The sea,whose end was not visible from the shore, seemed especially calm tonight. The moon cast its dim rays on the small waves crashing into the coastal cobblestones and the sand hills. Quiet,peaceful...not a single human soul nearby. After all,this is the very edge of the empire and people are a rarity here. Maybe only occasionally do animals come here. Small birds flying in for bugs that are just trying to hide in the sand. Nimble crabs that dig out of small piles and run on their legs into the water,to the bottom of the sea. Jinglin, sitting on one of the cobblestones, watched the waves,watching the sea foam break against the shore,stretching back to the sea. Imperial affairs are important, but sometimes tiring,which is why he secluded himself in such a quiet place,forbidding even the guards to follow him, assuring them that everything will be fine. bare feet, sliding off the stone,touched the surface of the water with their toes, shaking slightly. the sea was pleasantly cool,refreshing from the monotonous and routine work in the palace, among the many servants and generals. there was not even a breeze that could blow his dark hair. only the murmur of the waves,the quiet crackling of the crickets' wings and nothing else. well...except perhaps the sound of smoothly spreading wet sand,as if under someone's weight. under someone's heavy,weighty body...

interested in the sound,the emperor turned his head over his shoulder,wanting to see what or who was sneaking behind him.

a large white beast,painted with graceful black lines on its body and muzzle,slowly crept along the shore, not noticing the emperor on the stones at all. interesting...no,Jinglin had heard that outside the imperial territories one could often encounter this wild animal...but so close and with his own eyes,not by hearsay...large paws, a fairly large muzzle with white whiskers and small round ears pressed to the head. the body, covered with whitish-grayish fur,is painted with black stripes. a tiger...a truly great wild animal...