Boo floated closer and whispered, "Does that an the moon will swim down here too?"
King Corvus and Lady Maris exchanged a knowing look, both smiling with gentle amusent. The faint spark of laughter touched their eyes before Lady Maris spoke, her voice carrying the soft lody of rippling tides. "Well, sort of," she said. "When the moon reaches her highest light, her reflection travels deep enough to touch the sea’s heart. For a little while, it feels as though she’s swimming among us. Her silver glow spreads through every coral and pearl, and the water itself begins to shine."
Boo’s mouth fell open, awe sparkling in his silver eyes. "So she really does visit us!"
Lady Maris chuckled softly. "In her own way, yes."
Drake gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Then I need to comb my wings! What if the moon sees looking ssy?"
The entire hall rippled with laughter. Even King Corvus smiled behind his regal composure, and Alina had to press a hand over her lips to hide her grin.
Luna looked thoughtful, her tail swaying gently. "The moon takes care of wolves too," she murmured to herself, rembering her father’s stories. "She always watches us."
Lady Maris overheard and nodded warmly. "Then tonight," she said, her gaze softening, "she will watch all of us—land, sky, and sea alike."
"Alright, little ones," King Corvus announced, rising gracefully from the couch. His deep voice carried across the hall like a calm wave. "We’ve prepared a special play space for all the children. You may go and join the others there."
The mont the words left his mouth, the Class D babies exploded with excitent.
"Play area!" Drake shouted, his wings flaring so wide that Felix had to duck. Boo spun midair with a cheer, leaving a trail of tiny glowing bubbles behind him. Even quiet Sable’s eyes lit up with joy as he clasped his small hands together, already imagining making new friends with fish and sea-children.
"Co on! Co on! I’ll show you everything!" Kelpie said eagerly, waving both arms as he led the way. His glittering hair and jewelry shimred in the water like a moving star. Rocky followed closely behind, his little cheeks flushed with excitent, while Luna tried to look composed despite her tail wagging furiously.
Lady Maris smiled at the scene before turning her attention to Alina. "You must be very patient to handle such spirited children," she said warmly, her voice flowing like a soft lody. "How do you teach them all together? Surely it must be quite the adventure."
Alina laughed shyly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It’s definitely an adventure," she admitted. "But they make every day so bright. They’re all so different, and yet sohow, they fit together perfectly."
Lady Maris’s eyes glowed with admiration. "That’s the mark of a true teacher," she said.
anwhile, Dante was deep in conversation with King Corvus about security and the arrangents for the night’s main event, their calm voices blending with the sound of distant ocean currents.
As Alina followed Kelpie and the others toward the play area, her eyes widened in delight. The space was enclosed by a giant shimring bubble, large enough to fit the whole class comfortably. Inside, the floor was made of soft coral sand that glittered faintly under the filtered light.
A sandbox sat in one corner, where two tiny rmaid babies were already busy building castles out of pearly shells. Beside it stood bright coral slides, spinning swings made of woven seaweed, and floating toys shaped like dolphins and jellyfish.
Alina’s heart lted instantly. Her eyes turned soft and glowy, practically sparkling with affection. Everywhere she looked, little sea-children giggled and swam clumsily through the water, their colorful fins fluttering like ribbons. So had translucent tails, so had tiny gills that puffed bubbles, and a few had webbed fingers that glimred in the light.
She clasped her hands near her chest, eyes turning dreamy. "They’re all so cute," she whispered under her breath, completely enchanted by the sight.
If anyone saw her expression just then, they would know she wasn’t just a teacher in that mont—she was a puddle of pure adoration.
Drake, of course, wasn’t shy in the slightest. The mont he spotted a group of sea-children tossing glowing shells through the water, he dove straight in with a loud, "Hello! I’m Drake the Dragon!" nearly making everyone jump. Boo floated after him proudly like a tiny commander, saluting the new recruits. "And I’m Boo, Drake’s best friend and part-ti cheerleader and gossip king," he declared, earning a few amused giggles.
Kelpie was already introducing Rocky to his friends, his voice bubbly with excitent. "This is Rocky! He can turn into a real rock! Isn’t that cool?" he said proudly, and Rocky blushed so hard his cheeks turned pinkish gray. The other sea-children gasped in awe, circling him curiously, which made Rocky shrink bashfully and mumble sothing about not doing it too often.
anwhile, Luna’s confident facade lted the mont a beautiful little rmaid swam toward her. The girl had glimring turquoise fins and soft lavender hair that floated like silk behind her. "Hi," the rmaid said sweetly, holding a shiny coral flower in her hands. Luna froze on the spot. Her ears twitched, her tail went still, and for a full mont she forgot how to speak. "I... I like your hair," Luna finally managed, her voice as tiny as a whisper. The rmaid giggled, and Luna’s tail started wagging uncontrollably.
Felix and Lucien were surrounded in no ti. A group of curious kids had gathered around Felix, fascinated by his seven tails, each one flowing like silk ribbons in the current. He sat like a little prince, trying to look serious while gently swatting at Boo, who had returned to brag about being "the most handso ghost under the sea." Lucien, anwhile, joined a few older boys in stacking glowing shells into a pyramid, quietly competitive but smiling softly when one of them called him clever.
And then there was Sable.
The shy little shadow boy stood apart from everyone, his pale hands fidgeting nervously as he glanced around the cheerful chaos. He wanted to play too—he really did—but his tiny heart felt too heavy to move. Every ti he thought about speaking, his throat tightened. What if they didn’t like him? What if his shadow scared them away?
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