The Royal Academy of Magical Baking

Razz leapt to his feet, giving his younger brother the signature Berry grin. "Poison! And friends! Guess you might as well be the first to know."

He offered his hand to his companion. Hyacinth Roulade, who had been the Apprentice Baker for Texture during Lyra's first year, accepted the help and smiled warmly at the newcomers as she stood.

"Lovely to see all of you," she began. "And congratulations on reaching the third-year. What do —"

Queen Penelope clucked impatiently.

As if interpreting for the royal poultry, Razz waved his free hand. "Enough time for that later. You asked what we're doing here, Poison? You can take those congratulations she just gave you so generously and toss them right back to us." He turned to Hyacinth with uncharacteristic gravity. "Miss Roulade, care to do the honors?"

Hyacinth's smile instantly took on several new layers of joy.

"We're engaged!"

A general chorus of congratulatory mirth erupted, punctuated by Queen Penelope's exultant squawking. The third-years gathered around the couple for hugs and handshakes and to exclaim over the silver pendant Hyacinth was now wearing around her neck.

"I know most people do rings," Razz explained, "but that can be tricky for bakers. Mom got so tired of taking hers off whenever she made bread that she started wearing it on a necklace years ago anyway. I wanted to skip all that hassle."

Hyacinth gazed down at the pendant, which was shaped like a hyacinth with one tiny blue stone at its base. "Very thoughtful."

"And surprisingly practical." Boysen gave his brother a good-natured shove. "Well done, Razz. May I ask why you chose this particular place as the setting for such a momentous occasion?"

"Hey, what's wrong with Queen Penelope's roost?" Lyra demanded.

The royal poultry clacked her beak together three times, glaring at Boysen in high dudgeon.

"Not what I meant," the Flavor King said hastily. He bowed deeply to the giant chicken and put on his most disarming grin. "Of all the spots in the Royal Academy of Magical Baking, this roof… hits the spot. Very romantic. But… you both graduated a year ago. Why come to the academy at all?"

"And on move-in day?" Mac added.

"The academy will always be special to us," Hyacinth replied. "It's where we met, after all. And this roof is also significant. I spent so much time here as a student, especially during my first two years."

She reached out a hand and stroked the giant chicken, who clucked affectionately.

"I found Queen Penelope's presence to be very soothing. I was often up here, studying or sharing treats."

"Which meant I was often up here." Razz also reached up and patted the royal feathers. "I found Hyacinth's presence to be very soothing, you see. This is where I first plucked up the courage to ask her out."

Hyacinth smiled fondly. "You were so nervous. I remember Queen Penelope had to threaten to peck you before you could get any words out. It was almost as bad as today."

Razz grinned right back, completely unperturbed. "I did my best with the ingredients I had available. On both occasions. Not all of us can be so impressive as to put our deepest feelings into song."

He winked at Lyra, who blushed furiously.

"Anyway," Boysen cut in, "Mac brings up a good point. Why move-in day?"

"Easy. First day we could get into the academy at all." Razz shook his head. "I've been waiting for weeks now. They keep this place shut up pretty tight during the summer. I couldn't even get special permission from the Honeycomb."

"Worth the wait," Hyacinth said softly, looking around at the cozy setting.

"I think it's all simply delicious." Caramelle gave the older Texturist another hug. "And I'm sure your families will be thrilled. Have you given any thought to future plans?"

"Quite a bit of thought," Hyacinth confessed. "I'm afraid I'm rather a planner."

Lyra laughed. "No need to explain that to Caramelle. So what's next for you?"

"Same thing that's next for Poison here, once he graduates." Razz threw an arm around Boysen's shoulder. "We're opening another Berry Brothers Bistro!"

Boysen's eyebrows shot up. "We are?"

"Sure as seasonings," Razz crowed. "I've been talking to Cran and Straw. Their place is doing so well, we decided we can open a second branch. On this side of the mountains, so we won't be so far away."

"We want to stay close to home these first few years," Hyacinth explained. "It would be lovely to open a place right here in town, but starting a business in the capital is rather expensive."

Razz nodded. "And this city is crowded with restaurants anyway. There are plenty of smaller towns within an hour's journey, all in desperate need of the Berry flair."

"The Berry-Roulade flair," Hyacinth corrected him.

"Yes! Absolutely." Keeping his left arm around Boysen, he threw his right arm around Hyacinth's shoulders and squeezed them both tight. "Hyacinth and I will get things off the ground, and then Poison here can come join us after graduation! Bringing along any friends, of course."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He gave Lyra another, even more exaggerated wink.

"How exciting!" Caramelle gushed, stepping in smoothly to cover her friend's embarrassment. "I am sure the second Berry Brothers Bistro will be a well-seasoned success. Especially with some Roulade… precision in the mix."

"That's the idea," Razz agreed. "We'll outshine Cran and Straw for sure. Our whole recipe is already more balanced."

Mac crossed his arms and stared accusingly at Boysen. "You didn't tell me you wanted to open a restaurant."

"That's because I didn't know," Boysen replied. He sounded as cheerful as Razz, but Lyra knew she wasn't imagining the forced, false note running through his voice.

"You didn't know it was happening?" she asked, watching him closely. "Or you didn't know it's what you want?"

His chuckle sounded even more forced. "Both, I guess."

"We can talk more about it, of course," Hyacinth began. "We assumed you'd be pleased, but…"

"Of course he's pleased!" Razz used the arm around Boysen to pound his younger brother's shoulder heartily several times. "Who wouldn't want to open their own restaurant? It's every baker's dream!"

Mac sighed, his eyes faraway behind his glasses. "I want to open my own restaurant…"

"You will!" Razz beamed at all of them, overflowing with the giddy delight of his current and future prospects. "I'm sure all of you will make your mark on the baking world."

Hyacinth's smile was milder, but no less fervent. "They already have."

"Right you are, my queen." Releasing Boysen at last, Razz swept Hyacinth's hands up in both his own and kissed them. "Shall we invite these world-changers along as we spread our good news through the academy's hallowed halls?"

"We were on our way to the dining hall. It's time for lunch," Boysen pointed out.

"Of course. Lunch! I love lunch. And all the professors will be there anyway. Shall we all go down to the dining hall and share this exciting new menu over lunch?"

Razz bounced slightly on his toes in an unconscious imitation of Professor Honeycomb, making Lyra cough to hide her giggles. She wondered what mannerisms Boysen might pick up after spending a year as the Flavor professor's apprentice…

"Yes, please!" Caramelle exclaimed. "I do so want to see Professor Puff again."

"You saw her over the summer," Lyra said with a smile.

"And you're going to be seeing her quite a bit this year." Mac gave a mournful sigh. "Probably more than you see me."

"Third year can be a slog," Hyacinth said sympathetically.

"But we made it through second year." Caramelle linked her arm through Mac's. "Pastry is behind us, right?"

Another sigh escaped him, but he nodded bravely. "You're right. Third year can't be any worse."

"Oh, yes it can," Razz assured them, his eyes gleaming with wicked glee. "You're all apprentices now. On top of the professors' demands, which rise faster than soda bread, you have to deal with a load of whiny first-years who don't know salt from sugar and even whinier second-years who think they invented baking. And then there's your thesis project, and exams mean so much more than the previous two years, and —"

Boysen clapped his hands. "Enough of these pessimistic prognostications," he proclaimed, in true Professor Genoise fashion. "Announcements must be made! New ingredient combinations must be celebrated! And lunch, of course, must be eaten."

Lyra tried to catch his eye, but he had clearly entered 'entertainer' mode, wholly focused on keeping spirits high and the mood light. She joined in, promising herself that they would sort through that strange false note together as soon as possible.

"You heard the Flavor King," she declared. "To the dining hall!"

—

Despite the potential complications of Razz and Hyacinth's future plans, at least where one Boysen Berry was concerned, Lyra ended up being extremely grateful that the Spice Spots had stumbled upon the pair.

The excitement of their news helped drive all worrisome tunes about head-chef changes to the back of her internal chorus. Lunch and the afternoon slipped by in a happy haze of reunions, announcements, and congratulatory toasts. Before Lyra knew it, she was back in the dining hall with her friends, seated at the third-year table and waiting for the welcome feast to begin.

"The room looks so different from here," she marveled.

"Everything looks different." Boysen tipped his chair back on two legs, surveying the dining hall with a regal air. "We're third-years now. Don't you feel the power?"

Caramelle glanced anxiously at the professors' table. "Pressure, more like. All the Enjoyment excitement over the summer must have distracted me, I suppose. When Razz was talking earlier, I felt like the oven turned on in my brain. We're Apprentice Bakers. The responsibilities involved…"

She trailed off, her posture tensing into a first-year level of Meringue rigidity.

Boysen waved his hand dismissively. "My brother's cabinet is missing a few spices. Don't let him spoil the sweetness of this moment. Or any moment. Just… don't listen to him, as a general rule."

"Except about new restaurants," Mac said, apparently trying to counteract his girlfriend's rising anxiety with more pleasant future dreams. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he turned to Boysen. "If Razz is okay with it, maybe we could sit in on your planning meetings this year?"

It was Boysen's turn to tense up, though he tried to cover it by bringing his chair down on all four legs with a thud.

"Um," he began, "well…"

Lyra was glad when the four professors rose from their seats at the center table, redirecting the third-years' attention.

"Didn't we just see them an hour ago?" she whispered. "They look so… fancy."

Boysen nodded. "They went all out this year. I think Genoise has a new suit."

"You think right." Mac's eyes sparkled with sudden merriment behind his glasses. "He and Fortescue are fast friends now. They were sending messages back and forth all summer. Fortescue helped him design a whole new wardrobe for the coming year."

"Welcome back, one and all," cried Professor Genoise, spreading his arms wide. "I trust your summers were sweet, savory, and salubriously scrumptious!"

His deep purple suit did seem more elegantly cut than usual, with a lavender cravat matching his pocket square to perfection. Lyra even caught a purple sheen from tiny gems woven into his monocle chain.

She sensed Boysen shaking with silent mirth beside her and diligently kept her eyes on the center table.

Professor Honeycomb bounced merrily on her toes. "We are delighted to see you all. If today is any sign of this year's menu, we can look forward to a truly delicious three terms!"

"We are about to welcome the first-years." Professor Puff paused. Her gaze seemed particularly keen as it swept over the second- and third-year tables. "I ask all of you to remember your own first welcome feast, and conduct yourself with the well-balanced decorum expected of all royal academy students."

Something was off. Now that Lyra was focusing, she noted that the air around the professors' table was vibrating at a much faster frequency than usual. Professor Puff's expression was as calm as ever, but even she seemed… nervous.

Then the Texture headmistress turned to the large man on her left. "Professor Flax, any words?"

Lyra's heart leapt. It didn't matter that she had just spent most of the afternoon with the former head chef, celebrating Hyacinth and Razz. Seeing him now, in this setting, stabilized her internal music like cream of tartar in whipped egg whites. This was where he belonged: at the professors' table, wearing a crisp yellow Enjoyment apron proudly over his customary white uniform.

This year's recipe won't be the same, she thought, remembering Boysen's words from earlier. And it can't possibly be better. But it's already a new Flavor of 'good.'

"I have only four words, Professor Puff." Professor Flax's voice boomed jovially through the room, adding an excited descant to Lyra's thought-melodies. "Four vital words in baking, whichever of the four disciplines you choose to pursue."

Glancing at the third-year table, he sent a special smile in Lyra's direction.

"Let's all have fun."