Listening to Others and Listening to Yourself

The Espers were, all things considered, rather curious beings.

Their history, spanning several tens of thousands of years, had led them, not without difficulties, to control their planet, to the point of being capable of impacting its global ecosystem.

The discovery and use of magic had accelerated the evolution of their civilization, but they also made a paradox increasingly clear: listening, though at the very heart of the bonds that united them, was gradually disappearing.

Listening to others, first of all, as the notions of freedom and individualism took on an increasingly important place in society, sometimes putting an end to dialogue and to discussions that were nevertheless important.

For magic had already altered the global environment of their planet, and its consequences were beginning to become increasingly visible.

The other creatures of the planet, once numerous and diverse, were disappearing, the lush forests had been cleared, and glaciers throughout the world were beginning to melt.

Discussions about the future of their own species, while a new technology, both promising but above all potentially dangerous, was emerging, did not exist in the public sphere.

For perhaps even more important than listening to others, few were still capable of listening to themselves and hearing their inner voice, the voice of their Shadow…

A Shadow which, if left untamed, listens to the Shadow of their civilization as a whole…

Learning to listen to yourself is therefore also learning to see the world as it truly is.


Our latest tales

  • The Shadow of Time

    The Shadow of Time

    The Shadow that resides within each Esper has the unfortunate tendency to prioritize short-term benefits for its host. When an Esper reacts unconsciously, their Shadow takes over and acts in their place. Instead of thinking about the long term, which is difficult and requires time, effort, and concentration, their Shadow prefers the lure of an…

    Read more

  • Shadow and Light

    Shadow and Light

    “Without light, no shadow can appear; there is only darkness.” Cha Cha, our platypus friend, had attended a public event where silence was expected. Yet among the audience, two spectators paid little attention to this rule and kept talking, disturbing the people around them. This experience led him to reflect on the Shadow that belongs…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Willpower

    The Shadow of Willpower

    Let us continue our little journey exploring the Shadow that slumbers within every Esper and reveals itself unconsciously. Today, let us take a closer look at the Shadow of Willpower. Yesterday, Kenko, the Shape of Health, explained how our Shadow sometimes acts against our long-term well-being. When it comes to responsibility and willpower, the Shadow…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Health

    The Shadow of Health

    The Espers were now learning to perceive their Shadow by developing their StarDust. Thanks to the efforts of the Seven Shapes and their writings, which took the form of One Daily Tale, their civilization now embraced, among its founding values, the daily balance of the five elements, allowing their StarDust to flourish. For the element…

    Read more

  • Perceiving One’s Shadow

    Perceiving One’s Shadow

    The discovery of the StarDust had revealed the existence of a Shadow within every Esper. Long ago, some philosophers already spoke of the importance of knowing oneself, and Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, believed that what they were truly referring to was this Shadow. “This Shadow is a part of us. It is neither good…

    Read more

  • Irresistible Innocence

    Irresistible Innocence

    “The circle of life,” Gurumin said with a smile, knowing those words would awaken childhood memories in some hearts. “A new generation arrives, and the older one passes on its experience, its knowledge, and its skills.” “Then it becomes their turn to teach, and the cycle continues.” Yet this obvious truth had gradually faded away,…

    Read more

  • The Flexibility of Mind That Builds Dialogue

    The Flexibility of Mind That Builds Dialogue

    Lune Lune, our cat companion of the water element, now accompanied Guruo to his lessons. At first, he had been reluctant to go, but the teachings given in the Great Library of Esperia truly spoke to him. There were many things to learn, of course. But one thing had changed since the Seven Shapes had…

    Read more

  • Balance with Nature

    Balance with Nature

    Just like Shala, the Shape of Time, the end of the War of Chaos had revealed to the Espers the existence of Atma, the Shape of Balance, born at the moment when the most powerful magics of the Five Great Elements merged and illuminated the entire planet with a new light, which came to be…

    Read more