Automonecsis

“Automonecsis.” The teacher stood in front of the chalkboard with the word spelled out in large letters. “Is a disease that can infect any living thing, from plants to people. It is a self-generating, self-propelling death to the cells and it is, so far, one of the most difficult diseases to cure.” He turned to face the class he was teaching and pointed at a girl who didn’t seem to be paying attention.

“Valeria, can you tell me why that is?” She was startled at the sound of her name and turned away from the windows. “Umm, because the patients fight you?” The teacher hummed in consideration before he nodded, “While that is difficult, it is not the most difficult. Half a point.”

The girl smiled happily as he moved on to the next student. “Isaiah, will you please answer the question?” A boy at the back of the classroom, who also seemed to not be paying attention, turned to face the teacher. “What makes it difficult is the long incubation period and the lack of visible symptoms until it is too late.” The teacher gave a nod of approval and began to give a more in-depth explanation.

“It is a disease that spreads through mold spores from graves. Those infected become walking corpses anywhere between six months to a year. They will spread the disease unless stopped by the plague doctors.” Here he smiles, “As future plague doctors, I have absolute faith in you.”