A Glimmer of Hope

Now that Esperia had been rebuilt on new foundations, which seemed obvious to have been put in place after careful reflection, thinking back to the world as it had been just before the War of Chaos seemed unreal.

“How could we possibly have behaved like that?” wondered a young Esper, incredulous as he studied the history of a past that was not so distant.

“Did we really have to go as far as that War, which caused so much damage to the planet, but also decimated the population?” wondered another.

These were difficult questions to answer. It is often easy to have the benefit of hindsight once events have passed, but anticipating the consequences of their actions was not the natural way for Espers to think. They were far more concerned with seeing the direct and immediate results.

If the War of Chaos seemed as though it could have been avoided, it was also exceptional circumstances that had made possible the renewal of Esperia: the discovery of that glimmer of hope that would change the face of their planet.

The StarDust.

Understanding that it existed within every Esper, and that by developing it, each one could then perceive their Shadow and begin to tame it, had radically transformed their civilization, which until then had been blind to the consequences of its actions on nature and on its own society.

“How many have died in useless wars. How many have polluted the seas and oceans, the forests, the mountains. How many have wiped out other species, often just for pleasure…”

This glimmer of hope brought by the StarDust was very real, but also extremely fragile: it could be forgotten, causing the civilization of the Espers to return to its natural state…

Their Shadow.


Our latest tales

  • Doing Your Best

    Doing Your Best

    Even though the Seven Shapes had become symbols that helped the Espers develop their StarDust, none of them was perfect. Each had her own strengths and weaknesses, yet each did her best every day to strengthen her qualities and overcome her shortcomings. Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, who seemed to see the world differently from…

    Read more

  • Trust as a Fundamental Value

    Trust as a Fundamental Value

    Gurumin, the Shape of Empathy, had been entrusted with the extremely complex task of becoming the symbol of a peaceful society, regardless of the element. Until now, the Espers of each element had seen others as potential threats. It therefore seemed obvious that a shift in paradigm regarding the trust placed in others was essential.…

    Read more

  • Choices and Priorities

    Choices and Priorities

    The end of the Chaos War had nevertheless, despite the ecological and civilizational devastation it had caused, brought with it perhaps, at last, the solutions needed to build a society living in harmony with nature and at peace. Vati, the Shape of Wisdom, then spoke. “When the Eclipse cast a veil over the StarDust that…

    Read more

  • Personal Balance for Harmony with Others

    Personal Balance for Harmony with Others

    Balance, represented by Atma, the Shape of Balance, one of the Seven Shapes who had devoted herself to rebuilding Esperia in harmony with nature, as well as among the Espers of the Five elements, now held a special place within Esper civilization. The Seven Shapes had indeed come to understand that balance had to lie…

    Read more

  • Everything in Its Own Time

    Everything in Its Own Time

    The aftermath of the Chaos War on Esperia no longer resembled what it once had been. The use of magic was now subject to restrictions, which had profoundly changed the course of things: there was far less urgency, and far more contemplation of the present moment. Something that had long been forgotten during the period…

    Read more

  • The Consequences of Our Actions

    The Consequences of Our Actions

    The presence of Atma, the Shape of Balance, had brought something precious and unprecedented to Esperia: a simpler understanding of the importance of balance. Why was this so important for the Espers who were trying to build a civilization in harmony with their planet? Because every action has consequences. There are, of course, the consequences…

    Read more

  • The Freedom to Act

    The Freedom to Act

    Developing the element of Fire within one’s StarDust is certainly one of the most counterintuitive things to do. Why? Because it requires us to do things that frustrate us or that we simply do not feel like doing. It means holding back from eating or drinking too much, even during a truly delicious meal. It…

    Read more

  • Balance at the Heart of Physical and Mental Health

    Balance at the Heart of Physical and Mental Health

    On Esperia too, health was often at the center of discussions, and for a good reason: seeing suffering is not something one wishes for, neither for oneself, nor for loved ones, nor for strangers, nor even for those who may have caused us harm. This last point may certainly lead to another debate, but a…

    Read more