"I got scared..."
Alina’s heart ached. "Oh, honey," she whispered, "don’t be scared. You’re such a brave little rock! Strongest in the whole classroom! And guess what—Principal already chased the worm monsters away."
"Really?" Rocky asked, voice rising just a bit with hope.
"Yes," Alina said gently. "He scared them off with a big roar. Not a single worm monster would dare co near our classroom again."
Silence again. Then—
"...Even if they co," Alina added with a proud voice, "I know you can protect us. Because you’re so strong! You could crush those an little monsters under your rocky feet, right?"
"...You really think that?" Rocky whispered.
Alina smiled. "I know that, sweetheart. You’re the strongest rock I’ve ever seen."
There was a soft sniffle. Then—"But... but teacher..."
"Yes, honey?"
"Kelpie told worm monsters eat babies..." Rocky’s voice trembled.
Alina gasped softly. "Oh my goodness... Kelpie told you that?"
Rocky sniffled again. "I got scared... and then I felt sick..."
Alina placed a hand on her chest. "Sweetheart... I’m so sorry. That must’ve been very scary for you. But I promise you, no worm monster will co to our school. And even if they try, we have magic shields... and brave boys like you."
Rocky gave a small shaky breath.
"Can I ask sothing, sweetheart?" Alina asked softly. "Do you know who told Kelpie about the monsters?"
"I-I think Luna told him..."
Alina blinked. Luna?
"And do you know who told Luna, sweetheart?"
"I-I don’t know... maybe Drake... or Vlad Jr...." Rocky whispered honestly.
Alina nodded to herself slowly. "Thank you, sweetheart. That really helps a lot."
There was a pause.
Then, Alina added gently, "Rocky... if you don’t feel well tomorrow, it’s okay to rest, alright? Health is more important than anything. You can co back when you’re feeling strong again."
But Rocky’s voice perked up quickly. "No! I’ll co tomorrow! I want to co!"
"Really?" she smiled.
"Yes!" he said proudly. "I’m gonna crush the worm monsters if they co!"
Alina laughed softly, wiping the corner of her eye. "That’s my brave rock. I’ll be waiting for you."
"Okay, Teacher," Rocky said, voice now full of warmth and courage. "Bye-bye..."
"Bye, sweetheart," Alina whispered gently.
The call ended.
And for a long mont, Alina sat there with her hand resting on her chest, heart full.
"...They really are the sweetest kids I’ve ever t," she whispered.
Just as Alina was about to sit down again, a loud voice suddenly broke through the peaceful stillness of nap ti, snapping the calm like a twig underfoot.
"WHY DIDN’T THEY TELL ABOUT THE WORM MONSTERS?!"
Boo.
He had woken up. His voice rang out sharp and full of disbelief, his eyes wide, flickering between hurt and fear. His tiny hands were clenched at his sides as if trying to hold himself together. He looked around the room, little face twisting, betrayed.
Alina’s breath caught in her throat as she quickly turned toward him.
All around the room, the other children were now waking up one by one, slowly blinking and rising from their nap spots.
Lucien had already opened his eyes the mont Boo shouted. He was lying on his side, one arm tucked under his cheek. His crimson eyes were half-lidded with irritation, and he rubbed his temples like the noise had physically hurt him.
"Tch..." he muttered, frowning. "Can you stop yelling? So of us are trying to rest."
His voice was cold. Tired. Annoyed.
But Boo turned toward him, his Body trembling. "Why would I?!" he cried out. "They didn’t tell ! If I knew about the worm monsters, I wouldn’t have co either! What if they ca while I was sleeping and tried to eat ?!"
His small body trembled. He looked terrified.
Sable, who was still sitting silently beside Alina’s desk, pulled his legs up to his chest and leaned against her chair. His big eyes darted between Boo and Lucien, but he stayed quiet. He wasn’t scared—not of worms. He was sitting beside the teacher. She would protect him.
But Boo...
Boo looked like he was breaking.
Alina stood up gently, her voice soft but firm. "Hey, hey... Boo, sweetheart—"
But Lucien sat up on the edge of his nap mat and said dryly, "Even if they wanted to tell you... who would they call?" He tilted his head, his words cutting. "Council doesn’t even care where you go. You float around like smoke. Why would they tell you anything?"
The words struck the room like a slap.
Boo froze.
His glow dimd instantly.
"No..." Boo whispered, his voice small, fading. "They care about ... they do... right...?"
But his body was already beginning to shift—his little feet turning to mist. His edges flickering like candle smoke. His entire form suddenly looked softer, dimr, barely there.
Alina’s heart dropped.
"Lucien!" she snapped, her voice sharp and fierce, like the crack of thunder across the room.
Lucien stiffened.
That wasn’t her usual soft teacher voice.
This was commanding. Angry.
His eyes widened as he looked up at her. For a mont, he couldn’t even respond. No one had ever raised their voice at him before.
Alina marched over to him, eyes burning with disappointnt. "Do you even realize how your words hurt him?! Do you ever think before you speak?"
Lucien looked stunned. Truly stunned.
"I didn’t an—" he started, but she shook her head.
"Don’t say anything unless it’s kind," she said sharply. "Look at him!"
Lucien’s gaze slowly turned back to Boo.
Boo was no longer fully solid. His little hands were see-through. His legs had vanished into a soft tail of mist. His eyes..those big, glowing white eyes were shimring with tears. Actual tears. Glowing droplets falling through the air like pearls of light.
He wasn’t floating now. He was fading.
"Boo—" Alina rushed toward him. "Hey... hey, sweetheart, don’t cry. I’m right here, okay? Please don’t cry."
But Boo looked at her with wide, breaking eyes.
"I... I didn’t want to know... I...I they didn’t care..."
His voice was soft. Shaky. More mist than sound.
Alina reached out, both hands trembling. "That’s not true. I care. And you matter. You’re special, Boo. Please stay..."
But before she could even finish her sentence—
He vanished.
Right there.
His soft form shimred once... then dissolved like a sigh.
Gone.
Alina’s hands froze in the air.
Silence.
Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly lowered her arms.
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