where no light shone from the iron-dark sky, and where a mist obscured the horizon on every side. The ground was bare earth, beaten flat by the pressure of millions of feet, even though those feet had less weight than feathers; so it must have been time that pressed it flat, even though time had been stilled in this place; so it must have been the way things were. This was the end of all places and the last of all worlds.
The passage evokes a sense of desolation, describing a place devoid of light, buried under a dark, oppressive sky. The mist that clouds the horizon creates an atmosphere of isolation, suggesting an existence on the edge of reality. The imagery of the ground, flattened by countless unseen steps, hints at an endless passage of time despite its stillness, reinforcing the idea of an inevitable, melancholic march toward an end. This setting serves as a metaphor for finality and the emptiness that accompanies the conclusion of all things.
In this stark environment, where weightless footsteps have shaped the earth, the text emphasizes how time and existence intertwine in ways that seem paradoxical. The narrative speaks to the weight of history and the cumulative effect of countless lives, even in a place where nothing remains. This scene encapsulates the essence of destruction and renewal, marking it as a significant climax in the story, where everything converges into a singular, profound moment of closure. It reflects the intricate balance between existence and nothingness.
