Calamity Phoenix

"Do you know what will happen to all those affected by the Abstract curse?" Nero couldn't help but ask, eventually.

That question got a reaction out of both Noman and Vanessa, who both grimaced.

"It's tough to say. We were all affected by it, though not equally," Vanessa explained. "To be quite frank, I think… I think the curse chose who it wanted to affect."

Vanessa shivered, which was a first for Nero. He had never seen her express fear so clearly before.

"The strangest thing is that according to tests, every one of us is cured now. There's no remaining cursed energy in any of us. But a lot of the Neophytes… it's like they've lost all their drive. It's like, instead of aether, the curse absorbed their emotions."