Content with the Essentials

Swept up in the whirlwind of everyday life, it is easy to lose sight of what is so often right before our eyes.

Magic had made the lives of many Espers far more comfortable than those of even the most powerful kings of times past.

But did that mean that all Espers were now happier than they had been in the past?

It is a difficult question, and of course, it cannot be generalized.

Since every Esper was different, their vision of happiness was unique.

But there were nevertheless things they all had in common, as members of the same species.

These common points, such as access to food or a roof under which to rest, constituted the essential part of everyone’s daily life.

Since the end of the Chaos War, this essential had been emphasized by the principles set forth by the Seven Shapes.

Why?

Because everyone could, through their own efforts, be content with the essentials.

It was not an easy thing, nor even a natural one, for a species that instinctively placed its survival first…

But in a world with limited resources, choices had to be made.

One of the choices for the new Esperia was to prioritize the essentials.

Want to share?


Comments

Leave a Reply


Our latest tales

  • Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness

    Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness

    Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Human emotions may be what truly define us as “unique” among other living species. We find joy in the little pleasures life brings to us: the warmth of the sun rising in the morning, a cool breeze in summer, the beautiful colors of autumn leaves. Anger, sometimes, arises when we…

    Read more

  • Of Adaptation of the Wise

    Of Adaptation of the Wise

    Among all, Vati was recognized as a true representation of Wisdom. But she liked to say that it was never a natural gift; it was nurtured with dedication and time. When asked how to persevere in becoming wiser, she would answer like this: “To keep an open mind and adapt to as many situations as…

    Read more

  • Pros and Cons

    Pros and Cons

    The Seven Shapes reflected on what balance was truly about. “This isn’t about stillness,” said Vati, who liked the image of a wave to represent balance. Atma, the Shape of Balance, gently nodded in agreement. In some cultures, this idea was shown as light opposing darkness; in others, as the Yin and the Yang. It…

    Read more

  • Early game or End game

    Early game or End game

    Shala, the Shape of Time, often discussed this topic with the other Shapes. Just like us humans, the Espers had a finite life. So how to spend their time until the end was a question that sparked many debates in Esperia. Some believed that since they had only a few years to live, living life…

    Read more

  • We are in the same boat

    We are in the same boat

    Is this reality truly understood? When we look at how the governments of the richest countries behave, it doesn’t seem so. A consensus on climate change should be obvious. “Because others don’t act, why should we? We’ll just lose the economic war.” Well, since we — unfortunately? — share the same boat, and it’s the…

    Read more

  • A Shared Pool of Willpower

    A Shared Pool of Willpower

    The StarDust, like all things, is governed by rules. With Vati’s guidance, the Seven Shapes soon came to understand this. And one of these rules concerned Willpower, and how its use was like drawing from a shared pool. Whenever an Esper used their will to take on tasks that were frustrating or required deep focus,…

    Read more

  • Little by Little

    Little by Little

    This was one of the mottos of Kenko, the Shape of Health. “A bit of exercise every day is far more effective in the long run than one full day of training, followed by months of nothing.” Now that the StarDust is known by all the Espers, it makes complete sense. Shala always reminds the…

    Read more

  • Ask Questions

    Ask Questions

    Eklea and Vati soon became very good friends. Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, always loved asking questions, which came to her mind as swiftly as her Element of Lightning. In Vati, the Shape of Wisdom, she found a companion who would always listen and think along with her. Vati was often surprised by the questions…

    Read more