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

  • 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

  • Everyone Inside Their Own Bubble

    Everyone Inside Their Own Bubble

    Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, was giving a lesson today at the Great Library of Esperia. Rebuilding the civilization of the Espers would take time and require everyone’s efforts toward a goal understood and embraced by all. That was no small task, was it? Especially if one looked back at the events of the past,…

    Read more

  • The Little Child We Have All Been

    The Little Child We Have All Been

    The adult Espers from all around the world sometimes rediscover the little child they once were. During a reunion with a childhood friend. When they are captivated by the grandeur of the sky and its billions of constellations during a night beneath the stars. When the ebb and flow of the ocean waves sing them…

    Read more

  • Common Values

    Common Values

    Since meeting Guruko, Lune Lune, our little cat of the water element, had come to understand what the Seven Shapes, and especially Vati, the Shape of Wisdom, were striving to accomplish in order to finally bring harmony to the world. Nurturing the StarDust that existed within every Esper could become the foundation of shared values…

    Read more

  • Indulgence and Strictness Toward Oneself

    Indulgence and Strictness Toward Oneself

    Cha Cha, our dear little platypus who thought of himself as a philosopher, reflected on the difficulty of finding a balance between indulgence and strictness toward oneself. Too indulgent, and one lets oneself go, giving free rein to excuses and easily placing the blame on others, on the current situation, or even on the world…

    Read more