Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

Calm after the Calamity

Gabriel was quite concerned about why, but he agrees anyway, “Why?” Patricia sighs, “I’ll tell you when I’m there.” They head to the faculty room in the administrative building. On their way there, they crossed paths with Antonietta.

“Where are you two going?” Gabriel looks at Patricia, “Pat here wants to talk to Miss Cassidy for some reason she doesn’t want to specify to me yet.” Before Antonietta could say something, Patricia initiated, “If you want to know as well, you can go with me. I think it’s better if you both know what’s happening to me which even I don’t actually know.”

“Then what are you going to tell Miss Cassidy if you don’t know what is actually happening to you?” Gabriel sighs as Patricia looks at him, “I’ll tell you what I am experiencing so far. Besides, she said it herself that whatever is happening to me, I should tell her.”

“Then let’s go. It sounds so urgent.” They continued heading to the faculty room where they found Miss Cassidy in the corner going through files. Patricia looks at them, “I’ll go inside by myself, the faculty seems so busy right now.” Both of her friends nod as Patricia walks into the room. She approaches her professor, “Miss Cassidy?”

The said teacher looks at her, “Oh, Patricia! What brings you here in my office?” Her student looks around and back to her, “Good morning, Miss Cassidy. If you may and have the time, I would like to have a word with you in private. I would like to talk about my situation earlier if you can spare some time.” The professor catches what she was talking about and nods. “Wait for me by the door. I’ll fix my table first.”

Patricia goes back to her friends and waits nervously for her professor. “This is honestly concerning and nerve-racking.” Gabriel was the one who was the most concerned of them all, even more than Patricia herself. “Don’t worry, the more you know, the better you will manage that.”

Cassidy goes out of the faculty and approached them, she was quite surprised that Patricia is with her friends. She smiles, “I thought we will talk one-on-one, but it seems you have brought your companions here.” The three of them greeted her politely. “I thought it might be crucial for my friends to know what’s happening to me, Miss Cassidy. Gabriel, for example, was puzzled earlier in the Pristinity class.”

“I understand but I have a better place for us to chat. Come with me to my favorite cafe here, my treat.” Patricia looks at her, “Miss Cassidy, you don’t need to spend money. I will just say a few things to you.”

The professor insisted, “This is a private matter for you. Besides, it’s my break time. A companion wouldn’t hurt.” She smiles, the two were on board with this idea. Patricia took a little time to say yes but as soon as she did, they went to the cafe where the professor is saying.

It was a quaint little cafe with a big sign atop the front face saying “Victorious Brew”. There were many people in the cafe, Patricia wonders why she hasn’t passed by this establishment.

“I didn’t know such a lovely cafe exists here.” Cassidy smiles, “I was wondering why there’s not much marketing for this establishment. Despite that, there are a lot of returning customers here, one of which is me.” Gabriel looks around and excitement was written all over his face. “Oh, I miss several teahouses back in England. This brings me back.” He immediately looks at the menu, looking for something he misses.

“Victorious Brew…” Antonietta mumbles, “Such a confident name. I wonder if they make some Breeze by the Sea here or something similar...” Patricia looks at the place around her. A lot of the chairs were designed as if several plants were holding up the cushion and the seater on it. So as the indoor tables. The outdoor ones look like they are made of rocks, but the comfortable look of the customers who chose to get some breeze proves it wasn’t as hard as she imagines it to be.

The cafe was heavily themed with the four main elements, with the occasional special elements scattered around. “Pick something and we’ll head to our meeting place.” Gabriel and Antonietta took their picks pretty fast, especially having standards and favorites of theirs. “Whistle Brew, please! And a slice of this Morningberry Pie!” Gabriel ordered while Antonietta found the drink she was finding.

“I am quite surprised that they got some regional delicacies here.” The latter commented as she looks at Patricia, “How about you? Do you want some suggestions?” Patricia looks at Antonietta and shakes her head, “I’ll just choose what looks refreshing.” She looks back at the menu, something caught her eye. “Solemn k****e?”

“One of their specials, a drink that gives you a soothing warm feeling while striking you with a cold shiver. At least, that’s what they describe it as. The moment I tasted it, I just felt it was… weirdly refreshing.” Cassidy giggles, “Anything more?”

“That’s all, Miss Cassidy. I don’t want you to spend much.” The professor chuckles, “Add some treats along with that, miss. Thank you.” She refers to the counter as the said person gives her a receipt. “Follow me, I have a good place for conversations like this. I know it’s not that secretive, but I prefer to protect my student’s privacy.”

They went upstairs and approaches a table on the corner, overlooking the commerce area of the school. It was a great place to relax and tune down a little bit. Cassidy takes a seat with them, initiating the conversation. “So what’s the urgent matter you want to tell me?”

“Well, I felt a sharp pain in my chest earlier, Miss Cassidy.” The professor nods, “A sharp pain… Is that why you suddenly burst out again earlier?” Patricia sighs, “I didn’t feel that during that time. However, I felt it before, a small amount. It goes back after a while, and it’s gone.” Gabriel sighs, “Yes, Miss Cassidy. She felt it before that swirl class thingy. She said it was nothing, and what did I say to her?” Patricia sighs, “That it’s a sign of a bigger pain.” Gabriel nods, “Exactly.” “As he said, after that, the sharp pain just stayed until I get out of the classroom.”

“Do you feel other things while you were at it?” Patricia shakes her head, “That’s the strangest part, if it was some sort of disease that’s striking me, I would feel other things. But no, it was all of that, Miss Cassidy. It’s like something punched me on the chest, minus the struggle in breathing and other pain that goes along with it.”

Cassidy sighs, “Say, Patricia, did you, in any form whatsoever, touch or have interacted with the Singularity when you were following me the other day?” Patricia’s eyes wander everywhere but her professor’s gaze. “I am sorry.” Cassidy looks at her, “What do you mean? Don’t worry, I would not be mad at you.” The young lady covers her face in embarrassment, “I did an oopsie, didn’t I?” Her professor sits on the edge of the bed she was in, “Tell me, right on my face. Did you do it?”

Patricia looks at her, “I only just grazed it! I was curious how those things feel like.” Cassidy sighs, “I called it, which one you touched? The blue—“ “The white one, the singularity you are all talking about. Yes, I touched it. I am sorry, okay?” Cassidy looks at her, “Don’t think I am angry at you, I just became much more worried about you.” She sighs, “I called it.”

“This young lady has managed to touch the Singularity, she has admitted herself.” Antonietta’s eyes widen, “The real Singula—“ She stopped as someone announced their orders. Cassidy looks at them, “I’ll take them. Please wait here.” She went downstairs to retrieve their orders.

Antonietta looks at Patricia, “You really did!?” Concern was written all over her face as if this whole thing was her whole problem now. Patricia sighs, “Yeah, I assume you heard all of it.” The brunette girl looks like she’s going to break down any moment. “It’s a pure concentration of all elements. The purest matter in whole Thereal, maybe in Earth as well.”

“Is there something wrong with touching it? Is it some sort of an artifact of a god or any divine being?” Gabriel looks at her, “You need to calm down, Anne. You look like you’re going to explode anytime soon.” Antonietta sighs, “I mean, it could very well be. Something that has every power of every element that exists in the world and make in turn makes it the most powerful thing in the world. The fact that it resides on a tree whose roots reach every corner of Thereal adds up to its prestige. That’s also why only people that came from this academy and are very worthy are the ones who are guarding and making it safe.”

The professor returns with their orders. “I am sorry Miss Cassidy, but I got to clear this up. Did she touch the real Singularity, Miss Cassidy? The wisp of conjugated elements in the Monadentro?” Cassidy looks at her and sighs, “Yes, and I supposed you need to know that of your friend. Do me a favor and stop her from doing anything out of spite. It has caused her several problems and it will happen again if she refused to control herself. Her core has some traces of Singularity in it, which is not good as history shows.”

Antonietta thinks for a bit as she took a sip of her drink, “I have remembered the story of The ‘Prophesized’ Pristine, but I am sure that Patricia here has not accumulated too much Singularity, does she?” Cassidy sighs, “It’s not the first time Singularity has inhabited people’s bodies, a lot of wardens have experienced such things. Yet the knowledge about it is so little that I am basing just what I know on the reactions of Singularity and the elements around us.”

Cassidy looks at the ground, “Based on my theory, she can’t interact much with too much elemental energy, or the singularity inside her will build up and even take her own body. We already have a polarity on the loose, we don’t want to risk another one.

Antonietta looks at her, “But based on that same logic, Miss Cassidy, I am sure that a high amount of concentration won’t build up that fast even the school has high elemental energy. The Singularity we know of today has built itself for centuries to be that powerful.” Cassidy sighs, “I know but an even small concentration could weaken her. She can’t control her elemental ability in the first place, why would she be able to endure the energy of a Singularity? Besides, Monadentro doesn’t have a magic core like us, in fact, Singularity is its magic core. These two will clash together when inhabiting the same entity.”

Listening to all of this weakened Patricia’s morals. She feels like she’s being diagnosed with cancer but a magical one. Antonietta holds her hand to calm her down. Gabriel comforts her as well. Cassidy looks at her, “I am sorry for making these ill words, but this situation is much more serious than it seems. Especially when you physically touched the pure concentration yourself.”

“I am sorry, Miss Cassidy, I just had the urge to do it.” Cassidy sighs, “Then ignore it for your own sake, Patricia.” She slightly increased her volume but she realized what she had done. “I am sorry, it’s just a stressful day for me. It’s only the third day of your school year, and you’re getting in lots of trouble.”

“I am sorry again, Miss Cassidy. I promise I would never do that again.” Cassidy nods, “You better promise it.”