Ward Delirium

One moment you're running away from the monsters... And the next you're waking up from the pavement, knowing nothing more than your name.

Ward Delirium is a transformative condition caused by spending too much time exposed to the effects of other universes. While the native universe to the Elementals, Origin, does not have a Ward associated to cause this change, the majority of other universes do. Especially those that are old enough to have developed sapient life. Adult Elementals are immune to the effects of the Wards, as Origin's lack of one appears to lead to development that prevents the transformative effects.

The same cannot be said for Elemental children. Despite all the laws and warnings, there are still many that would prefer not to leave their child behind when they go and visit another world. 'What could go wrong?', they always ask as they head on out into universes that are generally close enough to Origin that they are invested with Ravagers. 'We can just limit the amount of time we are exposed to it', until something goes incredibly wrong...

The Transformation

Wards in other universes work to impose the universe's laws upon those within them, essentially confirming that the Gold within them behaves in a way that it should. As Elementals that enter are from another universe where these laws work very differently, the ward is constantly trying to change Elementals into a shape that better suits its rules. Portals opening between universes is not entirely uncommon, with people or creatures ending up in another. Normally, the ward works to conform these creatures, preventing any realization of what is beyond its borders. It will do so, even to the point of killing the creature, if no reasonable shape is to be found. Humans from other universes, stumbling into another with humans as well, would quickly find that they no longer remember their old home. Or that anything is wrong at all. Instead, the ward transforms them into who they would have been, should they had grown up there.

For Elemental children left too long in another universe, the transformation is a little harsher. Firen children find their sharp canine teeth falling out, while Ice children have their skin change colours to something more human-like. Magic is suppressed, with the Gold within them being twisted until their skin is vulnerable to ordinary weapons, and bullets. Fire Elementals will burn, and Lightning Elementals can be electrocuted. They heal far slower, capable of losing limbs. In a sense, the ward forces them to be human in almost it's entirely. Most still find they have an inhuman connection with nature, whether that be flames, or plants. They still heal faster, and more complete, than humans do. And for a brief period before the transformation has truly taken hold, magic still works to sway the minds of the surrounding humans. Usually convincing them to take care of the now very vulnerable child in front of them like they were their own.

For those less fortunate, if in a universe that does not have a human species, or a species resembling humans, the effects of Ward Delirium are far worse. Twisting into whatever shape is the closest. Depending on how far this is, the Elemental child simply will not survive the transformation.

Cure

Ward Delirium will continue for years, often setting in deep with the more time spent exposed to the other universe. Transformed children develop at a human pace rather than the normal Elemental pace. No matter how much time has passed, however, the quickest solution is to bring the child (or even adult) back to Erina. Once returned to the universe without a ward, the transformation slowly undoes. Depending on the number of years spent exposed to the other universe, the longer it may take for the effects to fully wane, and for old memories to return. While these memories may have faded, many do return. Unfortunately, those that do are often the traumatic ones, especially the ones related to how a child ended up abandoned in another universe. The Elemental Academy works to slowly reintegrate 'lost' Elementals, identifying them in other universes, and bringing them home to a setting that doesn't hit them with a culture shock right away.

Prevention

The best method to prevent the transformation of Ward Delirium is to not take children, even juveniles, to other universes. Until adulthood, all Elementals are vulnerable, and no matter what civilians may think, bringing your kids to a potential battlefield is a terrible choice. If need be, for urgent reasons, a Ward Detector may be used to show the visible concentration of the effect on the child to better leave before it sets in. However, the worst often comes to pass for those that head out into the unknown. Maybe not on the first or the second trip, but this only seeds thoughts that warnings are not to be followed. Tragedy is not worth a short vacation...