The Shadow of Balance

In a world of choices that seemed almost infinite, where overconsumption had been made possible by the abundance resulting from the use of magic, the Espers were overwhelmed by sensory stimuli and bombarded with information.

It was difficult, then, for the Shadow present within each Esper to make the choices that would promote the balance of its host.

For the Shadow cared little about the long-term consequences of its choices, or their future effects on the individual.

Above all, it sought to please its host in the present moment, and it craved direct and immediate rewards.

Whether it was food for the body, or even food for the mind in what had now become known as the modern Esper society, it was difficult for the Shadow of the Espers to resist the allure of ultra-processed products or new technologies that endlessly displayed images and videos designed to capture the user’s attention.

For although it was still not perceived by their hosts, the Shadow and the way it functioned had indeed been understood by those who profited from the world transformed by the use of magic…

Esperia had become a civilization that was too complex, where allowing one’s Shadow to take control led to increasingly extreme behaviors, and where, in the name of freedom, everything became permissible…

What kind of world would the Espers of the present give to future generations?
Just as the Shadow saw only the short term, the true consequences would not become visible until decades later…