The Lion and The Emperor
“He stared into the lion’s eyes, but could only see rage.”
This is the tale of an emperor and a lion. It is the story of a young emperor who, at the prime of his empire, lived in a world intangible to most and who was satiated only by the most extravagant pleasures the world could offer him. One day he visited an old town that was surrounded by nature and decided to go for a walk in the forest. The forest was idyllic. Mossy grass covered the ground and the broken stones of old buildings that once stood tall claiming the rightful place of the wilderness. As he walked through the forest, a colonnade of trees lined his every step and the soft yellow hue of the sun’s rays breaking through the leaves gave the mist in the air a sparkling effect.
The sounds of birds fluttering beneath the canopy and the wind rattling the leaves joined in harmony. Each step he took gave him the sensation he was gliding through the trail. He brushed his fingers against the rough bark of the trees and gave in to the feeling of the mist sticking to his open palms. The brisk air caressed the emperors bare skin and invigorated his senses. He was completely enveloped by his surroundings. He had found, what he considered to be, the perfect place.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he stopped at the centre of an open patch of ground where the warm rays of the sun blanketed the surface and hugged the emperor. The heat of the rays condensed the water droplets of the mist that lay in the emperors skin. He closed his eyes and gave into the wholeness of that moment, of that place, and of all that composed it. The wind, the mist, the sun, the fluttering of the birds, the mossy grass keeping him afloat, and his thoughts took over his senses. For once he felt alive.
Amidst his joy, the emperor realised that despite all the beauty around him, he had no one to share it with. All his life he kept a firm conviction in that his role was to serve his empire. He gave in wholeheartedly at a young age and in an unconscious attempt to feel complete he filled his life with luxury and extravagance. He had given into to the ideal of being the chosen one, he had given into the belief that he must sacrifice what mere mortals search for in order to claim his spot in history, he had given up on the true essence of life. I may have it all, I may have achieved what most can’t, yet I am alone, he thought. He looked around and the fairytale began to crumble, his emotions took over and a sense of melancholy invaded his heart and his mind. The emperor was at his knees, not to other men but to his own life. How can it be, he thought, that a man as strong, determined, and powerful as myself has managed to lose sight of the real objective of my life? The gusts of wind cooled the tears that ran down his face. The mossy grass filled the cracks in his hands and the empty space between his fingers. The emperor felt defeated.
The leaves ruffled and a deep echoing growl rattled the emperor. He opened his eyes only to see that ahead of him stood a lion. This was a creature he had only heard of in stories told by the people in the town. The majestic stance of this creature was imposing and could make any man feel small. His brown, long mane gave him a royal flare, the expression in his face was menacing and his eyes pierced through the emperors eyes. For a few seconds they connected, recognising each other as the alphas of their kingdom. Then and there, the emperor could see his life play like a movie in the eyes of the lion. Inundated in his emotions, the emperor had already given in to his despair and demise.
The lion took one step forward and his heavy paw ripped through the moss. The emperor was amazed at size of this creature, he saw how the sun made its coat glisten and he could feel his body trembling in fear, but his will to stand up and fight was not there. The lion took another step closer and the emperor could feel the warm air of the lion’s breath. He stared into the lion’s eyes, but could only see rage. They both stood still, drawn into each others eyes and time was paralysed for a second. In that moment, the emperor realised that they weren’t much different from each other.
The lion was alone, fighting for his place in the world and led by his instinctive nature. He realised that, like himself, the lion was guided by his reality and what he felt he had to do to survive and protect his kingdom. If he were to die there, the emperor would not blame the lion. His anger, his fear, and his feeling of despair vanished. He understood that it was what he had to do. He looked at the lion and smiled, because he knew they were the same being but in different form. The emperor closed his eyes and for once, at the sight of death and peril, he felt at peace with himself and with his life, because for once, he felt alive. He knew his time had come.
