The world of Memory of Heaven is shaped by extreme disparities in the lifespans of its main inhabitant races. It is not only the differences in skin color, magical abilities, or technology that set them apart, but also the age range that is nearly impossible for each to comprehend.
The Gamma people refer to themselves as "children of the ancient spiral." Among them, time moves slowly and a lifespan of a thousand years is merely the beginning of maturity. Many elder Gammas have lived since the era when the first Genesis tree sprouted, carrying an unparalleled heritage of memories. Their birth rates are exceedingly low, and each new child is welcomed as the dawn of a second age for their civilization.
Meanwhile, the Gaia have transcended the bounds of time, living for over ten thousand years. Within them flows the essence of the world's roots. Each elder of Gaia serves as a witness to the histories and disasters that have shaped the world. For them, the birth of a child is a sacred celebration, a sign that the world has not lost its hope.
In contrast, the Earth—the children of Blue Earth—know time only as the ticking of an hourglass: brief, filled with struggle, and fragile. Their lifespan rarely exceeds one hundred years, and vulnerability to disease or war has caused their population to continually decline. Extinction has once felt imminent, until a significant policy was enacted: to forge blood ties with Gaia to ensure the survival of the species.
From this arose the generation of hybrid race—children of two worlds, carrying the long-lived blood of Gaia and the courage of Earth. They live for hundreds, even thousands of years, yet still inherit the determination and longing of humanity for change. Within a hybrid family, one can find great-grandmothers who have lived through three millennia sitting side by side with grandchildren who are just learning to speak. This is the new social layer that shapes Blue Earth: a generation that evolves slowly, births that are rare, yet each individual carries hopes and memories richer than any previous nation.
With low birth rates and long lifespans, Blue Earth has never been burdened by overpopulation. Cities develop vertically, open spaces are filled with memory gardens, and each birth or death becomes an integral part of the historical cycle. A world built on longevity and scarcity becomes a place where every individual, every story, and every decision holds eternal significance.
Age Range: 5,000–10,000 years
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Description:
Gamma Race is a primordial race with an extraordinarily long lifespan. Gamma individuals are known to mature physically and mentally at a slow pace, with biological development that differs drastically from other races. The Gamma elders preserve the historical memories of thousands of generations and play a vital role as guardians of tradition and as balance keepers of world power.
Note:
Birth rates are very low, averaging one birth every few centuries.
Age Range: >10,000 years
Description:
The Gaia Race embodies the roots of the world and is known as the race with the longest lifespan. Many individuals of Gaia have lived through various ages and significant events in world history. Their long lives make this nation tend to be stable in population, with little generational change over a millennium.
Note:
The birth rate is even lower than that of Gamma; the birth of a new child in Gaia is considered a sacred event.
Age Range: ~100 years
Description:
The Earth Race originates from Blue Earth with a fast life cycle and relatively short lifespan. Their average age is around one century. The main characteristics of the Bangsa Earth are adaptive resilience, innovation, and a high spirit of life.
Note:
The birth rate has drastically declined due to environmental pressures and warfare, triggering concerns about the extinction of the race.
Age Range: 500–1,500 years
Origins:
In response to aging disparity and the threat of extinction facing the Earth race, a tradition of inter-racial marriage emerged between Earth and Gaia. This hybrid inherits longevity from Gaia and vitality and innovation from Earth.
Description:
The hybrid has become the new majority population on Blue Earth. They tend to have long lifespans; however, their birth rate remains low, preventing the population from experiencing excessive growth.
Characteristics:
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The average lifespan is significantly higher than that of original Earth humans.
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Possess varying physical, mental, and magical abilities.
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Susceptible to identity conflicts or cultural crises due to dual heritage.
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Serve as a diplomatic, cultural, and technological bridge between the two races.
Overpopulation:
With low birth rates among Gaia and hybrids, along with the long lifespan of the population, Blue Earth has never experienced overpopulation. Every birth is considered important and valuable.
Social Consequences:
Social strata are formed based on age, experience, and origin. Intergenerational relationships often involve the exchange of cross-temporal knowledge, creating complex yet stable social networks.
The age disparity and survival capabilities in the world of Memory of Heaven have led to the creation of hybrid races as a solution to the population crisis and for the continuity of civilization. The global population is now dominated by hybrid individuals who bring hope, innovation, and memories of the past into future life.