The Game of Experience

 Long ago, a saint named Sabaraki got a very wise realization. That our human species would become wiser if they experienced all the obstacles they might or might not go through in life. That they might be more empathetic towards people whose lives are bound to be difficult for them. One might realize that life is much more than sitting and watching people around them suffer. That they can change the world for the better. That this realization cannot be realized in the one life they have as a human.

As wise as Sabaraki was, he was also an ambitious man. He believed he could make something by which man could realize all that within a few minutes. Hence, he challenged himself to do it. 

He worked for 12 years straight, using all the power he had gotten through his many years of meditation. He felt like he was in a trance. He was so engrossed in the process that he neither ate nor drank anything nor took a break at all. After 12 years of hard work, his project was completed. He had done it! He created a game that puts the player in someone else's shoes and makes them experience how some peoples' lives are. However, he passed soon after.

His followers - the people with Sabaraki while he was doing his project - made more game copies, traveled the world, and spread Sabaraki's knowledge.

Many years after Sabaraki had died, a very inexperienced prince was crowned king of a kingdom. One night, when the whole kingdom was celebrating, a man appeared at the kingdom's gates. The two posted guards took some time to take his appearance in. He was a tall man with a hunched back. He had a dark beard and was wearing a long, black robe with a hood so that his face was completely unrevealed. He was wearing black gloves to his long-fingered hands, which were holding a box made of silver. He was about to go in when-

"First, explain why you're here before you go in," said one of the guards, coming in the bearded man's way.

"My name is Rab - short for Rabrador. I'm the great-grandson of one of the great Saint Sabaraki's followers. I've come to give this box to the new king. It is a game. It will surely come of use to him." His voice didn't have any particular accent. If anything, it was rather deep and muffled.

The guards nodded at each other and told Rab, "You can go in, but we will come with you too."Rab nodded, and they started to the palace.

Once in the palace, Rab was shown to a golden door which was decorated with dark blue diamonds and Rubies. It was a luxury Rab had never seen in his life. But he wasn't tempted to take anything.

The new king was sitting on a huge throne. Rab's first thought was that he could make a very good king if he played the game. He had a brown, neatly shaved beard and cold, ice-blue eyes on a pale, thin face with hollow cheeks. However, he wore very modern attire. He wore a light blue shirt with green checks and black jeans.

Rab introduced himself and gave the box. "It's a game. It would be very useful to you. The rules are in the box," he said and took his leave.

A few days later, The king was feeling very tired. His kingdom was undergoing a very tough time. A large group of cat burglars must have entered the kingdom slyly because many burglaries and kidnaps were happening. His dungeons were full of thieves. Yet, they were still there. He couldn't do anything. 

While the king was brooding about this in his chambers, a sudden thought struck his mind. The strange man - Rab - had told him that the game he gave would be useful. Well, I don't have anything to do now, and it's about time I see what the game is, the king thought.

He opened the silver box and read the rules paper thoroughly. Then, he plunged head-first into the box.

The king's world went from light to dark. His head was spinning. He tried to shout, but nothing came out. The next thing he knew, he was falling from the top floor of a huge, rich mansion. An angry man who looked like a chef was shouting something at him, but his ears were ringing. The food he held was scattered on the ground as he hit it and blacked out.

He woke up to the cries of the peasants surrounding him. His head was throbbing. As he opened his eyes and looked up at the gray sky, written in big, bold letters: "YOU ARE ONE OF THE NEW BURGLAR GROUP'S MEMBER."The king was sure no one else could see it. He looked around at the peasants who were still crying. There were about a dozen of them. One of them - a huge man - carried him. As the man walked with him, the king saw the rich passers-by looking at him in disgust. He even heard two women talking.

"What use is the king if the poor keep trying to fit in with us?" one of them asked."He should kick them out."

"Our king does nothing except dress up like a teenage boy," the other replied.

The king and the man, along with the other peasants, reached a small hut on the outskirts of the kingdom. The others stayed outside while they went in.

The king was surprised to see that the hut's owner was none other than Rab - The man who had given him the game he was in. Rab also seemed to recognize him as the king, and his eyes shifted from careless to respectful.

He took him into a room and dressed his wounds. The king had a broken nose and a swollen part on his forehead. "Where is the hideout of the burglars?" he asked.

"They live in a cave behind your palace," Rab replied."It is hidden by weeds which fall over the entrance."

The king went there after thanking the peasants. A group of men, women, and children dressed in rags were huddled in a corner. A big man was sitting beside the huddled group. They were not surprised when the king(who was a member of the group due to the game) came in with many wounds.

"Have you gotten anything to eat, Rudy?" The big man asked. The king shook his head and looked down, for he didn't know how to address this huge fellow.

"Well then, It's gonna be another hungry day," a shrill voice from the crowd said."There are a few loaves and some cheese for the children, chief."

"If only the king could allow us into this kingdom," a man said."But he never will if he knows we're from the kingdom of his enemy."

"We can say that we come in peace," the king suggested, talking for the first time.

The king now understood the real reason for the burglaries to happen. He wished he could go home and make things right. It was as though the game was holding its breath and waiting for him to realize this all along. With a gush of wind, the spinning began. Everything went black, then light again. 

The king found himself in his room. He knew exactly what to do. He called his whole kingdom and  all the merchants were told to give half their money to the poor.

"But, your majesty-" the rich started in an exasperated voice. But the king interrupted them.

"You have the right to remain silent," the king said sternly.

He later welcomed the people in the cave with many gifts. He became wiser, and can now understand others better. As for his attire, the king decided that he wouldn't bother about what people thought about it. It is his wish how he wanted to dress.

                                    The End