Editing Living Time

{{Status|Canon}}
'''Living Time''' was a [[Forerunner]] philosophical concept relating to the flow of time and "the joy of life's interaction with the Cosmos."<ref name="c267">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 267''</ref> It was the founding concept behind the [[Mantle]], and seemingly drew from the [[Precursor]] philosophy of [[neural physics]] which postulated that the entire universe was a living entity enriched by the collective experience of ever-changing life.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''pages 365, 367''</ref> According to the premise of Living Time, struggle, competition and even war were not at odds with the harmony of the cosmos, as they were regarded as a natural part of life. However, excessive and needless cruelty and destruction were seen as introducing an imbalance to the harmony of Living Time.{{Ref/Reuse|c267}}

The philosophy of Living Time viewed time as an infinite series of twisting and entangling streams—known as world-lines—intrinsically tied to the notion of fate.<ref>'''Halo: Primordium''', ''page 235'' (''"It arises from the skill and the will of my life-mate, my wife, the Librarian, who sees much farther than I do down the twining streams of Living Time."'')</ref> Metaphysical junctures of Living Time where the world-lines of individual entities connected and were bound together were known as [[synchron]]s.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 57''</ref> While it was common for these points in time to go entirely unnoticed, a particularly potent synchron could be felt by a Forerunner as a momentary and very concrete realization of the linkages of world-lines between themselves and other individuals sharing their fate.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 60'' (''"The synchron was definitely upon me. By the sensations that crept up and down my back and my neck, I sensed that a connective loop of world-lines would bind me for a long time—perhaps forever—to the two humans waiting in the dark, back at the stone circle."'')</ref>

The Forerunners considered themselves to be only a stage in the stewardship of Living Time, with only a temporary place in the Mantle before another civilization that would reclaim their place as stewards of the galaxy.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 31''</ref> The Forerunners also believed that individual lives would be summed and judged at the end of Living Time.<ref>'''Halo: Silentium''', ''page 16''</ref>

In [[2558]], the [[Librarian]] tells [[Rion Forge]] that Living Time was sent into an imbalance by the Forerunners wiping out their creators with the [[Flood]] continuing this imbalance, putting it at a risk of collapse. With the Flood spreading, humanity had to survive in order to assume the [[Mantle of Responsibility]], care for the galaxy, adhere to its laws and in doing so help tend the flow of Living Time. According to the Librarian, long down the world-line there will be another Librarian, Primordial, Didact, Chakas and Rion as Living Time needs its champions and villains to keep the balance.<ref>'''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'''</ref>

After the [[Xalanyn]]'s imprisonment, the Forerunners discovered that the species had peculiar attunement to elements of Living Time itself, though to what extent remains unknown.{{Ref/Book|Id=enc22p486|Enc22|Page=486}}

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Primordium]]''
*''[[Halo: Silentium]]''
*''[[Rebirth]]''
*''[[Halo: Point of Light]]'' {{Mo}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:Forerunner culture]]
[[Category:Ideology]]