Alina walked toward them, her soft green dress catching the morning light.
She looked like she had stepped out of a painting, like she belonged in the garden, among the flowers, among the growing things.
Several children paused just to look at her.
"Teacher looks like a plant queen," Kelpie whispered, his water droplets pausing mid-fall.
"She does," Rocky agreed seriously.
Luna nodded once, quick and firm, as if the matter was settled. "Yes."
Boo floated closer, circling Alina slowly.
"Teacher is the prettiest decoration," he announced. "Better than my ribbon. Almost."
Alina laughed, the sound bright in the morning air.
Vlad Jr. simply smiled, watching his classmates with quiet contentnt.
At a distance, soone else had already noticed Alina.
Dante.
He had arrived earlier, slipping in while the children were still arriving, while the chaos was still organizing itself into sothing that could be called an event. He stood near the edge of the playground with Gabriel, his arms crossed loosely over his chest, observing everything quietly. He had been busy for days, occupied with council matters and responsibilities that had kept him away from the kindergarten, away from the classroom, away from her.
But today he was here.
For Plantation Day.
For her.
His gaze moved across the playground—across the ribbons, across the signs, across the children laughing and running and shouting. Across Vlad Jr. straightening a sign and stepping back to admire it. Across Boo floating in circles, his ribbon trailing behind him. Across Kelpie checking the water buckets. Across Rocky carefully holding his cloth bag.
And stopped on Alina.
She was laughing at sothing Boo said, her head tilted, her hair catching the sun, her dress moving with her.
Dante’s expression didn’t change. But his eyes softened.
"...Beautiful," he murmured under his breath, the word slipping out before he could stop it.
Nearby, Gabriel followed his gaze, his eyebrows rising slightly.
"...You say sothing?" he asked casually, his voice carefully innocent.
Dante didn’t answer. He simply looked away, clearing his throat slightly as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t said anything at all.
"Everyone is ready?" Gabriel called out loudly, clapping his hands to gather attention, wisely choosing to let the mont pass. "Let’s gather by your class sections!"
The playground slowly settled. Children stopped running, stopped shouting, stopped comparing ribbons and tools and outfits. They gathered near their assigned spots, still whispering, still giggling, still stealing glances at friends and teachers and the mysterious figure of the principal standing at the edge of everything.
Vlad Jr. moved to join his classmates, standing beside Lucien and Sable, his hands clasped loosely in front of him.
Alina turned toward Class D, her smile gentle, her hands clasped loosely in front of her.
"Alright," she said, her voice warm and carrying. "Today is a special day. Today, we are planting sothing that will grow."
The children looked at her, their faces bright, their attention caught.
"Just like you all are growing," she added softly.
Boo nodded imdiately, his ribbon fluttering.
"Yes. I am growing very importantly. Every day. New levels. New responsibilities."
Felix closed his eyes.
"Of course you are."
Kelpie smiled brightly, his water rippling.
"I want my plant to grow big! Bigger than ! Bigger than the playground!"
Rocky held his small bag carefully, his fingers gentle.
"I will take care of it," he said quietly. "Every day. I will watch it grow."
Luna crossed her arms, her chin lifted.
"I will make mine the strongest. The most healthy. The best plant in the whole plantation."
Lucien nodded quietly, his hand resting on Sable’s shoulder.
Sable looked up at Alina, his eyes bright with excitent.
"Can we na our plant now?" he asked. "Like a friend?"
Alina smiled.
"Yes," she said. "You can na your plant."
The children imdiately erupted into discussion.
"Flay!"
"Leafy!"
"Bob!"
"Bob is not a plant na!"
"Bob is a na for everything!"
Vlad Jr. raised his hand, a small smile on his face.
"Perhaps we should plant first and na later," he suggested. "The soil is ready, and the saplings are waiting."
The children paused.
"That is... actually a good idea," Felix admitted.
Luna nodded. "Plant first. Na after."
"Agreed," Kelpie said.
Alina clapped her hands lightly. "Then let’s begin. Everyone find a spot. Vlad Jr., you can help Sable with his plant."
Vlad Jr. nodded and moved to stand beside Sable, ready to dig into the soil with his hands like everyone else.
Across the playground, Dante watched.
He watched the children spread out across their section, each finding a small space to work. He watched Vlad Jr. kneel beside Sable, helping him dig a hole with his small hands, their movents careful and steady. He watched Alina kneel beside Kelpie to show him how deep to place his sapling. He watched her laugh when Kelpie’s water splashed too enthusiastically and soaked Rocky’s sleeve. He watched her patiently explain to Luna that strength wasn’t just about how deep you dig, but about how much care you give. He watched her gently correct Boo when he tried to float his plant into the hole instead of using his hands.
Alina laughed and moved through the group, helping each child find their spot, showing them how to dig the right depth, how to place the sapling gently, how to pat the soil around it. She worked her way toward Vlad Jr., who had chosen a spot near the middle of their section after helping Sable.
"Teacher," Vlad Jr. said as she knelt beside him, his voice soft.
She looked at him, ready to help him with his planting.
But he didn’t ask for help with his own plant.
"Can I plant on behalf of my friend Drake?" he asked, his eyes earnest. "He also wanted to na his plant sothing. He said it beforehand. Big Fire."
Alina paused, her heart softening.
Vlad Jr. looked down at the small sapling waiting to be placed in the soil.
"Drake is not here," he continued quietly. "But he wanted a plant too. He said he would na it Big Fire. So... maybe I can plant it for him. So when he cos back, his plant will already be growing."
He looked up at her, his expression serious and hopeful.
"Would that be okay?"
Alina felt sothing warm spread through her chest.
She reached out and gently touched his shoulder.
"That is a beautiful idea," she said softly. "Yes. Let’s plant Drake’s plant too."
Vlad Jr.’s face lit up, a quiet, pleased smile spreading across his features.
They worked together, digging a second hole beside Vlad Jr.’s own spot, placing the sapling carefully, patting the soil around it with gentle hands.
When they finished, Vlad Jr. looked at the two small plants side by side.
"His is Big Fire," he said quietly. "Mine is... I will think of a na later."
Alina smiled.
"He will be happy when he cos back."
Vlad Jr. nodded, his hands covered in soil, a smudge of dirt on his cheek.
"Yes," he said. "I think so too."
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