All the kids nodded urgently, except Lucien and Sable, who looked at one another shyly.
"My mom gave money too," Drake added proudly. "Though I told her she should have filled the bag with snacks instead. Now I understand why money exists. But I do not know how to use it. Vlad Jr., you know everything. Will you teach ?"
Vlad Jr. sighed dramatically, as though burdened by great responsibility. "I suppose."
Dante shook his head softly. "No need to go back to the bus. Take anything you want from the fair. No one here will question you. Just stay close to Miss Alina and . No running off, understood?"
A chorus of happy cheers burst around them, echoing across the shimring palace.
Alina laughed, gathering them close. "Alright, little adventurers. Let’s explore the fair."
All the babies straightened quickly, their small bodies wobbling into place as they ford a surprisingly neat line. Even Boo floated down obediently, his ghostly tail swishing as though he was trying very hard to look responsible. Two attendants who had been watching from the side approached with warm smiles and bowed slightly, ready to guide the group toward the fair.
As they followed the attendants through the glowing archway, Alina felt her breath catch again. The fair stretched out beautifully across the coral ground, lit by soft floating lanterns that glowed like drifting jellyfish. Rows of stalls lined the path—each one more enchanting than the last. So displayed shimring jewelry made of pearls and rare shells, others showcased floating dresses woven from sea silk. There were handcrafted trinkets, tiny keychains shaped like r-creatures, glowing gemstones, and sea-thed accessories that sparkled under the lights.
The babies gasped in unison.
"Teacher look," Drake shouted, pointing at a stall overflowing with glittering necklaces. "Everything shiny."
"Teacher... teacher... clothes that sparkle. Clothes that glow," Boo squealed, hugging his own tail in excitent.
Luna’s eyes widened as she pressed her hands to a glass display of moon-shaped rings. "These look like goddess gifts," she whispered.
Felix wandered toward a stall with fruit-shaped ornants, his little eyes glowing with fascination.
Sable clung softly to Alina’s dress at first, overwheld by the colors, until Lucien nudged him gently and made him smile.
Alina walked behind them slowly, her eyes roaming the stalls with quiet wonder. The craftsmanship was breathtaking. Every item seed touched by artistry, shaped by hands that understood the beauty of the ocean.
But she kept her hands behind her back, fingers intertwined.
Her human money ant nothing here, and she knew this wasn’t the ti for her to buy anything. Still, she admired each item quietly, letting her heart fill with joy as the children squealed and pointed at every new treasure.
She smiled softly.
Watching them was worth more than anything she could ever buy.
Drake, as always, was the first victim of temptation.
His eyes locked onto a stall overflowing with shimring necklaces — blue pearls, glowing beads, tiny seashell charms that sparkled like captured stardust. He gasped so loudly that even the shopkeeper jumped.
"Teacher. It is so shiny," Drake shouted, vibrating like an excited engine.
Without waiting, he ran to the nearest necklace, grabbed it with both hands, and hugged it to his chest. The shopkeeper, a kind-looking rman, laughed warmly.
"A little dragon with great taste. This one is very popular," he said, bending down to Drake’s level. "Here, use this to keep your treasures safe."
He offered Drake a tiny pastel-blue pouch decorated with silver scales.
Drake’s eyes grew round and sparkly. "A bag. For ?" He looked like he had been entrusted with royal treasure. "Thank you, uncle. I will treasure this treasure bag."
He clutched it to his chest proudly as he marched off, tail swishing in triumph.
And then chaos began.
The mont Drake bought sothing, every baby exploded into motion.
"Teacher... teacher... look at this."
"Teacher, I want this shiny one."
"Teacher, can I buy for my mom and dad and my cousin and my grandma and—"
"Teacher, I want the whole shop."
Alina could only laugh helplessly as she moved from one baby to the next.
Boo had stopped in front of a baby clothes stall.
He floated there, eyes huge, staring at rows of tiny shirts — glittery, pastel, frilled, striped, glowing, patterned with baby whales, so with little gemstone buttons, others decorated with floating holographic fish.
"There are too many," Boo whispered. "Teacher... help... Boo brain is full."
Alina broke into soft laughter and stepped beside him. "Alright, Boo. Let’s find sothing cute."
From the rack, she pulled a tiny pastel pink shirt with a gentle shimr and held it up to him. "This will look adorable on you."
Boo’s ghostly cheeks turned rosy as he pressed both hands over his round mouth. "Teacher... Boo looks pretty?" he asked shyly, holding the shirt near his floating body.
"Yes, sweetheart," Alina said warmly. "Very pretty."
Boo giggled and spun in excitent, nearly dropping the shirt.
Next, she picked a soft blue shirt with tiny wave designs. She held it up too. "This one as well."
Boo hugged the shirt dramatically. "Teacher... Boo feels handso."
Felix wandered over, holding a beautiful hairclip. "Teacher, will this look good on my mom? She likes pretty things."
"It will look lovely, Felix," Alina answered gently.
Luna ca next, clutching a moon-shaped bracelet with wide shining eyes. "Teacher... this feels like ho."
Lucien was comparing two rings, expression serious as if choosing his fate.
Sable peeked at a stall with black accessories and shyly picked a shadow-colored charm.
Even Vlad Jr. finally chose a neat black ribbon after pretending to be uninterested for ten full minutes.
anwhile...
"Teacher, I want to buy the whole shelf," Drake shouted from across the path, holding up seven necklaces at once.
"You are buying one at a ti," Alina called back, half laughing and half panicking.
"But teacher... they are all shiny," Drake wailed, collapsing dramatically onto the sandy floor like a defeated hero.
Boo floated over and patted his back. "It is alright, Drake. Boo will buy a shiny shirt. Together we shine."
"I want to shine more," Drake cried.
And the shopkeeper laughed as though this was the most entertaining day of his life.
Alina rubbed her forehead.
She had never imagined her life would include calming a crying dragon baby because he could not buy seven necklaces at once.
But as she watched them, she could only laugh softly and shake her head.
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