Pristine Academy: Singularity's Manifestation

Unexpected Familiarity

Patricia walks closer, recognizing the student. It was none other than Veronika herself. During their last encounters, she was a bit shy to walk up to them at this moment, but she insisted.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” Cassidy took notice of Patricia approaching them, “Oh, Patricia, I didn’t see you there.” Patricia looks at Veronika, “I didn’t know she needs some special training as well.” Her Pristinity professor was quite surprised they were acquainted, “You know Miss Gilmartin? That’s great news!”

“We are roommates, Miss Cassidy. I supposed it will be rude not to get acquainted with someone you will be sharing your living space with for a year.” Cassidy smiles, “That’s even better! It’s a great start for your return to study once more. Schooling is lonely if you don’t have any friends, Veronika. A companion will be great now and then. I am sure that Catrin would love to see you again.”

Veronika’s face changed to a much more bitter one, “I am sure that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.” Her tone tells much. “Anyway, I need to go now, it has been quite a conversation with you Miss Cassidy. I don’t want to interfere with your class with Miss Prudent here.”

Cassidy smiles, “Take care and good luck!” Veronika takes her to leave. The professor looks at Patricia, “Could you do me a favor, Patricia?” Patricia looks at her professor, quite puzzled by this sudden question. “What is it, Miss Cassidy?” She and her professor entered the classroom, “I need you to look out for Veronika.” Patricia bites her lip, “I am planning to do it before you even said a single word about it, Miss Cassidy. The thing is… I can feel with her vibes that she doesn’t want anyone interfering with anything she does. Every time that I tried to talk to her, she seems uninterested. She seems quite aggressive to me sometimes, but her calm yet mysterious demeanor masks it. However, I can still feel that she doesn’t want to be friends with me anytime soon.”

“That kid has gone through some things, like a lot of things. I can’t blame her if she’s acting like that.” Cassidy sighs, “I can’t always be by her side, even that’s my duty as your secondary guardian. I want to make her feel safe especially now that she has returned. She’s a tough young lady, I see that through her, but people could only handle some things. Just like me, I could only protect her stay here, but I can’t protect her anywhere else, especially her emotional vulnerability.”

Cassidy looks away from her and started walking around, “Even she’s prepared with what will she encounter once more, I’m afraid that no one is mentally and emotionally strong enough to just endure it all. Even someone who has been through a lot, no ordinary human could handle loneliness and doubt in the world and oneself all at once for a long period. A friend will be suitable for her, someone that she could lean onto. Someone that could be with her through the hardships she’s enduring and will experience sooner or later. Since you guys are already roommates, I think you will be perfect for the task.”

“I will try, Miss Cassidy. It’s just… if she stopped pushing me away, I could do that quickly as possible.” Cassidy smiles, “Don’t worry, the tough shell she’s in will open up for you. It’s just she’s cautious after everything that has happened to her. I understand that her trust would not be for everyone, given the events before this day. You can take the time that you needed to open yourself up to more. She can’t stay locking her true self from the world. I know she doesn’t want to, and she doesn’t plan to do it herself. She said it already that if she just didn’t want the best future for herself, she wouldn’t be coming back in here.”

“Why does she not want to come back? Is there something that’s still bothering her in school? Maybe I could take care of it.” Cassidy chuckles, “You’re a brave and a kind woman, Patricia, but I am afraid you can’t handle it by yourself. Even I, a teacher who has the greater ability to do an intervention, could only do so much. I am afraid it’s not enough for her to have at least a good stay here. A lot of things I don’t want to happen again are bound to happen, even with the power I have in my hands. She said that she could handle it. I trust her but as I said, people could only take some until they’ve reached their limits. That’s why I am entrusting you to at least try to soften her hardened heart. If there’s anyone who could relate more than me, it’s someone that’s almost the same age as her.”

“I understand, Miss Cassidy, but won’t you mind telling me what happened to her?” Cassidy sighs, “I think it’s best if the news comes from the one who experienced it, not from someone who barely knows everything about it. I was just there to listen to her thoughts, but as secretive as she is, I don’t know everything for you to fully understand her. I also don’t want to tell you something that she might not want anyone to know rather the ones who she trusted the most. Besides, we got a training to do, don’t we?”

“Right,” Patricia takes a deep breath, “Sorry for the sideline, Miss Cassidy.” Cassidy giggles as her eyes land on her hand. She was quite surprised by the sight of it. “I… I am sorry, I don’t have any concealing cream that my sihsih’s providing me.” Patricia tries to hide it as Cassidy touches her shoulder. “You don’t need to. It’s just, that I am surprised to see an Arthean that’s also a hybrid. However, you also said you are in possession of a concealing cream, which makes sense.”

“Why, Miss Cassidy?” The professor looks at her, “Hybrids are the ones who are in most danger on Earth. The extra flair they have in their body makes them not suited to be exposed to unwary humans. That’s why most of the hybrids are forced to not visit the other side by the law itself. Thinking your grandmother works at the CoIC before makes it clear that your family line seems to be a special case.”

“CoIC? I have heard that before. The Commission of International Connection?” Cassidy giggles, “Close enough, it’s Interworld, rather than International. You are already aware of your grandmother’s occupation, huh?” Patricia shakes her head, “Actually, no. I only have heard it from you. I never heard from sihsih about what she works as before. Thinking of it, I never asked her either…”

Cassidy smiles, “Your grandmother was a former worker there, from one of the office workers to the very head of the commission.” Patricia’s mouth agape in awe, “Wait, how did you even know my grandmother, Miss Cassidy? My surname is far from different from theirs.”

“From the moment I saw you, you are resembling quite a familiar figure that I am very a big fan of. After hearing from Mrs. Bethel-Craith about your problem and as your teacher, I need to know you more. The Vice-Chancellor didn’t even hesitate to tell me all about you. There I know that you were the daughter of the late Cexillia Johnstone.”

Patricia’s much brighter demeanor gets dimmer, “L-late?” Cassidy noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere. “I am sorry if I said something that made you down.” Patricia sighs, “It’s just… I am still expecting to find my mother here. For years, I never really believed that she was dead until I saw her grave.” Cassidy holds her shoulder, comforting her.

Patricia looks at her, “You know my mother, Miss Cassidy?” Cassidy smiles, “I am quite embarrassed that I know your mother so well, well in my perspective. You can tell I’m a fan of hers.” She chuckles, “She was my former mentor when she was given the opportunity to teach for a while in the academy. It was a rare opportunity since she only taught us for a year before she decided to leave. She was the second-in-command in the Anadiomeni Army, the very army where most Pristines that signed up to be legionnaires are sent. An army on which called upon when the soldiers of other nations can’t hold a threat any longer. She was a known lady in her times, both when she was a student and a server of Thereal.”

“She was a general… in an army. Is that how she died?” Cassidy’s demeanor changed, and she sighs, “Your mother was a great general, both her fierceness in battle and kindness to her troops are well-known. It’s only a matter of time before we will be stripped of a great warrior and a leader.”

“Could you tell me more about her?” Cassidy looks at her, “I only know much, Patricia. All I can say is that you have a great mother, Patricia. After all, Johnstones are very well-known in the academy for decades. Your mother just lived up to her name.”

It puts a lot of pressure on Patricia all of the sudden. The professor noticed the change of mood on Patricia’s face. “Don’t worry, you don’t need to ‘live up’ to their legacy. It’s fine that you can’t catch up with them. I am sure your sihsih won’t be mad if you don’t do excellently.”

“I will still try to be the best, Miss Cassidy. Besides, I don’t want to go home to my sihsih empty-handed. I know she’s expecting me to do well with the packages that she sent to me.” Cassidy smiles, “Whatever your decision is, I will support you, but you shouldn’t be overworking yourself. Don’t be pressured to do that, do it because you feel that it will bring happiness to you.”

Patricia smiles, “Making my sihsih and my mother proud makes me happy, even one of them is already somewhere I don’t know. I hope she’s watching me going to the same school as her.” Cassidy smiles, “I like your determination and confidence, Patricia. You have been like that since the very first day we met. With a lot of these things happening to you, don’t let it change your demeanor. That’s what makes you shine among the students I am teaching.”

Patricia was enlightened, her teacher was right. She shouldn’t be supposed to be affected by a lot of these. She nods merrily, “I will take that in mind, Miss Cassidy.” Her professor smiles, “By the way, how are you feeling this day? Have you felt anything strange?”

“Well, I am sure you know this by now, but it’s not related to the Singularity thing you are saying, Miss Cassidy. I just had a panic episode earlier at Elemental Theories class.” Cassidy sighs, “As Sir Itscali reported, Mrs. Bethel-Craith told him to let you pass. As usual, the professor was quite annoyed by that. He really doesn’t like students slipping punishments when it’s due. It’s quite disrespectful for him to stop his class for things he deemed to be unimportant.” She sighs once more, “I think he needs to be much more sympathetic to his students.”

“I thought it was just me, Miss Cassidy.” She shakes her head, “No, it’s not you, Patricia. He has been like that. Anyways, I think we’re due to training now, no?” Patricia nods as they went on with their training. Patricia was still failing to do what Miss Cassidy is telling her to do. The professor calls for another meeting regarding her performance today.

“I think you’re just tired. Rest is due for you.” Patricia went home after she was dismissed. She spent her whole afternoon training herself alone. Night came and her roommate came home as well. Patricia looks at her and didn’t hesitate to approach her, “Hey, could we talk for a moment?”