Bab 101: Black Card

"This is…"

Vaan's gaze turned serious when Helia Ashenborn removed her silk gloves, revealing the purple skin it covered.

"The Curse of the Purple Umbala, in its second stage. At first, it wasn't so bad—just the usual disruption of mana flow, affecting the success of casting magic spells. But then, it evolved, becoming one with the body," Helia Ashenborn explained.

Vaan furrowed his brows as he stared at Helia Ashenborn's purple hands.

Just as Helia Ashenborn mentioned, the antimagic spores had seemingly merged with her hand, altering the structure of her hand, including her bone, muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels.

"Isn't it painful, Lord Helia?" Vaan asked after a brief moment before adding, "How did it evolve to such a stage? I've been in Sunpeak Town, and none of the residents I've come across showed such symptoms."