Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome back to Sleepy Stories. I'm your host, Lucy,
Speaker 1: and my friends and I will be reading you a
Speaker 1: sleepy bedtime story every week to relax you and to
Speaker 1: help you to drift off into a RESTful sleep. From
Speaker 1: time to time, we will also read you a relaxing,
Speaker 1: peaceful meditation that will take you somewhere beautiful and calming.
Speaker 1: Once we have read the stories, we will then read
Speaker 1: them a second time, but this time they will be
Speaker 1: read read even slower. This will help you to relax
Speaker 1: even more. Before we begin, I would like you to
Speaker 1: close your eyes and breathe in and out nice and deeply.
Speaker 1: Take a few seconds to inhale, and then hold your
Speaker 1: breath for a few seconds more, and then release and
Speaker 1: breathe out. Do this a few times if you need to.
Speaker 1: While you listen to the music and you listen to
Speaker 1: my voice, give yourself time to let your body relax
Speaker 1: and your mind settle. It's important that we allow time
Speaker 1: for us to feel safe, cozy, and completely at ease.
Speaker 1: And now it's time for this week's story.
Speaker 2: Three Kings. There once was a land of rolling hills,
Speaker 2: rivers like sea ribbons, and forests so deep and green
Speaker 2: that those who walked beneath the canopies felt as though
Speaker 2: they had stepped into a dream. In this land stood
Speaker 2: three kingdoms, side by side, like pearls strung upon a
Speaker 2: single thread. These kingdoms were ruled by three brothers, King Auurulius,
Speaker 2: King Baron, and King Casian. Their father, the Great King Aldemar,
Speaker 2: had divided his realms equally upon his passing, believing that
Speaker 2: sharing the land equally would keep the peace between his sons.
Speaker 2: Yet brothers, even loving brothers, are rarely equal in heart
Speaker 2: or desire. King Aurelius, King Baron, and King Cassian. Aurelius
Speaker 2: the eldest, was wise, but overly cautious, forever weighing decisions
Speaker 2: as though the world depended on each breath he took. Baron,
Speaker 2: the middle brother, was bold and restless. He chased thrills,
Speaker 2: victories and applause. Cassian, the youngest, was gentle, thoughtful, and
Speaker 2: always searching for meaning in the things others overlooked. Each
Speaker 2: ruled his kingdom according to his nature, and each kingdom
Speaker 2: reflected its King. Aurelius's lands were orderly, fields in tidy rows,
Speaker 2: citizens efficient and quiet, but laughter was scarce there. Baron's
Speaker 2: kingdom lived loudly, with festivals every week and endless contests,
Speaker 2: but debts ran deep and sleep was rare. Cassian's realm
Speaker 2: was peaceful, filled with music and gardens where fruit trees
Speaker 2: grew along rivers sides. Yet his people longed for something more, trade, innovation,
Speaker 2: something grand to lift their quiet lives. One autumn morning,
Speaker 2: when golden leaves swirled across the roads and the scent
Speaker 2: of harvest fires drifted through the valleys, a most unexpected
Speaker 2: visitor arrived. Not a nobleman, not a merchant, but a goose.
Speaker 2: Though not just any goose. This goose wore a color
Speaker 2: of spun gold and feathers that shimmered like sunlight reflecting
Speaker 2: off the sea. Her eyes were keen, warm, and strangely human.
Speaker 2: She appeared at the crossroads where the three kingdoms met,
Speaker 2: and the humble villagers who saw her first gasped and
Speaker 2: dropped to their knees. It is the celestial goose, someone whispered,
Speaker 2: hands trembling, the one spoken of in the old tales.
Speaker 2: Long ago, there were stories stories of a goose who
Speaker 2: traveled the lands, granting wishes to those who were pure
Speaker 2: of heart, or at least those whose desires could teach
Speaker 2: them what they most needed to learn, or at least
Speaker 2: those whose desires could teach them what they most needed
Speaker 2: to learn. The villagers gathered with awe and confusion, but
Speaker 2: the goose merely honked once and then sat in the road,
Speaker 2: as though she were waiting. Word of her arrival. Rushed
Speaker 2: like wildfire through the valleys and hills, reaching the ears
Speaker 2: of the three kings by midday. King Aurelius arrived first,
Speaker 2: with advisors trailing behind him, carrying scrolls and ink and records,
Speaker 2: as though one should always catalog miracles. King Baron galloped
Speaker 2: in next, his horse lathered from haste, grinning wide with excitement.
Speaker 2: Cassian came last, walking on foot, offering fruit he had
Speaker 2: picked along the way for the goose. The goose regarded
Speaker 2: each brother carefully. I am here to offer each of
Speaker 2: you a single wish. She spoke, not with a honk
Speaker 2: or with a sound of feathers, but with clear, ringing
Speaker 2: speech that echoed like wind chimes in a summer breeze.
Speaker 2: The villagers gasped and crossed their hearts a wish. Baron
Speaker 2: clapped his hands in delight. Aurelius's brow furrowed what is
Speaker 2: the cost for every wish? The goose said calmly. There
Speaker 2: is always a lesson, but the lesson is not a
Speaker 2: punishment unless one resists learning it. Cassian bowed, thank you
Speaker 2: for the gift of such a choice. The goose nodded,
Speaker 2: and her feathers shimmered. We shall go to each of
Speaker 2: your kingdoms in order of birth, she declared, and I
Speaker 2: will grant your wishes where your feet rest most firmly,
Speaker 2: in the place you have made your own. So the
Speaker 2: king's return to their respective lands, making ready for the goose. First,
Speaker 2: the goose visited the kingdom of Aurelius. Aurelius guarded her
Speaker 2: to his gardens, meticulous hedges trimmed to perfect angles, fountains
Speaker 2: that sprayed in uniform precision. The air smelled of lavender
Speaker 2: and quiet discipline. My wish, Aurelius began carefully, is to
Speaker 2: make my kingdom perfect. I want peace, order and absolute harmony,
Speaker 2: no mistakes, no disorder, no unexpected interruptions to the balance
Speaker 2: we have cultivated. The goose blinked, Are you certain this
Speaker 2: is what you wish? Yes, Aurelius replied, a world with
Speaker 2: out chaos. The goose spread her old, The goose spread
Speaker 2: her golden wings, and the garden glowed. A hush fell
Speaker 2: over the land, and so perfection came. At first, it
Speaker 2: was glorious. The harvests ripened exactly on schedule. The skies
Speaker 2: reigned only when rain was needed. No weeds grew, no
Speaker 2: child cried, no one fell ill. The streets were swept
Speaker 2: clean at dawn each morning, as predictable as the last.
Speaker 2: But slowly, ever so slowly, the life began to drain
Speaker 2: from the kingdom. Children stopped playing, for play was unpredictable.
Speaker 2: Artists put down their brushes, for creativity thrived on surprise.
Speaker 2: Lovers stopped courting, for love is inherently disorderly. People spoke
Speaker 2: in hushed, cautious tones, fearful of disrupting the perfection. Even
Speaker 2: the birds flew elsewhere. Aurelius tried to smile, tried to
Speaker 2: feel pride. But silence is a heavy crown. And one day,
Speaker 2: as he walked the perfect path along his perfect garden,
Speaker 2: he realized the truth. Without chaos, there was no growth
Speaker 2: without mistakes, there was no discovery without unpredictability, there was
Speaker 2: no joy. He sat down beside a pond so still
Speaker 2: it reflected the sky like glass, and for the first
Speaker 2: time in months, he wept. The goose appeared, Have you learned,
Speaker 2: she asked softly. Yes, Aurelius whispered, perfection is lifeless. I
Speaker 2: wish to undo this. The goose nodded, touched her beak
Speaker 2: to his forehead, and the kingdom sighed. Breathing again, children laughed,
Speaker 2: rain fell where it wasn't expected. A bloom of wildflowers
Speaker 2: burst through the hedges, bright and untamed. Aurelius laughed through tears.
Speaker 2: This was living. Next, the goose traveled to the kingdom
Speaker 2: of Bayarn. When she arrived, the kingdom was in full celebration,
Speaker 2: drums dancing, wine spilling from barrels, music that shook the sky.
Speaker 2: Barn rushed forward with open arms. My wish, he boomed happily.
Speaker 2: I wish for endless wealth, food, treasure, wine, gold. Let
Speaker 2: my kingdom be the most abundant and enviable in the world.
Speaker 2: The goose tilted her head. Are you certain that is
Speaker 2: what you wish? Baron laughed, Who wouldn't want such wealth?
Speaker 2: The goose lifted her wings the golden light, and golden
Speaker 2: light surged like a river. Overnight. The kingdom of Barron
Speaker 2: overflowed with riches. Jewels sparkled in the streets. Barrels filled themselves,
Speaker 2: el tables groaned with roasted meats and sweetbreads. Every home glittered,
Speaker 2: every citizen feasted, and at first joy roared like fire.
Speaker 2: But abundance without toil has a cost. Work ceased, for
Speaker 2: why labor when everything is provided. Craftsmen abandoned their tools,
Speaker 2: farmers left their fields, Musicians stopped practicing. For applause came
Speaker 2: regardless of skill. Soon the laughter dulled, food lost its flavor,
Speaker 2: art lost its soul. There is no meaning in a
Speaker 2: gift that requires nothing of the receiver. Then came the greed.
Speaker 2: Neighbors began to hoard, fearing others might take more. Friendships,
Speaker 2: fractured families argued. People forgot how to give, how to share,
Speaker 2: how to create. The kingdom became heavy with laziness and suspicion.
Speaker 2: Byron watched with growing horror the joy he had wanted
Speaker 2: so badly had become a hollow indulgence, pleasure without purpose.
Speaker 2: He found the goose sitting quietly in the palace courtyard,
Speaker 2: preening her golden feathers. I understand now, Baron, said, voice
Speaker 2: thick we need purpose, work, something to drive for. Without effort,
Speaker 2: life loses, meaning I do not want endless abundance anymore.
Speaker 2: The goose nodded once more and brushed her feathers against
Speaker 2: his chest. The wealth faded into a balanced plenty, enough
Speaker 2: for all, but still requiring tending effort skill. Laughter returned,
Speaker 2: steady and warm, not wild, but real. Baron exhaled deeply,
Speaker 2: feeling lighter than he had in years. Finally, the goose
Speaker 2: traveled to the kingdom of Cassian. Cassian welcomed her simply
Speaker 2: in a garden filled with wild flowers, fireflies dancing in
Speaker 2: the twilight, and a river singing nearby. What is your wish,
Speaker 2: young king, the goose asked. Casian thought for a long moment,
Speaker 2: a very long moment. He watched the fireflies, he listened
Speaker 2: to the river. He breathed in the scent of growing things.
Speaker 2: Then he said, I wish to understand how to be
Speaker 2: the best king I can be for my people, not
Speaker 2: for my pride. The goose's eyes warmed as though sunlight
Speaker 2: rested within them. That is not a simple wish, she said.
Speaker 2: I do not want it to be simple. Cassian replied,
Speaker 2: and so the goose did not grant something instantly. Instead,
Speaker 2: she sent Cassian on a journey. She led him to
Speaker 2: the homes of his people, not the nobles, not the wealthy,
Speaker 2: but the ordinary folk. Together Casian. Together, Cassian and the
Speaker 2: goose sat at kitchen tables and listened to stories. They
Speaker 2: helped mend roofs, carried buckets of water, and played music
Speaker 2: by firelight. Cassian learned how his subjects lived, not from reports,
Speaker 2: but from hands on presents. He learned of their struggles,
Speaker 2: their dreams, their humor. He saw that wisdom was not
Speaker 2: found in throwne room, but in the beating heart of
Speaker 2: a community. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months, and
Speaker 2: one day, while sitting on a hillside watching the sunrise
Speaker 2: with the goose, Cassian realized he felt different, fuller, clearer, steadier.
Speaker 2: I don't need a grand kingdom, he said softly, I
Speaker 2: need a joyful one. I need to be among my people,
Speaker 2: to listen, to learn to lead with humility. The goose nodded.
Speaker 2: Then and only then did she touch her beak to
Speaker 2: his forehead, and a gentle magic filled his kingdom, not
Speaker 2: of perfection nor abundance, but of harmony. Gardens grew a
Speaker 2: bit greener, music sounded a bit sweeterbors helped one another naturally,
Speaker 2: not because they were told to, but because they wanted to.
Speaker 2: His kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly, but beautifully. His
Speaker 2: kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly, but beautifully. The three
Speaker 2: brothers gathered at the crossroads again, when the goose was
Speaker 2: ready to leave. Aurelius now peaceful and warm eyed, barren,
Speaker 2: steady and generous, Cassian, glowing with quiet strength. You each wished.
Speaker 2: You each wished for what you believed you needed, the
Speaker 2: goose said, And each of you discovered that, and each
Speaker 2: of you discovered what you truly needed. Instead. The brothers bowed,
Speaker 2: not as kings, but as men. Thank you, they said,
Speaker 2: as one. The goose spread her wings of sunlight and
Speaker 2: rose into the air. She flew towards the clouds until
Speaker 2: she looked like a golden star drifting across the sky,
Speaker 2: and then she was gone. The kingdoms remained peaceful. The
Speaker 2: brothers visited each other. The brothers visited one another often.
Speaker 2: They shared trade, music and stories. Their lands prospered not
Speaker 2: through magic gifts, but through wisdom gained, and the villagers
Speaker 2: told the tale of the celestial goose for generations to come,
Speaker 2: reminding all who listened that wishes are not shortcuts, but
Speaker 2: doorways to understanding. Three kings. There once was a land
Speaker 2: of rolling hills, rivers like sea ribbons, and forests so
Speaker 2: deep and green that those who walked beneath the canopies
Speaker 2: felt as though they had stepped into a dream. In
Speaker 2: this lane stood three kingdoms, side by side, like pearls
Speaker 2: strung upon a single threat. These kingdoms were ruled by
Speaker 2: three brothers, King Auurulius, King Baron, and King Kasian. Their father,
Speaker 2: the Great King Aldemar, had divided his realms equally upon
Speaker 2: his passing, believing that sharing the land equally would keep
Speaker 2: the peace between his sons. Yet brothers, even loving brothers,
Speaker 2: are rarely equal in heart or desire. King Aurelius, King
Speaker 2: Barn and King Cassian. Aurelius the eldest was wise, but
Speaker 2: overly cautious, forever weighing decisions as though the world depended
Speaker 2: on each breath he took. Baron, the middle brother, was
Speaker 2: bold and restless. He chased thrills, victories, and applause. Cassian,
Speaker 2: the youngest, was gentle, thoughtful, and always searching for meaning
Speaker 2: in the things others overlooked. Each ruled his kingdom according
Speaker 2: to his nature, and each kingdom reflected its king. Aurelius's
Speaker 2: lands were orderly, fields in tidy rows, citizens, efficient and quiet,
Speaker 2: but laughter was scarce there. Baron's kingdom lived loudly, with
Speaker 2: festivals every week and endless contests, but debts ran deep
Speaker 2: and sleep was rare. Cassian's realm was peaceful, filled with
Speaker 2: music and gardens where fruit trees grew along riversides. Yet
Speaker 2: his people longed for something more, trade, innovation, something grand
Speaker 2: to lift their quiet lives. One autumn morning, when golden
Speaker 2: leaves swirled across the roads and the scent of harvest
Speaker 2: fires drifted through the valleys, a most unexpected visitor arrived.
Speaker 2: Not a nobleman, not a merchant, but a goose. Though
Speaker 2: not just any goose. This goose wore a color of
Speaker 2: spun gold and feathers that shimmered like sunlight reflecting off
Speaker 2: the sea. Her eyes were keen, warm, and strangely human.
Speaker 2: She appeared at the cross roads where the three kingdoms met,
Speaker 2: and the humble villagers who saw her first gasped and
Speaker 2: dropped to their knees. It is the celestial goose, some
Speaker 2: one whispered, hands trembling, the one spoken of in the
Speaker 2: old tales. Long ago, there were stories stories of a
Speaker 2: goose who traveled the lands, granting wishes to those who
Speaker 2: were pure of heart, or at least those whose desires
Speaker 2: could teach them what they most needed to learn, or
Speaker 2: at least those whose desires could teach them what they
Speaker 2: most needed to learn. The villagers gathered with awe and confusion,
Speaker 2: but the goose merely honked once and then sat in
Speaker 2: the road, as though she were waiting. Word of her
Speaker 2: arrival rushed like wildfire through the valleys and hills, reaching
Speaker 2: the ears of the three kings. By midday. King Aurelius
Speaker 2: arrived first, with advisors trailing behind him, carrying scrolls and
Speaker 2: ink and records, as though one should always catalog miracles.
Speaker 2: King Baron galloped in next, his horse lathered from haste,
Speaker 2: grinning wide with excitement. Cassian came last, walking on foot,
Speaker 2: offering fruit he had picked along the way for the goose.
Speaker 2: The goose regarded each brother carefully. I am here to
Speaker 2: offer each of you a single wish. She spoke, not
Speaker 2: with a honk or with a sound of feathers, but
Speaker 2: with clear, ringing speech that echoed like wind chimes in
Speaker 2: a summer breeze. The villagers gasped and crossed their hearts.
Speaker 2: A wish baron clapped his hands in delight. Aurelius's brow furrowed.
Speaker 2: What is the cost for every wish? The goose said calmly,
Speaker 2: There is always a lesson, But the lesson is not
Speaker 2: a punishment unless one resists learning it. Cassian bowed, thank
Speaker 2: you for the gift of such a choice. The goose nodded,
Speaker 2: and her feathers shimmered. We shall go to each of
Speaker 2: your kingdoms in order of birth, she declared, and I
Speaker 2: will grant your wishes where your feet rest most firmly,
Speaker 2: in the place you have made your own. So the
Speaker 2: kings returned to their respective lands, making ready for the goose. First,
Speaker 2: the goose visited the kingdom of Aurelius. Aurelius guarded her
Speaker 2: to his gardens, meticulous hedges trimmed to perfect angles, fountains
Speaker 2: that sprayed in uniform precision. The air smelled of lavender
Speaker 2: and quiet discipline. My wish, Aurelius began carefully, is to
Speaker 2: make my kingdom perfect. I want peace, order and absolute harmony,
Speaker 2: no mistakes, no disorder, no unexpected interruptions to the balance.
Speaker 2: We have cultivated. The goose blinked, Are you certain this
Speaker 2: is what you wish? Yes, Aurelius replied, a world without chaos.
Speaker 2: The goose spread her old, the goose spread her golden wings,
Speaker 2: and the garden glowed. A hush fell over the land,
Speaker 2: and so perfection came. At first it was glorious. The
Speaker 2: harvests ripened exactly on schedule. The skies reigned only when
Speaker 2: rain was needed. No weeds grew, no child cried, no
Speaker 2: one fell ill. The streets were swept clean at dawn
Speaker 2: each morning, as predictable as the last. But slowly, ever
Speaker 2: so slowly, the life began to drain from the kingdom.
Speaker 2: Children's stopped playing, for play was unpredictable. Artists put down
Speaker 2: their brushes for creativity thrived on surprise. Lovers stopped courting,
Speaker 2: for love is inherently disorderly. People spoke in hushed, cautious tones,
Speaker 2: fearful of disrupting the perfection. Even the birds flew elsewhere.
Speaker 2: Aurelius tried to smile, tried to feel pride. But silence
Speaker 2: is a heavy crown and one day, as he walked
Speaker 2: the perfect path along his perfect garden, he realized the truth.
Speaker 2: Without chaos, there was no growth without mistakes, there was
Speaker 2: no discovery without unpredictability, there was no ju. He sat
Speaker 2: down beside a pond so still it reflected the sky
Speaker 2: like glass, and for the first time in months, he wept.
Speaker 2: The goose appeared. Have you learned, she asked softly. Yes,
Speaker 2: Aurelius whispered, perfection is lifeless. I wish to undo this.
Speaker 2: The goose nodded, touched her beak to his forehead, and
Speaker 2: the kingdom sighed, breathing again. Children laughed, rain fell where
Speaker 2: it wasn't expected. A bloom of wildflowers burst through the hedges,
Speaker 2: bright and untamed. Aurelius laughed through tears. This was living. Next,
Speaker 2: the goose traveled to the Kingdom of Barn. When she arrived,
Speaker 2: the kingdom was in full celebration, drums dancing, wine spilling
Speaker 2: from barrels, music that shook the sky. Barn rushed forward
Speaker 2: with open arms. My wish, he boomed happily. I wish
Speaker 2: for endless wealth, food, treasure, wine, gold. Let my kingdom
Speaker 2: be the most abundant and enviable in the world. The
Speaker 2: goose tilted her head. Are you certain that is what
Speaker 2: you wish? Baron laughed, Who wouldn't want such wealth? The
Speaker 2: goose lifted her wings the golden light, and golden light
Speaker 2: surged like a river. Overnight the king of Barren overflowed
Speaker 2: with riches. Jewels sparkled in the streets. Barrels filled themselves,
Speaker 2: tables groaned with roasted meats and sweetbreads. Every home glittered,
Speaker 2: Every citizen feasted, and at first joy roared like fire.
Speaker 2: But abundance without toil has a cost. Work ceased, for
Speaker 2: why labor when everything is provided? Craftsmen abandoned their tools,
Speaker 2: farmers left their fields, Musicians stopped practicing for applause came
Speaker 2: regardless of skill. Soon the laughter dulled, Food lost its flavor,
Speaker 2: art lost its soul. There is no meaning in a
Speaker 2: gift that requires nothing of the receiver. Then came the greed.
Speaker 2: Neighbors began to hoard, fearing others might take more. Friendships fractured,
Speaker 2: families argued. People forgot how to give, how to share,
Speaker 2: how to create. The kingdom became heavy with laziness and suspicion.
Speaker 2: Byarren watched with growing horror the joy he had wanted
Speaker 2: so badly had become a hollow indulgence, pleasure without purpose.
Speaker 2: He found the goose sitting quietly in the palace courtyard,
Speaker 2: preening her golden feathers. I unders stand now, Baron said,
Speaker 2: voice thick. We need purpose, work, something to strive for.
Speaker 2: Without effort, life loses meaning. I do not want endless
Speaker 2: abundance anymore. The goose nodded once more and brushed her
Speaker 2: feathers against his chest. The wealth faded into a balanced plenty,
Speaker 2: enough for all, but still requiring tending effort, skill. Laughter
Speaker 2: returned steady and warm, not wild, but real. Baron exhaled deeply,
Speaker 2: feeling lighter than he had in years. Finally, the goose
Speaker 2: traveled to the kingdom of Cassian. Cassian welcomed her simply
Speaker 2: in a garden filled with wildflowers, fireflies dancing in the twilight,
Speaker 2: and a river singing nearby. What is your wish, young King,
Speaker 2: the goose asked. Casian thought for a long moment, a
Speaker 2: very long moment. He watched the fireflies, he listened to
Speaker 2: the river. He breathed in the scent of growing things.
Speaker 2: Then he said, I wish to understand how to be
Speaker 2: the best king I can be for my people, not
Speaker 2: for my pride. The Goose's eyes warmed as though sunlight
Speaker 2: rested within them. That is not a simple wish, she said,
Speaker 2: I do not want it to be simple. Cassian replied,
Speaker 2: and so the Goose did not grant something instantly. Instead,
Speaker 2: she sent Cassian on a journey. She led him to
Speaker 2: the homes of his people, not the nobles, not the wealthy,
Speaker 2: but the ordinary folk together Cassian. Together, Cassian and the
Speaker 2: goose sat at kitchen tables and listened to stories. They
Speaker 2: helped mend roofs, carried buckets of water, and played music
Speaker 2: by firelight. Cassian learned how his subjects lived, not from reports,
Speaker 2: but from hands on presents. He learned of their struggles,
Speaker 2: their dreams, their humor. He saw that wisdom was not
Speaker 2: found in thrown room, but in the beating heart of
Speaker 2: a community. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months, and
Speaker 2: one day, while sitting on a hillside watching the sunrise
Speaker 2: with the goose, Cassian realized he felt different, fuller, clearer, steadier.
Speaker 2: I don't need a grand kingdom, he said softly, I
Speaker 2: need a joyful one. I need to be among my
Speaker 2: people to listen to learn to lead with humility. The
Speaker 2: goose nodded. Then, and only then did she touch her
Speaker 2: beak to his forehead, and a gentle magic filled his kingdom,
Speaker 2: not of perfection nor abundance, but of harmony. Gardens grew
Speaker 2: a bit greener, music sounded a bit sweeter. Neighbors helped
Speaker 2: one another naturally, not because they were told to, but
Speaker 2: because they wanted to. His kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly,
Speaker 2: but beautifully. His kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly, but beautifully.
Speaker 2: The three brothers gathered at the crossroads again, when the
Speaker 2: goose was ready to leave. Aurelius now peaceful and warm eyed, barren,
Speaker 2: steady and generous, Cassian, glowing with quiet strength. You each wished,
Speaker 2: you each wished for what you believed you needed, the
Speaker 2: goose said, And each of you discovered that, and each
Speaker 2: of you discovered what you truly needed instead. The brothers bowed,
Speaker 2: not as kings, but as men. Thank you, they said,
Speaker 2: as one. The goose spread her wings of sunlight and
Speaker 2: rose into the air. She flew towards the clouds until
Speaker 2: she looked like a golden star drifting across the sky,
Speaker 2: and then she was gone. The kingdoms remained peaceful. The
Speaker 2: brothers visited each other. The brothers visited one another often,
Speaker 2: They shared trade, music, and stories. Their lands prospered not
Speaker 2: through magic gifts, but through wisdom, game, and the villagers
Speaker 2: told the tale of the Celestial Goose for generations to come,
Speaker 2: reminding all who listened that wishes are not shortcuts, but
Speaker 2: doorways to understanding three kings. There once was a land
Speaker 2: of rolling hills, rivers like sea ribbons, and forests so
Speaker 2: deep and green that those who walked beneath the canopies
Speaker 2: the elt as though they had stepped into a dream.
Speaker 2: In this land stood three kingdoms, side by side, like
Speaker 2: pearls strung upon a single threat. These kingdoms were ruled
Speaker 2: by three brothers, King Aurulius, King Baron, and King Kasian.
Speaker 2: Their father, the Great King Aldemar, had divided his realms
Speaker 2: equally upon his passing, believing that sharing the land equally
Speaker 2: would keep the peace between his sons. Yet brothers, even
Speaker 2: loving brothers, are rarely equal in heart or desire. King Aurelius,
Speaker 2: King Baron, and King Cassian. Aurelius, the eldest, was wise,
Speaker 2: but overly cautious, forever, weighing decisions as though the world
Speaker 2: depended on each breath he took. Baron, the middle brother,
Speaker 2: was bold and restless. He chased thrills, victories, and applause. Cassian,
Speaker 2: the youngest, was gentle, thoughtful, and always searching for meaning
Speaker 2: in the things others overlooked. Each ruled his kingdom according
Speaker 2: to his nature, and each kingdom reflected its king. Aurelius's
Speaker 2: lands were orderly, fields in tidy rows, citizens efficient and quiet,
Speaker 2: but laughter was scarce there. Baron's kingdom lived loudly, with
Speaker 2: festivals every week and endless contests, but debts ran deep
Speaker 2: and sleep was rare. Cassian's realm was peaceful, filled with
Speaker 2: music and gardens where fruit trees grew along riversides. Yet
Speaker 2: his people longed for something more, trade, innovation, something grand
Speaker 2: to lift their quiet lives. One autumn morning, when golden
Speaker 2: leaves swirled across the roads and the scent of harvest
Speaker 2: fires drifted through the valleys, a most unexpected visitor arrived.
Speaker 2: Not a nobleman, not a merchant, but a goose. Though
Speaker 2: not just any goose. This goose wore a color of
Speaker 2: spun gold and feathers that shimmered like sunlight reflecting off
Speaker 2: the sea. Her eyes were keen, warm, and strangely human.
Speaker 2: She appeared at the crossroads where the three kingdoms met,
Speaker 2: and the humble villagers who saw her first gasped and
Speaker 2: dropped to their knees. It is the celestial goose, someone whispered,
Speaker 2: hands trembling, the one spoken of in the old tales.
Speaker 2: Long ago, there were stories stories of a goose who
Speaker 2: traveled the lands, granting wishes to those who were pure
Speaker 2: of heart, or at least those whose desires could teach
Speaker 2: them what they most needed to learn, or at least
Speaker 2: those whose desires could teach them what they most needed
Speaker 2: to learn. The villagers gathered with awe and confusion, but
Speaker 2: the goose merely honked once and then sat in the road,
Speaker 2: as though she were waiting. Word of her arrival. Rushed
Speaker 2: like wildfire through the valleys and hills, reaching the ears
Speaker 2: of the three kings. By midday. King Aurelius arrived first,
Speaker 2: with advisors trailing behind him, carrying scrolls and ink and records,
Speaker 2: as though one should always catalog miracles. King Baron galloped
Speaker 2: in next, his horse lathered from haste, grinning wide with excitement.
Speaker 2: Cassian came last, walking on foot, offering fruit he had
Speaker 2: picked along the way for the goose. The goose regarded
Speaker 2: each brother carefully. I am here to offer each of
Speaker 2: you a single wish. She spoke, not with a honk
Speaker 2: or with a sound of feathers, but with clear, ringing
Speaker 2: speech that echoed like wind chimes in a summer breeze.
Speaker 2: The villagers gasped and crossed their hearts. A wish baron
Speaker 2: clapped his hands in delight. Aurelius's brow furrowed. What is
Speaker 2: the cost for every wish? The goose said, calmly. There
Speaker 2: is always a lesson, but the lesson is not a
Speaker 2: punishment unless one resists learning it. Cassian bowed, thank you
Speaker 2: for the gift of such a choice. The goose nodded,
Speaker 2: and her feathers shimmered. We shall go to each of
Speaker 2: your kingdoms in order of birth, she declared, and I
Speaker 2: will grant your wishes where your feet rest most firmly,
Speaker 2: in the place you have made your own. So the
Speaker 2: kings return to their respective lands, making ready for the goose. First,
Speaker 2: the goose visited the kingdom of Aurelius. Aurelius guarded her
Speaker 2: to his gardens, meticulous hedges trimmed to perfect angles, fountains
Speaker 2: that sprayed in uniform precision. The air smelled of lavender
Speaker 2: and quiet discipline. My wish, Aurelius began carefully, is to
Speaker 2: make my kingdom perfect. I want peace, order and absolute harmony,
Speaker 2: No mistakes, no disorder, no unexpected interruptions to the ballot.
Speaker 2: Once we have cultivated, the goose blinked, Are you certain
Speaker 2: this is what you wish? Yes, Aurelius replied, a world
Speaker 2: without chaos. The goose spread her old. The goose spread
Speaker 2: her golden wings, and the garden glowed. A hush fell
Speaker 2: over the land, and so perfection came. At first, it
Speaker 2: was glorious. The harvests ripened exactly on schedule. The skies
Speaker 2: reigned only when rain was needed. No weeds grew, no
Speaker 2: child cried, no one fell ill. The streets were swept
Speaker 2: clean at dawn each morning, as predictable as the last.
Speaker 2: But slowly, ever so slowly, the life began to drain
Speaker 2: from the kingdom. Children stopped playing, for play was unpredictable.
Speaker 2: Artists put down their brushes for creativity thrived on surprise.
Speaker 2: Lovers stopped courting for love is inherently disorderly. People spoke
Speaker 2: in hushed, cautious tones, fearful of disrupting the perfection. Even
Speaker 2: the birds flew elsewhere. Aurelius tried to smile, try to
Speaker 2: feel pride, But silence is a heavy crown. And one day,
Speaker 2: as he walked the perfect path along his perfect garden,
Speaker 2: he realized the truth. Without chaos, there was no growth
Speaker 2: without mistakes, There was no discovery without unpredictability, there was
Speaker 2: no joy. He sat down beside a pond so still
Speaker 2: it reflected the sky like glass, and for the first
Speaker 2: time in months, he wept. The goose appeared. Have you learned,
Speaker 2: she asked softly. Yes, Aurelius whispered, perfection is lifeless. I
Speaker 2: wish to undo this. The goose nodded, touched her beak
Speaker 2: to his forehead, and the kingdom sighed, breathing again, children laughed,
Speaker 2: rain fell where it wasn't expected. A bloom of wild
Speaker 2: flowers burst through the hedges, bright and untamed. Aurelius laughed
Speaker 2: through tears. This was living. Next, the goose traveled to
Speaker 2: the Kingdom of barn. When she arrived, the kingdom was
Speaker 2: in full celebration, drums dancing, wine spilling from barrels, music
Speaker 2: that shook the sky. Baron rushed forward with open arms.
Speaker 2: My wish, he boomed, happily. I wish for endless wealth, food, treasure, wine, gold.
Speaker 2: Let my kingdom be the most abundant and enviable in
Speaker 2: the world. The goose tilted her head. Are you certain
Speaker 2: that is what you wish? Baron laughed, Who wouldn't want
Speaker 2: such wealth? The goose lifted her wings the golden light,
Speaker 2: and golden light surged like a river. Overnight the kingdom
Speaker 2: of Bayron overflowed with riches. Jewels sparkled in the streets.
Speaker 2: Barrels filled themselves, tables groaned with roasted meats and sweetbreads.
Speaker 2: Every home glittered, every citizen feasted, and at first joy
Speaker 2: roared like fire. But abundance without toil has a cost.
Speaker 2: Work ceased, for why labor when everything is provided? Craftsmen
Speaker 2: abandoned their tools, farmers left their fields, Musicians stopped practicing,
Speaker 2: for applause came regardless of skill. Soon the laughter dulled,
Speaker 2: food lost its art, lost its soul. There is no
Speaker 2: meaning in a gift that requires nothing of the receiver.
Speaker 2: Then came the greed. Neighbors began to hoard, fearing others
Speaker 2: might take more. Friendships fractured families argued, people forgot how
Speaker 2: to give, how to share, how to create. The kingdom
Speaker 2: became heavy with laziness and suspicion. Byron watched with growing
Speaker 2: horror the joy he had wanted so badly had become
Speaker 2: a hollow indulgence, pleasure without purpose. He found the goose
Speaker 2: sitting quietly in the palace courtyard, her golden feathers. I
Speaker 2: understand now, Baron said, voice thick. We need purpose, work,
Speaker 2: something to strive for. Without effort, life loses meaning. I
Speaker 2: do not want endless abundance anymore. The goose nodded once
Speaker 2: more and brushed her feathers against his chest. The wealth
Speaker 2: faded into a balanced plenty, enough for all, but still
Speaker 2: requiring tending effort, skill. Laughter returned steady and warm, not wild,
Speaker 2: but real. Baron exhaled deeply, feeling lighter than he had
Speaker 2: in years. Finally, the goose traveled to the kingdom of Cassian.
Speaker 2: Cassian welcomed her simply in a garden filled with wild flowers,
Speaker 2: fireflies dancing in the twilight, and a river singing nearby.
Speaker 2: What is your wish, young King? The goose asked. Casian
Speaker 2: thought for a long moment, a very long moment. He
Speaker 2: watched the fireflies, he listened to the river. He breathed
Speaker 2: in the scent of growing things. Then he said, I
Speaker 2: wish to understand how to be the best king I
Speaker 2: can be for my people, not for my pride. The
Speaker 2: Goose's eyes warmed as though sunlight rested within them. That
Speaker 2: is not a simple wish, she said, said, I do
Speaker 2: not want it to be simple. Cassian replied, and so
Speaker 2: the goose did not grant something instantly. Instead, she sent
Speaker 2: Cassian on a journey. She led him to the homes
Speaker 2: of his people, not the nobles, not the wealthy, but
Speaker 2: the ordinary folk together Cassian. Together, Cassian and the goose
Speaker 2: sat at kitchen tables and listened to stories. They helped
Speaker 2: mend roofs, carried buckets of water, and played music by firelight.
Speaker 2: Cassian learned how his subjects lived, not from reports, but
Speaker 2: from hands on presents. He learned of their struggles, their dreams,
Speaker 2: their He saw that wisdom was not found in a
Speaker 2: throne room, but in the beating heart of a community.
Speaker 2: Days turned into weeks, weeks to months, and one day,
Speaker 2: while sitting on a hillside, watching the sunrise with the goose,
Speaker 2: Cassian realized he felt different, fuller, clearer, steadier. I don't
Speaker 2: need a grand kingdom, he said softly, I need a
Speaker 2: joyful one. I need to be among my people, to listen,
Speaker 2: to learn to lead with humility. The goose nodded. Then,
Speaker 2: and only then did she touch her beak to his forehead,
Speaker 2: and a gentle magic filled his kingdom, not of perfection
Speaker 2: nor abundance, but of harmony. Gardens grew a bit greener,
Speaker 2: music sounded a bit sweeter. Neighbors helped one another naturally,
Speaker 2: not because they were told to, but because they wanted to.
Speaker 2: His kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly, but beautifully. His
Speaker 2: kingdom flourished, not grandly, not spectacularly, but beautifully. The three
Speaker 2: brothers gathered at the cross roads again, when the goose
Speaker 2: was ready to leave. Aurelius now peaceful and warm eyed, Barren,
Speaker 2: steady and generous, Cassian glowing with quiet strength. You each wished,
Speaker 2: you each wished for what you believed you needed, the
Speaker 2: goose said, And each of you discovered that, and each
Speaker 2: of you discovered what you truly needed. Instead, the brothers
Speaker 2: bowed not as kings, but as men. Thank you, they said.
Speaker 2: As one. The goose spread her wings of sunlight and
Speaker 2: rose into the air. She flew towards the clouds until
Speaker 2: she looked like a golden star drifting across the sky,
Speaker 2: and then she was gone. The kingdoms remained peaceful. The
Speaker 2: brothers visited each other. The brothers visited one another often.
Speaker 2: They shared trade, music, and stories. Their lands prospered not
Speaker 2: through magic gifts, but through wisdom gained, and the villagers
Speaker 2: told the tale of the celestial goose for generations to come,
Speaker 2: reminding all who listened that wishes are not short cuts,
Speaker 2: but doorways to understanding. At sixt.
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