The Anomaly's Path

The plan had been simple.

Finish the morning patrol, head over to the Ascendant Grill & Tea House, handle the afternoon crowd, and then drag Roan and Alice along to face my mother and Sylvia.

...Or so it was supposed to happen.

I was halfway down the crowded street, walking past stalls, when my watch buzzed twice. A holographic screen appeared above my palm. It was from Sylvia.

Strict Monster (Sylvia): "Change of plans. Mom and I are waiting at The Velvet Loom in the Central Plaza. Come here now. I got three hours free from my Student Council meetings. It’s the only free time I have for the rest of the festival. Don’t make us wait."

I stared at the text for a moment, letting out a breath. Leave it to Sylvia to treat family time like a military operation.

"Well," I muttered to myself, turning around to look at Roan and Alice who were walking right beside me. "There goes the afternoon shift."

I pulled up Malva’s contact and sent her a quick text.

"Malva, I’m getting dragged away by my family right now. Sylvia cleared her schedule for the next three hours, so I have to go. I’m taking Roan and Alice with me as human shields. Sorry for dumping the stall on you again. I’ll take the whole midnight shift tonight to make up for it."

I closed my watch, a small pang of guilt settling in my stomach.

I hated leaving the stall while everyone else was working hard. Malva was already doing more than her share, managing the stall, tracking supplies, and keeping everyone in line with her cold, blank stare.

Even though she kept to herself, she had become the backbone of Class Ascendant. It wasn’t just her either. The whole class was working hard while I was being dragged away by my family.

I need to make this up to them, I thought as we walked.

When I got back tonight, I would take the night shift so Malva, Garret, and the others could actually enjoy the festival. Most students had families visiting. The gates were open to everyone, nobles and commoners alike, and parents came to see their kids.

Yesterday, I had casually asked Roan if his parents were coming. He just shrugged, explaining that Lyssaria, had told them to stay away. The Elven King and Queen were famous for doting on their children, and Lyssaria knew bringing them here would be a disaster.

As for Alice... she didn’t have parents to invite.

Alice was an orphan before the Headmaster brought her to Aegis. He was the closest thing she had to family — though she’d never admit it out loud. She was too shy and stubborn to call him family to his face, but she knew how much he meant to her.

Besides, the Headmaster was away on business and wasn’t even here for the festival. But I wasn’t worried about Alice. She was tough, fiercer than almost anyone I knew, and she wasn’t the type to feel sorry for herself.

Still, I respected her. She had fought for every bit of respect she earned.

"Why are we changing direction?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed me turning toward a different path.

"Change of plans," I said flatly. "Sylvia and Mom are free for three hours right now. We’re going shopping."

Roan froze mid-step, his eyes wide. "Wait—now?! Leo, bro, I thought we had at least some time to prepare! No! You know what, bro? I just remembered I have a rare condition where my lungs collapse if I enter a clothing shop. It’s an ancient royal elf curse. Very tragic."

"Fascinating," I said flatly, grabbing him by the back of his shirt. "You can tell my mother all about it."

"Alice, hit him!" Roan yelled, waving his arms as I dragged him along. "Rescue your comrade!"

"I’m not fighting Leo just to get killed by Lady Isabella five minutes later," Alice grumbled, crossing her arms as she walked beside me, looking like a soldier heading into danger. "I’m coming, but if your sister tries to put me in a dress, I’ll kill you."

"Sure, sure. Now let’s go before Sylvia starts texting me again," I said.

Both of them accepted their fate, groaned, and started walking beside me.

_

Ten minutes later, we were standing in front of The Velvet Loom — the most expensive clothing shop in the central plaza.

The building looked more like a noble palace than a shop. Marble pillars stood by the glass entrance, and floating crystal lanterns cast soft light over rows of fancy silk coats, riding clothes, and jeweled dresses.

Standing near the entrance was my mother, looking elegant in a flowing dress, holding Mia’s small hand. Beside her stood Sylvia. She wore her uniform, her long black hair tied back neatly. Her arms were crossed, and her sharp blue eyes scanned the street like a hawk looking for prey.

"Leo!" Mia squeaked as soon as she saw me. She broke away from Mom and hurried over as fast as her little legs could go.

I crouched down and scooped her up before she could crash into me, lifting her onto my hip. She grabbed a fistful of my long hair, babbling happily as she held out a half-eaten piece of candy toward my mouth.

"No thanks, kiddo, you keep it," I muttered softly, gently ruffling her hair.

"You’re five minutes late, Leo," Sylvia said the moment she spotted us.

"I wasn’t late," I said dryly. "I came straight from patrol. Besides, you’re the one who changed the plan suddenly."

Sylvia scoffed, her eyes flicking past my shoulder to lock onto Roan and Alice. "And I see you brought your usual shadows."

Roan nudged Alice and whispered, "Is she talking about us, or did you bring a ghost?"

"I don’t think so?" Alice muttered, keeping her eyes forward and her lips still so Sylvia wouldn’t notice.

Isabella beamed and waved with a warm smile. "Oh, hush, Sylvia. Don’t pick on them! It’s wonderful to see you both! Roan, Alice, thank you for coming along."

"The pleasure is ours, Lady Isabella," Roan said smoothly, stepping forward. "We’re honored to join you."

"Thank you for having us, Lady Isabella," Alice added, giving a quick, sharp nod of her head.

Mia leaned over my shoulder, pointing her sticky candied apple directly at Roan’s face. "Elf man!" she chirped loudly.

Roan’s calm act instantly broke as he tried to lean back. "Ah—hello, little Princess. Please keep the sticky fruit away from my hair..."

Alice let out a tiny snort of amusement.

"Now then," Isabella said, turning toward The Velvet Loom, the fanciest, most expensive shop in the academy city. "The festival banquet is tomorrow night, and none of you are going looking like you just fought a bear in a closet. Let’s go."

The moment we stepped inside, the head tailor, a tall, flashy man with sharp glasses and measuring tapes around his neck, bowed so low his forehead almost touched the floor.

"Lady Isabella! Lady Sylvia!" the man beamed, snapping his fingers. Four junior assistants rushed out from the back, carrying racks of fancy fabrics. "It’s an honor! We have prepared the private fitting room as requested."

Before I could even process what was happening, two assistants grabbed me by the arms, while another two cornered Roan and Alice.

"Wait—hey! Get your hands off me!" Alice barked, trying to shove the assistants away.

_

For the next hour, it was pure torture.

I was shoved into a fitting room, stripped of my academy coat, and forced into one outfit after another. Black silk shirts with silver thread. Dark blue vests with high collars. Heavy leather coats lined with white fur.

Every time I stepped out, Mom would tilt her head, Mia would clap her tiny hands from the sofa, and Sylvia would cross her arms and point out every flaw.

"The shoulders are too loose," Sylvia said on the third outfit, a sleek grey coat with silver stitching. "Leo fights with a sword. If the sleeves are even slightly off, it’ll restrict his shoulder movement."

The head tailor looked like he was about to faint from stress. "V-Vice President, this is formal evening wear, not combat armor—"

"Fix the sleeves," Sylvia commanded, her blue eyes flashing with aura.

"Y-Yes, My Lady! Right away!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the lounge, an assistant was holding up a crimson silk shirt for Roan.

"Lord Roan, this deep red would look magnificent—"

"Red?" Roan scoffed, raising an eyebrow as he inspected the fabric. "Do I look like a circus performer to you? Red washes out my skin! I’m an elf, for heaven’s sake! Bring something else!"

"R-Right away, My Lord!"

Next to him, Alice was locked in a quiet battle with my mother, who was currently holding up a crimson tunic dress with golden embroidery.

"Alice, dear," Isabella said gently. "Just try it on. It matches your hair so beautifully."

Alice stared at the dress like it was a monster. "Lady Isabella, with all due respect... I fight on the front lines. If I wear a skirt, I’ll end up stepping on the hem and tripping during a stance."

"Nonsense! A true warrior adapts to any attire," Isabella smiled smoothly, handing it to her. "And it comes with tailored leather trousers underneath. Go on."

Alice looked at me with a desperate, pleading gaze that silently screamed: KILL ME NOW.

I offered her a brief, silent nod of respect, though with a dark smile on my face. You’re on your own.

"Traitor," Alice mouthed silently before reluctantly dragging herself into a fitting booth.

While the assistants fixed the hem on my fourth coat, I leaned back and let out a long, quiet breath. The shop was noisy, Roan complaining about buttons, the tailor sweating over measuring tape, Mia giggling with silver ribbon, and Mom chatting warmly with Sylvia.

It was chaotic and loud.

But watching the mirror as the tailor pinned the fabric around my shoulders, the tight knot in my chest slowly began to loosen.

I looked at Sylvia in the mirror. She was scolding Roan for slouching, but her eyes didn’t have the cold hostility she used to show the old Leo months ago. I looked at Isabella, who was fixing Mia’s hair ribbon while glancing at me with gentle pride.

They don’t know the truth, a dark voice whispered in my head.

No, I thought, closing my eyes for a moment and letting the warmth of the room wash over me. They don’t. But right now, this is mine. And I’m not giving it up.

"Leo!" Isabella’s voice called out, snapping me back to the present.

I opened my eyes and stepped off the small platform.

Alice had just stepped out of her fitting booth. She was wearing a deep midnight-red tailored tunic paired with fitted black trousers and a sleek leather belt over her shoulder. It wasn’t a gown, but it was sharp, elegant, and made for someone who fought.

She looked surprisingly stunning, a fact that Roan immediately ruined. Roan tilted his head, leaning against a marble pillar with a mocking grin. "Well, look at that. You actually clean up pretty well, shorty. I almost forgot you spend your free time wrestling others."

Alice’s amber eyes snapped toward him. "Say one more word, elf, and I’ll test how flexible this tunic is."

"Try it," Roan smirked, holding his ground.

"Both of you, quiet," Sylvia ordered, stepping between them with a glare. Instantly, both of them snapped back to attention and shut their mouths.

Isabella clapped her hands together, beaming at all of us. "Wonderful! We’ll take everything. Wrap them all up and give me the bill."

The head tailor bowed so fast I thought his spine would snap. "Thank you, My Lady! It shall be done immediately!"

Inside the academy, students used Merit Points. But in the city shops, merchants charged high prices to anyone visiting the festival, using Academy Credits linked to accounts. Gold and silver credits were exchanged at high rates just to keep fancy shops in business.

My mother didn’t care at all. She had more than enough money, so she did whatever she wanted. She told the head tailor to bring out the best fabrics in the shop. She didn’t just buy clothes for the banquet, she went on a full shopping spree.

For Roan, she picked out a proper banquet suit, a dark green coat with a silver silk shirt and grey vest that looked good with his pale skin and silver hair. She also added two extra silk shirts and a grey cloak to his pile.

As for Alice, she fought hard with endless excuses about fighting on the front lines, but she completely lost against my mother. Isabella wouldn’t back down.

In the end, Alice was forced to get a fancy gothic dress that matched her red hair and amber eyes. It had a fitted black corset with a dark red collar, big flowing red sleeves, and a heavy velvet skirt in black and dark blue.

It looked regal and dangerous, but Alice stared at it like it was a cursed object that would swallow her alive.

Sylvia wasn’t left out either. Mom bought her a white-and-silver dress with blue embroidery for the banquet, ignoring Sylvia’s complaints that her uniform was fine. Even little Mia got a pile of velvet dresses, fur-lined cloaks, and glowing hair ribbons.

As for me, she refused the standard black, blue, and grey coats the assistants tried to give me.

Instead, she picked a white silk coat with silver thread that shimmered in the light. It came with dark blue trousers, a dark vest with a high collar, and a light grey silk shirt with a dark blue tie that brought everything together.

The silver designs on the collar and cuffs gave the whole suit a sharp, noble look, striking and well-matched, but not too flashy.

While the assistants wrapped everything, Sylvia stepped up behind me and looked at my long white hair.

"We aren’t done yet," Sylvia declared flatly. "Follow me."

"Huh? Where?" I asked.

Sylvia’s ocean-blue eyes glinted with an unyielding, dangerous light as her hand clamped down onto my shoulder like an iron vise.

"To fix that disaster on your head."