Fantasy establishes creation without limitation. In a fictional world, elements of reality may be completely distorted or remain true to existing society. Fantasy storytellers have the power to bring new, imagined realms to life, providing viewers with a temporary escape from the present. Even in stories, it’s a universal habit for people to search for human connection, especially when sharing similar values or wishing to mimic a lifestyle that is not their own. Aefius by Adeliz Gottinger reflects the role both human connection and regional environments can play on character and societal development. 

 

Through extensive research on various biomes, Gottinger carefully considers character and non-human evolutionary factors to determine one’s survival in each of the five regions of the continent, Aefius. For example, deep in the mountainous region of Esgarth, frequent rainfall and flooding has the potential to cause persistent runoff and massive destruction. Unlike the tangible areas Gottinger studied, magic exists in Esgarth—resolving conflict and making societal functions much more attainable. Glowing moss heroically absorbs excess water, which is then purified by magical individuals to remove potential toxins. Every ecosystem in her story relies on the coexistence of man and nature, which leads to development of the society. Gottinger hopes to reveal the complex relationships between plants and people in real life as well as in Aefius, and encourage further exploration on the topic.