[10.3] Math is Stupid

After settling into my new life, I got used to the Headmasters' "parenting" approach. Most of the time, I had to remind him it was time to eat. He was always fiddling with something or doing work.

He almost never cleaned up either.

I didn't mind that since he wasn't following me around or annoying me. In fact, I preferred this sort of behavior more. It felt like I had regained my independence as I had in my previous life....

...That was until Monday came.

I lay sprawled out on my bed with Zephyr at my feet in his fox form.

I suddenly felt the temperature drop in the room, waking me up from my blissful sleep. I turned my head up and noticed the Headmaster staring down at me with a frosty expression.

I blinked groggily before turning back over, "Nope."

He cleared his throat, "Classes start in an hour."

I ignored him and fell back asleep.

He fidgeted, uncertain of what to do. He started to push me in an attempt to wake me up.

I groaned and burrowed deeper under the covers.

He frowned before pulling out his wand. With a flick of his wrist and a one-word syllable, blue vines crawled out from nowhere and encircled my ankles. They then dragged me off the bed without giving me any chance to resist.

Zephyr flipped over, ignoring the vines as he continued to sleep.

I looked up at the ceiling with a frown.

The Headmaster nodded at me, "I see you are awake. You need to get ready quickly. I will be waiting downstairs to show you to your first class."

I scowled, "Great… I'm so excited."

Class? No thanks!

I nodded at him with a fake smile before he left my room. Then I climbed back in bed, "Like hell I'm going back to school."

After who knows how long, I heard stomping up the stairs. The icy cold vines wrapped around me once more and held me upside down in the air. The Headmaster glared at me, "Did you forget that I said you have to go to class?!"

I rolled my eyes, "I didn't forget. I purposely ignored you."

A vein in his forehead bulged, "Get. Ready."

I snickered, "And if I refuse?"

"Just get dressed."

"I don't think I will. I think I will just lay back down in bed…"

"Put on your clothes before I make you."

"Make me? What are you going to do? Dress me yourself?"

His body stiffened up as his expression grew darker. I could tell he was going to explode, but I didn't really care. I would rather die than go to school again.

I sneered, "What? You regret adopting me yet?"

He glared at me before silently waving his wand. I was suddenly dropped to the floor with a loud thud. I rubbed my backside, "Ow…"

His expression grew darker as he spoke through his teeth, "Don't think I can make you?"

"I'd like to see you try."

"Very well."

He waved his wand once more and I could see red colors coming out of his wand and circling around me. In an instant, they clung to my skin. My body suddenly jolted up and started moving on its own.

I instantly panicked, "W-What's happening?!"

He abruptly turned around, "Get ready quickly then meet me downstairs."

As if my body was a puppet, it soon did exactly as he asked. As I panicked, Zephyr woke up from his sleep to watch me. He snickered, "This looks interesting."

He hopped off the bed and followed me downstairs still in his fox form. When I met the Headmaster downstairs, the enchantment broke. He spoke, "Great. I will show you to your first class. You are assigned to Miss Mandi. She's a very nice woman."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh, I am sure she is."

Too bad I won't get the chance to meet her.

I quickly turned around and sprinted in an attempt to run away. However, I didn't get very far before another spell was shot towards me, rending my body paralyzed. I fell to the ground shouting, "You dare hurt a child?!"

He walked to my side with an eyebrow raised, "You're fine."

Just like that, I was dragged to class. I grumbled as the Headmaster pulled me through the halls by my collar. Zephyr trotted behind us thoroughly enjoying the moment. We passed numerous students who stood as close to the walls as possible. They all trembled in the Headmaster's presence but looked at me with curious expressions. I heard them whispering to each other, but didn't pay them any attention.

I was used to this kind of treatment.

The Headmaster stopped and glared at them, "Shouldn't you all be in class?"

In the blink of an eye, they all disappeared from the hallway. Even though I was in such a humiliating position, I still laughed at their cowardice.

Don't they realize this man is as soft as snow?!

He huffed angrily before pushing me into a room. The class of children around "my age" all looked at me with huge doe eyes. The Headmaster pulled me to my feet and I felt the enchantment lift. He spoke, "Miss Mandi. This is Reika. She will be joining your classroom starting today."

Mandi grinned and spoke in a soft voice, "Oh! Little Reika. I heard so much about you!"

I leaned back in disgust. Who dares speak to me like a child!?

The Headmaster patted my back, "Behave." He picked up Zephyr by the scruff, "Familiars aren't allowed in class. You can stay in my office."

"Tsk." Zephyr looked away indignantly, "I wanted to watch the drama unfold."

I felt a bit wronged as I watched him leave the room without looking back at me once. How dare he leave me in a room filled with driveling children who look like they aren't even potty-trained!

I laughed mischievously as I mumbled under my breath, "You can force me to go to class, but you can't force me to behave."

The teacher smiled at me, "Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?"

I held out my middle finger, "Actually teacher, you can go suck a big coc-"

"HEADMASTER'S OFFICE! NOW!"

…

I sat in the Headmaster's office with a smile plastered on my face. Zephyr sat beside me in his fox form, wagging his tail.

He was clearly enjoying the mood.

The Headmaster looked at me with a twitching face, "...It hasn't even been an hour."

I giggled, "I don't want to go to those boring classes."

His glare turned even darker, "You think they are boring?"

I nodded quickly, "Deathly boring. If I sit in there, I might as well start carving my gravestone."

"...Go back to class."

My eyes narrowed, "Do you want me to die?"

In the end, I was forcibly escorted back to class and sat down in my seat. Everyone in the room stared at me with wide eyes. When I turned to look back at them, their heads quickly darted away.

...Why are they treating me like some sort of delinquent?

"Reika."

I turned to the teacher with a scowl, "What?"

"Can you answer this question?"

I looked at the chalkboard and noticed a simple algebra question. Why are we being taught math in a magical world?

I rolled my eyes, "Fine." I pulled out my wand and flicked my wrist. The chalk suddenly raised and began to write the answer on the board.

The teacher stared at it dumbfounded, "W-Wha…"

I yawned, "There. Done."

She touched the board, "B-But… She didn't even say a spell…" She suddenly shook her head and turned to me with a sour expression, "Reika. We do not use magic during class."

I raised an eyebrow, "Haah? But isn't this Academy for Magic? Why wouldn't we use magic?"

"It is poor manners to use magic for something you are more than capable to do yourself!"

"Well, that's stupid."

"E-Excuse me!?"

"I said that's stupid! What's wrong with you?! Are you so old that you can't even hear?! Just because you are an old spinster, doesn't mean you have to act like one!"

"OFFICE! NOW!"