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skylight
skylight

skylight

On a vast, slightly arid plain, two individuals sat on the ground beneath a small tree—a young boy and an adult man, seemingly father and son. They were engaged in a cheerful conversation. The boy was dressed in simple brown cloth, with short hair, while the man wore expensive animal hides, his long hair tied with fabric strips. As they talked, they occasionally glanced at the blue sky. The man sometimes pointed to the sky and said, "The color of the sky is deeper now, and some parts are tinged with gray."

The boy asked curiously, "What was the sky like before?"

"It was brighter, but there were fewer stars at night, not as many as there are now," the man replied.

The boy said, "I prefer the sky with more stars."

The man patted the boy's head and said happily, "That's good!"

"When did so many stars appear?" the boy asked.

"Well, your grandfather once told me that these stars are made up of things called 'windows.' As for what 'windows' are, your grandfather didn't explain clearly, or perhaps he didn't know himself. He only told me that God resides within these 'windows,'" the man replied, somewhat uncertainly.

"What does that mean? Is there really a God in the sky?" the boy continued.

"The 'windows' might be part of the stars. God lives inside the stars made of windows," the man explained. The boy became excited and said, "If I can catch a star, then I can meet God!" The man smiled and nodded, but as the conversation continued, he noticed that the boy couldn't stop talking about the stars. The man asked, "Do you like the stars that much?"

"Of course! The stars are as beautiful as gems. I really want to pluck one," the boy said earnestly. The man couldn't help but laugh, which made the boy angry. "The stars can be plucked! If I climb to the top of that mountain, I can reach them!" He stretched out his arm and pointed to the highest peak in the distance.

The man stopped laughing and said, "Even if you climb that mountain, the stars are still too high. You won't be able to reach them." The boy felt disheartened, not because of the man's words, but because the mountain was indeed too high and difficult to climb. "How can I climb it?" the boy muttered. The man said solemnly, "When you grow up, and your hair is as long as mine, you'll be able to climb it." The boy nodded, firmly believing this. For now, he just wanted to get closer to the stars, as they were so dazzling.

At night, the stars appeared in vast clusters, no longer scattered as they once were. They seemed connected, evenly distributed around a central point, forming a dense, net-like pattern. Every time the boy saw this spectacle, he was awestruck. The sky had turned into a golden ocean, and the boy became even more determined.

The boy prepared himself daily, training his body to gain the strength needed to climb the mountain. As time passed, the boy grew into a man with long hair and a strong build. He noticed that the stars in the sky seemed to be getting closer. He thought this was wonderful and believed that if he waited a little longer, the stars would come close enough to the highest peak. Ten more years passed, and he remained unmarried, waiting for that day to come. Finally, the day arrived. Filled with excitement, he gathered his companions, prepared supplies, and armed themselves with spears and long knives. They set out for the highest mountain.

After reaching the base of the mountain, they began their ascent. They traversed forests, fought wild beasts, and drank dew. They journeyed through mountains and rivers, steadily moving toward the summit. The journey was arduous, and some companions gave up along the way. They walked through the forest, and just as they were about to reach the end, it was night. A faint blue light shone through the trees. He eagerly passed through the forest and emerged to see a blue star. He looked around and was stunned by the golden light of the stars. He called out to his companions to come and see the breathtaking sight.

They were mesmerized, but he was puzzled by the blue star in front of him. It was so close that he could almost touch it. However, if he took one more step, he might fall off the mountain. The blue star had the inscription "F106" on it. He touched it and found its surface smooth and transparent, as if he could see inside. When he tapped it, it made a hollow sound. He wondered if this was the "window" his grandfather had mentioned. He knocked on it and peered inside. Suddenly, a shadow passed by. He watched anxiously, and then a thin woman, upside down relative to him, appeared. Her clothes fit her body snugly, unlike the local attire. Her face was pale and weary. She looked at him expressionlessly, while he was visibly shocked. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Are you God?"

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The woman seemed to understand him and replied, "Of course not. God never existed, and even if He did, He is already dead."

He asked, "Then who are you? You look so much like us. Are you from another land?"

She continued, "We are you, and you are us." Although she spoke the same language, he couldn't comprehend her meaning.

He didn't know what to say.

"Tomorrow, it will begin," the woman said.

He asked, "What will begin?"

"The carnival," she replied calmly.

Suddenly, the woman placed her hand against the "window," as if trying to convey something. He instinctively did the same, sensing it was a form of greeting. Their hands were separated by the "window," and because they were upside down relative to each other, it looked strange.

"Goodbye," the woman said.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To a place where nothing exists," she replied, and then she left.

His companions, having finished admiring the stars, joined him. They spent the night in the forest and returned at dawn to see the stars again. However, the stars had transformed into gray, rectangular blocks—some long, some short—tightly packed together, reflecting light and appearing smooth. These blocks made the sky's surface uneven. In front of him was the structure labeled "F106," towering into the sky. From below, it seemed impossibly long, with rounded edges. They looked around and saw countless long rivers, rolling hills, plains, and crisscrossing railways and roads. They were at a loss for words to describe the scene, which was even more awe-inspiring than the night sky. It was as if a new continent had appeared in the sky, and they could see its entire landscape. However, the sight was overwhelming. Tiny objects moved rapidly across the sky, leaving behind trails of thick smoke and a pungent odor. Suddenly, one of the rectangular blocks broke apart, and fragments began to fall. The group panicked, but the fragments fell upward, toward the sky, which was something they had never seen before. He wondered what was above. Were there gods living there? Small fragments fell and hit him and some of his companions on the head, causing unease. They quickly retreated from the mountain and returned to the flat land. On the way back, he looked up at the sky again, now shrouded in dark gray clouds.

After that, although he had fulfilled his childhood dream, he couldn't feel happy. Instead, he was filled with even more questions. He wondered if those things were remnants of God. When he returned, the people working the land eagerly asked him about his journey, but whenever he expressed his doubts, they would say, "That's God's place." Over time, people grew accustomed to the situation and stopped asking him questions. After returning, he made proper clothes from the hides of the beasts he had caught in the forest, as he was soon to be married. He had raised livestock for many years, and now he would show them to the elders of his prospective bride's family to prove his worth. His parents had passed away, so he had to rely on himself. Fortunately, he successfully married, which was the second most exciting and satisfying event in his life. After marriage, he tied his hair with a strip of cloth and wore animal hides, just like his father. Ten more years passed, during which he worked hard to support his family and earned the respect of the people on the land. He was now the father of two children. However, he no longer looked at the sky with his children, as it was always dark, whether day or night. Only a few stars were visible, and the sky was filled with the sound of thunder. Objects frequently fell from the sky, some of them large and dangerous, causing many deaths. The sky, or what he believed to be God's land, was now covered in thick black smoke and had descended to just above the old tree where he and his father used to sit. In the past, he and his family would pray with the people after work, but now prayer was even more necessary. The people had stopped working and spent their days in prayer. Once, when the smoke cleared slightly, he looked up and saw that the rectangular blocks, hills, and rivers in the sky had become fragmented, almost like paste. The fragments were in danger of falling at any moment. Despite the danger, the people continued to gather in a circle, kneeling and praying, led by the witch. She told them that only through prayer and repentance could they appease the gods' anger and survive. However, the sky continued to lower, and the noise grew louder. The people grew increasingly panicked. "Find everyone who has been to the sacred mountain," the witch commanded. The boy, now a man, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. He believed that if it could solve the problem and ensure the safety of his family and the people, it was necessary. His wife and children wept, trying to hold him back, knowing what awaited him. Those who had climbed the mountain were rounded up by the people. Others prepared knives for slaughter. One of the condemned men was dragged unwillingly, his hands bound. When he was brought to the execution site, he knelt with his head down, his eyes vacant. Not everyone was fearless, so their hands were tied, and large stones were placed on their legs to keep them kneeling. The executioners stood beside the condemned, waiting for the witch's signal.

At that moment, thick smoke enveloped the land, obscuring everything. Then, a loud, creaking sound was heard, and debris began to fall from the sky. Black objects fell along with the debris. When the smoke and dust cleared slightly, the people saw that the black objects were human corpses, their faces and bodies blackened as if covered in coal. Their clothes were tattered and unlike anything the locals wore. The corpses fell in piles, making it impossible to identify anyone. The people were shocked and frozen in place. The corpses continued to fall from the sky. The boy, now a man, struggled to free himself from the stones weighing down his legs. He stood up and rushed to shield his wife and children, fearing that the falling objects would hit them. He and his wife held their children, staring ahead in confusion and fear. After a while, a charred figure slowly emerged from the pile of corpses. Its body was rotting, emitting a foul, acrid smell. It screamed, "We lost!!! We lost!!! It's over!!!" followed by a painful howl, "Ah---------" The figure had gone mad.

Amid the screams, a bright golden light flashed, illuminating everything as brightly as the stars. Then, the light gradually dimmed, and everything turned to dust.

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