Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

Special Treatment

The familiar figure turns to her, revealing the cold and bored face of Veronika. “Oh,” she seems unfazed by their meeting, “The feeling’s mutual. But I guess if we’re studying in the same school, it’s not impossible for us to be in the same class, no?”

Patricia flushes in embarrassment, “Y-yeah.” She scratches the back of her head. “Where are you off to?” Veronika crosses her arm, “I supposed that’s not your business.” Patricia bites her lips, “I mean, class is nearing to start.” Veronika sighs, “If that’s so, take your seat. I’ll handle myself.” She walks away, leaving Patricia at the dump of embarrassment.

Patricia sighs and takes her seat. She waited for the class to start and while at it, she discovered Veronika was her seat mate as well. Although, she did not hope for her to even start a conversation with her once. After a long while waiting, and an awkward one, the teacher of them arrived in the classroom. “Good morning, class.” A plump ebony woman greeted. “I am sorry I’m a bit late, I was called by the Chancellor himself. I needed to get something fixed. Anyway, good afternoon, again.”

The students greeted her which improved her mood. “Welcome to Thereal Bestiary & Herbology class, my dear students. I am Mrs. Lenaiah Alaya.” She smiles as bubbles appear at her back. “You could say, I am a bubbly teacher.” She giggles at her own joke, “Weird and lame jokes aside, I know you are wondering why the two different subjects are going to be discussed in the same class. This is just a class to just refresh the Mentiels that have already studied the fauna and flora of this world and orientate those who are new to the wonders of nature. I will be expecting the Mentiels who had a Thereal curriculum to be active and participative in my class.”

A small introduction activity was held before the lesson. Their first lesson was all about the differences between the animals in Thereal and The Earth, or as they call it Arthean. “Animals and plants in Thereal have one key difference from the animals and plants from the Earth. Most of the living things here in Thereal are exposed to a lot of elemental energy that they have adopted to either have some for themselves or change their physical appearances to combat said elements. For my Arthean Mentiels, I know you have heard a chicken, right?” She explained a lot of goofy and fascinating differences in every animal and plant from the Earth to Thereal. Some of them are seemingly entirely untrue for Patricia, yet she can’t deny that these are existing in the world she’s in.

“Another difference on them is how you handle a Thereal animal and plants. Most of them require an element attending them, so sometimes the only specific type of regions or people have the ability to take care of them. Unlike Arthean animals where you could make everything a pet, as long as you’re brave enough. That’s the reason for this subject reappearing in the curriculum, and we’re discussing much more dangerous beasts and even plant-beasts that you may encounter on your journey to be a better Pristine.” The class goes onto the basic rules of handling animals and plants, and other basic things that they need to know throughout the whole year.

While class, she’s taking glimpse at Veronika who strangely listens at the lesson, rather than slacking off as she expected her to be. She shakes her head, she’s stereotyping too much. It was not long until the class ended and lunch started. The students left the classroom and dispersed throughout the school. A lot of them left the school grounds to buy something to eat outside while the others took their seats in the school plaza already to get the best ones.

Patricia decided to follow the students, and they all went to what seems like the food street of the whole place. The place was overwhelmed with a lot of delicious and tasty smell of different foods.

Among the crowd, Patricia saw a glimpse of Veronika that seems to approach a store in the street. She followed her quite a bit and saw no traces of her in the store she seems to be approaching to maybe buy something. She shakes her head, maybe it was just an hallucination. She looks around and decides what to eat for the first lunch she will have in this academy.

She approached a store that sells a lot of seafood related-items. It was enticing enough for her to take interest. She looks at the different fishes and seafood-alike and catch a glimpse of a colorful small pie of fish meat. It was sprinkled with few spices that makes it more colorful. Before she can even declare her purchase, some called her from behind.

“Hey,” she heard a faint voice behind her. She turns and saw the same girl she tried to protect earlier. The familiar hazel complexion, the brunette bubble ponytail, the side-swept bangs that slightly covers her right eye, and the solemn yet gentle face of hers. What was her name again?

“I remember you,” Patricia looks at her, “Are you that girl—“ The young lady in front of her nods, “Yes, I am that girl. I… I didn’t have the chance to say thank you to you.” She turns to those small fish pies that Patricia was looking earlier. “I’ll buy those instead for you. As a token of my appreciation.”

Patricia smiles, “I mean, just a simple thank you will be enough, but I know you will insist anyway.” The girl smaller than her blushes, “How did you know?” Patricia chuckles, “I have seen this far too many times that I don’t need to go through it again.” The brunette girl giggles, “Well, you seems nice to get such a treat. I… I never really had someone like that.” She approaches the shop, “Hello, good morning. Can I get these Pemberian Basins you have here?”

The stall owner nods, “How many do you want, and is that all you need?” The girl looks around the stall again, “I will have five of those and some of these Bilis Pan? I would like just two of those.” She looks at Patricia, “Do you want more other than the Pemberian?” Patricia looks back at her, “I don’t want to be too much of a burden to you. Besides, a small treat is enough for me.”

The girl nods and looks at the owner, “That will be all, thank you.” The owner nods and packs all of their orders and gave it to the girl, “That will be 280 Teltia.” The brunette girl nods and gave him a handful of coins and some paper. “Thank you.” She looks at Patricia, “Let’s go find some place to eat in the school grounds.”

They went inside the school once more and searches for a seat in the plaza. They found one and sits on it, it was on a shade as well. They spread their food and belongings on the table and fixed their dishes in front of them.

Patricia looks at the girl, “Hey uhm, you already bought something for me, but I haven’t got your name yet.” The gentle face looks at her and gave her a slight smile, “I am Antonietta Maile. You can call me Anne if you want. I am sorry if my name is a mouthful, it’s just a tradition to make unintelligible names in my region.”

“No, no. It’s actually unique and beautiful. Where’d you got that?” Antonietta looks at her food shyly, “Well, it’s a tradition in our region to name your offspring the fusion of you and your partner’s name. Antonietta was from my parent’s names, Linietta and Anthonilo. They have weird names as well because of that tradition. It actually roots that your offspring is the binding connection between you and your spouse.”

“That’s a sweet tradition,” Antonietta blushes and smiles, “How about you? I only heard that you are Miss Prudent. What’s your name?” “I am Patricia, Patricia Prudent.” The brunette girl nods, “Do you have weird naming traditions as well?” Patricia shakes her head, “I think it’s just what my parents have in their mind.”

“Patricia… It doesn’t go with any naming convention of any region… Especially the ones in Terran Region.” Patricia awkwardly laughs, “I am not from anywhere here in this world, the world you are living on. I am an… what was that? How do they call us again?”

“An armentiel?” Antonietta was seemingly surprised by this which Patricia just nods on. The brunette girl gasps, “I never encountered one before. It was nice meeting you. I never thought I could meet someone interesting and kind in this school, not alone an armentiel. The world of Earth have always puzzled me.” Antonietta smiles, “I am glad to meet someone like you, not just for that, but for your kindness. I never really got my hopes up to have a friend this early on or even at all.

“Well, I am your friend now!” Antonietta smiles, “I supposed that’s better than none.” Patricia claps happily, she suddenly made a new friend. Her disruptive powers might have helped her to form a connection with another mentiel. That’s the up side at least. “This is my utmost way to say thank you. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to another person, especially one who is a descendant of known families. Here in Thereal, you will get a lot of privilege when your surname is known to have a good reputation in your region. I am glad that didn’t affected what happened earlier.”

“Is that so?” Patricia rubs her chin, “Is she a new student here as well?” Antonietta nods, “Yes, she was my classmate in my Pristinity class. It was an awkward class for me… I am glad that she was in the very front and I am in the middle, she can’t see me and if I just don’t look down too much, I wouldn’t see her.”

Antonietta looks at her, “Say… you didn’t mean to hurt her before, did you?” Patricia looks at her “I don’t, I really don’t.” She shakes her head, “At least, not in the manner that I have shown to you. I would have done it with words rather than whatever I just did back there.” She shakes her head, trying to shake off the thoughts of what happened before. “Please, let us not take about that in greater detail.”

“I respect your decision.” Antonietta smiles, “Besides, I just came here to eat lunch with you, not to pry with your decisions before.” Patricia stopped herself from sighing and forced a smile on her face, “That makes me better.”

They ate their food and the lunch has came to an end. Patricia had a good time tasting a dish from another world. She was going to go out the school grounds when she remembered that she had a special class with Miss Cassidy. She immediately went to the administrative building and to the faculty room. She met another teacher rather than the one she’s finding.

“You’re finding Miss Stanton, huh? Well, she’s in the Valiantry building if you’re a special student of hers.” Patricia looks at the male teacher that helped her, “Well, thank you, sir, but how did you know I am a special student?” The professor laughs, “It’s something we are not privy to. Now, go. She’s waiting for you there.”

Patricia nods and looks for the Valiantry building that the teacher was talking about. It was a big circular building just near the building where the Pristinity class was held. She entered the building and she was welcomed by a big stadium inside. She feels like she’s in a coliseum. With the subject’s name as “Valiantry”, she supposes this was not surprising to her.

She approached the center and heard a familiar gentle voice beside her. “Miss Patricia, I am glad you have come to our special class.”