07 - The Weeping

Less than four years prior to the events of the story, in the direct aftermath of the devastating Splinter Wars, a terrifying magical plague swept across Altazia.

The Symptoms

The disease was named "The Weeping" for its gruesome final stage. It began with an incapacitating fever and severe delirium, inevitably followed by irreversible blindness. In the terminal phase, victims would weep blood from their eyes before suffering total organ failure.

It was an absolute death sentence. Neither alchemy nor medical magic could cure or slow it. It spread with terrifying unpredictability—decimating entire families while leaving their neighbors completely untouched. Nobody was immune. It ultimately killed between 8% and 10% of Altazia's total population. Both its origin and the reason for its sudden disappearance remain a complete mystery.

Societal Impact

• The Fall of the Great Houses: The Weeping dealt the final, killing blow to Many Noble Houses that were already bleeding out from the Splinter Wars. For example, House Noveda was entirely wiped out, save for a single child, Zach Noveda. Other houses, like House Boranova, lost their primary bloodlines and vital magical rituals.
• The Crisis of Faith: The Triumvirate Church, widely considered the foremost experts in healing, were utterly helpless. This catastrophic failure cost them immense public goodwill and accelerated their decline in political power.
• The Democratization of Magic: With the ranks of noble battlemages nearly extinct, institutions like Cyoria's Royal Academy of Magical Arts were forced to drastically lower their entrance requirements, admitting thousands of commoners to rebuild the nation's magical infrastructure. This led directly to the Spread of Magical Training.