Lyra had almost forgotten how much she loved baking at the academy.

She had been in her family's kitchen all summer, of course. Her parents and brothers had been willing test subjects as she practiced all the spells she'd learned in her first year. They had adored her use of Flavor's 'Sweet and Savory' spell in every dinner, particularly the balance and depth it provided to a rich tomato sauce. They had expressed suitable appreciation when she tried to make her brothers' birthday cakes more light and fluffy using Master Chiffon's Aeration Charm for Texture. And they had composed an entire new song in response to her application of Master Glaze's Shine Spell to nearly every meal.

"I never knew Presentation magic could bring out the glow in everyday food like that," her brother Canto had said wistfully. "You're like a painter, illuminating the extraordinary glow in ordinary things."

Lyra had treasured each of these moments. She was grateful for the chance to share her new baking life with her family.

But there was something special about the academy kitchen.

She hummed while she mixed flour, baking soda, and salt together in the bowl Chef Flax had handed her. This turned into outright singing when she added sundried tomatoes and a healthy dose of smoked sweet paprika. Bumble joined in, singing a descant to The Soufflé Sisters Cooperation Chant as he brought her a cup of buttermilk to pour into the dough.

Chef Flax laughed from his station by the stove, where he was performing Madame Hazelnut's Deepening Spell over three different jams at once.

"Oh, I've missed that sound! It is good to have you back, Lyra," he said.

With delicious aromas in the air, a flying squirrel on her shoulder, and a song bubbling constantly on her lips, Lyra had to agree.

She was so immersed in the joys of magical baking that Chef Flax had to shoo her out of the kitchen so she wouldn't miss the welcome feast.

"Go sit and relax," he urged her, Bumble chattering his emphatic agreement. "We'll see you soon enough. There might even be a surprise involving yours truly."

With those mysterious words and a mischievous wink, the head chef pushed her into the dining hall. The kitchen doors swung shut behind her.

"Lyra! There you are!"

Caramelle waved primly from the second-year table in the front right corner of the dining hall. Lyra hurried over, still dusting powdered sugar off her tunic and retying her scarf around her hair. She greeted her fellow 'Puff Paragons' with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry. I meant to come back and meet you all at the dorms, but I was helping Chef Flax and lost track of time."

"Oh, no…" Caramelle surveyed Lyra's jam-stained, sugar-dusted appearance with dismay. "You didn't get ready at all? This is the welcome feast, Lyra!"

"Treble got ready," Boysen said through a chuckle. "She got readier than the rest of us. What better way to prepare for a baking academy welcome feast than by baking?"

Lyra pointed at his apron, which still bore all the floury marks of his own culinary activities. "Just trying to keep up with you, Berry."

"You're hopeless. Both of you." Caramelle turned to Mac in mock despair. "Perhaps you should bring Fortescue along the next time you return from break. These two could use that fox's excellent sensibilities about the importance of personal appearance. He's done wonders for you, after all."

Mac pretended to be very focused on cleaning his glasses, though he was smiling. "Pets aren't allowed in the dorms. Are you suggesting I break the academy rules?"

Caramelle looked Lyra and Boysen grimly up and down. "Some rules can be bent for emergencies."

"Salts!" Boysen grinned broadly. "Flaunting authority already? This really is a new Caramelle we're dealing with this year."

"Take your seats, everyone!" Professor Genoise's elegant voice cut off Caramelle's brewing retort.

Lyra slid into a seat between Caramelle and Boysen as the three professors all rose from their places at the center table. An expectant hush settled over the dining hall.

"Welcome back!" Professor Honeycomb called, spinning to address both the second- and third-year tables in opposite corners of the room. "It is simply scrumptious to see you all. We hope your holiday was full of all manner of delights, both sweet and savory."

Professor Puff smiled calmly. Her gray eyes were as unreadable as ever, but Lyra thought she detected a new warmth in the Texture headmistress's tone as she said, "We are preparing to bring in the first-years. I trust you will all remember what this moment was like for you upon your entrance into the academy. We are counting on you to make this feast a truly welcoming experience for our new students."

Giving both the second- and third-year tables a stern look, she crossed to the doors and opened them.

"New students of the Royal Academy of Magical Baking," Professor Puff announced, "you may enter."

A group of young bakers trooped in obediently. Most gazed around in awe. One kept her eyes on the professors and her nose tilted so high into the air, Lyra wondered how she didn't trip over her own feet.

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"That's odd." Boysen's face was creased in an uncharacteristic frown. "I thought we were pioneering a new discipline this year. Shouldn't there be eight of them? If we're going to keep four?"

Lyra scanned the line of first-years. Sure enough, there were only six, just as there had been the year before.

Caramelle's frown was even deeper than Boysen's. "But I thought — how —"

Before any of them could speculate, Professor Honeycomb clapped briskly.

"Welcome!" the Flavor headmistress said, beaming at the first-years. "It is our joy to have you with us. When we say your name, please step forward and give a wave, so the other students know who is who."

They went down the line, introducing each new student to the second- and third-years. Lyra couldn't concentrate. She kept counting them, over and over, glancing at the door every so often in case another two first-years might mysteriously appear.

Once all six — and only six — names had been called, Professor Genoise indicated the table in the front left corner. "You may take your places," he told the first-years. "Then we shall proceed."

As soon as the students were settled, the three professors left the center table and walked to the podium.

"I am sure all of you have heard many rumors about this upcoming year," Professor Puff began. "It is, indeed, going to be a different experience from the academy in years past. For some of you."

"Some of you?" Boysen echoed in a whisper. His hand went up, but Professor Honeycomb waved it down with a smile.

"The second- and third-years will remember our announcement from last year's graduation feast. We said we hoped to expand the academy curriculum to include a fourth discipline: Enjoyment." The Flavor headmistress bounced briefly on the tips of her toes, her gray curls bobbing under her green headscarf. "I am pleased as punch to say that this plan is moving forward!"

"On a trial basis," Professor Puff amended. "And only for the second-years."

A murmur ran around the room, concentrated at the table where Lyra sat with her friends. Mac was sputtering. Caramelle's face was nearly as red as her hair. Boysen's hand shot up again.

Only Lyra made no move to react. Her insides had gone strangely silent.

"There is so much to consider with a new baking discipline." Professor Honeycomb sounded apologetic as she waved Boysen's hand down again. "After many, many long conversations with all the best minds in the baking community, we have decided this is the course that will ensure the most consistent and valuable educational experience for all concerned."

Professor Genoise spread his hands theatrically. Lyra noted with hollow amusement that he had switched out his customary purple cravat for one made of bright yellow silk. It stood out cheerfully against his three-piece purple suit and purple Presentation apron.

Wearing the Enjoyment color won't change the world, Professor, she thought dully. But I guess it's the best start we can hope for.

"Be not dismayed!" the Presentation headmaster proclaimed, as if overhearing Lyra's thoughts. "Change takes time, but we are patient. Change is challenging, but we are determined. True, for our new first-years, academy life shall proceed as it has always done. But all the while, we shall be hard at work with our inimitably talented second-years to forge a new path." He turned to the second-year table and bestowed his most gracious smile on the four students sitting there. "A path full of joy!"

To Lyra's surprise, someone at the third-year table began applauding vigorously. The professors joined in at once, along with five of the six first-years.

The Puff Paragons at the second-year table shared a look. Boysen's eyes lingered on Lyra an extra beat. Then, giving her one of his private Lyra-only smiles, he summed up their collective mood with a fierce whisper.

"We'll make it work."

Then he joined the applause with characteristic Berry vigor. Caramelle, Mac, and Lyra quickly followed suit, the noise quickly drowning out the empty silence that had been threatening to consume Lyra's insides.

Glancing around at them all, Lyra doubled her clapping tempo.

The professors are with us, she told herself firmly. So is Chef Flax, and Bumble, and Sprinkle. And WE are all with us. The four of us, together.

She caught Boysen's eye and returned his smile.

We WILL make it work.

Professor Genoise kept the applause going for several more beats before finally raising his hands again to quiet it.

"Well, then. Truly, this will be a banner year in the exalted history of the Royal Academy of Magical Baking."

Professor Honeycomb nodded, looking around expectantly at the older students. "Indeed, Professor. And what better way to begin such a year than with an excellent feast?"

"I couldn't agree more," shouted a single third-year student. Looking over, Lyra realized it was the same baker who had started the applause.

"Oh, crumbs." Caramelle gasped. "That was the traditional response. The second- and third-years… we missed it!"

"Well said, Apprentice Baker Galette." Professor Puff bowed to the one student who had spoken, a freckled boy wearing the light blue apron of a Texture apprentice. Then she turned to the rest of the room. "Of course, we cannot begin the feast without introducing the master responsible for its creation. Students of the Royal Academy, please welcome Chef Peppercorn Flax!"

Lyra and her friends applauded wildly as the giant of a head chef strode in from the kitchen. They would have anyway, but Lyra was glad to note that their enthusiasm masked the lack thereof from the other two tables. The first-years seemed singularly timid, and at the third-year table, only Apprentice Baker Galette was clapping.

"Thank you!" Chef Flax called. He took off his white chef's hat and waved it for silence, but the Puff Paragons only clapped harder. The head chef bowed deeply. Then he gave a sharp whistle, winking at the second-year table to signal it really was time to stop.

"Thank you, all. Truly. As your professors have said, this is going to be a most significant year for the academy, and indeed for the entire baking community." He turned to the third-year table and fixed Florentine and Eclair with an inviting smile. "I am sure we should all feel honored to be part of such a historical moment."

Lyra could feel the ice in the two older students' glares from all the way across the room.

"I look forward to spending more time with all of you," Chef Flax continued, turning back to the first-year table with an even wider grin. "Especially our new students. Your entrance exam cakes were exquisite. Congratulations on making them, and all you have achieved thus far to earn your place here at the academy."

As he bowed again, Caramelle gripped Lyra's hand and whispered fiercely.

"It's coming up. The next traditional call-and-response. It's —"

Chef Flax gave his hat another cheerful wave. "See you all later," he said in his booming voice. "And remember —"

"Save room for dessert!" shouted Caramelle, Boysen, and Apprentice Baker Galette from across the room. Lyra and Mac tried to make up for their deficiencies with another round of hearty applause, but Chef Flax didn't seem to mind. He just laughed merrily and disappeared into the kitchens, calling over his shoulder to the professors.

"I'll be right back with our special cake!"

"The disaster cake!" Lyra smiled, glad to remember something before it happened. "Now THAT, I remember. The first-years are in for a treat."

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