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 means pushing ourselves to exercise, even though it would feel so much nicer to sink into the comfort of the sofa.

It means taking the time to read a book instead of letting ourselves be distracted by whatever the algorithms choose to show us.

It means thinking about the future of the generations to come and trying to leave them the very best that is still within our power to offer.

But this also comes at a cost, because, like all the elements, it has its own balance.

Trying to develop the element of Fire too much can also become counterproductive.

By “wearing ourselves out” with constant effort, we may lose sight of what truly matters, set aside the time we spend with those we love, or ignore the present, which also deserves our attention.

So, doesn’t enjoying our freedom also mean accepting our responsibilities?

Many of us still have that freedom.

The freedom to act.


Our latest tales

  • To act in one’s own favor

    To act in one’s own favor

    Now that the teachings of One Daily Tale had become the common educational writings for all the Espers of Esperia, following its principles had become evident and natural. But newborn Espers were all born as complete blank pages, shaped by their closest environment. Some Espers who had been very powerful in the past, when Chaos…

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  • Accepting differences

    Accepting differences

    Now that Esperia was finally at peace, it became natural for the five different Elements to work together and share their knowledge and skills. When they were still at war, they simply couldn’t realize—blinded by hatred and fear of others—the need for the other Elements to sustain their own land. Water, through rivers, lakes, or…

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  • Overconsumption

    Overconsumption

    Who hasn’t heard the term, but who has really thought about it? Guruko, who was very intrigued by the human race on Earth, was once again looking through the magical mirror at their civilization. “They are quite interesting living beings, aren’t they?” said Cha Cha, her platypus companion, who had just walked into the room…

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  • A short period of power

    A short period of power

    What was unprecedented on Esperia was how detached from power and status the founders of One Daily Tale were. The Seven Shapes were mainly symbols of what good behavior toward one’s StarDust could lead to: harmony and peace. They were living examples of what they wrote as guides for everyone, themselves included. In the past,…

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  • Losing unity

    Losing unity

    Once again, Guruko and her platypus companion Cha Cha were observing human society on Earth. Cha Cha, also known as Simba as his pen name (he wants to become a philosopher-writer!), was thinking about the two different paths that seemed possible for humanity regarding the new technology they were now developing. “Once again, it seems…

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  • Shifting the blame

    Shifting the blame

    If there was one thing Faya tried to avoid the most, it was shifting the blame for her own mistakes onto others. As the Shape of Willpower, and the Great Element of Fire, she always took responsibility for her actions, even when those actions turned out to be mistakes. “I know it can be easier…

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  • Completely worn out

    Completely worn out

    This time, Kenko, the Shape of Health, raised the difficult question of exhaustion—of being completely worn out. “I understand that some of you think this may be a sign that you are working hard, or doing your best,” said Kenko. “But you also need to remember how your StarDust works, and how it needs rest…

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  • Half Believing

    Half Believing

    The Espers were magical creatures able to shape reality itself through their powers. Some were said to possess so much power that they could even bend the laws of time and space… With that in mind, it was a world where the question of what was real and what was shaped by magic was omnipresent.…

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