###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
#@*=~.,,,, ,,,,.~=*@#
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
@§==~,,,,, ,,,,,~==§@
###@*§=~., ,,,=,,, ,.~=§*@###
@*=~,,,,,, naftakin, the blind ,,,,,,~=*@
###@*§=~., ,,,=,,, ,.~=§*@###
@§=..,,,,, ,,,,,..=§@
#@@*=...,, a student at the charcoal guild... his ,,...=*@@#
#**=~.,,,, eyes sewn shut from birth... the most ,,,,.~=**#
#@*=~~,,,, successful student ,,,,~~=*@#
@@§===.,,, ,,,.===§@@
#@§§~,,,,, but one day he fell down into a crystal ,,,,,~§§@#
#@*=.,,,,, cavern. it was deep in the mountain, a ,,,,,.=*@#
#@§§§~~~., great hall with only a single tiny ,.~~~§§§@#
#*§===.,,, inlet for both light and falling ,,,.===§*#
###@*§=~., students... ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
#@*=~,,,,, in the fall, the quartz sliced off the ,,,,,~=*@#
#**=~,,,,, threads in his eyes, opening them for ,,,,,~=**#
@@***§=~., the first time. before him, the ,.~=§***@@
###@*§=~., crystals mirrored and refracted the one ,.~=§*@###
####@*=~., light smidge into a whole night sky, ,.~=*@####
###@*§=~., and he was struck down with awe ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
##*§~~.,,, but also with shame, because his eyes ,,,.~~§*##
@@*§==~.., had seen. hurriedly, he used thread ,..~==§*@@
##@**§=~., from his robe to sew them back ,.~=§**@##
#@§§§§=~., together, and when help came he did not ,.~=§§§§@#
#*§~~..,,, tell of his transgression. ,,,..~~§*#
#*§§=.,,,, ,,,,.=§§*#
###@*§=~., for years he studied at the guild. he ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., became a master, and then a pilgrim. ,.~=§*@###
@§=~~.,,,, yet the image from the cave never left ,,,,.~~=§@
##@§~.,,,, him. ,,,,.~§@##
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., at the end of his life, when at the ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., edge of the world he opened his eyes ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., for a second time, stars had hatched in ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., them... ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
###@*§=~., ,.~=§*@###
#@*=.,,,,, ,,,,,.=*@#
####@§=~., ,.~=§@####