Imbalance is a rare sickness that hinders an elemental wielder to manipuate their associated element. In even rarer cases, the Alum affected can gain the ability to use another element instead.
Can't say I've ever experienced it. But my friend's mum back when I was little did. It was awful really. Couldn't even make a spark of light. Forced to leave the village and I don't think she ever came back. I was told I couldn't be friends with Lu-Le soon after that. Sad if you really think about it, but that's just how life is sometimes.Fiy-Lo, Shard Warrior
Causes and Symptoms:
The cause of imbalance is related to extreme stress of the mind. When one cannot take the weight of responsibility of everyday life and becomes consumed by the pressures of reality. When stress becomes too much for the Alum to handle, their magical connection is temporarily cutoff until the mind is healed.
The biggest symptom of the illness involves the inability to perform magic related to the Alum's element. A water Alum can no longer shape liquids, an earth Alum is unable to lift rocks and mind Alum can no longer detect the thoughts of anyone around them. Other symptoms include a state of fatigue and short term confusion. If the sickess is left untreated, symptoms can worsen overtime along with new complications such as uncontrollably manipulating another element. (e.g. a fire Alum is suddenly summoning lightning at random).
There are a variety of methods and cures to fix this, with the most common being a spiritual cleansing performed by one of the many elemental deities which can prove to be a difficult task. Some believe if they can find the spirit of Harmonia, the Acuran of Balance, then they will be cured of this illness.
History:
The first recordings of Imbalance came shortly after the ban of realm travel, when many Alum communities grew concerned of never being able to travel to elemental realms again. Or never seeing the family that lived off world. This collective stress manifested as cases of Imbalance, which saw many Alum lose their magical connection to the elements. Out of fear, communities would banish and abandon those with the sickness, leaving them to fend for themselves. Many of whom never found a cure and met a cruel fate.
Going even further back, there are legends of early Alum cursed with imbalance but overcoming it, resulting in regaining their powers, gaining control of their new element or becoming a master in multiple elements. The legend of Etunn, for example, tells the tale of an earth Alum who lost everything to war. His magic, his family, his way in life. Then just when he was about to give up, he found the path of enlightenment and was guided to a new life. Once he had completed his journey, Etunn was blessed with his earth based magic once more but had also gained the aility to touch the souls of others. Making him a the first hybrid Alum.
Comments