Here's a theory. Who knows; I could be completely wrong. Maybe these symbols are just meant to resemble the right-hand side of a grief seed. But for the sake of this theory, let's assume this is a 'drawing' of a straight path:
¿
{
{
{
{
¿
But then something happens, and after the ¿ and the first {, the middle step in the path gets displaced:
¿
{ ...{
Has it entered a fourth dimension? Is this meant to represent time? Or some other metaphorical 'direction'?
Either way, something happens while the second { is displaced. It gets flipped:
¿
{ ...{ ...}
Is this a reversal of (metaphorical) velocity? Of (metaphorical) acceleration? Time travel? Something else altogether?
And then, the displacement stops.
¿
{ ...{ ...}
}
The path continues, only reversed this time. Somehow the { traveled 'somewhere(?) else' and became a } by the time it came back.
But then we get this:
¿
{ ...{ ...}
}
¿
Why is the upside-down question mark facing the same way on both the top and bottom? You'd think it'd be reversed. But it's not!
I don't know what this means. Is the ¿ a soul gem? A magical girl? Something else entirely?
I just saw Higure's post and thought it looked like an object entering four-dimensional space, getting flipped kata-to-ana, and reentering three-dimensional space.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' of some kind.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' of a kind described in my previous post.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' acting on a soul gem or grief seed.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' caused by Homura, her abilities, or her shield.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' of some kind.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' of a kind described in my previous post.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' acting on a soul gem or grief seed.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' caused by Homura, her abilities, or her shield.
I just saw Higure's post and thought it looked like an object entering four-dimensional space, getting flipped kata-to-ana, and reentering three-dimensional space.
But as for an association with soul gems?
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' of some kind.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' of a kind described in my previous post.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' acting on a soul gem or grief seed.
The figure quoted above depicts a 'reversal' caused by Homura, her abilities, or her shield.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' of some kind.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' of a kind described in my previous post.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' acting on a soul gem or grief seed.
The figure quoted above was posted in order to depict a 'reversal' caused by Homura, her abilities, or her shield.
I will not be providing reds in regards to the diagram at this time. It's a rather large piece of information as it is.
That said, I am pleased with your theory, as it displays the kind of flexible thinking needed for the kinds of things I'm likely to throw at you as we move forward.
I'm glad someone with programming experience is contributing too. As a programmer myself, it's not unlikely that I will include code references in such things.
The important thing is to remember that this, and other puzzles to come, are not intended to be solved easily, or by a single person. They're hints, and figuring out what they mean doesn't always mean answering a question...sometimes, they just tell you what questions to ask. If you do throw out a blue that represents completely correct explanation, I'll provide a red to confirm...but other reds will be delayed indefinitely. That does not mean portions of unanswered blues are not correct, just that components of the solution are still missing.
Maybe the reason that it both starts and ends with an upside down question mark is to represent a single cycle in a continuous loop. Sort of like how music goes:
Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do
You blink in confusion. Where are you...you were just talking to Mami, and now...
"Hey there again, Homura-chan! Sorry for popping in unannounced, but I've got a message for you! To keep this long story short...things happened, and it's kind of been a problem for you. You wouldn't have noticed, but it was a pretty big issue. Basically, I'm here to compensate you for all of that. First of all, we have...this!"
She smiles a bit too widely, and her voice grinds against your mind as she speaks, taking on a shape and substance that language shouldn't possess...
"Yuuko won't take any of your loops if the price for something is Time. She'll simply require you to spend some of that Time with her, or performing a task on her behalf.
There are cracks in the world...they have opened up new avenues of power for you, if you seek them out, but be warned: Such power may not come easily.
If you go to the port on a Saturday afternoon, you will find someone and something of value. They may not change everything, but they possess great potential, if you use them properly."
She pauses, hesitating, "...and also...this..."
She speaks again, in a voice not her own...this time, her words burn into your mind like the song of angels, wiping away all doubt and confusion as Truth is spoken....
"Do not run from danger, Homura. You will fail if you cling to safety and avoid the unknown. If you wish to emerge victorious, you must risk life, limb, and sanity...you have too little time left to proceed cautiously."
Maria shakes slightly, her tone returning to normal as she smiles brightly at you, "There you go. Be strong, don't give up! I'm cheering for you! Everything will start again soon, so be ready for Mami and Nanoha, okay?"
Golden rose petals fill your vision and the strange room vanishes...
"Yuuko won't take any of your loops if the price for something is Time. She'll simply require you to spend some of that Time with her, or performing a task on her behalf.
Did she just reveal a Red truth and a Gold truth? In character?
Edit: I'm not sure why but this whole situation is humorous to me. I mean we know for a fact that our own sanity has been teetering on the edge, flip-flopping from one side of the line to the other. As such we know that we can't trust ourselves to differentiate between what is real and what is a figment of our mind. That said, we know for a fact that the universe we live in has repeatedly made the impossible possible. So we can't eliminate anything as impossible because we have seen more ridiculous things in the past. Thus we can't even say whether following through with something like this is the epitome of sanity or madness.
Anyway that's a bit too philosophical for me. So why don't we order a bowl of ice cream, finish our discussion with Mami, go raid a Yakuza hideout, and meet this person at the docks?
