"Grandpa! What did the legendary gods look like?"
By the fireplace in the little wooden cabin, a girl leaned over the edge of the sofa. Her bright, curious eyes gazed at the old man, and the two furry ears atop her head swayed with excitement.
"Oh, that..." Grandpa flipped through the picture book in his hands, then continued:
"According to legend, the gods looked much like the Nine Tribes of the mortal world, except they had no tails, horns, wings, or scales. Their semicircular ears grew on either side of their heads, and without exception, their hair was pure white..."
"Wow! So the gods actually look a lot like us?" the little girl asked eagerly.
"Of course. They say the gods created us in their own image."
"The legends say the gods are immortal. Is that true?" The little girl had another question.
"Haha, many people like to imagine that. But according to the archaeological records we've uncovered, the gods actually lived for less than two hundred years," Grandpa replied, to her surprise.
"Huh? Even the gods couldn't live forever?!" the little girl exclaimed.
"What made them gods wasn't an infinite lifespan, but their will and spirit."
As he spoke, Grandpa turned to the first page of the book and recited once more the hymn dedicated to the gods:
Across the silver river, the brilliant sea of stars,
The travelers of the stars ascend, bearing their creations.
Like birds that lead the way, they sweep across towering mountains and rivers,
And claim the eight corners of the Milky Way.
Glory and the breeze, courage and longing,
Fill the whole universe.
White dandelions drift through three thousand worlds.
May the songs of those star travelers be sung forever…
Theme: A fairy tale of science fiction, a future apocalypse, the rebirth of civilization, and children's grand adventure
