In the midst of the cold snow and the gusts of wind that hit the ice crystals made an ear-splitting sound. Everything came to a halt when the girl's screams rang out. Followed by the sound of scolding the boy named John, the sound of beatings, and the villagers' cries of prohibition. and the cries of pain of those being hurt

Bruno could barely keep himself up. Maria...his mother went to attack John at home. The boy still didn't know what had happened. Of course, it couldn't be a good thing. Mom was right. The storm outside wasn't a natural disaster. But it's the breath of the devil. It changes everyone's mind. Change Maria's Mind Change John's Mind Changed everything the boy knew.

lamp keeper

That lamp shines brightly. Even though it's in the middle of a snowstorm A ray of golden light still slipped through the window. It struck the boy's eyes and formed an intricate reflection.

It had been two months since Bruno had been locked up in the house. The mother is not an abuser. The harsh and cold weather is like a cage. The white curtain was so cold that it froze the stream. Let alone the blood of a ten year old boy.

Looking out the window The first thing I saw was a black light pole. About a meter and a half tall Located in front of every house. Mother used to say that in the village there were half a hundred lanterns of the same kind... lanterns of dreams. A magical item that makes wishes come true.

A young woman in a fur coat walked out of the house carrying a small shovel. When looking through the window The mother's figure looked blurry. He used his foot to scrape off the ice crystals on the floor. It revealed brown soil that had previously been used as a plantation plot. The girl dug it gently. before opening slightly Yellowish-white round lumps appear in the hard mud. It was the size of a fist. Round like a pearl Just a glance

Bruno found his mother. Another 'Dream Seed' added.

Without waiting, the young woman walked towards the lamp in front of the house. Open the top cover. Ready to drop the mystery seed Just for a moment The light emanating from the glass became stronger. Mother knelt and prayed for something. before walking back into the house Bruno immediately knew what the other party wished for... that the winter would pass. May the family be free from the calamities of nature.

...May Marcus return safely from the battlefield.

Walking in the snow is difficult. Her child was already asleep, and Maria saw him looking out the window just now. Bruno asked what she wanted. Maria just smiled and replied. May the winter pass May Marcus come back to live with us. And that innocent child jumped up and down. Repeatedly said 'I guessed right, I guessed right' before falling asleep on the bed.

For the tragic season His son's innocence was the only thing that dulled his grief. The picture of the day Marcus was last seen was blurry. The summer weather is bright. The three family members waved goodbye. Before the eldest son traveled to the battlefield as a man's duty. Months and months passed. Entering the end of the year Bruno's brother never appeared.

Maria walked up to a small house. It was so dilapidated that it was thought to be a house of paupers. About ten people had arrived first. Maria looked up at the villagers standing around. What little hope was shattered in that second.

...Old Eliot died an hour ago. A thin figure in a worn out shirt. Tie a torn cream colored overalls. Lying firmly on the mattress Surrounded by the specialized tools of technicians Slightly further on was a fireplace that barely provided any warmth.

Maria wiped away her tears and looked at her 'benefactor' with regret. Behind her, sobs were louder than the music in the church. The first day that winter has arrived They dream of a warm land. To the green fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. First night of November They prepared by putting dream seeds into the lamp, but now

The tenth night of December The man who had devoted his entire life to caring for the light was gone, never to return.

Even if you don't mind losing. But in my heart, I still have anxiety... Who will take over the job?

“Uncle Eliot has been repairing lamps all his life. You don't have any offspring. We should find someone to take over. Not just crying Letting tears fall to the ground in vain like this.”

said an old woman. Love itself is too dense to be indirect. No one gave a reprimanding glance. Everyone has the same opinion. Many people only realized Eliot's merit when they saw his lifeless body. Such as Maria, who recently recalled an incident when her son was seriously ill. She nervously opened the top of the lamp.

Sow the collected seeds and make a wish. But there was still no sign of light. The young woman rushed to wake up Uncle Eliot. A trembling old man came to help repair it. The results showed that the next morning The boy was completely healed.

The lamp keeper has passed away. From now on, the light source will be abandoned. Decayed over time The storm outside was intensifying. A cold wind blew in that made everyone shiver. The devil is making his mark after the winter. There may be nothing left but poverty.

Bruno looked through the window. The storm had subsided, leaving behind only a poisonous cold. Maria arrived home a few hours ago. The first thing she did was make hot tea and drink it all in one go. Another cup of tea was handed to him. The boy received it with a smile. But deep down there appears sadness. Is it possible that he doesn't miss his brother? Bruno pretends to be cheerful, just to reassure his mother.

Looking out the window, John, a friend from next door, opened the door. Bruno recalled the other's words from before winter. “Bruno, what dream did you have?”

“We asked you to come back from the war. Come play hide and seek or chase with us.”

“Same thing.”

“Your brother also went to war?”

“Father, everyone's father and brother. Mother said that when we grow up We must go to war. It's the national force. By the way, do you think there are dream lanterns on the battlefield? If not, how will you make your dreams come true?”

"I don't know..." Bruno's voice was soft. Unsure of the answer, for him, dreams are intangible. Only adults understand the meaning. Maria had said it plainly. 'Dreams are for children. Something that your child must think about and move toward. Very few adults get caught up in their dreams. My mother also likes to focus on reality and can dream.

But don't be disappointed if the dream is just a figment of your imagination.'

If you don't dream, then what you have been doing for decades...digging seeds out of the ground. Ready to drop into the lamp to be distilled into fulfillment...all for what exactly?

A whisper sounded. The boy turned and saw a cloud of light. It touched him gently. Convey love It's no different from the touch of a mother and brother.

The boy once asked Maria. The mother's answer at that time was confusing. “What are those lights inside?”

“It's a dream.”

“So where did those seeds go?”

“How did the seed become a dream?”

“So what turned a seed into a dream? What mechanism is inside? If Uncle Eliot wasn't around Can you fix them?”

“We don't know about that. Only Uncle Eliot knows.”

The more he thought, the more Bruno wondered. Uncle Eliot served in this role for decades. But none of the villagers thought to study it. Just 'observing' would be considered valid. Everyone acted as if the old man would live forever. Take care of the light for a long time.

“Mom, who is Uncle Eliot?”

The woman frowned at her son's question. "It's the keeper of the lamp."

“And where did Uncle Eliot come from? Do you have children? Who are Uncle's mother and father? Why does Uncle Eliot have to be the keeper of the lamp?”

There was silence...there was only the sound of the wind in the whole area. Mother couldn't answer. That sentence popped up in Bruno's head. Mother didn't even know who Uncle Eliot was or where he came from. Mother only knew that Uncle was responsible for repairing the lamp.

Five nights after Old Eliot died The lamp in front of Bruno's house flickered rapidly. News of the deaths of villagers began to pile up. The boy was fooling around with his new friend. Several nights ago, those rays of light came upon him. and has been by your side ever since.

Apart from the bad news about famine There is also news that a group of children found a way to escape from hopelessness. That is, dragging everyone into suffering together. Lamp after lamp was smashed until it was damaged. Thieves strike in the middle of the night Destroy the dreams of the villagers until they are completely destroyed.

Maria and a group of villagers capture a thief. A boy named 'John' was thrown to the ground. Still holding a hammer in his hand His eyes were filled with anger. The boy confessed that his lamp went out three days ago. Since then, his mother has been suffering from a serious illness. If his wishes are not granted Others don't deserve it either.

no harm There were no lynchings. A child... after all, he was a child. Everyone let the 'sinful thief' go home, leaving him with his mother who was bedridden. Since that day No one saw the boy or his mother come out again.

Except Bruno saw his neighbor sitting by the window. laugh or cry Feeling guilty or satisfied There was no way of knowing. At that moment, the boy's eyes caught something. A group of light streamed in. Touching his hand affectionately

There is no need for a lamp. No seeds required There is no need to ask the mother to dig up wishes from the earth. The boy smiled and made a wish...that we would both be best friends until the last day.

The sinful thief strikes again. This time it wasn't anyone else's lamp. Maria walked out at dawn and found that the black pillar in front of the house was leaning and almost toppling. The glass cover shattered. The lamp couldn't do its job anymore.

In the midst of the cold snow and the gusts of wind that hit the ice crystals made an ear-splitting sound. Everything came to a halt when the girl's screams rang out. Followed by the sound of scolding the boy named John, the sound of beatings, and the villagers' cries of prohibition. and the pained cries of those who have been hurt

Bruno could barely keep himself up. Maria...his mother went to attack John at home. The boy still didn't know what had happened. Of course, it couldn't be a good thing. Mom was right. The storm outside wasn't a natural disaster. But it's the breath of the devil. It changes everyone's mind. Change Maria's Mind Change John's Mind

Changed everything the boy knew.

Tonight the storm is intensifying. Bruno finds out that the villagers...are the owners of the lanterns that haven't been destroyed yet. Sowing seeds into glass golden light shines Follow a straight path from the beginning of the alley. It would be a pretty picture if it weren't for the tragic atmosphere in the background.

After a few moments, everyone went into the house. The atmosphere turned white...blurred like a distorted photograph. Until back to normal Bruno saw the group of children, male and female, no more than fifteen years old. Walking through the snow with a sledgehammer Chasing and smashing lanterns from the beginning of the alley, suddenly a group of villagers ran out. The little figure ran away. The elders cursed and swore.

Vulgar words poured out of his mouth. Even though there is a window But those unwanted sounds could still be heard. This village has changed. The house transformed into something the boy could not understand.

Tears that came out of nowhere began to flow. Why is he crying? Is it because of fear, cold, confusion, or a combination of all three?

Hear the whispers of the wind Dear friend is back. Little insects fly around in your hand. The golden light shone as if wanting to show off. Look at it from another angle. It was similar to the light of the lamp that had just been destroyed a moment ago. Or do the two lights come from the same source?

Insects fly around outside the window. When he looked away I found a man standing in the middle of a snowstorm. The perfect military uniform made the figure look like a statue. The other party's smile remained the same. Not unlike what Bruno remembered.

The next second, Marcus turned around. Disappeared with the rushing wind Bruno is startled. It's all a dream But the scene that happened next made the boy gasp.

His room had already transformed into a dream paradise.

At an abandoned house in the middle of the village that used to be the residence of the deceased. The lantern gradually broke down. light appears The figure of a man stood in the shadows...Old Eliot. Owner of a translucent body Silently turning the seeds of dreams around When the rounded surface cracks, A large maggot crawled out.

The thing in the old man's hand was not a seed. But it's the egg of an insect. Old Eliot's gaze wandered. It was as if telepathically sent to Bruno's house hundreds of meters away.

“Darling, the first day my grandfather came to see me. It corresponds to the day when the breath of the eye ends. The lamp still needs a caretaker. It shines brightly for centuries. Times have changed. Dream doesn't want to be imprisoned any longer.”

Little worm changes shape Pale wings grow from its back. The disgusting creature transformed into a beautiful six-legged creature.

“The first day my eyes died. A realization dawned on him that the lamp needed a new caretaker. A pure, innocent caretaker who is chosen by dreams. This insect represents light. Its ancestors had been confined to lanterns for decades. Hidden in the world of abstraction Only the chosen can see.

When transformed into a dream He was reborn under the ground. Waiting for villagers filled with desire to unearth it. The cycle goes around like this. Until one night The dream told his eyes that he did not want to be imprisoned any longer. Dreaming is a pursuit. It's where fate runs towards you. And it is only true when it chooses to be.”

Old Eliot lets glowing insects fly out of the window. Head to Bruno's house...a innocent child who enjoys his dreams. Desires require a pure heart, then the light will shine. More than the light emanating from all the glass covers combined.

clear consciousness Before the body of the deceased disappears The old man knew that the village's winter would pass. Along with a boy who will be forgotten...almost forever.

It is the land of fireflies. It's like a paradise decorated with colorful lights. Maria finds Bruno sitting among a swarm of insects. young woman opens window The entire group of lights flew out. Scattered across the sky like splashes of paint on a canvas. Broken lamp broken lamp The worthless black pillars in front of each house now slowly revealed light.

Firefly inserts itself into glass cover Proudly radiating bright colors The girl collapsed on the ground. Shocked by the sight

Actually, what was inside the lamp was a firefly...a firefly of dreams. Creatures that carry human desires before being distilled into concrete form The lamp has magic It chooses to communicate with only those who are worthy. Guard opens the lamp cover What others see is emptiness. Contrary to the chosen person's vision, they saw a swarm of dozens of fireflies. They fly side by side until they form an exquisite dazzling light.

Maria glares at her son...the village has a new lantern keeper. The dream has already chosen its caretaker.

At the end of the year, what everyone had been waiting for happened. Every soldier from the village survived the war. Marcus walked back. Maria could hardly believe it was her son. The boy's father is named John. Including dozens of men who returned from the war. Everyone was stunned by the beautiful sight of the village that they once lived in. Now there are no lamps.

There were only clusters of fireflies that filled the sky... tiny stars that were within reach. dreams are free The morning dawned with a calm blizzard. The entire village was like a giant lantern rolled into one.

Now there is no famine. no cold There was no cry of anguish. Villagers come together to celebrate...the happiness that heaven has given them. To the justice that God has graciously bestowed

Fireflies flutter in my hand They were fascinated When a little insect is sick A boy named 'Bruno' is the one who was called to heal. Just caress and say words of encouragement. That firefly will completely disappear. No one could do it except the boy...not even one.

Bruno's family is warm again. Until the night Maria died...two months later there was a new keeper of the lamp. She held her son's hand tightly. Both eyes sparkled. One side radiated with pride. The other side radiates love.

Creator of dreams for others There is no opportunity to give your dreams to yourself. Bruno prayed day after day, but in vain. On the last night of winter Mother's body was reduced to a rough one. became one of dozens of lives spared from the tragic season. Maria's eyes clearly showed a lack of fear. Her dream was to see her two children grow up. The young woman had already received that wish.

Bruno's new home is a small cottage. Marcus died of an illness. Wish cannot be fulfilled In contrast to people in the community who live happily. No matter how much has passed Those who give dreams...follow the wishes of others will be forgotten. Like the old man who devoted his life to taking care of the lamps. But the reward was small tears. of the villagers on the night their breath ceases

Yet, that might have been the dream of the innocent, pure, sacrificed, exceedingly willing Lantern Keeper. The smiles of others are the best reward for such oblivion.

Eight decades later The lantern keeper died. A young girl asked her father curiously.

“Dad, who is Uncle Bruno?”

The young man frowned at his daughter's question. "It's the lamp keeper."

“So where did Uncle Bruno come from? Do you have children? Who are Uncle's mother and father? Why do you have to be a lamp keeper?”

"I don't know. Dad forgot. Back then, you were probably just an ordinary person who liked to raise fireflies every day."

-finish-