Once every century, on the seventh day of the seventh month, a bridge of swallows forms across the Milky Way, allowing the Weaver Maiden to meet her Cowherd lover for a single night.

Kai Lung witnessed this celestial event as a young man and spent decades trying to capture its beauty in words. Now, as an old storyteller, he finally feels ready to share the tale.

The lovers' story is well-known, but Kai Lung adds his own twist: he imagines what the swallows say to each other as they form the bridge, their tiny hearts beating with cosmic purpose.

'Each swallow carries one grain of stardust,' Kai Lung says. 'Alone, it means nothing. Together, they build a bridge across infinity. This is the secret of love itself.'