(Couple of thoughts about layer 2) Immense sources of power (Mothercrystals) grant people instant prosperity, but eventually these advantages prevent them from growing up and breaking free of their mother's apron strings. The reason is that any magic in the game is a form of rapid fantasy-to-reality transformation, where fantasy and reality are not mediated by any human labor, by really any effort. This immense power also (or thus?) creates a desire to use it to subjugate others. Eventually, the strongest of these immature men-children become slave owners, enslave vast numbers of people, depriving them of their freedom, but in doing so they themselves become slaves to their own or any other's power, as demonstrated repeatedly in the story with the examples of Benedicta and Kupka etc. The slave owner eventually becomes a slave. The alternative to this regression are horizontal social structures like the Hideaway, where everyone is free and lives on their own terms. According to the writers, horizontal structures are stronger, better, and more durable than any structure of forced submission or any other structure, even a structure of complete unity and wholeness in which the parts are indistinguishable. This latter type of connection is presented in the final version of Ultima - Ultimalius. In a structure like the Hideaway tho, a person learns to take responsibility for their actions, to live responsibly, independently and not relying on instant "mother's" help (MOTHERcrystals, magick in general). In this sense layer 1 (socio-political) connects to the layer 2 (moral) of the story. Not a coincidence that the horizontal connection of consciousnesses - in other words, the power of friendship - is also a virtue that can break the vicious circle of subjugation. Consciousnesses of MCs in the story are connected, but 1) do not dissolve in each other (as in the case of Ultimalius) and 2) do not generate hierarchies of subjigation.

(2/?)