After their simple little science experint, Alina gave them a short recess, thinking they would use the ti to chatter and run around. But as she leaned back in her chair, she noticed sothing different—most of the babies were drooping like wilted flowers.
Drake’s head lolled sideways as he tried to poke his finger in his cup, Luna was practically yawning like a wolf cub with her whole mouth stretched wide, and Felix rubbed his eyes so hard she thought he might erase his eyebrows. Even Sable had quietly slid under his desk again, his tiny arms wrapped around himself like he was trying to nap in secret.
Alina sighed softly, heart lting. They’d worked so hard through all the new lessons today—even math and essay writing. For little ones, it was a lot. She didn’t have the heart to push them further.
"Alright, sweethearts," she said gently, moving from desk to desk. "Before you fall asleep on these cups, let teacher take them." She began gathering each small cup and the food color, stacking them neatly into a tray so nothing spilled. Boo, half dozing, floated lazily beside her and offered to carry the tray, but he tilted it so dramatically sideways that Alina quickly grabbed it back with a laugh.
When the last cup was safely put away, she straightened up. "Okay, everyone—nap ti!"
The classroom instantly brightened. One by one, the children found their cozy corners. Luna transford into a tiny wolf pup and spun in a small circle before plopping down in her bean couch, clutching her ripped toy rabbit with her paws. Boo floated lazily near the ceiling before sinking down into his favorite cabinet, snoring dramatically, as if ghosts could sleep. Drake’s chubby little arms flopped across his desk...while Vlad Jr. carefully tucked himself into his tiny coffin, closing his eyes like a proper little vampire.
Rocky rolled himself into a ball by the window, and Kelpie lay half-drenched on a mat he had dragged near window. Felix shifted into his fox form, nine fluffy tails curling around Lucien, who had simply rested his head on the fox’s fur as if it were the softest pillow in the world.
Alina sat at her desk, resting her chin in her palm, watching each of them with warmth swelling in her chest. She had thought about preparing proper nap spots—mats, blankets, and little pillows she had just bought from the store. She imagined their faces lighting up when they saw them for the first ti, their tiny hands tugging at the colorful pillows, their excitent bubbling over. The thought made her smile without realizing.
Honestly, she loved her job more than she had ever imagined she could. Even though these children were supernatural beings—ghost, vampire, dragon, fox, wolf creatures most humans would call "monsters"—they were one thousand tis kinder, more genuine, and more innocent than so humans she had known. Her chest tightened at the mory of Celeste’s mocking smile and Riccardo’s cruel words from the day before. Compared to them, these so-called monsters were angels. She would protect them, guide them, and make sure they never felt the sting of such cruelty.
***
After classes ended and the babies had gone ho, the kindergarten finally fell into a gentle silence. Alina gathered her things and made her way to Dante’s office, her heart thumping lightly as she rembered the short email she had received earlier: Collect your gifts
She knocked softly, and his deep voice answered, "Co in."
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside. The room slled faintly of parchnt and ink, mixed with the sharper aura that always clung to Dante. He was standing behind his desk, tall and imposing, but the mont his crimson eyes lifted to her, she felt a shiver ripple through her spine.
"Good afternoon, sir," she greeted, feeling slightly embarrassed that she had co only to ask for gifts.
Dante didn’t reply imdiately. Instead, he moved from behind his desk, his long stride taking him past her. Alina blinked, her heart leaping for a mont, only to realize he wasn’t stopping at her side. He crossed to a corner cabinet and returned with two unusual bags. They shimred faintly, woven from strands that looked like seaweed, dyed a soft green with intricate dolphin patterns stitched in silver thread. Tiny crystals were embedded into the design, catching the light every ti the bag shifted in his hands.
Her eyes widened in awe. Are those... real crystals? she wondered, noting how each one sparkled with the clarity of gemstones. The bags themselves were unlike anything she had ever seen—beautiful and exotic, sothing no ordinary human shop could sell.
"Here are your gifts," Dante said simply, holding them out.
She accepted them carefully, her fingers brushing his for the briefest mont, the warmth of his skin startling against her own. Inside one of the bags was a small polished box, carved with waves and moon symbols. Alina’s lips curved into a smile as she whispered, "Thank you, sir."
Perhaps it was the late hour, or perhaps it was just his presence, but the office suddenly felt smaller, the air charged with sothing she didn’t dare na. To fill the silence, she added, "Sir, I was actually thinking of decorating Class D now... since we bought all the supplies yesterday." She clutched the bag lightly to her chest.
"Alright. I will help you," he said suddenly, his tone firm, as though it was already decided.
Alina’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. "Y-you, sir...?" She hadn’t expected him to say that.
"Is there a problem?" His brows lifted ever so slightly, his crimson gaze sharp on her.
She quickly shook her head, strands of hair brushing her cheek. "No problem at all, sir."
For a mont, his eyes lingered on her, as if testing the truth in her words. Then he gave a small nod. Alina let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Dante’s long stride followed Alina down the hallway until they entered the staffroom. She carefully placed the two shimring seaweed-woven bags on her desk, the crystals catching the glow of the afternoon light. Gabriel, who had been leafing through so papers, imdiately looked up at her with a puzzled expression, his brows drawing together.
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