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

  • Your Loved Ones

    Your Loved Ones

    For children, they are your parents and siblings. Then come friends at school or work. Later, a partner, and your own children. Then the cycle repeats. With the flow of time, we sometimes forget to truly care for our loved ones. Old history may have loosened bonds, or simply living our lives leads us down…

    Read more

  • Values

    Values

    When working on One Daily Tale, Vati had the important task of creating the backbone of what “Wisdom” would be built upon. Of course, it was now understood that working with the StarDust, and learning about one’s own Shadow, was essential. But unfortunately, the history of wars between the Five Elements does not vanish so…

    Read more

  • Aether Balance

    Aether Balance

    Now that it was known and understood that using magic consumed Aether—the source of life for all living creatures on Esperia—it had become natural for the Espers to take care in how they used magic. How? Because their StarDust also produced Aether, they could determine how much magic each of them could use while still…

    Read more

  • Seeds of Time

    Seeds of Time

    Shala was entrusted with a very difficult task: to guide the Espers in living fully in the present while honoring the past and striving for a brighter future. The cycle of day and night on Esperia was much like that of Earth, and the Espers needed rest during the night. For Shala, this natural rhythm…

    Read more

  • One

    One

    When the 7 Shapes first began working on their project, they thought about how to make the best use of the StarDust. Because Shala was there, they understood that setting a daily time limit was essential to consider. They also all agreed that, for habits to be “realistically doable,” they needed to be simple and…

    Read more

  • To Light the Fuse

    To Light the Fuse

    When the Chaos War ended, a moment of pure stillness was felt by all the Espers who had fought endlessly for years upon years. Even though the StarDust had finally been discovered, an entire world still needed to be rebuilt… Just the thought of such a colossal task brought feelings of hopelessness and inaction. This…

    Read more

  • The Fundamentals

    The Fundamentals

    Kenko, the Shape of Health and Element of Earth, wasn’t the flashiest of all the Shapes, but she was always considered the one you could truly rely on. She was the living example that working on the fundamentals daily bears fruit, and that these basics become the foundation for everything else. Without good health, everything…

    Read more

  • NPC?

    NPC?

    Who is really an NPC? If we take the analogy of one’s personal life as the main character in a game, then you are the hero of your story, surrounded by billions of NPCs. But what if you don’t think for yourself and simply act as dictated? Then you become an NPC in your own…

    Read more