Patricia raises her eyebrow, Veronika's tone change. It was new for her. Even with a day of them being roommates, it's a change for Veronika to have a slightly happier tone than what she's used to.
"I am glad that I am up on your standards, Miss Gilmartin." Veronika didn't say anything which made Patricia retract any more jokes to her. She decided to ignore her for the rest of the night. It was not easy for her, but for Veronika, it's simple as eating. Her roommate slept at 10 am where Patricia decided to have more of me-time for her on her desk.
The next morning, Patricia immediately prepared herself after she woke up. Like yesterday, Veronika seems out of their room already. She combs her hair while looking at the mirror. Her sight wanders towards her crystal hand. She stopped for a bit and stared at it for a while. On the vanity desk were her fingerless gloves and her bag. She bites her lip and takes a deep breath.
She takes a look at her hand again, the overwhelming feeling surges to her. She can't take it. Patricia immediately grabs the cream her grandmother gave to her and applied it to her hand. She watches it slowly become the normal hand that she's used to. It feels so wrong yet so right for her, but she can't still stand standing in the public with her true hands exposed. She was just used to it.
Patricia takes a deep breath and grabs her things. She exited her dorm and headed towards the school. This time, there was no gathering, she was on her own. She immediately referred to the map they were given by the school and finds the Valiantry class. She remembers it was the building she and Miss Cassidy met and almost did their special class.
She started walking towards the said building until she bumped into someone. It was enough for her to fall on the ground. "I am sorry!" A familiar voice said as she was helped up. Patricia looks up and saw a familiar person. Strawberry blonde hair swept to the side, a pale complexion, and green eyes. "Hey, Patricia, am I right?" She looks at the familiar young man in front of her, "Gabriel?"
Gabriel nods, "Yes!" He chuckles, "What a small world! I never thought I will find you in this school." Patricia looks around, "This is the school that you were talking about back on the ferry?" He proudly nods, "I never expected for you to be in this school as well. I am sorry that this is how we met again, I was a bit in a hurry. Sir Rohan asked me to retrieve something from his desk. He sounds like he wants me to hurry so I am running."
"Is it heavy? I could help you?" Gabriel shakes his head, "It's not. It's just a pouch of his that might have some important things on it. Some of the class is already there so he thinks it will be a bit of a hassle to go all the way here to get a small item."
"Sir Rohan… Is he the Valiantry teacher?" He nods, "Specifically the magical valiantry. Why you asked?" "I'm going to his class, maybe I could accompany you? I'm going there and there's still some time to take some detour."
"Sure! We are classmates even. This is going to be fun." They went and retrieved the pouch that their professor needed. They head their way to the valiantry class where some of the students and the teacher himself are already present.
The said teacher was a tall man, tan in complexion, and have jet-black hair that was formally combed on the side. He almost looks like he's going to a meeting rather than a class that requires some sweat to be sweated.
"Ah, Mr. Harpington, thank you for retrieving this. Such an excellent young man." A beam of smile was plastered on Sir Rohan's face. "You two shall go and take a seat now. The class is about to start if you are all complete." Gabriel looks at Patricia, "Hey, do you want to sit with me?" She gladly obliged and sits beside him.
In her eyes, she caught not one but two familiar figures. A braided girl with glasses was sitting just a few seats apart from them. It was Antonietta, looking around, trying to entertain herself with the surroundings. Just a few seats adjacent from her, she can see the short-haired girl with the familiar bored face. Veronika was just staring ahead blankly, waiting for the class to start.
"Where are you looking?" Patricia looks at Gabriel, "Ah, I've just seen familiar faces. Could someone join us with our seat?" He chuckles, "Of course, my friend's friend is also my friend. I would love to get acquainted with more people here."
She looks in the direction where Antonietta was and called her, "Antonietta!" The brunette girl looks in their direction and was surprised to see Patricia. The blonde girl gestures her to come to them which Antonietta did. "Hi, I didn't expect for us to be classmates here."
"Hello there, little shy girl. My name's Gabriel. I see you're friends with Patricia here, and I thought I might as well to be acquainted with you." He offers his hand which Antonietta reluctantly accepted. "Why are you so hesitant?"
"She's just like that." Antonietta nods, "I am just surprised to have someone get interested in me especially in this school. Are you a local here?" Gabriel shakes his head, "No, I am from Earth, just like Patricia here. We actually met on a boat towards here. Both of us didn't expect to be in the same school."
"I actually saw you in our Pristinity class." Gabriel looks so offended, "Then why didn't say so! We could've been acquainted at the very first day of our class." He sighs, "It's better late than never. At least this time, I have a bonus friend." Antonietta joins them. While they were talking, Patricia couldn't help to notice that Veronika was glancing at them occasionally. She bites her lip, thinking about what to do in this situation. Before she could have her final decision, the class started.
"Good morning, student." Their professor's voice was much more amplified than what she heard before. "Welcome to your Magical Valiantry class, and I, Professor Rohan Néill, will be your mentor for your whole first-year experience." He smiles at them, "In this class, you will learn how to use your elemental ability to fight against those who oppressed you." His hands wave around as lava figures started to appear around him. It was people fighting and defeating what was supposed to be the bad guys.
"Don't worry, even if you have a different element as me, you will be deliberately taught how to properly use every ability Pristines known to have." He started to imitate the four main elements with the lava goo that he has summoned. "Because it is said even in our school motto to fight and even lead for excellence. Are you all ready?"
Few students eagerly said yes, "I didn't hear you." Others joined that made a resounding yes on the crowd of students around the place. "Very good. I like that energy. That's the type I want in my class."
As per usual, the class started with an introduction of themselves. They went one by one, introducing themselves to their classmates and their professor. Patricia did very well and even she didn't show her element like the others, their professor was distracted with her energetic attitude to even notice it.
Patricia goes back to her seat feeling more confident than ever. Gabriel and Antonietta cheered for her. Veronika goes to the center which in her face, she looks like she doesn't want to be a part of all of this. "Smile, young lady. You look more beautiful if you do." Veronika sighs silently and started her introduction. "Good morning, my name's Veronika Gilmartin. My element is under the fire element, magma." She summons around her some molten magma, it looks scary especially paired with her face.
"Veronika Gilmartin…" Mr. Rohan mumbled, "Miss Veronika… are you the Veronika Gilmartin that have attended the school before?" She seems uneasy to answer this, but she decided to answer anyway. "Yes," she said rather uninterestingly. Their professor nods, "That's why your name and your face seem rather familiar." He giggles, "You have changed a lot! Your hair seems a lot shorter than we first met, and your demeanor seems a lot more… how do I say this?"
Veronika sighs, "I am aware, Sir Rohan." Her tone was enough to signal the professor to stop asking her and just nods, "Very well, I hope your skills and performance never changed. Thank you for introducing and joining us once more. Next!"
Veronika goes back to her seat. Even being uneasy with the question, her bored facial expression remains. It leads to Patricia staring at her occasionally, observing what she's feeling after that.
"I didn't know that your roommate is possibly older than us. She might be even a repeater." Antonietta commented. "How could you fail in a school like this? If anything, they will just train you more." Gabriel joined in. Patricia sighs, "Let's have some respect and not talk about her when she's just some distance away. I don't want to get kicked out of my dorm room. She's as stern as you are thinking she is."
Both of her newly found friends shut their mouths and continued to listen to their class introduction. As they fixated their attention back in the center, a familiar ginger girl approached the center. "Nice meeting you everyone," the annoying voice Patricia was familiar with started talking. "I am Vivian Bethel-Craith, 17 years of age." She swirled a small fire wisp on her finger.
"The very daughter of the Vice-Chancellor. It was an exciting moment for you to join us at last." Vivian smiles, proud of herself. "Like my mother, I will excel in your class, Professor Rohan. You will not be disappointed in my performance."
Gabriel looks at Antonietta and Patricia, "You two seem a bit pissed right now. Did something happen between you three?" Antonietta sighs, "Hearing her whiny voice just makes my blood boil. She almost used her mother to get away from hurting me." Gabriel smirks, "That's why the bow on her hair looks like devil horns." Patricia chuckles silently.
"I like that confidence, Miss Vivian. I will be expecting that. Besides, as an excelling student in her time, Miss Bethel-Craith will never raise a daughter inferior to her." Vivian giggles, "Of course, my mother will still be the best. She's my inspiration to be an excelling student as well. I appreciate the compliment, Professor Rohan."
Their professor chuckles, "Well introduced. Thank you, Miss Vivian, next!" The introduction goes on until there was no left. After that, their professor went over the rules inside the classroom.
"This building is built for you all to have pseudo senses. Everything that you summon here and every way you attack your classmate will never hurt you to the brim. This very classroom is designed for everyone to fight freely without any consequences of gravely injuring one another, but I should tell you that you will still feel pain. This is for you to feel the full experience of duels and battles, but it will not cut the realism and even your learning experience to do the real abilities. The same thing applies in the outside world, but here, you are safe to do anything. Only inside this building, once you step out, you are responsible for any injuries you have inflicted to others."
Professor Rohan kept babbling about reminders until their class time was up. "Class adjourned, students." He looks at Veronika, "Miss Gilmartin, please stay for a while. I would like to have a word with you."