Raw magic is so toxic that it infects anyone who has enough of it in their blood stream. Dragons have a stronger tolerance to it due to their magic sacks. The infection is mostly characterized by tissue becoming necrotic, and the degradation of the mind. It is a deadily sickness that rots the body and mind.

Ways of Infection

There are many ways to be infected, and none of them end pleasantly. Since it just has to get into your bloodstream to cause damage, there are only a few unique ways it can happen.

Burns

Magic is acidic, and probably very hot. When it comes in contact with organic material, it starts to eat away at it. If it gets into your blood stream and is too much to filter out, the infection will take hold.

External Burns

Burns on the outside are dangerous and most common. It is not unheard of to fall into veins of magic. It leaves many dragons impaired, as limbs are cut off immediately to try and avoid further infection. Getting burned on the outside will immediately leave the area blackened from the acidic properties and heat. That will spread outwards from the initial burn, and slowly turn the whole body necrotic.

Internal Burns

Similar to external ones, the internal burns will slowly spread outwards. This is most common when drinking incorrectly purified magic, magic sacks bursting, being injected with magic, and so-forth. This kind is most dangerous, as there is usually no way to save yourself from an internal burn. The organs and muscles are usually the first to go with this burn.

Fog

Magic can turn into a type of mist. While it can be harmless, if it gets too concentrated and starts to form crystals by itself, it becomes very dangerous. It can form crystals in the lungs that tear them up before you even have a chance at being infected. If you do survive, however, you may find that infection will take your breath from you first, and kill you before it can fully take your body alive.

Crystals

There are some unique ways to be infected by crystals. Though they mainly include ingestion of various forms. This is not a common way to be infected, but it can happen and has happened.

Snorting

Some dragons may partake in snorting crystals. They give various effects depending on the element and spell, so certain varieties are preferred. However, this can be dangerous as it can go into the brain through the membrane in the nostril. Because of that, the nature of this infection will rob the mind before any damage to the body can be seen. It often time kills you before your body can be eaten alive.

Ingesting

Some may use crystals as a garnish in foods, or may just straight up eat them. If too much is had, or if its too concentrated, it is possible to become infected. The stomach will go first, sometimes giving out and melting the internal organs before the sickness can fully take hold.

Piercing

When a crystal is introduced into the body and you survive the attack, you can become infected based on how long it's there, how big the piece is, and how concentrated the magic is. The sickness will spread from where the crystal is or was, and will slowly work its way around the body from there. The area of initial infection is the fastest to rot.

Consumption

There are many ways magic is used in foods. When its not prepared right, it can go wrong and secretly get you sick. It is a slow process that usually ends with your stomach acid eating away at your insides and killing you before the sickness can take your mind from you. Though in some cases it will keep the stomach intact enough to consume the rest of the body and mind. Though this is if the means of consuming it was through something easily digestible— that way it gets into the blood stream quicker and the rot becomes even throughout the body.