Against the Current

Making the right choices is not often easy.

Especially when the almost insurmountable flow of society as a whole imposes a vision from which it is difficult to break free.

Thinking or acting against the current then becomes a trial that is at once discouraging, irritating, and sometimes almost ridiculous, yet within which a glimmer of hope continues to exist.

The Espers all carried within them that ounce of light that was simply waiting to be nurtured, like a planted seed waiting for the gentleness of spring to blossom and fully express itself.

In a world of constant acceleration, going against the current means taking the time to reflect on the real consequences of present actions for the future.

A future that is becoming increasingly uncertain, yet whose main outlines have already been shaped by the choices of the past and the decisions yet to come.

The Espers did not succeed in taking the gamble of creating a world that went against the current of today’s values.

The consequences were the decades that led to the Chaos War.

But within this disaster, not only ecological but also civilizational, the hope of seeing a civilization finally emerge that would go against the current of an increasingly individualistic and arrogant movement had been born.

The Seven Shapes had begun to write the first pages of a new era…

One Daily Tale.


Our latest tales

  • Adapting to an Ageing Population

    Adapting to an Ageing Population

    The use of magic had greatly improved access to healthcare and had, as a result, significantly extended the life expectancy of the Espers in a remarkably short time. The downside was that the Espers did not seem to have considered the consequences such an achievement would bring. The massive increase in population was indeed creating…

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  • 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…

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  • 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.…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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