The Anomaly's Path

If there was one thing I hated more than waking up early, it was standing in the middle of a crowded street full of students while thousands of tourists stared at me like I was a rare monster in a zoo.

So, when patrol duty finally ended and we reached our class location, I was ready to kiss the ground.

I stood at the edge of the festival grounds, staring at the massive structure that had been assigned to Class Ascendant.

I didn’t pick this spot myself. That crazy, drunk Professor Morgana had handled the site assignments using our class points. I fully expected her to pass out, forget about us, and stick Class Ascendant in some dark, muddy alley behind the sewers.

Instead, she actually came through. In fact, she did a surprisingly good job.

What stood before us wasn’t some tiny, cheap street stall with a cloth over it. It was a huge, three-story building made of stone and timber that looked more like a fancy tavern than a student project.

Right on the main corner of the central plaza, it had a perfect view of the whole shopping district.

Above the main entrance hung a big, shiny oak sign. I had asked Caster to make it. Carved into the dark wood with glowing brass letters were the words:

THE ASCENDANT GRILL & TEA HOUSE

"Damn," Roan muttered beside me, whistling low as he stared up at the glowing sign. "Morgana actually used our class points for something useful? I thought she spent them all on wine."

"Don’t question miracles, Roan," I said, stepping toward the entrance. "Just be glad we aren’t selling dried bread from a wooden wagon."

The place was already busy. Students from our class were moving back and forth, wiping tables, guiding customers, and taking orders.

Before leaving for patrol, I put Malva in charge of setup and running things.

I wasn’t the only one in Class Ascendant who could cook, and waiting around for me to finish patrol was just wasting time. Besides, no one touches the special dishes or desserts — I didn’t teach anyone how to make them, so I planned to handle those myself.

We walked through the main doors, and the size of the place hit me.

The ground floor was a huge dining hall with heavy oak tables and benches. The air was filled with the sizzle of hot pans, the smell of cooked meat, and the low noise of quiet conversations.

The building had three levels. The ground floor was for fast dining and walk-ins. The second floor had semi-private booths with big windows looking out over the plaza. The third floor — the most expensive, had private dining rooms with glass walls overlooking the whole city.

The food on the top floor cost way more, even though it was the same as the food below. Nobles loved paying extra to feel fancy, and I had no problem taking their money.

I led Roan and Alice past the crowded dining area and straight into the back kitchen.

The moment the kitchen doors swung open, the heat hit me like a wave. The kitchen was loud and busy.

"More charcoal on pit three!" Garret shouted over the sizzle of meat. The dwarf stood in front of a huge iron grill, his sleeves rolled up, sweat on his forehead as his hands flipped skewers fast. "Damon! Where’s the lamb?!"

"Right behind you, stop shouting!" Damon growled, tossing a heavy crate of meat onto the table like it weighed nothing.

Sera stood at a clean counter, cool and calm. Her short hair was tied back, her sharp eyes focused as she measured herbs, brewed tea, and filled mugs with cold citrus drink. She didn’t talk to anyone — she just worked fast and pushed the finished mugs forward without slowing down.

Malva stood at the main pass, her pale face blank, her black eyes scanning every order. Her hands moved quick as she checked every plate before it went out.

When the kitchen crew saw me walk in, a few called out quick hellos before getting back to work.

"You’re late, Leo," Malva said without looking up from her order board. "The front is filling up faster than the runners can clear tables."

"Patrol ran long," I said, stepping up beside her. "How are things?"

"Smooth," she said flatly. "Skewers and tea are selling fastest. But the upper floors need better order organization."

"I see..." I said.

Roan stepped up beside me, cracking his knuckles with an annoying grin. "Alright, Leo! What’s my job? Testing the meat? Serving the pretty noble girls on the second floor?"

Alice shoved him out of the way, her amber eyes greedy as she stared at the roasted meat. "If I don’t taste the skewers first, I’m burning this kitchen down."

I turned and gave them both a dead look.

"You two," I said, pointing a finger directly at their faces, "are acting as floor managers and order runners."

Roan’s grin vanished. "Wait, what?"

"You’re going to stand outside this kitchen, take orders from the waiters, give the slips to Malva, and carry the trays out to the tables," I said. "And if I catch either of you eating even one piece of food off a customer’s tray, or stepping one foot inside my kitchen, I’ll chop you both up and put you on Garret’s grill."

"You wouldn’t dare!" Alice barked, her hair bristling.

"Try me," I said coldly. "Now get out there and work."

Before they could argue, I grabbed both of them by the collars, dragged them out the doors, and shoved them into the main hall. "Do not come back without an empty tray."

I slammed the kitchen doors shut, locking out their complaints.

I turned back to the prep station, reached into my void pocket, and put my coat and badge away. I unbuttoned my collar, rolled my sleeves past my elbows, and tied my hair back. I grabbed a clean black apron and tied it around my waist.

"Malva," I called, pulling a heavy knife from the block. "Go out front and manage the orders on the second floor. Send two junior runners back here to take your spot at the pass. And keep an eye on Roan and Alice so they don’t cause trouble."

Malva paused, her black eyes flicking to me. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, don’t worry about me. Worry about those two," I said, testing the knife edge against my thumb. "Go."

She gave a quiet nod and slipped out through the side door.

_

For the next three hours, time flew by.

The knife in my hand moved like part of my arm. Using the control I practiced for my sword, I sliced through smoked beef, glazed duck, and sweet melon with speed and perfect cuts. Every piece came out the same size.

When special orders came in, I used the back stove to melt sugar, whip cream, and cook pastries with steady heat.

Order slips piled up, got filled, and went out the door without stopping. The fifty students of Class Ascendant worked like a smooth machine, switching shifts, clearing tables, and keeping the whole three-story place running without any major problems.

When the dinner rush finally slowed down, I put my knife down and let out a long, tired breath. My shirt was damp with sweat, and my shoulders were stiff from three hours of nonstop work. But the pile of credits in our class vault made it all worth it.

I stepped back, wiped my hands on a towel, and grabbed a cold cup of coffee. Taking a slow sip, I looked out at the busy front hall. The place was still packed, and it wasn’t hard to figure out why.

Part of it was the great spot Morgana had gotten us.

But the real reason was status. Visiting nobles and rich merchants wanted to be seen with Class Ascendant. They knew who was inside — Leo von Celestial, heir of one of the Great Houses; Roan, the elven prince; and Alice, who was already known as a battlefield monster.

Sending Roan and Alice out to run trays turned out to be a smart move too. Neither of them realized it, but they were both good-looking, which pulled in half the crowd by itself.

"Taking a break?"

I turned to see Malva walking over with her clipboard.

"Yeah, just for a few minutes," I said, taking another sip of coffee. "Where are those two idiots? I haven’t seen Roan or Alice bring a single order slip back to the kitchen for the last hour. I figured they ran off to the festival stalls to avoid work."

Malva didn’t look up from her papers, but the corner of her lips twitched ever so slightly. "They didn’t run off."

I frowned. "Then where are they?"

"They’re on the third floor," Malva said flatly. "They’ve been up there for the past hour."

My frown deepened. "The third floor? What the hell are they doing in the private VIP section? I told them to manage the main hall."

"You should probably go up and see for yourself," Malva said, putting the last paper into her binder. "It’s better if you see it yourself."

A strange, uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. Knowing those two, they had probably gotten into an argument with an arrogant noble customer, smashed a table, and were currently hiding the body in a closet.

I tossed my cup into the trash, took off my apron, and headed for the stairs. The second floor was quiet. As I climbed to the third floor, my boots made soft sounds against the wood. As I approached the top, the muffled sound of polite, cheerful laughter echoed down the hallway.

I paused. Laughter? Roan and Alice don’t laugh politely. They shout, curse, or try to stab things.

I reached the door of the main VIP suite — the biggest room on the floor, with big glass windows looking out over the whole city. I took a breath, ready for trouble, and pushed the door open.

The scene inside made me freeze.

In the middle of the room, stiff as boards, stood Roan and Alice. Both wore clean server vests over their white shirts. Their hair was neat. Their posture was strangely straight. Roan had a tight, polite smile on his face as he carefully poured tea into a glass.

Alice sat beside him, holding her breath so hard her face was turning red, trying her hardest not to curse.

Sitting at the main table, enjoying the view of the festival lights, were two people I knew well. A beautiful woman in her early forties sat by the window. She had long silver hair pinned up in a fancy twist, warm green eyes, and wore a flowing white and silver dress.

Right beside her, kicking her small legs and chewing on a meat skewer, was a six-year-old girl with messy black hair, bright blue eyes, and barbecue sauce all over her face.

My mother, Isabella von Celestial.

...And my little sister, Mia.

Before I could even process what was happening, Mia turned her head toward the door. Her ocean-blue eyes lit up like stars, and she dropped her half-eaten skewer onto the plate.

"LEO!" Mia screamed, jumping off her chair and running across the room like a little bullet. She crashed into my legs, wrapping her small arms around my waist. I bent down and picked her up.

"Look at your face," I said, wiping sauce off her cheek with my thumb and gently pulling her chubby cheek.

"Ow, ow, ow! Mean Leo! Stop pulling!" Mia whined, though she immediately wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face into my shoulder, hugging me tightly. "I missed you so much!"

"Yeah, yeah. I missed you too, kiddo," I murmured, ruffling her hair while she giggled and tried to push my hand away.

I carried her over to the table and gave my mother a small nod. "Mom. You arrived earlier than I expected."

"The flight was smooth, sweetie," Mom said, her emerald eyes glowing with warmth as she looked at me. "And your friends have been taking such wonderful care of us."

I slowly turned my head toward the two figures sitting by the table.

Roan nodded his head smoothly, speaking in a gentle, dignified voice that sounded completely alien coming from his mouth. "It is an honor to serve the Duchess of Celestial. Young Lord Leo, your mother has been gracing us with her wonderful presence."

I stared at him. Young Lord Leo?! What the hell is wrong with this guy?!

Alice twitched, forcing her mouth into a strained smile while sweating bullets. "Yes... it is a pleasure to meet... Young Master Bast—uh... Young Master Leo’s family. The tea is... very fucking—I mean! Very fine! Very fine tea!"

She caught herself at the last second, coughing into her fist while Roan subtly kicked her ankle under his breath.

I stood there, feeling so much secondhand embarrassment it was almost painful. Watching these two idiots act like polite, well-behaved students was almost making me sick.

"What are you two doing?" I asked, my voice flat. "Are you broken?"

"Leo, don’t be rude to your friends," Isabella scolded gently, smiling at the two of them. "They have been delightful! Roan was just telling me all about how hard you work in class, and how you always look out for everyone."

My eyes snapped to Roan. That bastard has been making up stories.

"Is that so?" I muttered, glaring at Roan, who just offered a bright, completely fake smile in return.

"Mia wanted to try the food, so they brought us up here to the best seat," Isabella continued, taking a quiet sip of her tea. "You have such lovely companions, Leo."

"They’re a handful, Mom," I sighed, setting Mia down back into her chair. I pulled a few wrapped fruit candies out of my void pocket and dropped them into her hands.

Mia’s eyes lit up. "Yay! Candies!"

"Don’t eat them all at once," I warned, giving her head another quick pat.

I turned back to Isabella. "I still have to oversee the kitchen for a bit before we close up for the night. I’ll take these two back down with me so they stop bothering you."

"Oh, they aren’t bothering me at all!" Mom smiled warmly. "They can stay and chat a little longer."

"Absolutely not, Mom," I said quickly, grabbing Roan and Alice by the backs of their collars before they could say another word. "These two have actual work to do. I’ll come find you as soon as the work is done."

"Young Lord Leo, please, we are merely fulfilling our duties!" Roan pleaded in a dramatic, polite voice as I dragged him backward toward the door.

"Let go of my collar, you little—" Alice started to bark, before catching Isabella’s eyes and quickly shutting her mouth, giving a stiff, awkward wave instead. "—have a lovely evening, Duchess!"

I dragged them both out into the hallway and slammed the VIP door shut behind us. The moment the door closed, I let go of their collars and turned on them, my face deadpan.

"Young Lord Leo?" I looked at Roan. "Young Master Leo?" I looked at Alice. "What kind of act were you two putting on in there? Do you know how cringe that was? I almost died from secondhand embarrassment."

Roan immediately dropped the polite act, leaning against the wall with a loud groan and wiping sweat from his forehead. "Bro, your mom is terrifyingly elegant! I felt like if I used the wrong fork, my soul would get cleansed on the spot!"

"I almost bit my own tongue off trying not to curse!" Alice hissed, rubbing her jaw angrily. "If you made me sit through five more minutes of that, I would have burned the room down just to escape!"

"You both look ridiculous," I muttered, shaking my head as I headed back down the stairs. "Get back to work."