Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

Ambiguous Connections

Patricia decided to continue listening to them. This must be the thing that holds the magic of Thereal that her professor was saying earlier. The lady beside Cassidy nods, “Although, it has been flickering for days. The panic that this situation may have brought to the nations has affected the singularity and the tree more. I suggest not to report this to the COIC or be known to any governing body of every region so that the people could calm down. Doing so will calm the energy of the Singularity as well.”

Cassidy approaches the tree and caresses it gently with her hand. She closes her eyes and ‘feels’ the tree. She opened and looked at them with disappointment. “The tree is still not very well. Monadentro might have been still struggling with the polarity that it was exposed to before. Where have you seized that?”

“Mister Hickmott said that he has sealed it in a safe place, away from the school.” A familiar voice said among the crowd. It was no other than the Vice-Chancellor, arriving in the forest. Patricia fixes her position for no one to get a glimpse of her sight. “The COIC arrived an hour later. They told us that the situation isn’t getting better. It gave me an idea to visit here.” She looks at Cassidy, “Miss Stanton, have you any answer on why the singularity is behaving like this? For the 18 years that I have been serving the school and having the responsibility to take guard of the forest and the tree itself, I have not encountered this problem.”

“It’s because of the polarity that Mister Hickmott has gladly sealed.” Cassidy sighs, “But I foresee that this is not going to be a long-term solution for this problem. As long as there’s another energy of singularity that exists beyond the existing singularity itself, things will just get much worse.” She sighs, “There’s no way of possibly destroying it since it’s magic, but I am confused why it was created in the first place. It goes against every basic rule and law of magic.”

“But the solution we have now is better than nothing.” Sophronia sighs, “The suspect that seemingly created the energy was not yet caught nor determined. We have possibilities and some suspicion, but no one came clean.”

“It’s fine, Miss Bethel-Craith. You should have known that no one will admit a crime that this huge and destructive. There’s only one lead that I could give to you.” The Vice-Chancellor took an interest, “What is it?” Cassidy looks at the tree, “The tree itself is a powerful enough vessel for the Singularity and other elements to mutually reside in. Especially all of these came from every corner of every region. Whoever made the polarity is powerful enough to handle the essence of Singularity inside them. The suspect could be young as a young adult or could be old as 30 if following the three peaks of a human.”

“Your contribution has been noted. I know you will be a big help, Miss Stanton.” Cassidy smiles, “I will do everything to contribute to Monadentro.” The head lady approached her, “Miss Cassidy and Miss Bethel-Craith, could we have a word on you two for a moment? I and the Wardens have discovered something. It’s not about the matter at hand but something else.”

They walked behind the tree and to a separate area that was connected through a path. The other Wardens decided to take a rest from the exhaustion that they have been enduring and the guards followed the authoritative figures to the secret area.

Silence conquered the forest. Patricia could only hear the whistling of the wind, the rustling of the leaves, and sometimes even the chirps of the bird. She looks at the tree and stares at it in its glory, especially without people around it. It was so mystical and enticing. It was the most beautiful thing she have seen in her whole life, she doesn’t regret coming all the way here. The destination was too beautiful to pass on.

She walks mindlessly towards the tree, still mesmerized with every mark, every leaf, and everything about it. “Monadentro...” She whispered under her breath as she walks up to the trunk of the tree. Every step was light as if she was walking on the clouds.

The view was even better up close, she could see the things she have been curious about since she laid her eyes on the tree. She places her palm on the tree trunk. It was a rough texture, but she feels blissful as she touches it. She looks at the concentrated wisps of magic that was engraved in the tree. She feels compelled to touch them like a moth to light. Her fingers reached for the white one. As her fingertip comes into contact with the white wisp, she felt a wave of wind go through her arm.

Her sense suddenly jolted as she looks at her side. She could see someone going at the tree. Her mind suddenly snapped to reality and run out of the place. She can feel someone was running after her, she tried her best to run faster and even use the trees to maneuver and lost the person after her. But she feels like she’s not covering a larger distance. After a while of running, not too long, someone held her hand and was forced to face the individual after her. The familiar hue of the hair makes her heart thump heavier than before. “Miss Prudent?”

“I am sorry, Miss Cassidy! I didn’t mean to wander off here. I—“ The professor raises her finger and shuts her off. She looks back at where they both came from. “Let’s get out of here before they see you.” She drags Patricia out of the forest and to the safe premises of the school. Cassidy was unusually quiet in their whole trip to the class building they were supposed to train her control on. As they arrived, she shuts the door eagerly close.

“Are you feeling anything?” She immediately asked, which caught Patricia off-guard. “As far as I’m aware, I don’t…” She whimpers, “I am really sorry, Miss Cassidy. I am sure you will take disciplinary action against me.”

“Of course, I will. Do you know how dangerous that area is especially for a student like you? You are already experiencing an uncontrolled outburst of magic. If the sudden of the essence of magic is your problem, you just made it worse for yourself.” Patricia looks at the ground, feeling ashamed of what she did. “I am sorry, Miss Cassidy. I don’t know what went on me. I kept getting more and more curious as I took one step in the forest. It feels like something was calling me from beyond.”

Cassidy sighs, “It’s just your curiosity, especially that Mrs. Gerville hasn’t discussed the Monadentro with you. Are you sure you aren’t feeling anything?” Patricia shakes her head, “None that I am aware of. Rather I feel refreshed than hurt, as you seemingly imply.”

“I saw myself that you touched the Singularity, the very concentration of every matter, of every element. If someone touched that thing, especially without prior contact, you will be ill for days. It’s a pure element and the elements that are surrounding it as well.” Miss Stanton sighs, “If you are feeling unwell, please say it to me. Don’t say it to anyone unless I say it. You are too new in the school to have a big punishment. Miss Bethel-Craith will also be disappointed in me.”

“I will, Miss Cassidy. Again, I am sorry.” Cassidy looks at her, “I’m just concerned for you, Patricia. Please don’t go there unless you are under the supervision of someone who knows more than you. The forest is littered with elemental creatures as well, both vicious and tame. If we aren’t with you that time, you will be in great danger.”

“I appreciate your concern, Miss Cassidy, but as I promise, I will never do it again.” Cassidy’s lips curved a bit, “I will be expecting that attitude from now on. You’re a fragile case, Patricia. Don’t make it hard for us both.” She sighs, “I guess it’s fine. Keep me updated to your situation. Anyway, if you’re still fine, I guess a training is really a must now.”

They decided to go back in the Valiantry classroom wherein they continued their special class. “The very principle of conjugating and manipulating elements is for you to have a deep connection with your inner self and a control of your emotion.” Cassidy opens up her palm which summoned leaves atop it, swirling around in a circle. “If your inner self is chaotic and your emotions are uncontrolled, your elemental power will reflect it.” The leaves started to swirl around rapidly as if it was blasted by a powerful wind. Cassidy closes her hands that made them disintegrate into nothingness.

“You need to connect with your inner self as well to command elements. Your core is what conjures the elements, you are the commander, and your body is the tool in bringing this elemental prowess into reality. In my class, I will teach you how to summon and conjure elements, but I think an advanced study wouldn’t hurt for you.”

Patricia nods as she watches her professor conjure leaves once more but around her body. “When do you summon your crystals? What situations you were most in when you conjure them into reality?”

“When… I am scared or angry… The first time I summoned crystals was a defense mechanism against my classmates back on Earth. They were bullying me for my hand, I just pushed them and suddenly, crystals appeared.” Cassidy nods, “I believe this is also an effect of the sudden release of magic on Earth. If it weren’t for it, I believe you couldn’t conjure them in any way. I don’t blame you for not having a connection with your magic core, I believe that you don’t know it, do you?”

Patricia nods, “It was kept secret by my father and grandmother, I just knew it when… I almost killed my father.” She feels her eyes swelling in tears and her hand caressing her back.” “Do you need a moment, Patricia?” The young lady looks at her and wipes the tears that were on her eyes. “No, we could continue. I am sorry for suddenly crying.”

“It’s fine, Patricia. You could go on if that frees your heart from the pain. I am here to listen for you.” Patricia insisted, “Let’s continue, Miss Cassidy. I believe this is just a waste of time that is supposed to be allowed for my training. I am fine.” Her professor nods, “Very well. Based on my observations, most of your encounters that are seemingly on Earth are because of your disconnection with your magic core. Even you have a natural connection, it only resonates with your emotions but not your conscience. For example, in your encounter earlier, you are passionate about saving someone which triggered your core’s fighting sense.”

“So, it means, those crystals were meant to hurt someone?” Cassidy shakes her head, “Whether an element that is conjured an attack, defense, or just anything, in particular, it’s up to the holder of said elements how they will use it. I could summon soft-edge leaves and make it my offense, your input makes the difference.”

“So it’s really my fault that I have done those things.” Cassidy holds her shoulder, “You have not yet fully connected with your magic core, both of you two have vague communications with each other. The magic core just did its thing, and you did what you thought was right, it’s just things didn’t come out that well. Today, we will fix that. I will show you a technique that’s used to achieve tranquility, Pyrinas Zen.”

“What is that? Some sort of meditation?” Cassidy nods, “Exactly. This meditation has been used to connect with your inner self and even used to regenerate your energy without any substances to aid in doing so.”