A Study in Equilibrium

A scattering of smooth river stones along the garden border caught my attention once the morning sun cleared the lingering frost from the flagstones. Stepping away from formal routines, I sheathed my crimson blade and set it against the cedar timber border to test equilibrium through purely structural means. Kneeling upon the cool stone, I selected a broad oval pebble as a foundation, followed by two progressively tapered slate fragments. Carefully feeling for the microscopic pivot points across their weathered faces, I aligned their weight vectors into a three-tiered cairn. When I drew my gauntlets back, the column stood entirely stable in the crisp breeze, balanced by sheer geometric patience.