The sharp scent of onions filled the air, stinging Aiden's eyes as he chopped carefully the way the head chef had shown him. His hands moved slowly at first, unsure, but after a few minutes he found a rhythm. The sound of the knife tapping against the cutting board was oddly calming, grounding him after the chaos of the past day.
He had barely settled into the work when a boy, perhaps a year older than him, came striding over. His dark hair was slightly messy, and he carried himself with a confidence that made Aiden glance up curiously. The boy's eyes flicked from Aiden to the head chef, narrowing with concern.
"Grandfather," the boy said sharply, his voice a mix of frustration and worry. "What are you doing? You can't just ask a Skyline Academy student to chop onions for you. What if he reports you to the authorities? You know how wicked they are. What if they decide to punish you?"
