###@*=:~:. .:~:=*@###
@=:~:..... .....:~:=@
###@*=:~:. .:~:=*@###
#@*::~~~:. .:~~~::*@#
###@*=:~:. .:~:=*@###
##*:~~~~:. ...:... .:~~~~:*##
@*:::..... 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... .:~:=*@###
@*==~..... .....~==*@
##**::.... ....::**##
@=::::.... ....::::=@
###@*=:~:. .:~:=*@###
##*=:~.... ....~:=*##