Wroth

Despair and hope go hand in hand

Wroth is an illness that infects magic users when they fail to keep their anger in check, causing their Magic Core to explode, though the wound will instantly close itself outside, leaving the inside of the user damaged nonetheless. When this happens, a black blot will emerge and cover the wound while also expanding a few centimeters from it.

Becoming a 'Wroth'

Seconds away from Tragedy by Pierrot

Even with all the anger in the world, one needs a lot of magic power to even come close to being infected with this illness. Humans, for example, need to be using all their magic power while also being powered by a Magic Shard.

The first warning will be the glow of the Magic Core: it will be stronger than usual, casting shadows much darker than one could expect, as if it took its light from its surroundings.

Secondly, their body will start 'fading' away.

Now, once the body stars fading, there's no telling how much time the user has to calm down; usually it takes a few seconds, but there's record of users who remained like this for long periods of time without succumbing to their own power

After infection

The first few seconds/minutes

Once their Magic Core blows up, the user will most likely fall to the ground, unconcious. On rare occassions they're able to remain awake, but this depends on how they react to this experience.
All the magic energy they were using will immediately leave their body and go away while also generating an expansive wave, pushing everything and everyone away from the user. This will leave them defenseless, weak and away from anyone who could help.
Technically, their body will be ok. As ok as one can be after something blows up in them, but alright.

The blot

Immediately after the infection, the blot will appear and grow from the wound outwards. At first, it won't have a clear shape, and this may continue to be the case even weeks after the incident.
Apart from its colors, which range from black to dark violet, there's nothing particularly interesting about the blot itself. It doesn't have a texture, smell, and more often than not it can come across as rather cheap makeup. The thing is that this blot does not generate on top of the skin, but inside it, hence why it's visible.

The Blot infecting a left eye by Pierrot

It has a nature of its own. While at first the movements of the blot will be rather unpredictable, it will then shape itself according to the user's state of mind.
Someone who has untreated Wroth may display a shapeless, rather ugly mark, whereas a recovering user will have one that looks like a flower or black star.

The wound

Of course, having one's eye explode is a rather traumatic experience; while this 'illness' closes the wound, it does nothing to heal anything inside the body, so the user may still succumb to those wounds.

The best way to prevent this is by having someone use the Water Elemental Skill to heal the victim, so long as the user themself is in good enough shape to not be at risk as well.
However, even Magic has its limits: the part of the body that was blown off will not regrow, and, as a result, that user's Magic Core will forever be sealed, leaving them only able to use Basic Spells, and with the help of a Magic Shard.

Symptoms

Symptoms upon being infected with Wroth include (but are not limited to):

1. Erratic behavior. Uncontrolled and sudden bursts of anger, unexpected and rather long periods of despair, impulsiveness, and other such things, which can lead to:
2. Unstable magic. Magic becomes even harder to control now that their Magic Core is permanently sealed. It can take years to regain full control of one's magic, supposing one ever gets to do it.
3. Regular sickness, especially during the first few weeks after the infection. This is usually due to the wounds and the shock caused by this condition.
4. Memory loss. An uncommon symptom which tends to get worse with age.

Treatment

While it cannot be cured, there are ways to treat the symptoms so as to reduce their effects:

• Meditating is often recommended; doctors who have had the decency to treat people with this condition have them to meditate at least three times a week, among other ways of practising mindfulness.
• Resting well is another way of keeping oneself under control; not because it's hard to hurt anyone while sleeping, but because resting badly, or not at all, can lead to being irritated and thus, easier to anger.
• Eating well can make the regular illness of the first few weeks a little...less bad.
  

Can the situation worsen?

Well, yeah.
While treatment is not mandatory, it is imperative that the user finds a way to keep the symptoms under control lest the Wroth blot expand itself across their body.
Once this happens, it's unlikely that any given treatment will improve their situation. If the blot has expanded, it means that the user allowed themselves to get carried away by the symptoms and emotions that come with this illness.
Soon enough, the blot will cover not only the area surrounding their Magic Core (or where it was supposed to be), but also a large part of their body. And then...there will be no hope left. Not a lot of time will pass before the user succumbs to this illness, and their body will be nothing but a dark silhouette representing what it once looked like before the blot ended them.

Cultural reception

If there's something all three major cultures agree on, is that being a Wroth equals disgrace. This condition represents everything someone must not be: impulsive, unable to control their emotions, reckless, vengeful...

But there is one exception to the rule: the Nomadic cultures.
Now, this depends on the tribe, as newer ones may be less welcoming to people carrying a Wroth mark. However, because they've learnt to practice mindfulness and are aware of the illnesses the mind can carry, they are the best option to treat this condition.
Many people who approached this tribes looking for a treatment and acceptance have gone on to say that they've 'never felt more at peace'.

Table of Contents

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Rare

Trivia

• Dragons created this illness so as to prevent themselves, or anyone, really, to use magic in ways that could be destructive.
• Few cases of Wroth have been reported in the world; it is unknown if it truly is becaue it's a 'rare' illness or because no one wants to have to put up with all the (negative) attention it will draw to them.
• The name used to describe someone with this condition is...wroth.
• Before becoming an infamous illness, it was treated like any other.

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