“I don’t think I have ever met a teenager such as yourself to come here at free will,” head of the academy Karry Alder said, eyes darting from the document she held in her hand, to the face of a young woman. Her expression lacking emotion, and meaning business. Alder pursed her lips a little, hoping to get a reply from the girl, when she rendered unsuccessful, she proceeded to read the information based on the person in front of her.

“Yes, well..,” she murmured, to no-one in particular, the girl continuing to stare intently. Alder cleared her throat a little. “I see you’re looking for a more quiet and structured environment.”  There was a pause, “well, I can assure you you’ve found the right place.”

“I would hope I did.” Such a response made Alder jump a little, not really expecting anything to be said from the young woman. She gave her a look that made her seem almost abnormal.

“Uhm, well, yes,” she quickly added. “Yes, you did. However.” The older woman leaned back, observing the girl with a slight squint of her eye. “I noticed,” she said. “That all of the arrangements were made, as well as the paperwork were all signed by yourself.”

“Yes,” the girl said plainly.

“Well,” Alder shifted in her chair, propping her elbow against the leather armrest and leaning most of her upper body weight into it. “You realize, that by state law. The parent, or legal guardian, of proper age, is to sign up for you.” The girl just looked at her, with a stony expression in her eyes.

Alder cleared her throat again.

“What I am getting at is,” she told her as if she read exactly what she was thinking. “your information is stating that you, indeed, just turned seventeen. Therefore, all of this effort would be considered invalid due to you still being so  young. However. I am rather impressed that, unlike any other student your age, would make such a bold attempt without any parental consent. It is a good, yet bad choice for you. Good, that you’ve decided to take the responsibility to come back to school and finish off your education. Bad, unfortunately, that you did do this on your own, against state law and without your parents’ say-so. I’m afraid I cannot let you enroll here until I get an adult’s signature.”