Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

In Too Deep

Patricia turns her head as she heard the soft and gentle voice that she was familiar with. She saw Antonietta looking at her, quite concerned. “You don’t look well, what’s wrong?” She sits beside Patricia who sighs, “I am fine, it’s just that… I have caused another commotion again for the second day in my first year. Now, what will sihsih think of me? Some kind of an ungrateful brat?” She sighs once more.

“Why? What happened?” Patricia looks at her, “I…” She looks at her hand that she shows to Antonietta. The latter became more concerned, “Why? People laugh at you because of that?”

Patricia shakes her head, “It was all in my head. I don’t know but what happened earlier felt so real.” Antonietta tilts her head a bit, “What do you mean?” The blonde girl rests her cheeks on her palms, “I… remembered everything that happened before, once more. This time, it was much more exaggerated… and much more scary than I remembered it before.”

“Mind if you say what happened before?” Patricia sighs, “It was in my middle school. A former friend of mine discovered the secret that this hand. I don’t know why, she suddenly turned against me for some unknown reasons and started spreading the fact that I have this hand. I thought I could trust her, but she made the most terrifying day of my life. Everyone laughing at me, saying I’m a monster. My poor young self can’t handle that before, even me who has grown up now.”

Antonietta rubs her back, comforting her. “I… I sympathize with you. It must be hard for you to get through that.” Patricia sighs, “I know it’s hard, but I think I should have kept it in me. It’s not much of a reason to break down in the middle of a class.”

“Oh, are you the one people have been talking about? Where did that happen? The Elemental Theories class?” Patricia sighs, “Another one spreading throughout the school. My future doesn’t really look bright right now.” Antonietta comforts her, “Hey, don’t worry. Your future here isn’t affected by these.”

“It is. I will be considered a delinquent by our teachers, and an oddball to our classmates. I thought I will be happier here.” Antonietta sighs, “I am sure you could still take those back and replace them with something good. For example, excelling in one of the subjects. That could make them a little less wary of you. And if something’s bothering you, don’t be afraid to approach me. You have done it to me, I think it’s my time again to repay you once more.”

“You don’t have to.” Antonietta was puzzled by this answer, “W-why? T-this is what friends are for, they say, right? Am I being too… uhm… Friendly?” Patricia looks at her and smiles, “There’s no such thing as being too friendly. It’s just I don’t want to become a burden to you. Besides, I am sure this will all pass.”

A sudden pain strikes her forehead that makes her groan a bit and touch it on instinct. “Hey, are you okay?” Patricia looks at Antonietta, “Just a little headache. It will go away. It must have been with all of the thinking I have done earlier. That didn’t end up well for me.” Patricia sighs as she tinkers with the equipment in front of her. She changes the topic with Antonietta and talks with her until their professor shows up in their classroom.

“I am Professor Sigric Bernell, and I am your professor for Practical Potionry.” Patricia fixated her gaze on him, he was a man with long hair, reaching his shoulder. He’s pasty pale and quite tall, even taller than Professor Rohan. He also has a silk fabric on his shoulder, which she has seen on Professor Gerville and some students in the academy.

They started their lesson after a quick introduction of themselves. They were taught the basics of potions and other introductory information. Their first activity was creating every base of the potion that will be a catalyst for many advanced ones. With the help of Antonietta, she was able to grasp the gist of the potion-making in this world.

“You are quite… what they say a ‘connoisseur’ on potion brewing.” Antonietta flushes, “That’s quite a big word for someone like me. I am just knowing of these potions and their techniques. It’s quite a curriculum back at my place. As a nation that has double the amount of known potion herbs than the nation which has people that have prowess on herbs themselves, it’s the main thing in our school. Besides, I quite like brewing things. With my father’s knowledge, I can brew some beverages out of some plants and fruits.”

“That’s cool! I would try some in the future.” Antonietta smiles, “Thank you for your compliment.” After the professor checked their finished products, they were dismissed early. Antonietta shifts to Patricia, “Hey, after lunch, want to go somewhere?”

“Sure. Where is it?” Antonietta smiles, “You’ll know when you get there. I hope you will find that place as calming as I perceive it to be.” Patricia was quite puzzled about what this place was, but she got to be patient for her to go there. They went to buy lunch and searched for Gabriel who has already reserved some seats for them.

“Greetings, girls! How have we been doing today?” Gabriel looks at Patricia and notices something’s wrong. “You don’t look so bubbly today. What happened?” He looks at both of the young ladies in front of him. Antonietta looks at Patricia who took a deep breath. Patricia decided to relay what happened earlier to Gabriel.

“Oh, that’s most terrifying! Never knew nightmares could haunt you in daylight. Which means, I need to be careful of mine.” Antonietta sighs, “Her nightmare is in front of her.” Gabriel looks at her hand, “I know you have endured a lot of things with that hand, but if you are going to ask me, that looks so snazzy.”

Patricia smiles a bit, “You think so?” Gabriel chuckles, “You don’t even need to get some of those nail extensions to get that sassy gal look in your hand. Besides, that hand looks like something you should not mess with. Does it punch like a rock?”

Antonietta glares at him, trying to imply to be careful with his words. “Don’t look at me like that, Anne.” Patricia looks at her and holds her hand, “Don’t worry, Anne. I feel much more at ease that you don’t take this seriously. You know yourself that all my life, I have always seen this hand as something I always need to hide. Knowing you are both comfortable seeing it makes me happy. I am not getting offended at all.”

“That’s nice to hear from you. I don’t want you to experience what happened before to you.” Patricia smiles, “You are quite concerned, aren’t you?” She chuckles, “I appreciate that.” They talk and talk until their food is finished. “You are still tensed up, are you?” Antonietta looks at her. Patricia sighs and nods in admittance, even though she’s hesitant to do so. “Come with me, maybe I can help you calm yourself down.” Gabriel looks at her, “Where are we going?” Antonietta giggles, “To my tranquility.”

They arrived at a place that has a different scenery than most areas of the school. There was a building built as if imitating coral fans and thin seashells. It was surrounded by clear sparkling water. Students were occasionally found around the place, sitting around the benches and there are even some dipping their feet in the water.

“What is this place?” Patricia looks in awe. “It looks so out of place than the other places here in the school.” Gabriel looks around, comparing it with the several buildings they have passed through.”

“This is the school’s Sanctuary of Aenon, the god supervising the calm and turbulent waters alike.” Gabriel looks at her, “I am sorry to say this, but I am not interested in joining.” Antonietta shakes her head, “I am not going to recruit you to the religion. Besides, it is Aenon who will call you, not me.” She looks at the building, “I just brought you here to share the place where I run to when my emotions are heavy.”

They approached the place, they were robed people around which unusually long hair, even the masculine-looking ones. “Aside from the feeling of Aenon’s presence, the sanctuary in the school captures the tranquility of ones back at my home.”

Patricia looks around, the bright color and the fantasy vibe of the place sent chills on her spine. “Anyone is accepted here as long as you are willing to respect the sanctuary’s tranquility. That’s why it’s a great place to meditate or just rest your weary mind. It’s also a great place too for your eyes to have a break from the monotonous sight of the school.”

Patricia approaches the water. It was crystal clear, she can see her reflection among the fishes that were happy living here. “I already went around the school, and I never stumbled in this place. In all places, why is it here?”

Antonietta shrugs, “It might have been the most solitary of all places. Sanctuaries should not be in places where the loudness of human voices will be heard. I guess a park for it outside the school will be good. It’s far enough from the market anyway.”

“You know what, this place is great. Even with my attitude earlier, what’s up with this Aenon god of yours?” Antonietta sits on the bench, “As I said, Aenon is the god of waters, one of the gods that gave humanity that endeared them the power of elements. But we treat him more than one of the gods who give us elemental magic. Aenon is our guidance in life. Ae taught our ancestors to be always calm, that tranquility of mind could solve anything and prevent worse of it from happening.”

“Yeah, it speaks how much you say tranquility in minutes.” Gabriel looks around, “Do your temples need to be ocean-themed all around?” Antonietta shakes her head, “First off, sanctuaries are different from our temples. Sanctuaries are much smaller compared to temples. Besides, temples should not be outside the boundaries of the Ros regions. Sanctuaries are much more casual than temples, that’s why everyone is allowed to go here if they can respect its tranquility. Second, no, they don’t need to be one. The school was just generous to build it as if we are back at my home. It helps some of the Rossians like me to get over our homesickness.”

Patricia was still staring at the reflection of hers in the water as her friends are having a chattered among themselves. She touches the water with her fingers and raises it slowly. A crystal formed as she was playing with it. Antonietta was right, she now feels at ease.

Her mind went blank in the tranquility of the space around her, so much so that she didn’t notice her friends joined her. “How are you?” Patricia looks at Antonietta, who was smiling, a smile of victory in her book. “Thank you,” Patricia smiles, “This was calming indeed. Just looking at the fishes eased my mind.”

“My mother said that these fishes are called Promoter of Peace. Everyone who witnesses their movements will have their mind wiped out of any turbulence it has. I really don’t believe most of it, but watching fishes swim is such a calming sight to see.” Gabriel smiles, “I am glad that you are back in your good mood, Pat. Anne here knew what you wanted all along.”

They stayed there until Patricia decided it was the time she needed to go to her special class now. Her friends bid their farewell to her as she heads to the Valiantry classroom. As she arrive, she saw Miss Cassidy talking to quite a familiar student.