Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

Unnecessary Grudge

Patricia suddenly gripped the polearm and looked around her surroundings. Nothing seems out of the ordinary nor any crystals that she might have summoned in the process. The burst of happiness she got just made her anxious once more, being careful not to get carried away again. She sighs and placed the bottom of the polearm on the ground, calming herself down.

“Are you okay, Pat?” She looks at Gabriel with a big great sword on his shoulder. It was engraved with exquisite and intricate patterns, fancy like him from the very head to its shaft. . It was very based on the symbols of the air-based regions, and even the weapon fades out of existent on the tip, forming an air-like sharp tip. Her eyes widen in shock, it’s almost as tall as her. “You can carry that thing on one shoulder?” He snickers, “Yeah, it’s not that heavy, just a little bit. Although, it will be a workout to swing around this thing. I would prefer a normal sword, but I guess I will get along with this big boy sooner or later.” He settled it down on the ground, resting the tip on it.

Patricia looks at Antonietta who summoned a whip on her hand. Not just one but two, one for both of her hands. “I think your weapons will be much more suitable for battle. Mine is quite more of a t*****e device rather than a lethal device. The weapons you have are more interesting than mine.”

“Yours is interesting as well. It’s quite a flexible weapon because all of these big things do is smash enemies into pieces. Yours could be versatile.” Antonietta shyly smiles, “I never held a whip until now. My father only taught me the Rossian sword arts, the Maile Art. Well, it’s much more of machete arts rather than a sword. There are different swords in the regions, and they call ours machete for some reason.” She sighs, “I guess that’s a knowledge I would not be able to execute.”

“I am sure you could still use other weapons. I think Professor Rohan just recommended this to us to use our potential at its highest. When there are struggling times, maybe you could use a sword—well, machete—rather than a whip.” Antonietta nods, “But, he guesses wrong. Shouldn’t he question our background with weapons?” She sighs, “But you’re right, albeit it would be hard for me to summon yet another weapon in the middle of the battle, a new one even.”

“Is everyone done summoning their weapons?” The class nods pleased with the professor. “I am glad you all managed it even with a few others who had some problems along the way. This is not just the weapons you will summon in the future nor battle tools, that is. So, make sure to learn yourselves how to do every type of weapon.” The sound of students groaning made the professor glare at them. They shut themselves as they focused on the lesson.

“I should advise you not to restrict yourselves on my recommendations, I only based it on your body types and some few skills. If you found yourself fond of another weapon other than your current weapon or even want to wield two, go ahead, I will not stop you. Although, you should be prepared to study everything I will tell you and even demonstrate it to me.”

Patricia looks at Antonietta, “There’s your answer.” Antonietta smiles, “I’ll try my best on the whip first. Having multiple knowledge on weapons doesn’t hurt anybody. Well, it does hurt, but—“ She shakes her head as she realizes what she have said, “Nevermind!” She decides to shut herself for the rest of the class.

“I should also tell you that summoning your weapons would take time and some ounce of your energy. Although, the more you summon it, the less it will cost you. Since your core is already used to its nature and form, it will also take less time to get it. In adventures, it’s advised to always have your weapon ready. Summoning it in existence during a sudden fight or ambush is never a good place to start with. Although, since you are in a safe place, I would not advise you to be seen wielding a weapon outside of this building. Such actions will give you a ticket to the guidance or even the chancellor’s office. Also, I will be held accountable for it as well. I trust you all to be the young adults that you are and be responsible and mature. Are we understanding clearly?”

They all nod in clearance. “Very well. I am sure that one of the teachers yesterday has already mentioned the event tomorrow. Since the weekly duel that I and Professor Cassidy have planned will be postponed to give way to the one-time activities tomorrow, I will not rush you all today to learn some fighting techniques. I believe you all have some books on you, so I suggest for you train among yourselves for the rest of the time.”

His eyes gazed on Veronika, “People such as Miss Gilmartin could help you get the basics, especially those who wield blunt weapons. I want you all to get the idea of how to fight with your weapons so that the next Tuesday, you will have some clue on what techniques you will be following as I teach you all. It’s also the time to learn about yourselves and what techniques that are said in the book will be comfortable for you. There are training dummies behind the door there. For now, class dismissed.”

“I think we could train on the weekends. My back is quite strained, I must have rested on it not so comfortably last night.” Gabriel puts his weapon away as he stretches. “We could go back to the cafe Miss Cassidy has recommended to us. There are more teas for me to try, and also coffee.”

They all agreed and spent the 30-minute break in the cafe and returned to their school. Patricia went to her Elemental Theories class. When she and her professor met eyes, Patricia feels that her professor isn’t forgiving her yet the last time she was in his class. He ignores her as she takes her seat. She looks at her gloved hand once more, the more she doesn’t think about it, the less she worries about it.

She still can’t get the gloves out of her hand. The sight of it reminds everything that she has experienced before, and she wants none of it. It’s the sight of horrors, a crystal that mirrors all of her fears, attached to her body. She shivers. She sets her hand aside and distracts herself from anything within the room. She needn’t wait as the class starts exactly at 9:30 a.m. She sighs in relief, she doesn’t need to think more about it.

“Good morning, class.” The professor greeted them and they returned it before taking a seat once more. “Today, we will understand the thing that holds Thereal together, Singularity.” Patricia bolts her head up, looking at the front. She has heard it again, she doesn’t know whether learning about it is better or worse for her sanity.

“Singularity is known to hold every element that gives the natural order of the two worlds. That’s why it is named singularity. Everything, even the element of time, that hasn’t been within an entity like us, is there. It’s also the core of the magical half of Earth.”

Patricia was confused, if her homeworld is called Earth, then this is earth as well? She was puzzled and can’t help to ask. “Sir,” she called him rather politely given the situation she had before with him. The professor looks at her, “What? You will make a show in my class again? Go ahead, go outside.”

Patricia’s motivation dimmed, he’s someone who holds a lot of unnecessary grudges. “No, sir.” She gulps, “I’ve just got a question to ask… about your subject.” She immediately added the last one before she got countered by an immature adult in front of her. “Go ahead,” he said calmly which made Patricia feel a little bit more at ease. “I am from Earth, or at least what you call my homeworld. But you said that Thereal is half of Earth?”

The professor laughs, “An uneducated Arthean Armentiel.” Patricia was forced to sit on her chair, it was just an innocent question. She sighs, calming her nerves down. She doesn’t want to make an enemy with a teacher today. “Thereal and Earth are just on the same planet they call their Earth and here Erde. Thereal is just the magical half of Earth, understood?” Patricia nods her head while looking down, “Good, I don’t want questions for things that you can understand and obvious. Moving on.”

Patricia clenches her fist, “What’s wrong with this professor?” “Who talked?” Their professor called her out, and she shuts herself up. She might have thought out loud, too loud for her own good. She kept silent as the professor decided to continue.

“As I was saying, Singularity is very important for Thereal. Without it, everything will fall down for us, an apocalyptic event, I can say. That’s why it’s being held by the oldest tree whose roots go in every corner of Thereal, guarded by the best and accomplished Wardens, and protected by the most prestigious school. Losing the Singularity means losing Thereal as well and ourselves. It’s not just the magic core of our world, it’s our external magic core as well.”

One student spoke, “But it is recently getting destroyed or something and the magic is leaking on the Artheans’ world. Is there an apocalypse on due?” The professor laughs, but this time, much more genuine and not mockery, unlike what he did to Patricia. “It’s not something for you all to have a problem on. Besides, the Wardens have already fixed the problem before. You needn’t worry about the Singularity. Well, you need to, but don’t hyper-fixate yourself on that. It’s already fine, and I hope we work together to help it stay and grow even more.”

Patricia snickers silently, she knows it’s not fixed yet. At least the last time she wandered over there. But to grant the promise she had with Miss Cassidy, she decided not to rat on Professor Izkall and make him the one who’s embarrassed in front of the class. It would be a great payback, but she will be in debt afterward to Miss Cassidy.

“As it holds all the elements, it also radiates other elements. That’s why most of the Wardens that guard it are specially trained for matters like these. Being exposed to the Singularity is not good for the human body, as we are not the entity fit for it to live. We are not eternal, we are reliant on everything, we are not resistant enough for it, and it would battle against the magic core that we have in ourselves. It would literally eat us until we are weak enough that it could cause death. That’s one of the risks of being a Warden, and the ones who are worthy enough to be one are the only ones who are currently holding such a title. Having such power as well on a sentient entity like us who lives in greed, it’s a dangerous power to have.”

Patricia feels like she’s listening to a prophecy of her death. She decided to distract herself and after not too long, her class ended. After that, her day went smoother than in that class. If only Elemental Theories have a much more mature teacher.

She rested well for tomorrow’s event. She woke up merrily and ate her breakfast with most of the students chattering about the event that was going to happen today. Patricia decided to eavesdrop on one of them.

“Hey, do you know that Veronika Gilmartin girl will perform for the intermission today?”