Ulu

An ever-burning, fiercely blazing tuft of hair. Shadows can be faintly seen dancing within the constantly changing flames.

When a flame ignites in the wilderness, the first tribe to master it becomes the ruler of the land.

Ancient paintings on eucalyptus bark, chronicling stories of the past. Pictures are the earliest form of writing, yet are always more direct than words.

A beautiful ring, with the warmth of fire and the curvature of a perfect circle. Like someone walking around a mountain, it forms a pattern that has both a beginning and an end, yet is endless. Just like a promise repeatedly fulfilled and like the long, arduous journey of the one who keeps it.

"I need to carve the center first before I do the edges," a voice says, young and with burning hot hands.

"No, I think you need to carve the edges first, then the center. That way, it will be easier to fix on the wall," another voice says, accompanied by the crackling of burning flames.

This is a debate, predating most of the world's conflicts, before sunlight became known as "sunlight," and before water was known as "water."

"Alright, I think I'll start from the inside," the young voice says.

"Yes, I think I'll start from the outside," the voice of the burning fire says.

This is a painting that came too early, earlier than when people used coal for outlines and ground rocks for pigments. Rings nested within each other, ultimately meeting under the guidance of two hands. This is the mark of a spring, representing water, the holdings of the rainy season, and the essential source of life.

"Hey! We are done!"

"Yes, we are done. Now, we can go drink some water."

The thirst brought by joy is the key to the return journey.

Thus, the beginning of the story is planted.

"Procedure: The experimental subject holds different objects, which are then scorched with a colorless flame in order to observe the unique colors and phenomena of the flames.

000**/March/2nd Week

Material: Copper coin powder

Result: Green flames, accompanied by small palm-shaped blue flames.

000**/March/2nd Week

Material: Hardcover edition of "The Marriage of Figaro"

Result: Dark red flames, with various human silhouettes constantly emerging within the flames—identified as 1950s printers from their attire.

000**/March/3rd Week

Material: Old tie (Researcher E)

Result: Purple flames, within the changing light of the fire, Researcher E claimed to have seen his deceased grandmother performing a one-handed cartwheel.

Note: Speculations about whether long-term observation of flames could lead to hallucinations are yet to be verified. The proposal to use the experimental subject for disposing of waste paper documents is temporarily put on hold.

Pandora Wilson: How should we define your existence? Are you a symbol or a chemical reaction?

Ulu: I am just me, from a flame. In the ancient origins of time, the existence of things did not need to be categorized.

Pandora Wilson: Makes sense. In the field of arcanum, many things exist in a state of superposition. So, tell us about how you are able to hide inside someone's mouth.

Ulu: Hiding in someone's mouth? I simply reside within that young girl. Where do these rumors come from?

Ulu: In my time, people only recorded direct and unadulterated facts.

Pandora Wilson: Please, calm down. Our microphones are not fireproof.

—After a while—

Pandora Wilson: Thank you for your cooperation. Here is a sample copy of UTTU. You will appear in the Arcanist Interview column later.

Ulu: Okay, um ...?

Ulu: You ... aren't you a sports magazine? Oh—no! I get it; it's an entertainment magazine, just like what that man with the glasses reads—!