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 of Earth, understanding one’s Shadow meant understanding how the body reacts to stimuli, often unconsciously.

This Shadow does not necessarily drive us toward our own suffering; on the contrary, it often seeks to protect us. But it sometimes urges us to act at the expense of common sense.

It is this Shadow that, in moments of fatigue or laziness, pushes us to consume foods that are not good for our health, or discourages us from doing even the slightest physical exercise, even though these are precisely the recommendations of Kenko, the Shape of Health.

It is also the Shadow that takes control when addictive behaviors appear, for it seeks only its own immediate well-being!

Esperia had changed greatly since the Espers had learned to better understand their Shadow, and their society was gradually beginning to resemble what one could truly call a modern and civilized society…