The days went by, each day, her roommates came to visit her. On the day of the collective caning, they arrived a bit later than on the other days. But Maka's wounds healed slowly, and after two weeks, the doctor discharged her from the infirmary. But right after she was out, Ms. Metzger had them take a math pop quiz. Maka complained that she didn't had a chance to study for the quiz, since she had been in the infirmary after she had almost been stabbed to death by the late Dorothy.
"You will take this quiz like everybody else", said Ms. Metzger. Maka knew that there was no way she would pass this quiz, after all, she had missed the last two weeks of class time.
"No", said Maka.
"You can go and discuss this with your counselor, if you want", threatened Ms. Metzger.
"Fine", said Maka. Ms. Metzger called a guard, who escorted Maka down to the containment room.
"Why don't you take a seat, darling", said the guard in the containment room. It was the same guard as last time. Maka took a seat and began staring at the blackboard, like the rules demanded it. It was rather tedious, but Maka didn't want to end up writing lines on the blackboard again. This time, Maka ignored the itching, and remained still. But the itching became worse. Like ants, crawling over her and burrowing under her skin. But then a guard came and picked her up from the containment room, just as she was about to scratch herself. Maka followed her to Medusa's office.
"So, you're back here again, I thought that public caning would have made an impression on you", said Medusa. Maka sat down. She had to speak very carefully.
"As you know, I've been in the infirmary for the past two weeks", explained Maka, "recovering from an attempted murder. Therefore I don't think I would have a chance at passing this pop quiz. Thus, I believe it would be pointless for me to take it".
"Ah, yes", said Medusa, but according to Ms. Metzger's referral, you have also been disturbing the class and talking back".
"All I did before I was sent to you was to complain about this quiz.", said Maka.
"While I personally believe you, I have to give Ms. Metzger's word more weight than yours", said Medusa, "Thus, I'm going to punish you". Maka couldn't believe it. "But I can be lenient. Write, let's say, 'I will not backtalk to my teachers or any other staff member, nor am I going to refuse to take a quiz, as this automatically results in a failing grade', one hundred times, I also want you to change color after every word, use your pen and your pencil. You'll write the lines right here, and if I catch you writing in columns, you'll write twice as many. Now get started", Medusa pointed at a desk that was facing the wall.
"I would have to go back to the classroom to fetch my writing utensils", said Maka.
"Here, use these", said Medusa, handing her a notebook and two pens, a red and a blue one. Maka started writing. Having to change color after every word made her task much more tedious than it would be normally. The line she had been assigned was thirty words long. That meant she would have to write three thousand words. And she would have to change pens three thousand times. While she wrote her lines, Medusa took care of some paperwork behind her desk. After some time, Maka had just finished line number twenty five, Crona entered the room.
"I'm sorry", said Crona.
"And I'm dissapointed", said Medusa, "Your grade on that math test is terrible. I doubt you actually posses a working brain. But fear not, I will beat some work ethic into you, even if I have to cane you until my arm falls off". At this point Maka looked around at Crona and Medusa. Medusa gestured for Crona to bend over her desk, Crona obeyed, tears forming in her eyes. Medusa then bared Crona's behind and started caning Crona. Maka counted thirty strokes. She was glad she didn't get the cane. But on the other hand, if she had gotten a caning instead of lines to write, her punishment would be over by now.
"Now stand in the corner", ordered Medusa. Crona, still sobbing from her caning, obediently positioned herself in the corner. Medusa took a book and placed it upon Crona's head.
"If you touch the book or drop it, you're in for another dose of the cane", said Medusa. Maka wondered what score Crona had received on her test. It must have been horrible to incur such a punishment. Maka couldn't help to feel sorry for Crona. Having your mother as your counselor must be hell. Once Maka had reached line number forty, Medusa ordered Crona to stand on one leg. Once Maka had finished line fifty, she heard a thud. Crona must have dropped the book.
"I warned you", said Medusa. This time, Maka dindn't turn around. She knew what would happen to Crona next. And she was right, but this time, Medusa only dealt out six strokes. And they sounded differently. There was something about the swooshing. Maybe Medusa was using a lighter cane than usual.
"Back to the corner", said Medusa, "you may stand on your other leg now". Maka looked around for a brief moment, enough to see Medusa put the book back on Crona's head. Maka continued writing her lines. Crona managed to keep her balance now. Maka reached line number seventy five. She would be done soon. But all this changing and writing caused her hand to cramp up.
"You seem to be getting tired from standing on your left leg all the time", said Medusa, "You may change your foot, but you mustn't let both your feet touch the ground". Maka wondered how this was possible. Crona didn't seem to take her mother up on her offer. But after Maka had written line eighty three, she heard a shoe landing on the floor, followed by a thud. Crona had dropped the book again. Another six strokes with the cane for Crona. Maka focused on her lines. Number eighty four done. Crona was sent back to the corner, and Maka was still working on her lines. Eventually Maka finished her lines. She stood up.
"Get back to your lines", ordered Medusa.
"I'm done, ma'am", said Maka.
"Let me see", said Medusa, grabbing the sheet with the lines. Maka spotted Crona's test, lying on Medusa's desk. Maka took a quick peek at it. Ninety-five percent, A.