Scale Frost

Scale Frost is a highly contagious magical viral disease that affects Demi Dragons exclusively. The disease begins with symptoms similar to a common cold, making it extremely difficult to identify during its earliest stages. As the infection progresses, the victim's body temperature steadily drops while their mana circulation slows. Their scales gradually fade into a pale icy blue regardless of their original coloration.
Without treatment, the disease eventually freezes the victim from the inside out, resulting in death.

Transmission & Vectors

Scale Frost is highly infectious, even during its earliest stages.
It can be transmitted through:

• Physical contact with an infected individual.
• Exposure to sneezing or coughing.
• Contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.
• Prolonged exposure to infected bodily fluids.

Because the disease initially appears to be nothing more than a mild cold, infected individuals often continue normal daily activities, unknowingly spreading the virus to others. By the time the first severe cases become apparent, the disease has usually spread throughout an entire community.

Symptoms

Stage One (Days 1–3)

The earliest symptoms resemble a common cold, making diagnosis extremely difficult.
Symptoms include:

• Runny nose.
• Mild fatigue.
• Slight chill.
• Minor reduction in mana circulation.

During this stage, subtle physical changes begin to appear. Dark-colored scales become noticeably lighter, while white or silver scales begin developing a faint blue tint.

Stage Two (Days 4–7)

As the infection advances, the victim's body struggles to maintain its normal temperature.
Symptoms include:

• Persistent shivering.
• Joint and muscle pain.
• Body stiffness.
• Noticeably colder body temperature.
• Sluggish movements.
• Reduced appetite.
• Mana becoming increasingly difficult to channel.

The victim often feels as though every movement requires significantly more effort than normal.

Stage Three (Days 8–10)

The disease reaches its terminal phase.
Symptoms include:

• Crystallization of blood and internal organs.
• Severe mana disruption.
• Entire body becoming unnaturally cold.
• Scales turning a uniform pale icy blue regardless of their original color.
• Organ failure caused by magical freezing.

Despite their internal organs freezing solid, the victim's body remains perfectly preserved, appearing as though they were carved from living ice. The deceased retain a peaceful appearance, with their pale blue scales serving as the final mark of Scale Frost.

Treatment

The only known cure for Scale Frost is an advanced healing ritual known as Dragonheart Rekindling.
This powerful ritual restores the victim's natural body heat, reignites blood circulation, and forces mana to flow throughout the entire body simultaneously. The intense magical heat burns away the virus while slowly thawing the crystallized organs, muscles, and blood. As the victim recovers, their scales gradually return to their natural color.
Dragonheart Rekindling is considered one of the most difficult medical rituals ever developed. The healer must carefully control the magical flames with continuous gestures, chants, and precise mana manipulation. Every part of the victim's body must be treated at the same time. If even a small portion of the virus survives, it can rapidly spread again before the ritual is completed.
The greatest danger comes from excessive heat. If the ritual is performed too aggressively or the flames are poorly controlled, the patient may suffer severe internal burns, damaged organs, or permanent muscle and nerve injuries. Because these injuries occur inside the body, they are often impossible to detect until after the patient regains consciousness.
To perform Dragonheart Rekindling safely, healers require a specially prepared C-Rank or higher Fire Monster Core that has been refined into a medical focus orb or purification catalyst. The core provides the immense, stable magical energy needed to heat the entire body evenly without allowing the flames to rage out of control.
Despite its risks, Dragonheart Rekindling remains the only reliable cure for Scale Frost and has saved countless Demi Dragon lives from what was once considered a certain death sentence.

Prevention

Scale Frost is notoriously difficult to contain.
Because the disease initially presents as nothing more than a runny nose, most victims dismiss it as a seasonal cold. By the time severe symptoms appear, the infected individual has often already spread the virus to dozens of others.
During major outbreaks, strict quarantines are commonly enforced within Demi Dragon communities. Travelers may be screened for symptoms, and anyone showing signs of infection is immediately isolated until they can be examined by healers or magical physicians.
Historically, Scale Frost has caused several devastating pandemics among Demi Dragon populations due to its rapid transmission and delayed diagnosis.

History

Scale Frost was not a naturally occurring disease. It was an artificial magical virus created by the renowned Celestial: healer and magical scientist Victoria Rosewing a Victoria was an exceptionally gifted researcher who specialized in healing magic, anatomy, and infectious diseases. Despite her brilliance, she developed an unhealthy obsession with scale-bearing creatures, particularly Demi Dragons. She exclusively kept reptilian companions, studied draconic physiology, and even preferred romantic relationships with Demi Dragons.
During the War of Ash and Radiance, a Demi Dragon city known as SkyLume was conquered, leaving countless casualties. Unable to accept the loss of the people she admired, Victoria became consumed by the desire to preserve them forever. She believed that death and decay were cruel, and that if their bodies could be perfectly preserved, they would never truly be lost.
Her research eventually led to the creation of Scale Frost, a magical virus designed to freeze the body from the inside out. Rather than allowing the body to decay, the virus crystallized the victim's organs and blood while leaving the body perfectly intact. Every victim became a flawless frozen statue, preserved indefinitely.
Convinced that her work was an act of mercy, Victoria secretly released the virus throughout SkyLume.
The results exceeded even her expectations. Nearly the entire city perished, leaving behind hundreds of perfectly preserved Demi Dragons. The only flaw she found in her "masterpiece" was that every victim's scales faded into the same pale icy blue, regardless of their natural coloration. Rather than viewing this as a failure, she considered it simply another problem to solve.
Before she could continue her research, Victoria was killed by a group of adventurers who discovered the truth behind the outbreak. Much of her research was believed to have been destroyed with her.
Unfortunately, Scale Frost survived.
Small outbreaks have continued to appear throughout history, suggesting that samples of the virus still exist or that fragments of Victoria's research remain hidden. These recurring epidemics eventually inspired healers and magical physicians to develop a cure before another catastrophe could occur.

Type

Magical

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• Demi Dragon