Argeniculex

Causes

At present, the mechanism behind the development of argeniculex is unknown. Current theories include an overexposure to aether during pregnancy, consumption of orchis berries or other plants with high concentrations of aether, or perhaps it is caused by a curse or a blessing, depending on how one views it. It does appear to be passed from parent to child with the most consistent passing being if the person gestating possesses this condition.

Symptoms

Those affected with argeniculex have completely silver eyes. Everything from the sclera to the pupil turns a silver like the moon's glow and they are unresponsive to most visual stimuli. Additionally, those born with argeniculex are often characterized by a fragile mental state. They are nervous, irritable, and prone to hysteria. In truth, very few who have argeniculex are able to make it to adulthood. Some even die when they are still younglings. It was previously believed that people afflicted with argeniculex had vivid hallucinations despite appearing to lack any kind of vision.

It has since been discovered that those afflicted with argeniculex do have a sort of vision. Their silver eyes allow them to perceive aether and by extension Aether Eaters, also known as Citrevix, seeing their true forms. The mental state associated with argeniculex is a side effect of the overwhelming amount of information they are able to take in from a tender age. Most younglings don't have fully developed sight at first, allowing them to gradually adjust to life. It seems that those with silver eyes are able to see clearly from the moment they open their eyes causing their minds to be overwhelmed. Everything in our world has some flow of aether, but most of the time it is still, only shimmering in place. When beings made of aether are around, or spells are being cast, those with argeniculex see every intricate weaving and movement in bright detail.

History

The first known case of argeniculex was documented during the late stages of the Undoing. In what came to be known as Hearthaven, a child of a modest baker couple was born with pure silver eyes. This was initially meant with terror and despair. The couple believed that despite the miracle of their survival that they would lose their child still. In fact, this child would become the first—and for a while the only—with argeniculex to reach adulthood and become a mage to wield true aether-sight and became known as the Silver Eyed One.

Cultural Reception

Much of history saw those with silver eyes met with fear, disgust, and pity. The tales of the Silver Eyed One were regarded as myth or a story told to soothe anxious parents who bore a silver eyed child. Some say this is where the myth of changelings began but the fair folk adamantly deny involvement. It was unusual for such a child to reach adulthood, but often if they did it was still a poor quality of life.

In the present day, those with argeniculex are still largely rejected in their daily life. However, armed with our improved knowledge, many are now able to live independently. Due to the overwhelming nature of their sight however, they often live on the fringes of society and work odd jobs that limit social connections.