With an annoyed sigh, Luna stood, walked over, and placed her hand firmly on top of the rock.
Alina tilted her head.
"What's that even doing there?"
But before her thoughts could finish, a soft glow pulsed from beneath Luna's hand.
"Wait, what's—"
WHOOSH.
A gentle swirl of magic lit the room like fog dipped in silver moonlight and suddenly, where the rock once sat…
A small boy appeared.
He looked no older than five.
Delicate Small frame. Pale gray skin. Faint markings like cracked stone ran across his arms. His short hair shimmered like powdered slate, and his eyes wide and deep blue, looked up at Alina with a mixture of fear and wonder.
He hugged his knees to his chest, sitting right where the rock had been.
Alina gasped softly, crouching down.
"Hey, sweetheart… It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
The boy didn't respond, but his eyes didn't leave hers.
There was something so soft in them.
So breakable.
Vlad Jr. muttered under his breath, "His name's Rocky. He turns into a rock when he's scared. He's always like this with new people."
Drake nodded, whispering loudly, "It's his defense mode."
Alina gently reached out her hand, palm open.
"Hi, Rocky. I'm Miss Alina. You don't have to be scared, okay?"
The boy stared at her hand.
Then slowly… ever so slowly…
He reached out and placed his tiny fingers into her palm.
His hand was cool, smooth like polished stone but soft, warm underneath.
Alina smiled, gently helping him down from her desk and guiding him to the seat with his name on it.
"That's four," she whispered to herself.
"Five more to go."
"Alright, Drake, sweetheart… do you know where the next one is hiding?"
Alina asked softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked around the classroom—still far too quiet for having nine students enrolled.
Luna sat at her desk, arms folded, her tiny brows scrunched in disapproval as if this wasn't her job.
Rocky remained seated too, hugging his arms tightly around his torso, casting nervous glances around, especially toward the windows. His stone-gray markings shimmered faintly on his skin, but he kept quiet.
Vlad Jr. rested his chin on his hand, eyes half-lidded, looking like he belonged more in a castle throne room than a preschool classroom.
Drake, however—
The moment she asked, he perked up like a golden flame.
"Teacher!!"
He bounced out of his chair so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.
Alina reached out instinctively and caught him mid-fall.
He ended up in her arms—small, soft, and incredibly warm, like hugging a living campfire.
His tiny arms wrapped around her neck, and for a moment she thought he just wanted a cuddle.
Then she heard his whisper—
A soft, serious little voice in her ear.
"Sable, don't make Teacher worried. Come out."
Alina's eyes widened.
She slowly turned her head and put down Drake.
And then from the floor beneath her… from her own shadow something began to stir.
The inky black beneath her feet rippled like liquid, stretching and rising upward into a small shape.
A silhouette. A child-sized figure.
Then… the darkness faded, and there he was.
A tiny boy, no older than three, stood barefoot where her shadow had been.
He had soft, messy black hair, a small round face with pale skin, and wide obsidian-black eyes that reflected light like quiet stars. Tiny, curved horns peeked from either side of his head, just above his ears.
He looked up at her.
Not scared. Not angry.
Just… apologetic.
His expression held a deep, quiet sadness, like someone who had seen too much silence.
Alina crouched slowly.
Her chest tightened at the sight of him.
"Hi… Sable," she whispered gently, voice warm like a blanket. "It's okay now. I'm not mad."
Sable didn't speak.
He just stood there, his little fingers curling and uncurling at his sides, as if unsure what to do next.
Before the silence could stretch too long, Drake ran up beside him with a beaming grin.
"Teacher, Sable doesn't talk to people he doesn't like," he explained proudly. "So if he's here, that means he doesn't hate you!"
Alina laughed softly, nodding as she met Sable's quiet gaze.
"Then I feel very honored," she said with a soft smile.
Sable blinked once… then looked down and slowly walked toward his desk near the corner of the room.
Alina remained on her knees for a moment longer, watching him settle into his seat.
And suddenly, she felt it.
That strange tug in her chest.
"Teacher, do you want me to find the other four?"
Drake looked up at her with sparkling amber eyes, practically bouncing in place. His fluffy golden-red hair swayed as he tilted his head, waiting eagerly for approval like a puppy who just learned a new trick.
Alina smiled softly, heart warm.
She reached out and gently rubbed his head, her fingers combing through his soft, warm hair like sunlight through autumn leaves.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she said tenderly, her voice a melody of kindness. "I'd love that."
Drake puffed his chest, full of pride, and dashed off like a mission had been assigned by a queen herself.
Alina stood quietly for a moment, taking in the rest of the classroom.
Luna sat at her desk, grumbling under her breath while poking a wooden stick into a small plush bunny's nose. Her expression was dead serious, like the bunny owed her money.
Vlad Jr., meanwhile, was sitting stiffly in his chair—his arms folded, a faint pout on his lips.
He wasn't angry.
But his crimson eyes occasionally darted toward Alina and Drake… and stayed there a little too long.
Cute, she thought with a small chuckle.
Rocky was still curled in his chair like a shy pebble, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, peeking out now and then with soft, worried glances.
And little Sable sat at his desk, completely silent, his shadow tucked tightly beneath his feet. His fingers twisted and fidgeted in his lap, but he hadn't taken his eyes off her since he sat down.
He didn't say a word.
But he listened.
Alina's chest swelled with quiet emotion.
These weren't just students. They weren't just "monsters."
They were little souls. All of them different.
All of them precious.