"After a mentally exhausting week, it's finally Friday!!!"

I pumped my fist in the air as Millie looked at me with a look of disappointment.

"Why was it a mentally exhausting week? All you've done is sleep in class."

I scrunched up my nose, "Forget about class! William forced me into pointless work, stupid disease boy Lucius hasn't left me alone, and the headmaster seems a bit too obsessed with me. Not to mention I have to keep running away from airhead Mary."

Mary jumped up and down behind us, "Oh oh! That's me!"

I ignored her, "I'd say that's an extremely exhausting week."

Millie giggled, "I suppose so. I guess you really did need those naps during class."

I nodded deep in thought, "I am a bit surprised the teachers haven't called me out for sleeping in class. I haven't had the chance to embarrass any of them yet."

"That's because you have a reputation. Even though we aren't from the Imperial City, all the teachers know who you are."

I flipped my hair arrogantly, "Yes. They must have heard how much of a genius I am and knew not to bother."

"No. It's because you are disrespectful and have fun torturing the teachers." Millie said bluntly with a smile on her face.

My face twitched, "I'm not that bad..."

She nodded, "You're right. You are much worse."

Mary rushed forward trying to join in on the conversation. "What did she do? I wanna know! Tell me tell me tell me!"

I pushed her face back and pouted at Millie. "Milllieee... Don't you love me? How could you say that about me?"

She looked at my trembling pitiful face with a grin. "And how could you abandon me for three years?"

Millie - 1 Seri - 0

I hung my head in shame, "Listen... About that... I... Well, you see.."

I tried to think of the right words to say.

The truth is that I couldn't admit to what I did in those three years. Just remembering it makes me feel cold and numb. I shook my head shoving the memories down.

"Like I said, there were some circumstances that prevented me from doing so."

"Hmm." She gave me a look of dissatisfaction.

I gave her a pout, "Isn't there some way I can make it up to you?"

A chilling grin spread across her face, "I'll think of something."

I froze in my steps as she kept walking. I gulped.

Yup. That may come to bite me in the a** later.

I ran to catch up to her. We walked into the classroom and I got situated at my desk. Millie walked over after putting her stuff down, "Aren't you excited?"

I tilted my head, "For what?"

Artie noticed my arrival and quickly left behind the group of girls fawning over him to stand by my desk. He laughed, "Do you not know what today is?"

I shook my head. Millie answered, "Today is extra curricular day."

I nodded, "Ah I see.... And what is extra curricular day?"

Millie explained, "The girls do home economics, while the boys participate in sports and knight training."

I slammed my fist, "What the hell?! Why do the girls have to do home economics?! That's some sexist bullsh*t!!"

Artie sighed, "Hey, I'm not happy about having to do training either. I'd much prefer to take home economics. I hate working out."

I looked him up and down, "I can tell."

His eyebrows twitched, "Oi."

I clapped my hands together, "I got it! Let's just switch places! You can be Seri, and I will be Artie! No one will ever know."

"That would never work." He responded bluntly.

I deflated, "Huh? Why not?"

"Because everyone in the entire school knows who you are."

I held my chin arrogantly, "Fufu~ I'm that popular?"

"More like infamous for being an idiot."

"Oi." I glared at him in irritation.

Mary spoke behind us, "Well I'm excited for home economics. I'm not that great at embroidery, but I love to cook!!"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course you do."

Millie nodded, "I'm not that great at cooking, but I do love to sew."

"You're awesome at cooking Millie! I can never forget that food you made for us when we were kids."

She giggled. Then stopped immediately. Her face froze as she suddenly recalled a childhood memory. Her face turned serious, "Seri. You shouldn't do home economics."

I blinked, "Huh? That's what I was saying."

I wonder what memory she just recalled to have such a reaction.

Artie smiled, "I dunno~ I'm curious to see what kind of food Seri makes."

Millie cut him off quickly, "For the safety of everyone, I don't recommend it." She turned to me with a smile, "You don't want to do home ec right?"

I nodded, "I really don't. I should just skip." I grabbed my stuff and nodded to them, "Goodbye."

I opened the class door to see a bushy gnome standing in the way. He looked up at me, "Ah, Seri. Where are you going?"

My face twitched, "Oooh. No where. I'm just checking to make sure no one is skipping class in the hallway. HAHAHA okay. Goodbye."

I did a 180 and walked straight back to my desk. Artie chuckled, "That was fast."

I put my head on my desk wanting to cry. Millie sighed and patted my back, "I guess it can't be helped. Just don't burn down the school."

Artie blinked in confusion, "Huh? Burn down the school?"

Mary poked my back, "Just ask the teacher if you can switch out."

I nodded in determination, "That's right! I will just ask! I'm sure it will be alright. I'm already an official knight-in-training."

Artie rolled his eyes, "Good luck."

After the girls and boys were separated, I walked up to the older woman who was the teacher for home economics.

"No."

"WHAT?! WHY NOT?!"

The grumpy old lady glared at me, "Because you're a girl. And girl's belong in home economics."

"WHAT KIND OF SEXIST BULLSH*T IS THAT?!"

The teacher gasped, "How vulgar! Young lady you better watch your mouth! You're bringing shame onto your family!"

"WHO THE HELL CARES YOU OLD BAT!"

"H-How rude! Just what is your name?!"

"I am Seri! The daughter of Kane Halgraaf! AND I DEMAND TO BE PUT INTO KNIGHT TRAINING!"

She glared at me in anger, "I don't even know who that is. Is it some commoner? Pah! Who cares! Now sit down!"

"No! I am a Knight-in-training and I demand to be with the rest of the Knights-in-training!!"

She rolled her eyes, "Girl's can't become Knights. Now stop lying and sit down already before I fail you."

I tightened my fists, "I'm not lying! Just ask Prince William! He's the one who approved me for a Knight apprentice position. And Dante's the one who trained me!"

She rolled her eyes, "Now I know you are lying. Prince William would never associate with a nobody like you."

I've never wanted to punch an old lady so much before.

I spat at her, "You just wait! I will sic Prince William on you and then you'll be sorry!"

I stomped back to my seat next to Millie and crossed my arms in anger.

"Huh." Millie said in surprise, "I was wrong. There really was someone who didn't know who you were."

I growled, "Well she's going to be sorry when I have William come over here and fire her."

Millie giggled, "It's funny. For someone who likes to do things by yourself, you sure do like to use Prince Williams status."

I gave her a cocky grin, "One would be an idiot not to use the connections one has."

"So you admit you're using Prince William."

My face twitched in embarrassment, "When you put it like that, it sounds bad."

"But isn't that how it is?"

I cleared my throat, "Alright, let's get started shall we?"

Task One: Embroidery.

"God f*cking d*mmit." I struggled to stab the cloth in my hands.

Mary showed off her embroidered cloth, "Look! I made a red tulips for Seri." Mary blushed passionately.

Millie smiled gently, "I made Seri a butterfly on a begonia."

They both looked at me, "What about you?"

"Huh?" I looked up as I was jamming the needle into the cloth. The needle stabbed into my finger and blood gushed out like a waterfall.

Mary screamed bloody murder. Millie's face twitched as if it was being overstimulated.

I just blinked, "Wow. That's a lot of blood."

The teacher ran over screaming, "COVER IT UP! STOP LETTING YOUR BLOOD GET EVERY WHERE!!"

Home Ec - 1 Seri - 0

______

Task Two: Serving Tea and Coffee

I sat at the table and prepared Mary a cup of coffee. I pushed it toward her, "Mary. Here. Have a cup of coffee."

She picked it up with a smile, "My pleasure." She looked down and her face twisted at it's dark and gloomy appearance. It looked more like a tar pit.

She looked back at me, "M-May I have some sugar and milk?"

I shook my head, "No. One must respect the bean."

She took a deep breath and chugged it down. She put it on the table, "H-How delicious."

She face planted on the ground.

"TEACHER! SERI KILLED MARY!!!"

I laughed maniacally, "One who doesn't respect the bean shall be punished."

The teacher almost ripped her hair out, "WHAT?!"

Home Ec - 1 Seri - 1

______

Task three: Arts and Crafts

The teacher walked behind the students talking, "A woman who can create and understand art is a sophisticated woman. Art is the language of the world. One must be able to communicate with it."

She stopped at Mary's painting and her eyes widened. Mary's painting sparkled as one could hear harps and angels singing as they looked upon it.

Mary's eyes shimmered, "My inspiration was taken from my one true love."

Someone looked at it, "Isn't that a portrait of Seri?"

Mary nodded with pride, "Exactly."

The teacher forced a smile, "I see. Well every artist has their own muse." She moved to Millie next, "Millie, that's a very nice portrayal of nature."

Millie's painting had a swarm of blue butterflies in a field of red begonias. In the middle was a wooden cross signifying a grave. A single red spider lily grew on the mound of dirt.

Millie smiled peacefully, "Thank you, ma'am."

The teacher then moved to Seri's side, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"

I turned to her with paint covering my face and arms, "I call it avant-garde."

She screamed in horror, "THAT'S NOT A PAINTING! THAT'S A DEMONIC RITUAL!!"

I rolled my eyes, "It's not that bad."

A student screamed, "THERE'S SOMETHING COMING OUT OF THE PAINTING!"

"RUN!!!!"

"It's really not that bad..."

Home Ec - 2 Seri - 1

_____

Task Four: Cooking

I rubbed my hands together, "Alright. What are we making today?"

Millie smiled at me, "Maybe you should just watch?"

I nodded, "You're right. The best way to learn is to observe."

Her face twitched, "Just don't touch anything."

I stood back and watched as Millie and Mary began to cook dishes. They looked so serious and elegant. I yawned. I leaned back on the counter and noticed a red can next to me.

"Hmm. Flammable, eh?"

I picked it up and looked around me. I sneakily walked over to a stove and poured some into a dish. I dropped a match into it.

*Whoosh*

"Whoa. That was fun. Maybe I should add a little more... Hmmm... I wonder what would happen if I added even more?"

I shrugged, "Might as well add it all-"

*BOOOM*

Everyone ran out of the classroom while smoke billowed out into the hall and out of the windows.

In the distance, the boys turned to the sudden explosion. William and Dante both gave each other a look.

William's face twitched, "You don't think..."

Dante nodded, "Seri."

I ran out into the hallway and coughed out a mouthful of smoke. Everyone was covered head to toe in soot, but was otherwise okay.

Millie glanced at me, "Seri... When I said not to touch anything..."

I gave a big grin, "Couldn't help it. Sure was fun though... Do I still have eyebrows?"

Millie sighed, "No... No, you don't..."

"Hmm... Oh well. They'll grow back."

The teacher stomped over, "WHAT DID YOU DO NOW?!"

The headmaster hobbled over to the source of the explosion, "Who is trying to set my academy on fire?!"

The teacher pointed at me, "Sir! I can't teach this girl! Please switch her over to the men's class!!!"

The bushy gnome looked at me, "You did this?"

I nodded, "I wanted to learn how to cook."

His bushy eyebrows bunched together as if he had a headache, "Fine. She can switch over."

I gave a mischievous smile, "I will only go to the other class if I can switch with Artie. He wanted to be in home economics."

The grumpy lady clicked her tongue, "Absolutely not. Teaching boys would be improper."

"Oho? Then I won't switch. I will just keep trying to learn how to cook. I'm sure I can do it... Or, I'm sure I could do a more controlled fire."

The teacher gulped, "I don't mind teaching a boy. Headmaster?"

He nodded quickly, "Whatever prevents my school from going up in flames."