clients are mostly celebrities and wealthy businessmen. In addition to general medical services, he also offers paternity testing.
*Tyson Turner: One of the founders of Heirson Health Products and also its current president.
=== Historical Figures ===
* John Milton: An English poet and intellectual best known for his epic poems Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.
* Joseph Haydn: A composer in the Classical period born in Rohrau, Austria. Haydn was a key contributor in Viennese Classicism, and his contributions have earned him the epithets "Father of Symphony" and "Father of String Quartet."
* Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn: A painter, specializing in portraits, landscape paintings, and religious paintings, is renowed for his use of light and shadows.
* Paul Cézanne: A famous French artist who used planes of color and small brushstrokes that build up to form complex fields. He is said to have formed the bridge between late 19th-century Impressionism and Cubism of the early 20th century.
* Achille-Claude Debussy: A French composer. Was one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His representative works include: Le Mer (orchestral), Clair De Lune (piano), and Paliéas et Mélisande (opera).
*Vincent van Gogh: A Dutch post-impressionist painter. His most representative works include The Starry Night, his self-portraits, and his paintings of Sunflowers.
*Theodorus "Theo" van Gogh: A Dutch art dealer and the younger brother to Vincent van Gogh.
*Lewis Carroll: A writer of the Victorian Era. His major works include "Alice's Adventure in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There." His works were popular amongst both children and adults, and have been adapted to many different media.
*Robert Lewis Stevenson: A writer of the Victorian Era. His major works include "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Treasure Island". He wrote novels with various themes.
*Charles Dickens: A writer of the Victorian Era. His novels portray the society of the time with underlying themes of social criticism and compassion for the poor. His major works include "Oliver Twist", "A Christmas Carol", and "Great Expectations".
*Louis Philippe: The king of France from 1830 to 1848. After Napoleon's resignation, he became popular among the people during monarchial restoration, and was proclaimed king after the July Revolution. However, the workers became extremely miserable during his rain as economic conditions deteriorated. As the government failed to take measures, Louis Philippe I was forced to abdicate after the outbreak of the February revolution in 1848. The style under King Luis Philippe I was known as Louis-Philippe style. During his reign, neoclassicism and romanticism contended to become the dominant style in various ideas such as literature, art, music, etc.
*Colonel Armstrong: A renowned pilot and explorer. He flew a monoplane from New York and across the ocean in 1927, becoming the first person to make a solo, nonstop transatlantic flight in history. He faced many challenges in his 33.5 hours flight, the toughest one being getting lost in the fog for a few hours. Armstrong ultimately managed to complete what was considered an impossible challenge by relying on celestial navigation and dead reckoning.
*Doctor Freeman: Doctor Freeman was a talented physician who specialized in lobotomy. He pioneered and introduced the psychiatric world to what would become psychosurgery. At that time, lobotomy was seen as a possible treatment for severe mental illnesses, but was soon labeled as one of the most barbaric mistakes of modern medicine. Doctor Freeman co-founded and was the president of the American board of Psychiatry and Neurology from 1946-1947. He was also a contributor and member of the American Psychiatric Association.
*Christina Georgina Rossetti: Famous English poet. Became popular because of Goblin Market and In the Bleak Midwinter.
*Hepharet: Broke the kingdom's male-only tradition as the first female Pharaoh of ancient Khaimit. She led the entire kingdom into a long reign of prosperity, and it became the strongest country in the land. She was an outstanding woman, deserving of the praise of future generations.
*Joan of Arc: Originally a poor from the countryside, she looked somewhat plain, but she was very kind-hearted. She would provide beds to the homeless and give her food to those who could not afford to eat. When she was 13 years old though, Joan was contacted by angels, asking her to assist the current prince to gain the throne and expel foreign soldiers from her country. Joan was a devout believer and tried every means to realize what she was asked to do. Finally, when she was 17 years old, she obtained military power and demonstrated extraordinary talent in war. She won many battles and succeeded in driving the enemy back many times. At the same time, the kind-hearted Joan forbade the killing of prisoners of war, and even blessed the enemy soldiers who were about to die. With her help, eventually, the prince successfully claimed the vacant throne of her country. However, shortly after, Joan was unfortunately captured in battle. She urgently needed the king to spend a large ransom to free her. But, perhaps it was because he no longer needed her, he refused to help Joan, and she was sentenced to death by fire.
=== SSS Database ===
* Simon: The Head of the Materials Division at Heirson Health Products. He had been stealing and reselling the company's controlled substances for profit over many years. When his actions were exposed, he left a will stating he was unable to pay for the fines and the amount of money the company demanded from him, so he decided to commit suicide by jumping into the sea. However, his body was never recovered by the police.
* Joey Grant: An illegitimate daughter of Gordon Grant and Joanne Scott. When Joanne was pregnant, Gordon had her take the experimental drugs from Moonriver Pharamaceutical Laboratories as health supplements. When Joey was born, he also used her as a test subject for Moonriver's new drugs. As a result, Joey has always been in poor health and suffers from irreversible damages, such as taste deterioration, and slow brain development. The medical treatments for Joey are highly expensive.
*Johnny Bailey: The caregiver hired by Lawrence to take care of Van Kerrel's daily life. He had resigned from HomeCare Household Services at the beginning of the year.
*Jasmine Kenders: After publishing the "Secret Heirson Lab Pollutes Opaline River" article, she was sued by Heirson for defamation. Jasmine ended up losing the lawsuit because Ian Johnson, a research of Forestry Testing Labs, suddenly withdraw his testimony. Before she died in the car accident, Jasmine was on her way to Opaline Village to obtain more evidence from Irvin Soong to appeal again.
*Ian Johnson: The researcher at Forestry Testing Labs that provided the water sample report of the Opaline River. However, he suddenly withdrew his testimony on the witness stand, which caused Jasmine to lose the trial. He applied for a Ph.D. program in environmental science at New York University, but was rejected due to academic misconduct.
*Hugh Moss: Jasmine Kenders' adopted son. He was diagnosed with autism and was very close to his mother. After Jasmine died, he was sent to an orphanage to be cared for.
== Society Terminology ==
=== Other ===
* Brake Pad: A friction material fixed on the brake drum or brake disc that rotates with the wheel. By bearing external pressure, the friction effect is generated to slow down the vehicle.
* Bitcoin: An encrypted digital currency, or cryptocurrency.
*Treasure Hunter: As the name implies, treasure hunters scour the world in search of only one thing: treasure. They are usually in good shape, capable, and knowledgeable with treasure hunting.
*Haspran Family: The noble family of Svart is regarded as the purest blue-blood nobility. At the height of their power, its influence once penetrated the military, commercial and political circles. The entire Svart was nicknamed "Haspran's playhouse." Its influence even spread to the outside world, leaving the royalty of nearby countries in the dust. Nowadays, Haspran still retains the vast majority of the military power and is pushing for new changes under the current leader.
=== Social Phenomena ===
* Illegitimate Child: A child whose biological parents were not married to one other at the time of the child's conception or birth (legal definitions vary by locality). In New York, illegitimate children share the same rights and benefits as legitimate children, and they are also entitled to any inheritances.
* Groupie: A slang word that refers to a fan of a celebrity who follows the person around while they are on tour, usually in hopes of getting to meet them. Some groupies would go to the extreme of invading the celebrity's privacy.
* Reproductions: Imitations of an original work of art. Many of the current reproductions on the market rely on digital technology to "clone" a work of art. To acquire a high quality reproduction, some collectors are willing to pay a hefty price.
* Five-step Trap: A method used by the PUA to psychologically manipulate women. Its steps were roughly divided into curiosity trap, exploration trap, captivation trap, self-esteem destruction and emotional manipulation. These five steps were designed to destroy a person's psyche, no matter men or women.
* I Cannot Even: A slang phrase that intentionally excludes the verb. Usually used to express bewilderment or stress.
* Diss: Slang for "to insult". Possibly an abbreviation of "disrespect".
* Gig: A show, typically a musical performance.
*Badger Game: A common technique that exploits the love of vulnerable woman to extort money from them. Now it has evolved into exploiting any psychological desire of the victim.
*Anomic Suicide: Refers to the destruction of the inherent relationship between the individual and society. For example, the loss of a job, relatives, lovers, friends, or other fixed social relations. These major changes are often unbearable to the individual, resulting in a sense that they're losing control of their life. In the end, they choose suicide.
*Unregistered Citizen: Citizens who aren't registered in the current household registration system. They have no rights in terms of social incurrence, education, employment, and even marriage, owing to not being registered.
*Doxing: A way and internet phenomena of cyberbullying that takes advantage of search engines, forums, blogs, anonymous sources, or other forms of internet platforms to gain data and private information about a specific person for the purpose of exerting pressure on the individual.
*Lonely Death: Refers to a phenomenon in which people who live alone with almost no social ties die of sudden diseases. Their death is not discovered for a long time due to no one accompanying or taking care of them. This situation occurs mostly among the elderly, and it's one of the obvious manifestations of societal aging.
=== Organizations ===
* Ford: Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 and its headquarters are located in Michigan. Its founder, Henry Ford dreamed of producing cars "which anyone could afford to buy", and the Ford factory created Model T on the 1st of October, 1908. It was the world's first affordable automobile. Model T was cheap, safe, reliable, and also easy to mass produce. It took the automobile market by storm and Ford became the twentieth century's most influential automaker, taking the lead in the American car industry.
* Crimson Biotech Ltd.: Founded in 1998. Its main business covers the areas of advanced research, manufacturing, and sales of drugs. The founder of Crimson, Christopher Cromwell, is the current head of the Cromwell family, which is the second-largest family in the country. The Cromwell family holds world-leading technology in the field of biotechnology, which is the foundation of its vast industrial chain. Since the middle of the last century, the Cromwell family has been gradually shifting its business focus abroad and its influence overseas is no less than that of the world's largest multinational group. With the return of Christopher Cromwell from abroad, and the establishment of Crimson Biotech in New York City, the family's business focus shows a shift back to the domestic markets. This attracted great attention from both political and economic circles.
* Moonriver Pharmaceutical Laboratories: A biopharma research and development company. In 2022, Moonriver's new drug failed to pass clinical trails, causing all the other investors to withdraw their investments. Backed into a corner, forcing Moonriver into illegal drug R&D in an attempt to recover its losses. It was until 2030 that the illegal activities of Moonriver were exposed. Moonriver's operations were subsequently shut down by the police.
*HomeCare Household Services: A membership-based household services company that aims to provide its members with the most professional and attentive services.
*Heirson Health Products Co. Ltd.: A well-known health products company in New York City. Its markets share has been growing rapidly in recent years. Their flagship product, Heirson effervescent packets, is always in short supply. In addition to the selling of various health products, Heirson also provides comprehensive health monitoring and other after-sales services that are well-received by the consumers.
*New York Art Gallery Association: An association composed of 30 galleries and art management, including business, academic, and non-profit organizations. Established for more than 20 years, it regularly conducts two academic exchanges every year, and has joint art exhibitions with the outstanding galleries in New York.
*Forestry Testing Labs: One of the most prominent environment assessment organizations. They are pioneers in environmental pollutant analysis and environmental technology research.
*Victoria Pharmaceuticals: A foreign pharmaceutical company. Its main business, known to the public, includes drug production, storage, and transportation.
*Dionysus Academy of Art: Located in the Kingdom of Svart, this academy has trained and produced many famous actors.
*Waller Auction House: Established in 2025. Its core belief and goal was to "discover and create value." Its auction items included handicrafts, jewelry, calligraphy and painting, antiques, and so on. Many domestic charities and public welfare organizations have chosen Waller Auction House as its partner. Recently, Waller Auction House has been involved in a scandal regarding money laundering and was closed down by the police.
*The Horse Gang: An organization of ranchers and hinny caravans assembled by the commoners. They were a very important element of trade in ancient times. The Horse Gang has its own stringent organization, rules, restrictions on language, and trade language.
*Kahn Corporation: A well-known family enterprise in Bettonia. Its main business focuses on mining, commercial manufacturing technological research, and other industries across all of Bettonia. Among them is the infamous Mobius, which is the longest line that runs through Bettonia.
*Royal Institution of Bettonia: One of the most prestigious research institutes in Bettonia, famous for its mineral studies. Every year many scholars come from home and abroad to study here.
*Twifoil: One of the most controversial civil organizations in the history of Bettonia. It was rumored to have been created to protect civilians from being bullied. According to legend, the leader of twifoil is a unique man with a strong sense of justice. However, he ended up disbanding the organization to return to a peaceful life in retirement with his beloved.
*Eris International Trade: A small enterprise specializing in international trade, said to be registered and established by a young wealthy businessman. However, there are rumors that the enterprise is only a front for shady transactions...
== Academia Terminology ==
=== Other ===
* ISBN: Stands for International Standard Book Number, a numerical commercial book identifier, which is intended to be unique for every book. An ISBN-10 is converted to the new ISBN-13 by prepending "978" to the ISBN-10 and recalculating the final checksum digit using the ISBN-13 algorithm.
*Prisoner's Dilemma: The most representative example of game theory. It states that the decision made by the individual might not be the most optimal decision for the group. In other words, the logical decision for an individual might not be the logical decision for the group. If the two prisoners work together, then both of them will receive a reduced sentence. Without the ability to communicate with one another, if one prisoner testifies against the other prisoner, then he will go free. However, if both agree to testify, then they both receive the maximum sentence. So the best scenario for them would be to remain silent, but for the individual, the most optimal decision is to testify.
*Murphy's Law: An adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." The law's name supposedly stems from an attempt to use new measurement devices developed by Edward Murphy. According to Robert Murphy (Son of Edward A. Murphy, Jr.), his father's statement was something along these lines: If there's more than one way to do a job, an one of those ways will result in disaster, then somebody will do it that way,
*Trace Identification: Refers to evaluating traces left by human bodies and objects and the correlation between separated and original traces through the use of scientific principles and techniques. In litigation, the most common types of trace identification include fingerprints, footprints, tool traces, and bullet traces.
*The Ship of Theseus: If you replace all the parts of a ship, is it still the same ship? The Ship of Theseus paradox is one that revolves around changing identities. Suppose an object's structural elements have all been replaced. Does it still count as the same object?
=== Law ===
* Lawsuit Must Be Filed: "A lawsuit must be filed" means that the victim must file a lawsuit for any criminal act. Otherwise, the court cannot investigate the criminal responsibility of the accused.
*Jurisdiction: Refers to where an incident happens and which police officer is in charge of that incident.
*Flag State: The nationality acquired via registration with the government of a country before a vessel sets sail. The flag state is fully responsible for the enforcement and compliance of international maritime rules over vessels registered under its flag.
*International Waters: According to international conventions, the International Waters refer to the waters outside the exclusive economic zone, territorial sea, and internal waters of a coastal state, which are not subject to the jurisdiction and domination of any country.
*Misdemeanor Defense: When an attorney puts forth materials and opinions in accordance with the facts and law to prove that the criminal suspect or defendant is less guilty or should be held less responsible for their crimes. In this way, the legal right of action and other legal interests of the criminal suspect or defendant is protected.
*Surrender Pending Arrest: An automatic surrender is when criminal suspects "wait at the scene knowing others have reported the crime, do not resist arrest, and confess to their crimes." However, not all actions that result in an arrest at the crime scene constitutes a surrender pending arrest.
=== Chemistry ===
* Sodium Hydroxide: A strong base and is extremely corrosive. It has a wide variety of applications, such as an acid neutralizer, cooking ingredient, and detergent. It is also known as Iye and caustic soda.
*CNT: Highly flammable carbon material. It doesn't stand a chance against 3,000 degree temperature, but it bonds with oxygen to create carbon dioxide, which helps extinguish the flame.
*Element T: Extracted from Bettonia crystals, Element T is a very important synthetic industrial material. It plays an important role in the fields of medical research and AI machines. But somehow, its name is rarely heard outside of Bettonia.
=== Computer Science ===
* Turing Test: Designed by Alan Turing in 1950 to test a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior or equivalent to that of a human.
=== Biology ===
* Photonarcotics: A relatively new and popular drug that uses lights to make anyone exposed to it half-conscious. It puts the user in a dream-like state and, besides causing the person to fall asleep, it has no other side-effects. Since it requires heavy machinery to make, it has not spread much.
* Tetrodotoxin (TTX): One of the most potent neurotoxins found in nature. Symptoms typically develop within 30 minutes of injection, but may be delayed by up to four hours; however, if the dose is fatal, symptoms are usually present within 17 minutes of ingestion. Severe symptoms include respiratory distress and paralysis, while death, usually secondary to respiratory failure, generally occurs within 4 to 6 hours. However, some victims enter a coma. If the victims do not receive immediate and effective treatment, death is extremely likely.
*X03A: An experimental drug provided to Gordon Grant by the Moonriver Pharmaceutical Laboratories. An analysis by the SSS confirmed that there are trace amounts of the illegal drug known as NXX.
*Volatile Solvents: Liquids that vaporize at room temperature. Toluene, acetone, and ethanol are volatile solvents.
=== Mathematics ===
* Fibonacci Sequence: Also known as the golden ratio or the rabbit sequence, as it was initially used by mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci to model the growth of a theoretical rabbit population.
*Game Theory: An important branch of economics. It has been hailed as one of the greatest economic achievements of the 20th century, It is widely applicable to all fields. Anything pertaining to competition or antagonistic behaviors can be called game behavior and game theory is the analysis of said behavior. Its analysis include whether the behavior of both parties involved is reasonable and the number theory and methods involving in finding the most reasonable behavior.
*Binary: The binary numeral system is a positional numeral which only uses two symbols, typically "0" and "1." It is used by almost all modern computers and computer-based devices.
*Decimal: The decimal numeral system is the most commonly used positional numeral system in the world. It uses ten decimal digits, a decimal mark, and negative sign for negative numbers to denoting integer and non-integer numbers.
=== Physics ===
* Magnetic Field Scanner: An instrument developed by Dr. William Miller, a doctor of occultism. It scans the ore surroundings for any anomalies and has proven to be effective for Bettonia Crystals.
=== Psychology ===
* Criminal Psychology: Criminal psychology, which criminal profiling plays a major part in, is the study that goes deeply into "what makes someone commit a crime and the reactions after the crime," on the run or in court with the aim of understanding the origin of motivation of criminal behavior. In recent years, due to the active role criminal psychologists plays in various criminal cases, educational institutions in New York have begun to hold relevant courses and departments to both promote in depth studies and cultivate new talents in the field.
* Halo Effect: The tendency for positive impressions of a person in one area to positively influence one's opinion of the person in other areas. In other words, people's perceptions and judgments of others tend to be based on partial information or certain perspectives, leading to bias and generalization.
*Microreaction: A broad term describing three types of behavioral micro-reactions: facial micro-expressions (or gestures), body language, and linguistic micro-responses.
*"Psychology: Core Concepts": A great introductory textbook to the science of psychology. Written by Philip Zimbardo.
*Bipolar Disorder: A mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and abnormally elevated moods. One out of two people with bipolar disorder attempts suicide at least once during their lifetime. The annual average suicide rate is 0.4%, which is 10 - 20 times that of the general population. Previously known as Manic Depression.
*Sandplay Therapy; A nonverbal, therapeutic intervention that makes use of a sandbox, toy figures, and other items to create scenes of miniature worlds that reflect a person's inner thoughts, struggles, and concerns. It is a method to treat victims of trauma, neglect, or abuse, who often cannot express their feelings in words. The sandbox and figures are used as communication tools, allowing the client to find answers within oneself without interruption, and then making changes to the world one has created after discussions with the therapist.
*Pick-up Artist: In recent years, many pickup artists work on their "game" by systematically improving their self-esteem and physical appearance to "pick up" their targets with the eventual goal of sexual success and scamming them for money via manipulation. One thing to note, the victims of PUAs are not limited to women. Men could fall prey as well. PUA is short for pickup artist.
*Clinical Depression: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), also known simply as depression, is a mental illness that causes the victim to be in a constant state of low mood and aversion to activity, it is currently the fourth-leading cause of disease burden worldwide. Due to the difficulty of identifying MDD in victims and the unwillingness of the victims to receive medical treatments, many victims fail to receive proper care, leading to severe consequences. To this end, New York has increased its efforts to identify and treat depression.
*Retrograde Amnesia: In retrograde amnesia, a person is unable to recall memories that were made in a specific period of time before the onset of amnesia.
*Primacy effect: Also known as the "first impression effect". It is a cognitive bias that explains why the first encounter between two people will leave the greatest impression, dictating how future encounters will go. As the saying goes, "first impressions are the strongest."
*Black Sheep Effect: The black sheep effect is a psychological concept. It refers to the tendency of people in the same group to be harsher on unlikable group members than people not in the same group. The reason is that, when facing heavy pressure from external parties, people tend to push the liability on others weaker than them.
*Aphonia: A medical condition in which a person cannot speak, usually from some kind of stress or trauma. Similar to muteness. Not the same condition as Aphasia, which is a loss of the ability to understand speech entirely.
*Dissociative Identity Disorder: Dissociative disorders mainly include depersonalization-derealization disorder, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative amnesia. These disorders are conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity, or perception.
*Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. Under normal circumstances, the symptoms can appear anywhere from days to months after the event and last anywhere from month to decades.
*Short-term Memory Loss: A memory disability that makes you forget what happened in the last few minutes to few days.
*Narcissistic Personality Disorder: A complex type of personality disorder. Its primary attribute is an inflated sense of self-importance. According to DSM_V, patients with narcissistic personality disorder often suffer from a few conditions: an extreme and exaggerated sense of self-importance; an unfounded fantasy for success, power, and elitism; a belief that they are unique and superior to others; a lack of empathy for others; a sense of entitlement and require excessive admiration; takes advantage of others and responds with aggression towards rejection; belittles those that are receiving help from them and enjoys the feeling of make-belief excellence; envious of others and believes others envy them. What's more important is that most patients with narcissistic personality disorder often suffer from acute inferiority complex.
*Empty Chair Technique: A common technique used in psychological counseling where patients project their internal struggles outward. The purpose of this technique is to help patients observe what's happening around them and to analyze and experience their own and other people's emotions. This technique has shown to be effective to help patients live a life that's more integrated, open and vibrant. The Empty Chair Technique can be divided into three forms: catharsis, talking with yourself, or talking with someone else.
*Graphology: A type of applied psychology. It usually analyzes a person's handwriting and determines the characteristics of the writer's psyche. Although graphology is a new science, it has proven to be practical and highly accurate.
*Psychology of Travel: A branch of psychology that applies research results, principles, and research methods of psychology to travel. In doing so, it draws relevant conclusions.
*Pygmalion Effect: Also known as the Rosenthal effect. American psychologists Rosenthal and Jacobson administered intelligence tests and found that teachers who encouraged their students performed better. In other words, the higher the expectations of others, the higher the performance of others.
*Social Isolation: A mental illness brought on by environmental discomfort. It refers to a person who has isolated themselves from the outside world and rarely engages in social activities. It has the characteristics of universality, lack of communication, and avoidance.
*Depressive State: A mood disorder, different from depression and depressive emotion. It is a state of mind characterized by a lack of purpose in life, decadence, and despair. It is a medical condition but a long way from depression.
*Cognitive Bias: Refers to the distorted cognition caused by the subjective or objective environment when people perceive themselves, others, or the external environment.
*Psychological Defense Mechanism: Refers to the adaptive tendency for individuals, consciously or unconsciously, to try to escape or seek some form of relief psychologically when faced with negative situations they are unwilling to face. This mechanism has both positive and negative effects. The positive effects lie in the reduction of the individual's mental pressure and reconstruction of psychological balance. The negative effects lie in the possibility that individuals may indulge in false escape and eventually lose their subjective initiative and the courage and ability to face real life.
*Cognitive Therapy: A type of psychotherapy used to correct poor cognition and behavior in patients. Based on the theoretical hypothesis that a person's cognitive processes affect his emotions and behavior, this approach is implemented through cognitive and behavioral technologies.
=== Medicine ===
* Autism: A neurodevelopmental disorder with complex biological causes. Symptoms may include mood swings, difficulties in verbal and non-verbal expression, and impaired social interactions. Those with autism may demonstrate restrictive or repetitive behaviors.
*Hallucinogen: Drugs that primarily affect the central nervous system and alter one's perception, thinking, mood, and awareness. They can also lead to memory loss, mania, and even coma.
*Aplastic Anemia: A complicated syndrome of bone marrow hematopoietic dysfunction. which belongs to refractory anemia. The disease is characterized by hypoplasia of bone marrow hematopoietic cells and peripheral blood pancytopenia. Patients usually present with anemia, bleeding and infection. Currently, this disease is common in young adults. The disease can be divided into severe and non-severe, as well as acute and chronic. Although the disease is extremely dangerous, it is not fatal, provided patients cooperate with the treatment. It is only through correct medical treatment that patients can be cured.
*Arsenic Trioxide: An odorless and tasteless white powder. It is also one of the oldest poisons. Commonly known as arsenic.
*Schizophrenia: A chronic disease of unknown etiology, often manifesting clinically as a syndrome of different symptoms, involving many aspects such as sensory perception, thinking, emotion, behavior and mental disorders. Currently, the understanding of its etiology remains unclear, but the role of individual psychological susceptibility and adverse factors of the external social environment is widely accepted as the possible causes for this disease.
*Insulin Pen: A long-acting insulin device used by diabetic patients for a long time, named because it looks like a pen. It eliminates the tedious process for the patient to extract insulin from a medicine bottle with a syringe. The needle is much thinner than the special insulin syringe, so there is almost no pain after use, which can be said to greatly improve the user experience.
*Tertiary Prevention: Also known as clinical prevention. In the field of mental health, it targets known patients with a disease to take clinical measures and treatment.
*Mechanical Injury: Refers to the destruction and/or dysfunction of organs and tissues in the human body caused by the mechanical force of an object. It does not include injuries caused by extreme heat, extreme cold, currents, lightning strikes, radiation, or poisoning. The main types include blunt force trauma, sharp trauma, subcutaneous hemorrhages, fractures, contusions, visceral injuries, and brain injuries.
*Craniocerebral Injury: Common injuries to the brain or brain tissue caused by external forces. Craniocerebral injuries can exist alone or in combination with other injuries. The vast majority of patients suffer from loss of consciousness immediately after being injured, and the duration varies. It is necessary to treat these patients in a timely manner based on their physical symptoms.
*Soft Tissue Contusion: Refers to injuries to muscles, ligaments, fascia, tendons, synovium, fat, joint capsules, and other tissues, as well as peripheral nerves and blood vessels outside the bones and under the skin of the human motor system. Generally, when a certain level of external force is reached, it will cause an injury, and symptoms will appear.
*Left Ulna Fracture: Refers to a disruption of the continuity and integrity of the ulna. They are typically caused by an extreme force, violent attacks, and indirect violent torsion. A left ulna fracture is a fracture in the patient's left forearm.
*Chronic Mental Disorder: Affects brain function and can be caused by a variety of factors, leading to abnormal mental activity in patients. Patients with chronic mental disorders will have abnormal cognition, reasoning, emotions, behavior, and more. For seriously affected patients, their social skills may be affected. The main differences between chronic and acute mental disorders are that chronic mental disorders are not as intense but are incurable.
*Warfarin: An oral anticoagulant. Interferes with how the blood operates and reduces the risk of blood clotting. However, because of its outstanding effect, it is generally only given to patients with a high risk of blood clotting. Long-term consumption will cause a decline in coagulation function, which greatly decreases the speed at which wounds heal.
*Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease: A very rare type of recessive hereditary disease that affects one in twenty thousand carriers. Emerging symptoms in younger patients will primarily show in the kidneys, whereas emerging symptoms in adolescent patients primarily show in the liver. This disease has a high chance to cause kidney failure and ultimately resulting in the patient's death.
*Aphasia: Refers to lesions in the brain tissue related to language and communication. Aphasia patients may have speech, reading, or writing impairments, but their intelligence is not affected.
*Adrenocortical Hormones: May trigger dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, resulting in increased blood pressure, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, and other symptoms of anxiety. It can be adjusted through relaxation training. If necessary, psychotherapy and medication can be prescribed to improve mental state.
*Blood Spatter: Refers to the scattered spots of blood in circular or ovular shapes on the surface of non-absorbent objects after being acted on by external forces. These spots typically reveal directional characteristics, which might be common in crime scenes.
*Phenobarbital: A type of drug used to treat anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, and other symptoms. It has sedative and hypnotic effects.
*Digoxin: A cardiac glycoside drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, congenital heart disease, and other conditions. Excess amounts might lead to a toxic reaction.
*Aminophylline: Widely used in the treatment of bronchial asthma, obstructive emphysema, and asthmatic bronchitis.
*Intravenous Injection Booster: A medical device that can assist medical personnel in performing an infusion or replace an artificial intravenous infusion,
=== Music ===
* Oboe: A woodwind instrument. The oboe leads the tune in the orchestra. Once the oboist plays the "A" note, the entire orchestra plays along to tune their instrument. The reason the oboe leads the tune is because the pitch is stable and its penetrating sound makes it ideal for tuning. Also, the oboe is double-reeded, which makes the tune very stable. The oboe has two reeds to amplify its vibration. A reed is a thin strip of material that vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument. When playing woodwind instruments, you must use a well-carved reed. This requires time and effort (however, reeds are disposable). Reeds used in the oboe are even smaller than other woodwind instrument reeds. Therefore oboists must take good care of the small reeds, and have multiple reeds so as to always be ready to play.
* Violin: A string instrument. Violins take a leading role in an orchestra, usually taking up the largest section of the orchestra. Incredible as it may sound, each violin is comprised of over 80 parts. The posture of tucking the violin under the jaw was first adopted in 1820.
* Trumpet: A brass instrument. The trumpet is the highest-pitched wind instrument. Its tone is loud and sharp enough that anyone who's heard it once would immediately recognize it as a trumpet.
* Pipe Organ: As the name suggests, the pipe organ is a keyboard instrument comprised of many pipes which create a sound when air is passed through them. Although technically the pipe organ is a keyboard instrument, the mechanism behind the sound is similar to a wind instrument. Pipe organs feature a very complex and gigantic structure. Each organ is connected to many pipes of various materials, diameters, and length to create an equally wide range of tone and pitch. As such, if there is a pipe organ in a room, chances are that the entire room is essentially filled by the pipe organ alone. Playing the pipe organ is not just about using your hands and feet, but also familiarizing yourself with its overall structure and usage. In the mid-19th century, the 'Barker Lever' was invented to enhance the power to push the pipe organ for a grander, more spectacular, and not to mention a more comfortable performance. After that, electronic signals were used to control the organ. Of course long before then, an assistant had to sit next to the player and activate each device to help with the performance.
* Chimes: Important, large percussion instruments in ancient China. Developed during the Zhou dynasty, they were popular from the Spring and Autumn period to the Qin and Han dynasties. According to acousticians, each chime can produce two different musical tones. Hitting the chime at a specific spot produces tones of a specific frequency. It is possible to produce all notes on a modern piano with a complete set of chimes.
* Clarinet: A wind instrument. It can be difficult to tell some of these wind instruments apart. For starters, there is a family of wind instruments called "reed instruments." These instruments create sounds from the vibrations made by the "reed" in the mouthpiece. Clarinets, oboes, and bassoons fall into this category, where as piccolos and flutes do not. A clarinet has one reed, while an oboe and a bassoon each have two per instrument. These reed instruments can be told apart by their tone, color and pitch.
* Timpani: A percussion instrument. They are the only type of drum in the western world that can vary its pitch. Timpani are essentially a hemispherical metal bowl covered by a membrane of leather or plastic. A set of timpani is comprised of several drums assigned different pitches. Tone and volume can be varied by hitting on different parts of the membrane. The exact origin of the timpani is unclear, but it has a long history given that every instrument originated from percussion instruments. Hebrews passed on their drum to the Arabs, which then was modified so it could hang on a horse and be played, for military band purposes. Then once again, it was modified to be placed on the floor to be played, which became the timpani we now know. In Islamic cultures, this drum was called the 'naqqara'. When this type of drum was first introduced in Europe during the crusades, it was used for military bands. However, as the drum was able to vary its pitch, it soon became a crucial instrument in the orchestra.
=== Art ===
* Collage: "To glue" in French. An art form that involves combining various materials, such as printed paper, cloth, wires, wood pieces, sand, leaves, etc.
=== Language ===
* Vanitas: The Latin word "vanitas" means "emptiness," "futility," or "worthlessness." A vanitas is a symbolic work of art that depicts both symbols of wealth and death in a contrasting manner. Every object depicted on Vanitas was a symbol, and the most commonly used symbol was a skeleton motif, used to represent death. Catastrophes during the end of the middle age, such as the plaque, nature disasters, and famine, must've reminded people to reflect on life, death, and the futility of it all; Memento Mori, remember that you will die.
*Tete-a-tete: A private conversation. It's funny because it also sounds like 'tit a tit'.
== Culture Terminology ==
=== Other ===
* Droste Effect: This packaging style, named after the famous Dutch chocolate manufacturer Drost, is a visual form in which part of the image is designed to be the same as the whole image. Thus, creating the effect of an infinite loop.
*Cryptex: In Dan Brown's book 'The Da Vinci Code', the Da Vinci Cryptex was a cylinder used to store secret messages. To unlock it, you needed to turn the dials to a specific 5-letter word. Any attempts to force open the cryptex would shatter a small glass, dissolving whatever cryptic message was inside.
*Special Makeup Effects: Special effects and makeup technology could achieve effects that traditional makeup could not, including replicating human limbs, restoring open wounds, and imitating people of different ages. It is commonly used in movies and TV shows.
*Trick Question: A question that makes you believe you should answer it in a particular way when the real question is hidden, or when there is no right answer. In some cases, a trick question from a girlfriend may lead to a man becoming single in the end.
*Hand Position: The basic skill of ballet. In ballet, there are seven basic hand positions and five basic foot positions.
=== Food ===
* Steamed Tangerine Crab: A famous Jiangsu and Zhejiang specialty originating from the Song Dynasty. Crab meat and tangerine flesh are stir-fried, placed into the empty tangerine skins, and then steamed. It is a delicious and nutritious dish.
*Romanée-Conti: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is an estate in Burgundy, France that produces the world's most expensive white and red wines. It takes its name from the domain's most famous vineyard, Romanée-Conti.
*Mont Blanc: A French dessert made of sweetened chestnut purée, topped with whipped cream. The name comes from Mont Blanc, as the dish resembled a snow-capped mountain. It was once a dessert reserved for the royals.
*Éclair: A French confectionary; a long choux filled with cream and covered in chocolate. The first éclair was made in the 1850s. Éclair also means "lightning" in French. There are several hypotheses for this. Some say it was named lightning as the light reflects on the surface of the Éclair, and others say its because its so delicious that people eat it up at the speed of light.
*Crepe: Once a basic recipe without much flavor. However, as time progressed, people began to innovate and add all sorts of flavor to it.
*Double Scoop: On hot summer days, they are cool, soft, and smooth. They make for the perfect dessert during summer and are loved by children.
*Foie Gras: A delicacy and a rare dish. It may not be served around the world but it is very popular amongst those with an exotic taste.
*Bamboo Rice: What happens when you cook rice in bamboo over a pit of fire? You create a rice dish that is filled with aroma and the taste of nature. It's both delicious and healthy.
*Bird's Nest Soup: A traditional medicinal food, ideal in the autumn for nourishing one's yin and for hydrating. The edible bird's nest ingredient is a special product of Southeast Asia made from the saliva of swallows or swiftlets, which is efficacious in promoting lung health, boosting yin, reducing coughing and stopping bleeding. It is often used in cases of tuberculosis, bronchitis, and emphysema. The elderly and frail drink this soup to revitalize and strengthen their bodies.
*Black Tea: Introduce in Europe from China, black tea has undergone a long journey and now is respected around the world.
*Pastel De Nata: Pastel De Nata, more commonly known as egg tarts, have spread across the world and have become a dessert found almost anywhere.
*Brownie: One of the most common desserts. It's delicious coco flavor and dense texture creates an amazing pallet experience. Kids love it and so do adults. But don't eat too much as it contains a lot of sugar.
*Gyoza: Perhaps the most popular Asian dish in the world. Gyoza, otherwise known as dumplings, are a delicious finger sized packet full of flavor. Gyoza comes in all different types of fillings,
*Red Wine: A drink that is carefully produced from start to finish. It requires the careful selection of grapes and the precise control of temperature. Thus, red wine is a drink to be enjoyed slowly.
*Yunnan Noodles: Originated from the Mengzi City of Yunnan, China. It is considered one of China's many cultural heritage foods with its unique traits. There are various origin stories for Yunnan Noodles. Although these stories differ slightly, the love for Yunnan Noodles is apparent in all stories.
*Udon: One of the most beloved noodle dishes in Japan. From its development up to today, it has given rise to a wide variety of cooking techniques. The beef and soy bean paste at the core of this dish are also key factors contributing to its delicious flavor.
*Donut: Aside from how good they taste, just on looks alone, donuts are able to win over most people. In recent times, the donut has made whirlwind progress and occupies a very high place in the food pantheon. Some people have even made a special donut holiday so that everyone can enjoy them even more.
*Soft Serve Cone: Frosty, sweet ice cream that melts the instant it hits your mouth. Without a doubt, it's the most beloved treat to beat the heat, and paired with a crispy cone, the unbeatable combo has become a summertime taste sensation.
*Jinhua Ham: A signature product of China and its vibrant red and white colors. Its lean meat is salty with a hint of sweet, and its fatty parts are sumptuous without being cloying. Its production takes from winter till summer, including a fermentation process that breaks down the meat, making it's nutrients more readily-absorbable by the human body. Jinhua ham is said to be beneficial to the stomach, kidneys, bones, feet, and for healing wounds. In appearance, it has a thin, bright yellow skin and is shaped like a pipa instrument. The meat is a tender red color, with a rich aroma. It is famous worldwide for these four unique characteristics of color, aroma, flavor and shape.
*Five Snake Soup: Since ancient times, many people have had an instinctive fear of venomous snakes, but the Compendium of Materia Medica records that "southerners have a liking for snakes" - and Guangdong does indeed have a custom of eating snakes. The famous Five Snake Soup of Cantonese cuisine consist of snakes as its main ingredient, including at least the cobra, krait, and coral snake, as well as water snake, elaphe, and king cobra. The snake meat is stewed with chicken, abalone, mushrooms, black fungus and other ingredients. Snake soup is flavorful, with crispy snake skin and tender snake meat. The name of the dish may inspire dread, but is without a doubt a gourmet delicacy.
*Hibiscus Tea: Also known as roselle tea, it is a beverage made by steeping the roselle flower. The tea has a bright scarlet color and a tart taste with a sweet finish. Containing vitamins and fruity acids, it is a good thirst-quencher and digestive aid.
*Hawthorne Ball: A sweet treat beloved by children. Its sweet and sour fruits are covered with a tasty brown sugar coating.
*Pudding: Made in England in the 16th Century, it has now become a dessert that has travelled around the world. Children love it and so do adults.
*Jello: A sweet and popular dessert around the world. It can be made in various ways with a wide array of colors and taste.
*Sandwich: Created by a count who was so busy gambling that he didn't have time to prepare food and eat. So, he resorted to creating something simple yet delicious.
*Coffee: A hot, or cold, beverage enjoyed by men and women. The aroma from a single cup of coffee can fill an entire room. It's the perfect wake-up call.
*Long Bao: Xiaolongbao dumplings were created during the Song Dynasty. These steamed dumplings contain a delicious soup and scrumptious filling. This is a famous Chinese traditional snack.
*Sashimi: The preparations of sashimi require a very talented chef with great knife skills. The slice must be thin and clean; chefs often spend years in training.
*Macaron: During the French Revolution, it was just a simple slice of unsweetened almond cake sold by nuns. Eventually, macarons came in all colors and tastes to fit the pallets of everyone.
*Sakuramochi: The soft texture combined with the sweetness of red beans nourishes the taste buds just like a warm spring breeze.
*Tom Yum: It has always been a refreshing hot and sour appetizer. Its unique taste is something to crave.
*Taiyaki: Covered with a crunchy coating. People consider it as a lucky dish that can bring great fortune.
*Milk: Can be found all over the world and can be used in various ways. However, don't leave it outside for too long or it'll go bad. Also, they say it goes well with black tea.
*Dorayaki: Often brings to mind childhood memories; full of fun and youthfulness. It is sweet and delicious.
*Omurice: A delicious dish from Japan that combines an omelet with rice. When served, it looks like a pocket full of taste.
*Spicy Gluten: A snack unique to China. It has a special place in the hearts of children as it is both delicious and easy to come by.
*Tempura: A popular dish in Japan. It can be made with either vegetables or meat. It's best eaten hot for its crunchy and crisp texture.
*Sake: Drinking a glass of sake on a quiet day is perhaps one of the most relaxing activities that can be done. Let your mind rest and enjoy a cup of sake.
*Jiuniang: People like Jiuniang dumplings because of how dainty and cute they look. People get to enjoy the soft and sweet dumplings the moment the spoon enters the mouth.
*Orange Juice: Sweet and tangy taste of orange juice is perfect for a morning refreshment. It packs a lot of great vitamins. Don't drink too much though, as they are very sweet.
*Miso Soup: Miso is a simple paste that creates one of the most common recipes in Japan. Miso soup is a great way to begin a meal and warm the stomach.
*Ume Ochazuke: A common staple food in life. It stimulates appetite very well, making Ume Ochazuke very charming. Quickly devouring it will result in people constantly thinking about its deliciousness.
*Yellow Wine: Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Yellow Wine has been a popular alcoholic drink. Its unique flavors can be recognized immediately.
*Cold Rice Shrimp: It isn't actually shrimp. It's actually rice noodles that resemble tiny shrimps. It is a common dessert in China best served cold
*Zongzi: A dessert cooked with glutinous rice wrapped in leaves. It is said to commemorate the ancient poet Qu Yuan.
*Toso: Toso Wine, also known as the New Year's Wine, has medicinal value in addition to being used to congratulate the young members of a family on the New Year. This custom continued until the Qing Dynasty and, even though it is no longer mass-produced, it is still used medicinally by commoners, or as a celebratory drink.
*Milt: There are many ways of preparing Milt. It is especially valued for its protein content. In order to extract the most protein, most people choose to enjoy this special delicacy raw.
*Pineapple Cake: A snack that is often enjoyed during ceremonies or given as gifts. They are flaky and sweet but very tasty.
*Dongtang: Invented by Dong Xiaowan, one of the Eight Beauties of Quinhuai, it is a delectable delicacy produced in Rugao County of Jiangsu Province. Its main ingredients are refined white flour, white sugar, sesame seeds, and malt syrup. It is made by specially picking ingredients, boiling down the sugar, making a candy core, and a candy coating. Its crispy sweetness melts in your mouth, leaving a delicious aftertaste, and it also makes a good pick-me-up snack. Because Xiaowan made it often and entertained guests with it, it grew in popularity. Over the years, businesses began to copy it and marketed it under the name "Dongtang".
*Gugelhupf: Gugelhupfe are known for their crown-like shape. It‘s made with soft yeast dough, and different regions have their own special additions to the cake. In the early days, it was common throughout all of central Europe, and served during Christmas, weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations. Gugelhupfe started becoming popular in the French court after Marie Antoinette married into French royalty.
*Osmanthus Cake: Made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and osmanthus syrup, this delicious pastry is a traditional Chinese snack, with more than 300 years of history.
*Granola: Granola is a kind of baked cereal mainly made up of oats, nuts, and honey, and is often eaten as breakfast or as a snack.
*Malted Milk: Malted milk is a powdered drink mainly composed of evaporated whole milk powder and bran. It can also contain butter, citric acid, sugar, glucose, and vitamins, and is produced by either vacuum or spray drying.
*Ice Cream Floats: Ice cream floats are made by pouring carbonated drinks on ice cream.
*Sanlejiang: The Tuode flower was a flower that grew in the Western Regions. The barbarians used them to make a wine name Sanlejiang.
*Luyi Wine: When a new batch of Luyi wine hasn't been filtered, the sediment that floats up resembles green ants, giving the wine its name.
*Yule Log: It is common for people to eat Yule logs on Christmas Eve in Japan. The Yule log consists of a simple sponge cake, icing, and cream, and is often decorated with chocolate, strawberries, canned fruits, and other seasonal fruits.
*Meng Po Soup: In the legends, Meng Po Soup is drunk to forget everything in one's past. It is said that Meng Po makes the soup herself in the underworld to allow souls to reincarnate with peace of mind.
*Bamboo Leaf Liquor: Bamboo leaf liquor is a wine brewed with yellow wine and bamboo leaves to retain the unique color of the leaves. It is golden green, mild, and has a refreshing taste.
*Sichuan Hotpot: Although it wasn't developed that long ago, over a short period of 100 years, its name has become known all over China. It has four special attributes that it can't do without: numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant. This rich flavor has made it one of the Sichuan's most emblematic cultural symbols.
*Popcorn: Buttery, salty, sweet, caramel, what type of popcorn do you like? A snack that has been enjoyed for decades.
*Pineapple Bun: An iteration of plain pineapple bread which includes placing a cold slice of butter in between a freshly-baked bun. This clash of extreme temperatures brings with it a unique mouth feel. It might be a little higher in fat and cholesterol that way, but it's still a mainstay delicacy in tea houses.
*Bonito Rice: In the beginning, this "cat rice" was a Recipe that was fed to cats. But due to the inexpensive ingredients, by the Edo Era, most of the lower-class had begun eating Bonito Rice, This even drove the industry for bonito, the main ingredient in Bonito Rice. Fast forward to today, and Bonito Rice is still one of the cheapest Recipes that people can eat.
*Laba Congee: A type of congee enjoyed during the Laba festival in China. It is often served during family gatherings and have become a symbol of unity and peace.
*Peking Duck: A roast duck recipe that was perfected in Beijing. Wrap crispy duck skin and juicy duck meat in a thin roll to experience a pallet sensation.
*Chocolate: Sweet and full of mystery. Its dark appearance combined with a sweet and delicate taste create for a mouthwatering experience.
*Calamus Wine: A rare pharmaceutical spirit, which is an infusion of Psychotria rubra and Radix acori. These precious Chinese medicinal herbs grow only on mountain peeks around 2,000 meters above sea level, earning them the reputation of "only to be found by the ambitious". The wine itself is a transparent orange-yellow, with a fragrant and rich flavor of fermentation and herbs. Other flavoring agents are usually added to make the concoction more palatable, and thus the finished drink has a refreshing taste. Calamus Wine has been enjoyed by emperors, officials, and generals for centuries, forming an integral part of imperial cuisine.
*Flower-Carved Glazed Fruit: An ancient type of carved food. A piece of fruit is first dipped in a honey glaze, and the hardened surface is then carved with intricate designs using a sharp knife. Finally, the carved fruit is preserved in candy or more honey. The dessert was so popular that a famous poem was written about it during the Tang dynasty.
*Hamburger: Popular around the world. They come in all types and shapes but don't eat too much. They pack a lot of calories.
*Inarizushi: A traditional Japanese food using very particular ingredients, It is a type of sushi made with seasoned tofu skin, tamagoyaki, and mushroom. According to legend, the Japanese fox spirit "Inari" loves eating this kind of sushi and believes eating it helps restore power. In reality, it's flavor is indeed the stuff of legends. As one bites into it, one is met with the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The tender, juicy, deep-fried tofu skin is wrapped around burdock root and sushi rice mixed with sesame seeds, for a delightful blend of favors that play across.
*Escargot: A delicacy in France. Who would have thought baking cheese with snails would be so delicious.
*Eggette: Delicious waffles made of eggs. It's best eaten when hot! The taste of warm and soft eggy center is amazing.
*Mandarin Squirrel Fish: Made from Mandarin fish, which is deboned, exquisitely fileted, fried in a squirrel shape, and then coated with a sweet-and-sour sauce. It's crisp, crunchy texture gives people an incredible gustatory experience.
*Nasi Lemak: Not as light and refreshing as the name suggests. Instead, it has an unexpectedly hot taste and it overwhelms you before you even have time to react.
*Grass Jelly: A traditional dessert that originated in the regions of Fujian, Minnan, and Taiwan. The refreshing medicinal herb Mesona chinensis is cooked to form a smooth jelly. Peanuts, tapioca pearls, or red beans can be added for extra flavor, and sweetened coconut milk or honey can then be added to form a juicy base. The final dessert is cool and refreshing, making it a welcome addition to any summer day. Nowadays, Grass Jelly has also become popular in Japan and Southeast Asia.
*Juro: A kind of ramen. The broth is heavy with pork fat, then piled high with thick-cut noodles, cabbage, meat, and whatever else the customer desires.
*Gingerbread: A holiday favorite. It's a snack that can be made into amazing structures and a snack that can be enjoyed with a nice hot glass of milk.
*Milk Tea: Originated from South East Asia. Although Milk Tea first appeared in Taiwan in the 80s of the 20th century, it has quickly become a beloved drink around the world. It is considered one of Taiwan's cultural heritage beverages and is one of the most delicious beverages out there.
*Seaweed Soup: As one of the courses served in the Kong Family Mansion, Seaweed Soup elevated its' ingredients' unique attributes to their highest extreme. Laver and pigeon eggs evoke a beautiful landscape, and when paired with a delicious broth, the refreshing taste becomes a romantic concept that spans the millennium.
*Snowleaf Fish Cake: One of Svart's delicacies. The fish meat is minced with snowleaf, sour plums, starch, and salt. Then it is fried until golden brown and served with tomato and lime sauce. The snowleaf native to Svart gives it a sour bitter taste. This dish boasts high nutritional value and is popular among the locals, especially the children.
*Yuntao Tea: There is a special kind of local black tea in Zhaonan City that's enriched with a unique handcrafting method. First, it hits the palate with a trace of bitterness, then finishes with a sweet taste. The Yuntao Tea's body is of a rich tangy yellow color, its fragrance is sharp and lingering. Its aroma is unique, its taste is full, and its flavor can last over numerous servings, and it can help with relaxation and calming of the mind.
*Prime Level: Beef produced in specific regions is classified into the following grades: PRIME, CHOICE, SELECT, STANDARD, COMMERCIAL, UTILITY, CUTTER, and CANNER. Prime refers to the highest grade of beef, accounting for about 2% of the total beef production, which is only sold in high-end restaurants.
=== Customs ===
* Seth's Bone: A gold pendant modeled off ancient Khaimit's God of Storms, Seth. Apparently it has the mysterious power to break through the boundary between the world of the living and the dead.
*Faerie Prayer Day: One of the most traditional holidays on Skadi Island. During that day, if people were to pray and make a wish in the Holy Faerie Chapel, they would receive the faeries' blessing and their wish would come true.
*Pledge of Love: In the traditions of the Vaxi, the young men would preform riveting music by blowing on green leaves to express their love to their crush. Legend has it that if a hundred birds fly by while the music is being played, then the two will enjoy a happy and long life together.
*Wordless Love Letter: In the history of Bettonia, wordless love letters represent one of the most romantic expressions of love.
=== Craftsmanship ===
* Kintsugi Technique: Kintsugi, also known as "golden repair," is a technique used to repair broken items with purely natural materials. Kintsugi is widely-used and is mostly applied in ceramics and purple clay pottery. Normally, it takes about 20 days to restore an item with Kintsugi.
=== Lore & Beliefs ===
* Xiezhi: A mythological creature of the East that is highly intelligent with a deep understand of the human civilization. Xiezhi is a symbol of legal justice. It has the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, the noble and the treacherous. It would knock down corrupt officials with its horns and devour them.
*Amon: A major Egyptian deity. Amon formed part of a family triad known as the Theban Triad with Mut, his wife, and Khonsu, his son. After Thebes became a part of the New Empire, Amon acquired national importance, as expressed in his fusion with the Egyptian Sun god, Ra, as Amon-Ra.
*Spirits of Solomon: Seventy-two demons sealed in brazen vessels and featured in the grimoire of evocation, Lesser Key of Solomon. Each demon holds its own rank and office. They are said to assist or grant powers to whoever that summons them.
*Merfolk: A mysterious race with the body of a human and the tail of a fish, merfolk live in the East Sea. They're skilled at weaving sea silk, which is impermeable to water and fire. Rumor has it that when merfolk cry, their tears become pearls.
*Yuki-onna: According to Japanese folklore, Yuki-onna is a spirit that appears in snowy places. Dressed in white, she often appears as a beautiful woman to seduce men before killing them.
*Naraka: Naraka is the Hindu equivalent of hell. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, Naraka is a place where the dead are sent to be punished. Also known as purgatory.
*Shi-e: Shi-e is a common belief in medieval Japan. The fear of death led to the belief that death is infectious. If one comes into contact with a corpse, they will also be infected with death.
*Gospel of Matthew: The first part of the Four Gospels of the New Testament. Consisting of a total of 28 chapters and 1168 verses, this book records the life of Jesus Christ, It is generally held by church tradition that this book was written by one of Christ's disciples, Matthew.
*Norse Mythology: The mythological system of the North Germanic people. Contains a great deal of stories about Gods, creatures, and heroes. Unlike most myths that deal with the glory of creation, North mythology focuses on destruction and assumes that all things, including the Gods, are not eternal.
*Odin: The Allfather God and wise ruler of the Asgard from Norse mythology. Was married to Frigga, the highest-ranking goddess of Aesir.
*Fountain of Wisdom: Guarded by the giant Mimir, it was greatly sought after by Odin. Odin drank from the fountain in exchange for his right eye and became omniscient. But it was this wisdom, which foresaw the future, that led Odin down the path of sorrow.
*Mimir: The wise giant. Was one of the original Gods in the Norse mythology, responsible for creating the giants.
*Eye of Providence: A symbol from Christian theology, depicted as an eye enclosed in a triangle. "Providence," meaning of divinity and guidance, and an eye that represents Gods all-seeing eye that looks down on all of humanity. Originally, the Eye of Providence was not defined to be either the right or left eye specifically. However, most depictions of the Eye of Providence today are drawn on the left eye.
*Zeus: The supreme king of the Greek Gods. Possesses eternal wisdom, an imposing physique, and powerful magic, using lightning and fire to maintain order in the world. He and his brothers (Poseidon and Hades) collectively rule everything from the heavens to the underworld. Yet, they were not born with this right. Their father, the Titan-King Cronus, used to rule the Greek continent. One day though, he was given a prophecy that his children would take his throne. To prevent this from happening, Cronus swallowed his immortal children in order to isolate them in his stomach. Zeus was the youngest child, and Cronus' wife could not bear to see another one of her children consumed. So, in desperation, she hid Zeus and fed Cronus a stone wrapped in Zeus' bed sheets instead. Much later---once Zeus had grown up---he then rescued his five elder brothers and sisters from his father's stomach. They then, together, defeated their father (and the rest of the titans), seizing the throne of Olympus, and making Cronus' feared prophecy come true. Although Zeus can effectively rule the Greek world, he is a slave to his own passions. Even though he is married to the beautiful Hera, he often cheats. This enrages his wife, and she often takes revenge against the objects' of Zeus' lust and their children. Despite this cheating though, Zeus genuinely cares for Hera, and he often uses his shapeshifting to win her back. On one occasion, he turned himself into a fragile, little bird and beckoned a thunderstorm. Hera saw the seemingly cruel storm hurting the small bird, and she nursed it back to health. In this warm state, Zeus flashed back into his true form and begged for forgiveness. She begrudgingly agreed to forgive him... as she always does. Zeus will never be mistaken for a saint, but he is indeed a competent and fair king. Under his rule, the Greek continent achieved incredible prosperity and wisdom.
*Athena: The goddess of war strategy, Athena, has always been the "perfect daughter" of Zeus. And indeed, it seems that all the positive words in the world can be used to describe her: beautiful, brave, and wise just to name a few. She, unlike her philandering father, has taken a vow of celibacy, promising to never marry or fall in love. This vow allows her clever mind to be unified on any purpose she chooses. And usually, her choice of purpose is to help her allies gain the strategic advantage in battle. Athena was almost universally adored by the Greeks. She came into the world very mysteriously though. Her mother was the ocean Titaness Metis, who was the first lover of Zeus and the most beloved daughter of Oceanus, the sea Titan. When Metis was pregnant with Athena, Zeus was embroiled in war with the Titans, and Metis; clever strategies helped Zeus succeed. However, Cronus was unwilling to go quietly, and cursed the baby inside of Metis' womb, stating: "Metis' child, born of this world, will overthrow Zeus' rule, and all of Greece will be thrown into flames." Looking worriedly at his lover, Zeus was heartbroken knowing the fate of, not only himself, but of all Greece. Yet noble Metis sacrificed herself to be sealed inside of Zeus' body. She had an interesting plan. One day, Zeus had an unrelenting headache, an it was so bad that he begged for his son Hephaestus, the God of Blacksmiths, to swing an axe onto his forehead. From his wound though, Athena sprung out, already wearing armor and carrying a sharpened spear. Because Athena was born inside of Zeus, and not "of this world," the curse could not be enacted. Metis had saved the realm, and because of her sacrifice, Zeus especially loved the daughter. However, Athena has always been full of doubts about her own origins, and Zeus has never explained the whole story to her.
*Muse: There is always wonderful music flowing throughout the sunny mountain of Olympus, which is the blessed melody played by Muse. Muse is the daughter of the God-King Zeus and the Titaness of memory, Mnemosyne. Physically, she is petite with a gold belt around her waist, accentuating her slender figure. This sweet, young maiden is engaged in all the beautiful things in the world. She especially loves freedom, and is very good friends with Dionysus, the God of Wine. Muse's musical skills are the greatest among all of the gods. However, an ocean Siren, who also plays mesmerizing music, was not convinced; she thought her singing voice and songs were the best. So, Siren proposed to have a musical competition between the two of them. When the day came, this contest attracted many gods. Siren went first. Her glorious notes resounded throughout the countryside and brought tears to the eyes of the Gods. They all applauded warmly and secretly began to worry for Muse. However, Muse did not panic at all, and they witnessed her calmly set her harp upon her shoulder while her fingers began to pluck the strings skillfully and briskly. Her melodious song conquered the Gods' hearts. The tones fluctuated between mania and gentle ecstasy and conveyed every emotion imaginable. After the performance, the Gods were speechless and stilled. The victor was self-evident. Muse won, and the siren knew it too. After this competition, no one dared to challenge Muse ever again, and she continued to live her life of leisure.
*Isis: Perhaps the most important Goddess of all Egyptian mythology. She was the goddess of life and magic who was reasonable for motherhood and fertility.
*God of Death: An important God that governs death in the Nosta culture, evident by a temple of worship on Nosta. There are many rumored "miracles" said to have taken place on the island.
*God of Death Temple: Located on the west mountains of Nosta, it's one of its ancient cultural symbols whose structure bear striking resemblance to the Abu Simbel temples.
*Immortal Ritual: Part of the Nosta culture. The people of ancient Nosta believed that if you could find the God of Death incantation and scepter, then you could perform this ritual to attain immortality.
*God of Death Scepter: Part of the Nosta culture, it is considered long lost by now.
*Book of the Dead: Necronomicon, written by an unknown author, was an Egyptian collection of religious poetry detailing the religious beliefs and customs of the ancient Egyptians, as well as their desire to conquer nature.
*Ammit: In Egyptian mythology, Ammit was a creature with a crocodile for the head, a lion for its upper body, and a hippo for its lower body. Those that were found guilty by Maat's judgement were swallowed by Ammit and would never rest in peace.
*God of Death Incantation: Part of the Nosta culture. According to Nosta legends, the God of Death returns to the world once every ten years. In the morning after a full moon, the first light will shine on a God of Death statue, revealing an incantation to communicate with the dead.
*Golden Mask of Anubis: Anubis was the God of Death in ancient Egyptian mythology. The image of its wolf-headed body often appeared in the murals of pharaohs. Ancient Egyptians valued the afterlife, worshipping and praying to Anubis to protect the dead. The golden Anubis mask was created in the image of the god and rumored to have connections with the afterlife.
*Maat's Feather: Maat was the goddess of justice and truth, recognized by an ostrich feather on her head. In Egyptian mythology, before the dead went to the underworld, they would undergo Maat's judgement. Their hearts would be put on a scale with Maat's feather. If it was lighter or equal to the weight of Maat's feather, the dead would be innocent and vice versa.
*Gandharva: In Indian Mythology, it is the half-god, half-beast spirits that imbibe scents. They do not eat meat, but they are carnal.
*Plane at the End of Time: Sitting on the mountain tops near the Seti Falls rests what seems to be the wreckage of a plane. The legend has the plane under the spell of the Siren. Whenever the Siren begins to sing, the plane will return to its previous form and bring all those who have heard the Siren's song to another world.
*Siren: In the legend of Skadi Island, a magical being takes the form of a young woman and lures people to the sea or mountain tops with its beautiful singing. Those who follow the melodic voice find themselves on "the plane to the end of time."
*Alchemy: A technique centered on the transmutation of base metals into noble metals. Although modern science has proven alchemy to be fake, alchemy makes an impact in the history of chemistry.
*The Church of Svart: To maintain political power and stabilize social order, Svart established the state church to emphasize the unity of church and state. The doctrine holds that the will of God is higher than the will of men, and the people should submit to it unconditionally. This indirectly negates and stifles the creativity of men.
=== Books ===
* "Introduction to the Psychology of Love and Attraction": A book that teaches the inexperienced and the uninitiated how to form a romantic relationship with the target of their affection. It is written by a psychologist who prefers to remain anonymous.
*Law Examination Sample Questions Walkthrough: This tutorial book contains real past year questions and detailed solutions. It is considered one of the essential books for the Attorney Exam due to its clear-cut main points and extremely detailed explanations.
*"Around the World in Eighty Days": An adventure novel written by Jules Verne and published in 1873. The novel portrayed the advancement in shipping and transportation, and it fueled debates about whether such a feet - circumnavigating the globe in 80 days - was possible.
*BL: "Boys Love". A depiction of love and eroticism between men. Although it sounds vulgar, it is often a display of pure, sublime love, and there are many worthwhile works of art in the genre.
*"Remote Island Survival Techniques": Published in 2023 by National Central University, Remote Island Survival Techniques is written by a retired Special Forces soldier. In the book, he uses humor and real-life examples to teach people survival techniques. The book has sold over 9 million copies to date.
*"Blurry Days and Nights": A picture book by a late emerging painter Cyrus Brown, and it was his first and last work. With a cute and refreshing art style, the book describes a boy searching for a divine bird in a pure world filled with dreams.
*"Why Fish fart": An abbreviation of Why Fish Fart and Other Useless and Disgusting Knowledge About the World. The book covers the usage of unpopular knowledge related to food, animals, the human body, behavior, illnesses, and treatment. It's similar to Why Do Skunks Stink?, Whose Ear Hair is the World's Longest? in it's weirdness and distastefulness.
*"One Hundred Thousand Whys": The title is derived from a popular science book by Soviet author Mikhail II'in, II'in himself got the title from the Russian translation of English poet Rudyard Kipling's poem about curiosity. The last line of the Russian translation mentions "one hundred thousand whys," where the number "one hundred thousand" is a metaphor for an enormous quantity of things. The "One Hundred Thousand Whys" series is written with children as its intended audience. However, due to the lively style in which it is written, how it explains a large amount of complex scientific knowledge using easily understandable terms, the series has also earned itself many youth and even adult readers.
=== Film & TV ===
* About Time: This is a sci-fi romance film that was directed by Richard Curtis which screened in 2013. In the movie, the protagonist Tim discovers he has the ability to travel through time. He uses the ability over and over until he's able to marry the love of his life, Mary. Tim met the girl named Mary at a party. However, his attempt to help another person caused him to miss this encounter. To prevent this from happening, he went back in time again to meet her at the party again. The two of them started dating, and they eventually got married and had kids. Tim needed to keep his ability a secret, so he kept it hidden, even from Mary. Their marriage was filled with many problems that Tim solved with his ability. It wore him down until his father inspired him to live each day as if it was his last. This prompted Tim to use his ability less and less, for he understood that cherishing every moment with Mary was more important. There are many memorable quotes from the movie, such as "I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day to enjoy it as if it was the final day of my extraordinary life." Another memorable quote is "We're all traveling through time together every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride."
*"50 First Dates": A romantic comedy film that chronicles a marine veterinarian's love for a middle school art teacher with anterograde amnesia.
*"Penn the Pony": A television cartoon produced by New York TV. The story revolves around the daily adventures of Penn the Pony and its family, whether they be thrilling or warm and loving. The simple contains deep philosophy, and the tone of the whole series is widely praised. "Penn the Pony" has been popular with parents and children since its release due to its simple plot development and how it conveys correct values. The pony, named Penn, is now the most famous pony in New York.
*"Witness for the Prosecution": Directed by Billy Wilder, it is based on a novel by author Agatha Christie. The film tells the story of Sir Wilfrid, a well-known criminal defense lawyer in London. He is defending Vole, a client involved in a murder case. The film showcases a comprehensive view of the courts and jury system in western countries. It is considered to be an excellent legal film due to its humorous characters, strong British cultural atmosphere, and perfect plot structure.
*"The Rose of France": Directed by the well-known independent director Qi Anshan, it is a remake of the 1986 film "Betty Blue." The film tells the story of a couple who fell in love, enraptured by the romance of life, but are ultimately separated due to the chaos of life. Using the original work as a foundation, the film boldly added more detailed descriptions and characters, making the plot more complex and diverse. The industry has been debating the comparison between the film's artistic achievements when compared to the original.
=== Entertainment ===
* Sudoku: The history of Sudoku dates back to an 18th Century Swiss mathematician. The modern game of Sudoku as we recognize it today was invented by Howard Garns, a freelance puzzle inventor from Connerseville, Indiana, USA in 1979. The objective is to fill a 9 X 9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3 X 3 subgrids that compose the grid contain all of the digits from 1 to 9.
* Escape Room: A special game type that combines adventure and puzzle solving. Tpyically, players are trapped in a room or faced with a situation with an imminent threat. Using the tools and clues, they must complete their tasks or solve the puzzle in order to escape and reach their destination within a time limit.
* New York Film Festival: The grand international film festival is hosted by the New York Museum and runs for an entire month. It is renowned for discovering outstanding films and up-and-coming filmmakers from all over the world. Aside from the traditional awards, there are also rewards such as New Director and Screenwriter awards.
*Real Crime: A detective crime-solving game. Players enter a live-action crime scene as suspects. Through search warrents, interrogation, body searches, and discussions, players have to work out the plot of the crime and deduce who is the real "killer." Before the players start, they have to dress up as the various characters in the game. The randomly selected "killer" will have to use different techniques in order to avoid suspicion. The enjoyment and difficulty of this type of game is much more entertaining than typical detective games.
=== Drama ===
* Kabuki: A classic and unique form of Japanese play. The performers are all male. Edo culture is integrated into the dance, and the music is centered around the grandiose theme of "kabuku", meaning "to be out of the ordinary". It is one of the three forms of theatre in Japan, along with Noh and Bunraku.
== Works Terminology ==
=== Music ===
* "Clair De Lune": The third and most famous movement of Suite bergamasue by Debussy.
* "Emperor": The full name of Haydn's Emperor is actually String Quartet No. 62 in C major, Op. 76, No. 3, Hob.III:77, Emperor, which identifies it as: Quartet No. 62 in C Major, Opus 76, No. 3 (In the Hoboken catalogue, where its full designation is Hob.III:77).
*"O Solo Mio": A Neapolitan song written in 1898. It is composed by Eduardo di Capua and Alfredo Mazzucchi (composers) with Giovanni Capurro as the lyricist. It was also the most representative work of the Italian operatic tenor, Luciana Pavarotti. The copyright of the melody became public domain when it expired 2042.
*"Por Una Cabeza": A famous Spanish tango song composed by Argentine singer Carlos Gardel. The song, comparing an addiction to horse racing with an attraction to women, is the perfect representation of Argentine tango. It was used in the movie The Tango - Scent of a Woman, which turned the scene into a classic. Many other films and works have used this song as well.
*"Jewel Song": An aria sung by Marguerite in Act III of the opera "Faust". While it's original title is "Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir," the aria is better known as the "Jewel song". Although the aria is about Marguerite expressing her joy at receiving a jewel box from an anonymous sender, it also contains a behind-the-scenes story that is not immediately apparent when just listening to the song. Before Marguerite discovers the jewel box, her admirer Siebel has already left a bunch of flowers in front of her house, hoping that she would notice his feelings for her. However, Mephistopheles places a beautifully adorned box full of jewels next to the flowers so that Faust is sure to be able to seduce Marguerite. The song is known as the "Jewel Song" and not the "Flower Song," so it's easy to understand what happens next. Sopranos who play the role of Marguerite often act out the excitement of their character by trying on the accessories in the box or by looking into a mirror.
*"The Internationale": A protest song first written during the Paris Commune. It is about worker liberation and social equality. In 1871, when the lyrics were first written, it was sung to the tune of "La Marseillaise", and later its lyrics became associated with the new melody we are now familiar with. Both the composer and the song writer or from the working class. The Internationale spread throughout the country, and was translated into numerous languages. The title "Internationale" arises from the "First Internationale", an alliance of workers who held an international congress. Although the First Internationale was disbanded 1876, the song is still sung even up to this date.
*"Love is Just A Dream": A violin piece in the album "Millennium Romance" by Korean composer Claude Choe. Combines the themes of western classical music and eastern culture. It derives kind and romantic melodies that soften the heart and fills the soul.
*"Wouldn't It Be Nice": A song by the Beach Boys in the 1960s.
*"Spanish Romance": A guitar piece in the style of Parlour music of the late 19th century in Spain or South America. It was featured in the Spanish movie, Forbidden Games (1952). It is considered to be a piece that all guitar players have to learn.
*"I Want to Spend My Life With You": The poem of the same name is written by Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva, known as "the greatest Russian poet of the 20th Century." Her often focus on the themes of life and death, love, art, and the times. Her poems had been praised as immortal and monumental. The song was adapted from the poem by an unknown band, which has since disbanded. Therefore, the stories behind its creations are lost.
=== Arts ===
* "The Night Watch": Commonly referred to as The Night Watch, the name of the painting is actually Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Banninch Cocq, also known as The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch. It is currently in the collection of the Amsterdam Museum.
* "The Card Players": A series of oil paintings by the French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. Painted during Cézanne's final period in the early 1890s, there are five paintings in the series.
*"Sunflowers": The name of two series of still life paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The more commonly known series is the second series executed in 1888 - 1889 in Aries, showing a bouquet of sunflowers in a vase. The series features three, five, twelve, and fifteen sunflowers in a vase. The pieces are divided up and kept at Sompo Japan Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, United States, National Gallery in London, England, and Neue Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. Out of the seven paintings of sunflowers, one was destroyed in WWII, and three are repetitions of the others in the series.
*Vase with Three Sunflowers (August, 1888): Considered to be the first in the series. It is currently part of a private collection.
*Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers: Three variations exist. The 4th version is kept at the National Gallery in London, English, the repetition of the 4th version is kept at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and the replica of the 4th version is kept at Sompo Japan Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan.
*Vase with Twelve Sunflowers: Two variations exist. The 3rd version is kept at Neue Pinakothek in Munich, Germany, while the repetition of the 3rd version is kept at Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, United States.
*Vase with Five Sunflowers (August, 1888): Considered to be the second in the series. It was destroyed during a US air raid of Osaka, Japan in WWII.
*Lake Tahoe: A renowned landscape water painting much sought after for its flowing colors and visually-pleasing style.
*A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains: An ink and watercolor painting on silk, by Wang Ximeng during the Northern Song dynasty. It's currently kept by The Palace Museum in Beijing. Widely considered as the masterpiece of "blue-green landscape", mineral-based paint azurite blue and malachite green feature prominently in this artwork.
*"Little Thieves": A romantic piece by the famous artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. The painting depicts a scene where a mother is holding her daughter up in the air. Bouguereau's delicate work perfectly portrays the natural beauty of women and the posture of a mother's love. The painting is elegant, and romantic, portraying the strong emotion and bond between mother and child.
=== Literature ===
* "Paradise Lost": An epic poem by the English poet, John Milton. The work, written in blank verse, is based on Revelations in the Old Testament of the Bible, which depicts the fall of man.
*Sky: The hardcore Sci-Fi classic tells the story of the rise and fall of several generations of cosmic empires. It was published to great acclaim, and its author became famous in the science fiction world. Although the book was written in the last century, its rigorous logical system and complete scientific conception never went out of date. Even today, it is worth a careful read.
*Broken Verse: Modern poetry, created by the poet Bian Zhilin. It combines beautiful imagery with the philosophical thinking of the universe and life. The poems are meaningful and charming.
*"Love in a Fallen City": One of the most famous and successful works, Love in a Fallen City was a short story written by Eileen Chang in 1943.
*"To The Nightingale": The first sonnet written by English poet John Milton around 1930.
*"Shakespeare's Sonnets": A collection of 154 sonnets published by William Shakespeare in 1906. First published in 1609, most of the sonnets were written between the years 1592 and 1598; it is still one of William Shakespeare's most important works.
*"Divine Comedy": Written in the 14th century by an Italian poet, Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri, and was commonly known as "Dante Alighieri". In Divine Comedy, the narrative describes Dante's (who shares the same name as the author himself) travels through the afterlife. Dante meets historical and mythical characters of the past, and discusses theology and philosophy with them. The author raises questions about the widespread ideas of the time, criticizes the corruption, and describes life after death through Dante. Of course, he not only wrote about past figures of his time, but contemporary figures as well. He did this by introducing his political enemies in the "Inferno" and causing them to suffer the most hellish pain. In summary, the Divine Comedy is a brilliant nuanced and moving allegory of knowledge, and Dante's ideas. Of course, he is inevitably bound by medieval perceptions of his time, but Dante narrates through Divine Comedy on how to live in pursuit of eternal bliss. August's Rodin's sculpture "The Thinker" is part of Rodin's work, "The Gates of Hell", inspired by Divine Comedy's Inferno part. The gate is engraved with a phrase from Divine Comedy. It reads "Abandon hope all ye, who enter here."
*"Strange Tales of Liaozhai": A collection of supernatural tales written in the Qing dynasty by Pu Songling. The majority of the stories revolved around spirits and deities, and had a unique artistic style.
*"Jane Eyre": A novel by English author Charlotte Bronte. In the story, Jane Eyre lost her parents at a young age and went to live with her uncle's family, where she was mistreated by her aunt. She finally escaped the horrible environment after much difficulty, becoming a governess at Thornfield. She wins Mr. Rochester's respect and affection, but she's forced to leave Thornfield after a sudden turn of events.
*"Othello": One of the four great tragedies by Shakespeare. In the story, Othello begins doubting Desdemona after discord was sown between them. He believes his wife is having an affair with his captain. In a rage, Othello strangles her to death. He later commits suicide upon discovering the truth.
*"Song": Written by British poet Christina Rossetti. Describes a person's feelings and unwillingness to part with their loved one after death.
*The Analects of Confucius - Ji Shi: In the Analects of Confucius, one of the stories goes: if the tiger and the rhino escape from the cage and turtle shells and jades are destroyed in the process, who is at fault?
*"Seeing You Carry Plants In": A work of literature written by American poet Robert Bly. At the end of the poem, Robert writes, "Your voice is water open beneath stars, collected from abundant rain, gone to low places. The night is moist, the ground wet, air still, trees silent, and tonight I love you."
*"Pygmalion": In Greek Mythology, Pygmalion was the king of Cyprus who was very good at sculpture. He put all his passion, energy and love into carving a beautiful ivory maiden, naming her Galatea. Pygmalion begged the gods to turn Galatea human so that she could be his wife. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was so moved by Pygmalion's determination that she gave Galatea life.
*Book of Deuteronomy: A book in the Old Testament. Contains 34 chapters. It records the future of the Israelis, the difficulties they will face on the other side of the Jordan River, and the final message Moses gave to his people.
*"Selected Cases of Hopkins & Associates": It tells the story of a young lawyer named Hopkins who accidently stumbled upon various strange cases and assists the police in solving them. Hopkins and his assistant Helen display their professionalism in law and extraordinary observation skills in the process of solving the cases. The two also slowly develop feelings for one another throughout the process of the cases. This series is still ongoing.
*"The Count of Monte Cristo": Written by French author Alexandre Dumas, it tells the story of Edmond Dantes, who was falsely imprisoned for 14 years. After escaping, he finds a treasure and becomes the "Count of Monte Cristo," swearing revenge on those who wronged him. It has received critical acclaim and has been adapted into film, TV shows, drama, and so on.
*"Macbeth": This play is one of the four great tragedies written by William Shakespeare. The other three are Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. The last line of Act 4, Scene 3 is: "The night is long that never finds the day."
*"Bizarre Gardens": "When Wen Qiao passed through Niu Zhuji, he heard music from under the river, which looked deep and immeasurable. Numerous monsters were rumored to be living under the water. Wen Qiao quickly lit up a rhinoceros horn and held it to the water. As he expected, he saw many strange monsters coming to put out the fire." Extracted from "Bizarre Gardens," written by Liu Jingshu. It has recorded many mysteries.
*"The Interaction of Law and Religion": A famous book by Harold Berman. An original excerpt is as follows: Law without faith degenerates into legalism. Faith without law degenerates into religiosity. Law has to be believed in, or it will not work.
*"Sand and Foam": A famous book by Kahlil Gibran.
*Tellus Travelogue: A travelogue of a mysterious writer, detailing his journey on the Tellus Train that traveled from south to north. The descriptions are so vivid that anyone who reads the book feels as if they were on the train themselves, making it popular among the people of Bettonia.
*The villains become friends out of common interests: "The villains become friends out of common interests. And when they have the same interest, they will view their temporary party as friends, although fake." "On the Partisanship of Friendship" was written by Quyang Qiu, a writer in the Song Dynasty, in which he put forth the view that "villains don't have a party, only gentlemen do." He utilizes many rhetorical devices to criticize the friends of villains who are harmful to the country and expresses his wishes to befriend more gentlemen.
=== Drama ===
* "Turandot": The final work by famous Italian opera composer, Giacomo Puccini. The opera, which is three acts, is the love story between Prince Calaf and Princess Turandot. In the story, any suitor who wanted to obtain permission to marry Turandot would have to solve three riddles. Any single wrong answer will result in the suitor's execution. Turandot's beauty attracted many suitors, but every single one of them was executed. Calaf, also attracted by Turandot's beauty, was the only one to answer all the riddles correctly. Turandot could not accept her defeat, so Calaf offered her a way out. If she could guess his name by sunrise, he would accept death. In an effort to obtain his name, Turandot captured his father and servant, torturing them to no avail. In the end, Calaf persuaded Turandot to marry him with a kiss. Eventually, his name was revealed to be "love."
*"Faust, the play": First published in 1808, this play was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. "Faust" is the protagonist of a classic German legend. Goethe's play, "Faust" was based on this historical character. The play depicts a man's purpose, endeavors and salvation in life based on Christian morals. To summarize very briefly, the story concerns the fate of Faust in his quest for the true essence and meaning of life, in spite of the devil Mephistopheles, who makes a bet with Faust and tries to destroy his soul. Once Faust is content, he will shout "Ah, linger on, thou art so fair!" and be defeated by the devil. Then, he shall be damned to hell where his soul is seized by Mephistopheles. The second part is much more complicated than the first, so Gounod's opera "Faust" was adapted from only chapter one. "Faust" has inspired uncountable artistic and cultural works over time. It is rather interesting to find which other works were inspired by "Faust". Although it took a very long time...
*"Faust, the opera": Composed by Charles Gounod, based on Michel Carré's adaptation of the first part of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's play. So it's like an adaptation of an adaptation. The first performance took place in 1859. It was a great commercial success at the time. Set in 16th-century Germany, the opera tells the tale of Faust, a man seduced by Mephistopheles and granted youth. Faust then seduces a young maiden named Marguerite, only to abandon her later. Literature enthusiasts have criticized the opera on the grounds that it borrows only some portions of the original work and fails to fully honor the themes of the original. But is it quite so necessary for an adaptation to stay so utterly true to the original work? The audience are probably able to emphasize better with the opera's moving music than with the suffering and development of Faust as depicted in the play. It may even be that Gounod's opera helped people feel psychologically closer to Faust here than in the play.
*"Polyeucte": Written in the 17th century by French writer Pierre Corneille. It is a drama in five acts based on the life of the martyr Saint Polyeuctus in Melitene. In 1878, Charles Gounod adapted <Polyeucte> into an opera.
*"Romeo and Juliet": The opera Romeo and Juliet was adapted from Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is about the romance between Romeo and Juliet, which ended in a tragedy brought about by the feud between their families. It was written by Charles Gounod to a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The opera debuted on April 27th 1867 at the Théâtre-Lyrique Impérial du Châtelet in Paris.
*"Kanjincho": One of the Eighteen Best Kabuki Plays, and the second most performed play. The play takes place after the Genpei War and is about Minamoto no Yoritomo trying to overthrow his accomplished brother, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. As such, Yoshitsune and his men disguise themselves as priests seeking donations. However, the guard, Togashi Saemon becomes suspicious of them when they try to pass the gate through Kaga. He requests for a kanjincho, which is a list of donators. Benkei, Yoshitsune's follower, takes an unrelated scroll and begins reading loudly. Togashi continues to test Benkei, but to no avail. Togashi remains suspicious. Benkei is forced to beat his master, Yoshitsune, to clear them of suspicion. When Yoshitsune is out of danger, Togashi confesses to having treated them badly, and even invites them to drink. Benkei performs the "dance of longevity" amid drinks, giving Yoshitsune the chance to escape. Benkei apologetically leaves Togashi, saying he needs to pursue Yoshitsune.
*"Phantom of the Opera": A timeless masterpiece with a romantic plot, complete with wonderful music and perfect dance. Based on the Gothic romance novel with the same name by Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux, this musical was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
== Gem & Minerals Terminology ==
* Amethyst: In Roman Mythology, the amethyst is a symbol of Bacchus, the god of wine, also known as the Tear of Bacchus. It was believed that the amethyst could preserve a wine-drinker's sanity, so amethysts were often worn as accessories or used to craft wine vessels.
* Bettonia Druse: Bettonia crystals are a rare mineral found only in the Myerson Mountains. The raw mineral is found in clusters of crystals, which come in a variety of colors that glow brightly at night. Thus, locals often use it in jewelry. Only the wealthy wear these crystals as jewelry, however.
* The Gifted Crystal: Definition: An ore from the gods. When the Bettonia crystals were first uncovered, many people believed their holy color and soft light to be an indication of when the gods arrive. So the white crystals were believed to be a gift from the gods, hence the name.
* Artificial Bettonia Crystal: A man-made mineral created to resemble Bettonia crystals. Its elemental composition is not the same as Bettonia crystals. but its appearance and other characteristics are consistent with those of Bettonia crystals.
== Animals & Plants ==
* Green Mist: A green-petaled chrysanthemum unique to one of New York's neighboring states.
*Pharaoh Hound: A Maltese breed of hunting dog traditionally thought to be from Egypt. Its name in the original language means "rabbit dog." The Maltese government regards the Pharaoh Hound as its national beast and has issued silver coins with a Pharaoh Hound on them.
*Opaline Fish: Freshwater fish native to the Opaline River. Highly recommended by foodies for its tasty meat. Considered a New York City delicacy, this fish can be eaten raw or cooked.
*Moon Jellyfish: Aurelia aurita (also called the common jellyfish, moon jellyfish, moon jelly, or saucer jelly.) The jellyfish is almost entirely translucent, found throughout most of the world's oceans, from the tropics to as far north as latitude 70° north and as far south as 40° south. The species Aurelia aurita is found along the eastern Atlantic coast of Northern Europe, the western Atlantic coast of North America in New England, and Eastern Canada.
*Edelweiss: The Edelweiss is a mountain flower, and a national symbol of Austria, It symbolizes purity and courage. It is said that you can see it growing as high up as 4000 meters above the sea level on the Alps. Hence, it is also known as the symbol of the Alps.
*Dodders: Dodders are parasitic plants. They are practically leafless, with leaves that are literally minute scales. Hence, they are dependent upon their hosts nutrition. “Dodder“ can be used to describe someone who is incapable of surviving independently.
*Poppies: Also known as corn poppies, Flanders poppies, and red poppies. In the United Kingdom and Canada, poppies are used to commemorate the soldiers who died for their countries in World War I, so it is also known as the remembrance poppy.
*Belladonna: A poisonous plant. Even the slightest dose could result in death. Belladonna was used in eye drops to dilate the pupils and make eyes appear more appealing. In Europe during the middle ages, Belladonna was a fashionable cosmetic product. But long term usage of Belladonna caused irreparable damage to the eyes, and in severe cases, caused death.
*Nosta Gull: A type of sea bird found only on Nosta. Notorious for being clever and hard to catch, it only lets down its guard slightly while feeding.
*Vulture: Scavengers that feed on decaying animals and often associated with death in the Nosta culture. Part of the Accipiridae bird family.
*Gladiolus: Holds the wonderful meaning of longevity, health, peace, and love. Its name comes from the long leaves in the shape of a gladius. The rose, carnation, gladiolus, and gerbera are known as "the four cut flowers of the world."
*Noctiluca Scintillans: A type of pollutant-resistant marine Pyrrophyta found in oceans from all over the world. As its name implies its luminous nature, usually caused by an external stimulation, is considered romantic, but its overpopulation may be detrimental to the fishery.
*Dugong: One of the oldest ocean animals today. They have a cute and thick appearance and can be found in the shallow oceans of the tropics. Due to its need to periodically resurface to breathe, they were often mistaken to the "mermaids" by fishermen in ancient times.
*Puffin: A peculiar type of bird that likes to gather on cliffs and islands, and dives into the water to hunt for food. The Sakya Fjord is the gathering place of puffins on Skadi Island. Tourists can get up close and personal to enjoy the cuteness of these small birds.
*Skadi Pony: A unique horse of Skadi Island. These ponies grow very slowly, but are extremely durable and have a very long life span. These small ponies are stronger and more durable than they may seem. Skadi Ponies are often used for equestrian, horse racing, and other entertainment activities.
*Far End Flowers: A flower that grows in the Far End District near the Eversea. It was once called the "everlasting fragrance" in ancient times. It is pure and white in color, signifying the idea of divine serenity. Rumor has it that if you gift a hairpin made of far end flowers to your lover, then the two of you will stay together for the rest of your lives.
*Purple Starlings: A type of bird that reside near the Jade Wetland. The color of the feathers of these birds is extremely unique. The feathers will become a variation of shades of green, blue, and purple under the light in different conditions. Rumor has it that spotting a Purple Starling resembles good luck.
*Dwarf Chin Cactus: Belongs to the family Cactaceae, a Gymnocalycium succulent. It enjoys the sunlight and is resilient to dry environments. It's a plant that is very easy to cultivate. It has a spherical shape and is magnificent when its flowers bloom.
*Parrot Tulip: One of the most precious strands of tulips. They are very different from ordinary tulips. The petals of the parrot tulip overlap with one another and have irregular curvature. When it blossoms, the shape and color of its petals resemble the weaving colors of parrot feathers, hence the name.
== Technology Terminology ==
=== Inventions ===
* Allmates: Artificial lifeforms equipped with artificial intelligence. Allmates primarily help their owners interface with the network. They come in a wide variety of forms and are often treated as pets. Many users are very attached to their Allmates.
* Coil: Coils are wearable electronic devices that fill a multitude of roles, including telephone, network interface, television, wallet, and personal identification.
*NGAGE: Stands for Neural Generated Avatar Graphics Experience. By getting a NGAGE chip inserted in your brain cranial, you can enter a private virtual world with your partner, all by simply tapping it. Said virtual world is customizable, in whatever way you see fit.
*Cloud Storage: Online storage utilizing cloud computing. To put it simply, you can imagine it as a storage device of digital data on a network.
*Smartwatch: Comes with multiple features, including GPS and map features. It also allows you to communicate with other people who have it.
*Vochlocho: A product sold on the dark web. Use a PC to upload someone's voice to analyze their voice profile. Input that information and put the Vochlocho on your neck. This allows for small electric signals to alter the voice.
*Facial Composite: A graphical representation of one or more eyewitness' memory of a face, recorded by a composite artist. Facial composites are used mainly by the police in their investigation of crimes. These images are used to reconstruct the suspect's face in hopes of identifying them. Construction of the composite is performed by a trained artist or with computer software in consultation with a witness or crime victim. It can be used as a valuable lead if its semblance is more than 50% of what the suspect looks like.
=== Words ===
* Encode: To codify or turn to symbols. This means all information in existence is recorded on a flat surface.
== Game Terminology ==
* Rhyme: A virtual game that is extremely popular with today's youth, Rhyme is open to anyone who owns an Allmate. Battles take place on a virtual battlefield built from one of the participants' psyche, and features fast-paced, aerobatic combat that would be impossible in reality.
== Clothing Terminology ==
=== Full Body ===
* Doll Dress-Blue: A cute and gorgeous high-waisted doll dress, blue version.
* Finance Elite: With high heels and a golden-buckled belt on the waist, here comes the most outstanding female finance manager!
* White Chiffon: An ethereal goddess dress, the chiffon and skirt's hemline are dancing like sea waves in the breeze.
* Denim Lady: Imagine this, a lady in a clean and simple denim dress. It must be super cool!
=== Coats ===
* Moonlight Serenade: Ribbon with shimmer like moonlight.
* Trimmed T-shirt: This shirt is a good math for camisoles to cool you down on a hot summer day.
=== Tops ===
* Pretty Sea: A small tank top of unique design. It's also a swimsuit!
* Bunny Pocket-Pink: A super cute bunny top. There is even a little bunny pinned on each cuff!
* Wisteria-Blue: A simple but elegant solid-colored top. It looks special as shoulders are exposed.
* Coquette-White: The exposed shoulders and collarbone reveal the beauty of an elegant woman.
=== Hosiery ===
* Cotton Socks-Beige: A pair of cotton socks with a caring double-layer design makes the chilly winter not terrible anymore.
=== Shoes ===
* Ordinary Canvas: The most classical all-fitting canvas shoes, belonging to the all-fitting collection just like the Classic jeans.
* Peep-toe Sandals-White: Very stylish and pretty summer sandals. You will look thin when you put them on.
=== Headgear ===
* Kerchief-Blue: It shares the same color with the sky and it's quite convenient for you to do anything with your bangs tied.
=== Necklaces/scarfs ===
* Auspiciousness: The Cloud knot makes this classic black scarf more festive, so it is called Good Luck.
* Galaxy Necklace: A neck accessory. It uses a unified element of Night Bow. Looks very adorable.
* Pearl Strand: Priceless pearl necklace, said to be of the highest grade.
== Geographical Terminology ==
* Midorijima: An island located to the south of Japan. Once an Idyllic paradise known for it's white beaches, blue oceans, and lush forests, Midorijima has since become the property of the Toue Corporation, with a third of it's landmass given over to the luxury resort Platinum Jail.
** Platinum Jail: A luxury resort located on Midorijima, built and operated by the Toue Corporation. Tickets are available through invitation only and are rumored to be exorbitantly expensive.
*** Oval Tower: The iconic tower from which Platinum Jail is controlled. The resort is divided into five areas, with Oval Tower at it's center.
* Manning Palace Hotel: A famous 5-star resort hotel in New York and also the venue of choice for business banquets.
*Time's Antiquities: An antique shop that specializes in the acquisition, restoration, and selling of all kinds of antiques from the last century. It is quite well-known in the art circles of New York and popular among collectors.
*Libra Books: Located in the Central Business District and occupies an area of 5,000 square meters. It is the oldest and the largest bookstore in New York. While all other bookstores have adopted self-service checkout, Libra Books has retained the use of traditional cashiers and cash transactions to better service its senior patrons.
*Gladiolus Valley Research Center: Located in the Gladiolus Valley Technology Development District. The research center is an advanced biological research center organized by numerous renowned universities in the United Nations and run by the New York city government. It has recieved a number of international awards in the field of biopharmaceutical research and has ongoing collaborations with world-known pharmaceutical companies. Its research results yield a very high economic conversion only behind Crimson Bio-Tech's biopharmaceutical research center.
*Golden Beach Industrial Zone: Located in the northern area of New York, the Industrial Zone is the starting place of modern industrialization. The processing industry in New York is heavily dependent on the imports and exports of the harbor. Thus, the Industrial Zone has been nicknamed the "Golden Beach." After many industrial upgrades, the Golden Beach Industrial Zone has introduced the developed advanced manufacturing and high value-added technology industries. It is now a central manufacturing hub, famous worldwide. In the beginning, the Golden Beach Industrial Zone was filled with various small industrial parks. The government, wanting to maximize profits, and pushed large businesses to integrate and expand the industrial parks. Today, many international conglomerates, such as Crimson Biotech, have set up bases inside the Golden Beach Industrial Zone, which contributes a staggering amount to New York's annual GDP. Due to the industrial boom, many people have also settled in the area, leading to service industries relocating here as well. Many of New York's famous bars and restaurants are situated in the Golden Beach Industrial Zone.
**Heirson Headquarters: Heirson is a pharmaceutical health product company registered in New York. Enormous advertising in the past few years has caused the health products under its flag to soar in popularity, successfully entering a pre-established market. Its address shifted several times during its rapid development process, with its headquarters finally taking root in the Golden Beach Industrial Zone. Integrating medicine, trade, and technology, it owns a self-built office building as large as 20,000 square meters.
*Airport District: One of the municipal districts located in east New York along the coastline. It was originally named New York Harbor and belonged to the Golden Beach Industrial Zone. New York Harbor was critical to New York's international trade, bringing huge economic benefits. Aside from that, it exposed the city to cultural customs from overseas and changed New York into a unique combination of the east and the west. In the late 1930s, New York was undergoing massive development and had an airport built in New York Harbor, which had been separated from Golden Beach Industrial Zone into its own district. The new century brought about the official change to the district's name, Airport District. Meanwhile, construction had begun on a high-speed railway hub. Its completion would transform the district into a super hub that incorporates all forms of transportation and commerce. Sometimes, you can still hear whispers of its forgotten name, New York Harbor, among the old citizens. Seafood barbecue food carts, agate night markets, and foreign pop songs on tape recorders have all become unforgettable memories from those times.
*Florence College of Art: One of the most prestigious higher-education art schools in the world. It is particularly known for its oil painting courses.
*Cloudbreak Hill: One of the municipal administrative districts located in the northwest of New York. It is home to the Cloudbreak Mountain Resort, which is a famous 5A natural scenic spot. The history of Cloudbreak Hill goes back almost a thousand years, since the construction of Cloudbreak Temple. There are modern high-end resort hotels, as well as unique indigenous hotels, catering to over 50 million tourists every year. To protect Cloudbreak Mountain's ecological environment, factories and laboratories are prohibited from being built in Cloudbreak Hill.
*Notre-Dame-des-Victoires-Street: "Notre-Dame" is French for "Our Lady" and refers to the "Blessed Virgin Mary". Therefore, "Notre-Dame-des-Victoires" means "Our Lady of Victories". On Notre-Dame-des-Victoires-Street, there is no Notre-Dame cathedral, but a Notre-Dame-des-Victoires cathedral. If you need to visit the Notre-Dame cathedral, you're on the wrong route. You need to walk a good 30 minutes more to arrive. This is the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires cathedral.
*Prague Astronomical Clock: Located in the capital of the Czech Republic, it's a medieval astronomical clock, consisting of three main components: first is the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; second is "The Walk of the Apostles," an hourly show of moving Apostle figures and other sculptures; and third is a calendar dial, representing the months.
*Boulevard Saint-Germain: A boulevard located on the left bank of the River Seine. The boulevard crosses the Saint-Germain-des-prés quarter, an area of Paris known for its long history of religious and artistic significance. It is home to an art school.
*Chicago: Chicago is located in south Illinois. It is the third largest city in the United States, and an international hub for finance. During Prohibition, many African Americans from the South headed to Chicago, resulting in a population boom, and criminal gang activity was rampant.
*24th Street: 24th Street is every reporter's dream. It houses the headquarters of Mandarin Daily, New York Global, New York Express, and more.
*New York City: New York City is located on the Atlantic Coast, and is the largest city and port in the United States. It is also the largest metropolitan area in the world. In the early 20th century, it was considered a global hub for industrial, commercial and communication industries, and the world's most populous urban area.
**S&J Jewelry: An internationally renowned jewelry design brand headquarted in New York City. At the beginning of the year, it became the focus of public attention due to a copyright dispute over its jewelry designs. S&J eventually won the case and received the greatest amount of compensation ever over a copyright case domestically.
**New York City TV Tower: Usually refers to the old address of New York City TV. NYC TV Tower is located in downtown New York City. This location became the most popular dating area after aa metropolis love story TV series was shot here a few years ago. The famous "Love Lock" attraction made after the one from the TV series is ranked tenth on the "places couples must visit in this lifetime" list by many magazines.
**New York Medical Research Institute: The New York Institute for Basic Medical Sciences. Consists of several departments, including medicine, pharmacy, biology, and other disciplines. Among them, the rehabilitation engineering laboratory enjoys a good reputation in the country and abroad, and its scientific research is leading the world.
*Metropolitan Hospital: Metropolitan hospital is located in eastern New York, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a quiet hospital that treats mental patients. The patients here have long been subjected to inhumane treatment, from the cruelty of nurses to the indifference of doctors, and the lack of social supervision.
*Hampshire: Hampshire is in the southeast region of England. Its main produce are corn, vegetables and dairy products. The dairy industry is particularly developed. The county town is Winchester. Hampshire is one of the 48 ceremonial counties, and one of the 34 non-metropolitan counties, and has two major municipalities - the City of Southampton, and Portsmouth City.
*Lombardia: A tourist destination famous for its beautiful environment, architecture and art collection, Art critics have commented on its architectural style, art painting, and sculptures having a powerful influence in the world. Lombardia has been hailed by travelers to be the "most artistic country." Countless tourists travel there annually to appreciate the capital's artistic elegance.
**Lombard: Known as the "Treasure of Lombardia", Lombard is one of the most prosperous cities. Famous cathedrals, concert halls, opera houses and other cultural artistic buildings are situated here. Every year, many music lovers come here on tour to enjoy the sound of music and enjoy the beauty of art.
* Paraiso Garage: A popular club in New York. People don't just come here for drinks. Some come here to eat or to listen to music. Paraiso Garage's menu only contains items scouted from other various restaurants.
* Café Harry & Keith: A cozy Café. They've got coffee, black tea, herbal teas, and all sorts of drinks. They're all good. They also have donuts, sandwiches, and light meals. It's open surprisingly late.
* Khaimit: Located in the tropical north-eastern region, 90% of the land is desert and semi-desert regions, making it a desert nation. Sedimentation over the thousands of years that have elapsed since the Ancient Khaimit Empire has given the land a mystical atmosphere. Beneath the golden sand lie buried countless fascinating legends and cultural relics, waiting to be explored by a curious adventurer.
** Ita Desert: Runs through the entire western region of Khaimit, occupying two-thirds of Khaimit's total area. Owing to the special climate, many of the ancient relics buried in the desert have been perfectly preserved, and the region is now one of the hottest spots for archeolgical exploration.
*** Hessu Ruins: Those of a temple from the ancient kingdom of Khaimit, located within the Ita Desert. Archeological research indicates that the order to build the temple was made by the first female pharaoh of ancient Khaimit, Hepharet. A number of Khaimit cultural artifacts have been found there. Following the completion of the protective excavation, it has now been turned into a heritage park, providing free tours for visitors.
** Rubis Museum: Located on the east coast of Rubis, Rubis Museum is one of the world's most famous museums. The precious artifacts held by the museum primarily consist of cultural artifacts originating from ancient Khaimit. The locals call it the Ancient Kingdom's Treasure.
** Mien: One of the oldest cities in the world. It's existed as the capital ever since the beginning of the ancient Khaimit dynasty. Thousands of years later, it remains the most busting city center in the whole of Khaimit. Because the outskirts of Mien are covered by desert, it's also called the "Desert Capital".
* North New York: An old district next to the Industrial Zone. During the last century, it was the city center. However, an outbreak of other dimensional monsters forced many of its residents to relocate elsewhere. After the outbreak was over, the government focused its city developments towards the south, rather than the north. As of now, the average income of North New York residents is below average. Many of its abandoned buildings are home to those operating outside the law, probably due to the lower police presence there. The city government's primary goal is to overhaul North New York, but that cannot be done overnight.
**Tritown: A residential area located in North New York, built and funded by the government. This area has not been included in the plans to reconstruct and reorganize the city. The residential buildings lack modern infrastructure and management. Other than the elderly who have grown used to living here, most residents have chosen to rent out the place to workers from out of town for a cheap price. However, it is also because of this that the traffic around the compound has increased and the bustling night markets began to thrive.
*Nosta: The history of Nosta, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, can be traced to over a thousand years ago. However, it was only during the Age of Discovery that there were records of its existence. This island was used by pirates as a transfer port, leaving behind many legends of hidden treasures. After the Age of Exploration, Country A seized this island and built a prison on it to house criminals. As time passed, Nosta gradually faded away from existence. It wasn't until the Great Gold Heist from ten years ago that people remembered the ancient island.
**Dusk River: A river on Nosta with strong undercurrents running under it.
*British Museum: Founded in 1753, and opened to the public in January 1759. The museum's collection of some eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence, documenting the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.
*St. Angels School: A school specializing in training art students for higher education. Its located in the Higher Education District. The academy follows the belief that education should be short and precise. They collect the personal preferences and information of all students to deliver tailored education to each student. Students with outstanding talents and the drive to succeed are divided into smaller classes to form an elite class. This way, each student will be able to receive a more personalized style of learning. Since the founding of St. Angels School, it has delivered a great number of exemplary art graduates and has been awarded great respect from the community.
*Vikya: The capital of Skadi Island, located at the southern part of the island. Home to the most beautiful Holy Faerie Chapel and the only Faerie Academy, this is the center of all cultural, economical, and political activities. Government buildings and national museums are all located here. Every tourist who comes to Skadi Island can experience this bustling city, which is different from the other natural attractions that the island has to offer.
**Holy Faerie Chapel: Located in the center of the capital, this pure white chapel is one of the most signature buildings in all of Vikya. Legend has it the fairies bestowed this precious treasure to the people of Skadi.
*Blizzard Villa: An ancient manor located deep in the Yuchen Mountain. Fifty years ago, Nolan Zeng bought the house from a local businessman and converted it into his home and collection room, naming it Blizzard Villa. It said that the villa is also home to the priceless antiques and treasures collected by the Zeng Family over the past decades. The snow mountain is steep and located in a remote area, with only one mountain trail leading up to the villa. Therefore, Blizzard Villa is perfectly secured, and few thieves dare plan to steal anything from the Villa.
*Crystal Island: Located on the southern coast of Varnai, Crystal Island is the largest of the southern islands, and one of the famous tourist resorts. Because of its magnificent scenery and romantic atmosphere, it has been hailed as the "Rose of the Sea." On average, Crystal Island receives millions of tourists every year.
**White Sand Beach: One of the famous beaches on Crystal Island, aptly named for its sand that is as white as snow. The gentle terrain and sea breeze provide visitors with a soft romantic feeling not found on other beaches.
**Sands of Affection: Located in the north, the Sands of Affection is one of the most famous beaches on Crystal Island. It is the sight where the king of Varnai professed his love to his beloved imperial concubine, so it is regarded as a sacred place symbolizing the happiness of love. In the legends, couples will hear the blessing of their ancestors when they walk together hand-in-hand on this beach and light fireworks together.
**Crystal Resort: At the center of Crystal Island lies the Crystal Resort, which is the largest leisure and entertainment resort on the island. It is surrounded by the blue sky and sea, adding to the overall sense of nature. The resort has set up various functional areas to provide different experiences for visitors.
**Blue Waves Town: The only village in Crystal Island that has fully preserved the characteristics of the natives, with strong ethnic traits. The local people believe in Gods, primarily the God of Flowers. In addition, rare pink dolphins live in the waters near the town, where only lucky visitors can see them leaping out of the water.
**Atlantis Grand Hotel: Situated at the center of Crystal Island, within the Crystal Resort and adjacent to White Sand Beach. The hotel's restaurants are a specialty and well known on the island. In addition, the hotel's entertainment area is also widely praised by tourists as the "best place to relax."
**Oceansong Market: Located on the waterway leading to the central city of Crystal Island. It is an iconic floating market of Varnai, following the ancient way of trade where merchants would carry goods on boats to trade with others. During its peak hours, it's common for "traffic jams" to occur.
*Eversea: Located to the east of Zhaonan City and has a view of the mountain range. It is the fourth largest freshwater lake in the country. Legend has it that in ancient times, the officials mistraslanted the minority's language and accidentally used "sea" as part of its name. A whole new scenic commercial area is founded with the Eversea at its center and became famous for its four primary attractions: The Liberty Winds, Far End Flowers, Thousand Mountain Snow, and the Eversea Moon.
**Joycloud Ancient Town: A place that has retained its original cultural appearance, located to the south of Eversea. You will be able to find the minorities' unique architecture as well as the traces of the historical progression of the powerful families that once ruled the place. Aside from that, the local specialty foods and handicrafts are also adored by the tourists.
**Clear Water Gazebo: Located at the foot of Thousand Mountain. It is a natural wonder created from the melted calcium carbonate in the spring water. The Clear Water Gazebo is holy ground to the minorities. Each year, they would host an annual "Clear Water Worship" event where cultures from across the land would travel to participate, dance, picnic, perform rituals, and take part in other activities. In ancient times, they danced to please the gods to ask them for a plentiful harvest in the coming year. Now, they gather and dance to celebrate their culture. If a tourist is lucky, they may be invited to join in their dance and song activities.
**North Stream Flower Sea: Located on the plains to the northwest of the Eversea. Starting every April, the entire field becomes covered with fresh, beautiful flowers. Aside from its magnificent flowers, the North Stream Flower Sea also has a variety of leisure activities, such as horseback riding, archery, and picnic services.
**Ksana Twin Towers: Located in the Far End District to the northeast of the Eversea. The Ksana Twin Towers have a history of over one thousand and four hundred years and fully represent the uniqueness of the architecture during the era of the Zhaonan Kingdom. It holds a great influence over the local research of historical architecture.
**Reflection Pool: In a park not far from the Ksana Twin Towers is a reflection pool with clear waters. On a sunny day, you can see the reflections of the Ksana Twin Towers in the pool.
**Phoenix Feather Island: Located at the center of the Eversea, surrounded by the azure lake water and the clear light of the sky. The view here is marvelous. It is said that the island got its name because the island is shaped like a feather that fell off a phoenix.
**Eversea Residence: A specialty hotel run by the Zhaonan City local government. The hotel is a splendid place to stay with a view as it faces the Eversea. Aside from its comfortable staying experience, its outdoor tea room is also an attraction loved by tourists. Just outside the hotel entrance is an eco-corridor built along the Eversea. Tourists can walk along the Eversea eco-corridor that stretches for more than sixty kilometers to observe and enjoy the scenery of the Eversea.
**Old Street in Far End: Located at the center of the Far End District, it's a street that has retained its original appearance. The two sides of the streets are filled with Far End Flowers. In the season when these flowers blossom, the air is filled with a pleasant aroma, and the view full of blooming flowers. Tourists here will find themselves on a journey to the past, experiencing the magnificent scenery from a millennium ago.
**Zhaonan Stone Forest: Located in the Thousand Mountain Scenic Spot to the north of Eversea. This place used to be a great ocean a few hundred million years ago. After a lengthy geological transformation, this place now retains precious geo-ruins. The main attractions here are: Winderson Stone Forest, Eagle Point Range, Turkey Tail Cave, and many others.
*Sunglow Mountain: Home to the famous Mushroom plantation, its an iconic area southwest of Zhaonan City. The Sunglow Mountain stretches, its terrain slowly flattening as it goes south until the Emerald River, forming a unique mudflat zone. Every year between March and November is Zhaonan's peak tourism season, during which many tourists come to experience the unique scenery.
**Mushroom Garden: Located on the side of Sunglow Mountain, this mushroom plantation is home to hundreds of different kinds of mushrooms, which offers high academic and practical value.
**Sunset Temple: Hidden in the belly of the Sunglow Mountain, it is the first temple in Zhaonan City, famous for its magnificent structure and copper tile hall. The courtyard is beautifully crafted from carmin plum and other ancient trees, each with an age of well over a hundred years. In front of the temple, there are four ancient begonia trees, which have lived for three hundred years.
**Ferry Town Resort: A resort developed on Ferry Town, a gathering place of the minorities on the mountainside of Sunglow Mountain. The combination of local specialty with modern design in this place is loved by the tourists that visit. The Ferry Hot Springs is the most popular attraction in the entire resort. The hot springs have an open roof and are catered to individual residents. Aside from the hot springs, there are also several relaxing and casual attractions available.
**Southern Sky Tidal Flats: Located in the southernmost part of the Sunglow Mountain Scenic Area near the Emerald River. The sunrise and sunset views here are splendid as it is accompanied by both the mountains and the rivers next to one another.
**Peach Valley: Originally meant to be a tea garden. However, a few peach blossoms somehow found their way into the valley, and the owners of the tea garden discovered the existence of large numbers of peach blossom seedlings.
**Tealeaf Town: Located at the foot of Sunglow Mountain, it was an important post on an ancient trade route. The town has a beautiful environment, surrounded on all sides by mountains and rivers with well-scattered houses and flowing water between the roads. It's a living specimen of the transition from agricultural civilization to the commercial civilization of the local minorities. Tealeaf is famous for its five scenic spots, namely: Firefly Night Market, Sunglow Reflections, Inscription Echoes, Redleaf Mountain View, and Willow Bridge.
**Jade Wetland Park: Built next to Jade Lake to the north of Sunglow Mountain with Redwood as its most famous attraction. Tourists can hop on a small boat and row themselves into the inner parts of Redwood forest to experience its pristine and natural look.
**Bird Spring: Inlaid between the Sunglow Mountain and Emerald River. With a radius of more than 100 square meters and a depth of seven meters, it is a type of fissure spring formed on the fracture zone in the outcrop area of granite rocks. The spring water gushes out from the water and collects in the azure pool. Legend has it that every April and May in ancient times, thousands of bird species would rest near the spring. The sunlight would shine on the myriad of colorful birds flying together, hence the name.
*Bridmere: A mid-sized city near New York. While it isn't as modern as New York, it has retained many of its historical buildings. Bridmere's unique style makes it one of the most famous historical and cultural cities in the country. So far, Bridmere has 4 districts, with a total area of 6000 square kilometers and a developing industry.
=== The Other World ===
* Avirya: A city inhabited exclusively by bird-like creatures. It's a picturesque, modern place, governed by a democratic parliament. It's bordered by two seas, and it's economy's built mostly on air transport, commerce, and it's aerial military. The city's on neutral terms with almost every other nation, and had kept it's standpoint all throughout known history.
=== Other ===
* Pi-Ramesses: A city in ancient Egypt. It was the new capital built by the Nineteenth Dynasty Pharaoh Ramesses II at Qantir, in the northeastern region of the Nile Delta, 100 kilometers northwest from Cairo.
* Alexandria: A polis founded by and named after Alexander the Great in 334 BC, it was the capital of the Ptolemaic kingdom, and the center of Greek culture back then. The famous Library of Alexandria and Lighthouse of Alexandria were located in the polis.
** Library of Alexandria: The library of Alexandria was the biggest and most famous library in ancient times. It was said to have around 700,000 books at its height, and the library catalogue alone took up 120 scrolls. It contained many precious texts and manuscripts, and many scholars dreamed of studying there, including Archimedes. The library was at its peak during the Ptolemaic dynasty, and lasted for several hundred years.
** Lighthouse of Alexandria: The Lighthouse of Alexandria was once the tallest building in the world during the ancient Egyptian era. In 280 BC, Egypt's royal wedding ship sunk when it sailed into the Alexandria harbor, and the bride who sailed all the way from Europe died with it. Pharaoh Ptolemy II was devastated, and ordered the lighthouse to be constructed. After 40 years' of effort, the lighthouse finally stood tall on the eastern reefs of Pharos island, guiding ships safely on their way.
*Acropolis of Athens: Commonly known as "The Acropolis". It was the most outstanding ancient architectural complex in Greece. It is located in the Acropolis hill in the center of Athens. Built in 580 BC, the Acropolis is not only a comprehensive public building, but also the center of religious politics, symbolizing the mythology and religion of Greece's prosperous civilization.
*Temple of Athena: Built between 449 BC, and 421 BC, it was located on the Acropolis Hill. In Ancient Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, skill and war, The Athenians built this temple in the hope that their country would be victorious in war.
*Abu Simbel Temples: Two massive rock-cut temples, they were built by the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II. The most amazing spectacle of the temples is that the rays of the sunlight would penetrate the sanctuary and illuminate the sculptures twice a year. People would gather on those two days to witness the symbol of Ramesses II's supreme authority and glory. It was later discovered that this "spectacle" was the intended effect and was achieved with the aid of knowledge from astrology, geography, mathematics, and physics.
=== Planets ===
* Bettonia: A planet with abundant natural mineral resources. A hundred years ago, the mining industry played an important role in the economic survival of Bettonia. Afterward, while putting its mineral resources into industrial development, Bettonia continually invested human and fincancial resources. Over time, it transformed its key industry from heavy manufacturing to a high-tech, emerging industry.
** Ginnungagap Island: Ginnungagap Island is a small country off the western coast of Bettonia. It has many islands and mountains, which are both abundant in mineral resources. Ginnungagap Island focused on the research of emerging industries a hundred years ago. It is predominantly known for its medical devices. Nowadays, Ginnungagap Island has made remarkable achievements in biotechnology, medical science, and other research fields.
** Myerson Mountains: The most important mine vein in Bettonia, stretching from north-central Bettonia and connecting to the Ginnungagap Island in the west. The ores that were mined would be transported by railways across the mountains, forming an important part of the energy supply for the industrial era and laying the foundation for Bettonia's development. Today, with the complete transformation of Bettonia's industries, there is no longer any need for Bettonia to export minerals in exchange for other resources. The railroad line between Myerson Mountains and the mines lays dormant, becoming just another landscape in the fleeting memory of those who see it.
== Events Terminology ==
* Project X: A top secret privately funded project designed to train the ultimate assassins. Was recently shut down under government orders. Now, dozens of children trained under the program are orphaned. In order to solve this situation and offer these children a second chance at life, the government has created a special foster program.
* Belle Époque: A period of western history, dating from the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It means "beautiful era" in French, and the period was characterized by optimism, regional peace, technological and cultural innovations. The Golden Age was made possible through exploiting its colonies and workers, but such aspects are seldom talked about. To ones who remember this age as "Belle Époque", it surely was a beautiful era.
* The Chandelier Accident: On May 20th, 1896, in an opera house of Garnier, a huge 7-ton chandelier fell from the ceiling and caused causalities among the audience. An aspiring novelist who read about this incident was inspired to write a mystery novel regarding it.
* French Revolution: The French Revolution occurred on the 14th of July, 1789. The civilians formed forces and occupied the whole of Paris. The revolution put an end to centuries of Bourbon rule, as well as the French monarchy. It had a huge influence over the rest of the world, and some of the associated ideas became widely accepted, while others caused great debate.
* Seven Year's War: The Seven Year‘s War occurred between 1754 and 1763, and involved the great powers of Europe at the time. The war affected Europe, North America, Central America, Africa, and Asia. France lost India, Canada, New France and other colonies during the war, and was left with a huge debt.
* American Revolution: After the Seven Year‘s War, Britain decided to shift their debt to the people of North America. The colonies opposed the compulsory taxes, and growing resentment eventually led to the American revolution 13 years after the Seven Year‘s War. France and Spain supported America by sending troops to aid in the war, and finally America achieved independence.
* Assembly of Notables: The Assembly of Notables refers to the conference held by the King of France with high-ranking nobles, the clergy, and state functionaries. It may be held multiple times in a year, whenever there are important matters of state that require consultation and support.
* Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: During Prohibition, a fierce fight broke out between two gangs of Chicago over what seems to be territorial disputes over bootlegging profits. Al Capone had his members dressed as police officers, forcing seven of Moran's members to line up against a garage wall before gunning them down.
* New Year's Eve: One of the most important festivals in China, when families gather for reunion dinners and welcome the new year.
* Gallic Wars: The Gallic Wars was waged on Gaul by the Romans as part of their expansion plans. With Caesar as commander, they invaded the lands north of Rome, which is present-day Europe. The Gallic Wars included 8 military expeditions, starting from 58 BC, and finally ending in 51 BC with Gaul annexed by the Roman Republic.
* Black Death: Black Death is another name for the plague; the pandemic was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. England was first hit by the plague in 1348. In the 300 years that followed, it ravaged Europe multiple times. In 1665, the plague devastated Europe again, and in August of the same year, London's population was reduced by 10 percent.
* Hou Jing Rebellion: The Hou Jing Rebellion, also known as the Taiqing Rebellion, was a rebellion in Southern Liang during the Northern and Southern dynasties instigated by Hou Jing. The rebellion was a heavy blow to the aristocracy of the South, and devastated the dynasty's political structure.
* Bloody Week: May 21st, 1871, towards the end of the Paris Commune, the French army ruthlessly slaughtered its citizens in the city of Paris. Fierce battles took place in every street in Paris, where both men and women, old and young fought against the army. The Bloody Week was over, and the commune has come to its end. The French army promised the citizens of Paris order, work, and safety. However, what they first did was mass execution and exile of the Communards. During the 72 days of Commune, 30,000 citizens were murdered, and 10,000 were arrested by the French army. For reference, the Paris population was 180,000 back then. Eventually, 20,000 of those who survived the battle and slaughter were faced with execution, and 40,000 were imprisoned. The exact numbers are still unknown to this day.
Category:Terminology