Lyra's respect and appreciation for Professor Genoise increased by several cupfuls that day.

The Presentation headmaster refused to let Florentine's hovering, note-taking presence distract from the lesson. He pressed on with all his usual flair, monocle firmly affixed to his eye and every element of his appearance as impeccably elegant as ever. Only by watching him quite closely indeed could Lyra detect on occasional flash of true frustration behind his polished, professional exterior.

Apparently, an expertise in baking showmanship could cross over quite handily to one's personal 'Presentation.'

"As I was saying," he went on, raising his hand to set the chalk writing on the board behind him. "The Presentation version of the Shortcrust Spell is quite similar to what you learned yesterday in Texture, and what you will learn tomorrow in Flavor. Eyes on the board, please."

The second-years turned to the board, watching the chalk form the words in the professor's own flowing script:

Butter for the softness Flour for the weight Water is the elegance To grace the humble plate

Professor Genoise had them all repeat the chant four times before he was satisfied that they knew it. Then he flourished his elaborately carved rolling pin once again.

"You'll note that I won't be using my silver spoons this year. A rolling pin is much more suitable for these Presentation spells. This particular instrument has been specifically enchanted for pastry magic." He gripped the rolling pin tightly in both hands and poised it over the waiting lump of dough. "Watch closely."

With smooth, confident movements, he began rolling out the dough into a large flat circle.

Purple sparks instantly burst forth from the rolling pin, settling over the dough in a shimmering haze. It reminded Lyra of her family's occasional outdoor concerts in a meadow outside the city, when they would arrive at dawn to set up and see the morning mist still clinging to the grass. But unlike that rapidly fading mist, the purple haze of Presentation magic grew thicker and darker with each passing moment.

Lyra tried to follow along with what she guessed Professor Genoise's silent recitation pace might be. She was halfway through her fourth repetition of the Shortcrust Spell when the professor stepped back. As soon as the rolling pin left the dough's surface, the purple light vanished in a bright flash, revealing a perfectly smooth circle exactly sixteen inches in diameter.

"Behold!" Professor Genoise announced. "The final proof will come once it has been baked, of course, but the spell's effect is already noticeable to a trained Presentation eye. Aspiring Baker Fondant, what do you sense?"

Mac's hand was already stretched out over the dough, as if moving on its own. He flushed slightly, but answered without hesitation.

"This dough is fully cohesive and perfectly neat. It can be cut and shaped to fit any tin, and will bake evenly. The color will be the ideal golden-brown. And there's something else…" His eyes squeezed shut in concentration behind his glasses. "It's a certain… panache. That's the best way I can describe it. This pie crust won't just be tidy. It will be… pleasing. Pretty."

"Elegant?" Professor Genoise suggested.

Mac nodded solemnly. "Yes. Elegant. The pastry hasn't just been fixed by the spell. It's been elevated."

"Well said, Aspiring Baker Fondant." Professor Genoise gave Mac a deep bow. "And that is the result of merely reciting the spell in the traditional way, silently, three times. I am deeply curious about the effect of adding music."

Florentine drew in her breath sharply. The pace of her scribbling doubled.

"My Texture colleague is rather enamored of the scientific method," Professor Genoise went on, ignoring the furious scratch of pen on paper behind him. "I have been inspired by her afresh this year, and shall be endeavoring to approach our explorations in this classroom with conscientious efficiency. To that end, I wish to conduct an experiment today on the impact of different tunes for the same spell. We shall spend the morning in practice of this spell to the same tune you used in Texture yesterday."

He turned to Lyra. "Do you think you could invent a unique Presentation melody for this chant by the time we return from lunch, Aspiring Baker Treble?"

"Absolutely, Professor," she replied, variations already spinning through her mind.

"Excellent. We will learn it and practice the spell with it after lunch. Then we can compare the differing effectiveness of the two melodies. Aspiring Baker Treble, please run us through these words with the Texture tune?"

Obediently, Lyra led them all in a few rounds of 'The Shortcrust Spell', Presentation version, with the Texture melody.

"Everyone clear on that? Any questions?" Professor Genoise glanced at each of them in turn before nodding. "Splendid. To your work-stations! Let's see how many pie crusts we can whip up over the course of the morning. If you wish to employ the Texture spell during the mixing process, be my guest. And I expect to hear lots of singing!"

Florentine cleared her throat loudly. "I beg your pardon, Professor."

"Yes, Apprentice Baker Clafoutis?"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"As this is the first day, shouldn't more time be given to the spell itself? Recited in the traditional manner?" Florentine's voice dripped through Lyra's mind like honey laced with arsenic. She didn't know how Professor Genoise could stand so close to the girl without recoiling. "I believe Professor Puff spent the entire morning yesterday in such a… time-honored fashion."

Professor Genoise didn't miss a beat. "Professor Puff was wishing to establish a baseline. Having spoken with her at length about the events of yesterday's lab day, I do not require any further data. The students are, of course, welcome to perform the spell silently if they wish. We can all conduct our own experiments."

"But surely," Florentine continued, "even a practice round without magic would be advisable. The academy has always —"

"I believe I am equally well-versed as you in the Royal Academy of Magical Baking's habits and traditions, Clafoutis." Somehow, the professor matched the third-year student's sickly sweet tone, even managing to inject an extra note of sorrow underneath the thinly veiled contempt. "And certainly more well-versed than you in these four students' strengths and weaknesses. As I said, I have sufficient information to proceed with their instruction, according to the plan I have just set forth. If you have any objections, I suggest you apply yourself to your studies, that you may earn a degree and then find a class to teach as you see fit."

Florentine narrowed her eyes. Without replying, she returned her pen to the notebook and began writing with far more force than necessary.

"Right!" Professor Genoise whirled around to face the class, spreading his arms wide. "Let the experiment begin!"

—

The Presentation headmaster's determined poise throughout that lab day certainly made him rise in Lyra's esteem. She couldn't imagine how he was able to keep teaching at all amidst Florentine's constant scribbling and sour glares, let alone maintain such a professional demeanor.

The next day, though, Professor Honeycomb left her in awe.

Eclair was already writing notes when the second-years entered the Flavor classroom for Thursday's lab. At least they were prepared for this particular ingredient to the day's recipe. Rye had told them the night before that he'd overheard Florentine conscripting Eclair, instructing the Flavor apprentice to perform the same spy work in Professor Honeycomb's class as Florentine had undertaken in Presentation.

"Of course, I popped my head in and volunteered to cover Texture," Rye said cheerfully. "And they couldn't say no. Florentine had just been going on about how important it was for the board to know everything that happens with the second-years. I helpfully pointed out that it's strange she hadn't asked me, since Texture covers one-third of your time here. I assured her I would even go with her to present our findings to the board. Oh, you should have seen her face…"

Lyra wished she could share his confidence as the second-years settled into their accustomed seats. It had been hard enough to push through a whole day of 'Apprentice Baker' meddling in Presentation, even with Professor Genoise's remarkable nerve.

And Professor Honeycomb is so nice, Lyra thought, gazing gloomily at Eclair's rapidly moving pen. I don't think she could be harsh, even if she tried. Won't Eclair just walk all over her?

"My dears! Welcome!"

The Flavor headmistress bustled into the room, radiating the same distinctive blend of warmth and zest as always.

"Your other professors have regaled me with tales of this week. I take it yesterday's Presentation experiment was conclusive?"

"Absolutely," Mac gushed. "I thought the Texture tune of the Shortcrust Spell was great. But the new melody Lyra made up for the Presentation version… it was a revelation."

"That was the word Professor Genoise used for your pie crust, Mac," Lyra reminded him. "'Your pastry is a revelation, Fondant.' That's what he said."

Caramelle smiled across the aisle at her bespectacled classmate. "But Mac's Presentation is always like that. Even without the Enjoyment factor, his bakes are guaranteed to shine."

Mac squeaked something inarticulate in reply.

"But yes, Professor," Boysen cut in. "The experiments in both lab days have been conclusive. Singing each spell to a unique melody definitely adds an extra…" He turned to Lyra, raising an eyebrow. "Spark?"

"I think so," she replied. "I mean, we've all enjoyed singing the spells so far. It's made a difference in the resulting pastry. And the professors have seemed to agree."

"Indeed." Professor Honeycomb bounced onto the tips of her toes. "I cannot wait to hear the melody you concoct for Flavor. Oh, it's going to be a grand year. Apprentice Baker Tatin has even agreed to take notes for us!"

Eclair's head snapped up from where it had been bent over her parchment. "I… what?"

Professor Honeycomb's sparkling blue eyes disappeared in a crinkle of smile-wrinkles. "You're going to act as my scribe this year! I must say, I don't know why we never thought of it before. It's such a fitting task to add to the Apprentice Baker curriculum. You and Apprentice Baker Clafoutis must have been inspired. Observing, chronicling… you are going to learn so much."

"I…" Eclair looked around wildly, as if searching for Florentine to give her instructions. "I'm really just documenting what you do with the second-years. To present to the board. So —"

"Oh, but why stop there?" Professor Honeycomb clasped her hands together and began bouncing again. "It will be just as illuminating to keep a record of the first-year class. Even more so, for an… advanced baker like yourself. It's important to revisit one's roots occasionally, I always say. You can't deepen a Flavor without understanding the origins of that Flavor. Or, to put it another way, you can't perform baking magic like a true expert unless you remember what it was like to struggle as a beginner." The professor beamed at Eclair, radiating pure delight. "No, Apprentice Baker Tatin, you and Clafoutis are really on to something here. I look forward to reading your accounts of all the week's classes. You can turn them in every Friday."

Eclair's perpetually pale complexion had turned several shades paler. "But — that's — with all the other work, I can't possibly —"

"And Nougie will be so pleased!" Professor Honeycomb blazed on with merciless cheer. "Lord Nougat, you know. The Royal Chef of Flavor. He's been after me for years to write a book about my teaching. 'Your Flavor class made me what I am,' he keeps saying. He's such a dear, may salt forever season his path. And he wants at least some of my methods to be passed down for posterity. I've always said, 'Nougie, my sweet, I simply haven't the time to bother with writing a book!' But now that I have an Apprentice Baker so graciously volunteering to document my every move…"

Lyra kept her eyes on the Flavor professor, studiously avoiding the eyes of her classmates. If she so much as glanced at Boysen, she was going to start laughing, loudly and uncontrollably. She was sure of it.

Who knew? she thought, shaking her head in wonder. Sweet can be every bit as effective as sour. Maybe even more.

She made a mental note to herself never, ever to get on The Honeycomb's bad side.

Eclair, meanwhile, had wilted under the relentless spotlight of the Flavor professor's smile.

"I… I'd be honored to help you, Professor," she mumbled.

"Splendid!" Professor Honeycomb actually ran over to give the deflated third-year a hug. Then she turned back to the class, bursting with such powerful positivity that Lyra marveled she didn't lift right off the ground.

"What did I tell you? Oh, it's going to be a wonderful year!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.