Apathy

Apathy is one of the most feared diseases on Radavain, and for good reason- it completely removes an individual's ability to feel emotions, and thus their ability to cast magic. With the causes mostly unknown, and with no known cure, many see it as a fate worse than death, and treat those who suffer from it as such.

Causes

Although nobody is one hundred percent sure what the actual causes of Apathy are, the most common theory is that those who feel Emotion too strongly are more susceptible to becoming Apathetic. Other theories say that mental disorders may lead to an increase in Apathy, as well as being abused and put in situations where one is not allowed to feel their Emotions normally. Forcing an Emotion unnecessarily can also lead to Apathy.
However, because Apathy is hard to research, the actual causes of Apathy are unknown. So far, there have been no known cases of a child being born Apathetic, but the disease can happen as soon as one is capable of casting Emotion.

Symptoms

Apathy is hallmarked by the inability to feel emotions at all, regarding the world with total boredom, neutrality, and blankness. Those afflicted by the condition walk through life like robots, and are incapable of casting Emotions because of this.

Prognosis

True Apathy is an incurable disease. Once somebody has become truly Apathetic, they have lost their emotions entirely, and must live the rest of their life in such a state. No Emotion has been discovered that can return a person from this state. While it is not fatal, nor physically painful, many see living an Apathetic life as a fate worse than death.

History

Historical documents show that Apathy has existed for as long as Emotion has. It was seen as a curse from the gods for a lack of piety or for excessive pride in one's Emotional accomplishments. Most who became Apathetic were outcast from their tribes or seen as cursed monsters and usually killed. As industry and technology began to advance, so did people's treatment of Apathetics. Now it was seen more as a disability, albeit a frightening and unexplained one. There were jumps taken in trying to find cures for Apathy. However, in general, people still treated Apathetics badly, and even in modern times it is seen as an unbearable fate.

Apathy is a generally terrifying disease for most that live in Radavain- not only does it take away one's ability for magic, but many also see it as a fate worse than death. At the very least, it's agreed upon that one's quality of life is greatly reduced when they become Apathetic. People who have contracted the disease are usually avoided, or even outcast, and treated as poor unfortunate souls. Many are, in secret, held up as warnings of what can happen when Emotion is too heavily indulged in. Some societies go as far as to badmouth the Apathetic to their faces, knowing that without emotion, they won't try to fight back.
Still, despite this, there are many individuals who work hard to study Apathy and its causes, seeking a cure or ways of making their life better. Some Merlben argue that their Apathetic individuals are much more rational and, due to a lack of fear, can participate in experiments that others would shy away from.

Type

Magical

Origin

Natural

Rarity

Rare

Some people will try to cover up their Apathy by pretending to still have emotions, but these are generally hollow and easy to see through. There have been cases of people able to fake their emotions convincingly enough to avoid their diagnosis for a long time, but generally anybody in a position where casting Emotions is required will easily be found out.