Drake came running back with a grin that nearly reached his ears, his hands flapping excitedly at his sides.
"Teacher! I found him! I found one!" he shouted, almost tripping on a rug corner as he ran toward her.
Alina chuckled, bending slightly to catch him by the shoulders before he could collide into her legs.
"Slow down, sweetheart. Where is he?"
Drake looked around dramatically, like he was about to make a grand announcement.
Then, he pointed toward the classroom's large wooden supply cabinet near the art shelf.
"He's in there."
Alina raised an eyebrow.
"In the cabinet?"
Drake nodded. "He's been hiding there since morning. He said he was the king of crayon land and can't be disturbed unless it's important."
Before Alina could even respond, the cabinet door suddenly BURST open with a loud bang.
"BOO!!!"
A small boy leapt out dramatically, arms wide, a paper crown taped to his head crookedly, glitter all over his cheeks, and a bright red feather stuck to his shirt like a badge of honor.
Alina took a full step back, startled.
"I am Sir Maximus of Crayondale!" he declared at full volume, voice echoing off the classroom walls. "Ruler of the Art Supplies and Lord of the Glitter Isles!"
There was glitter in his hair.
Glitter on his socks.
Glitter in his eyelashes.
"And also!" he added with puffed cheeks, pointing at Alina. "I am the real class leader! Not Vlad Jr., he just acts fancy!"
"HMPH." came Vlad Jr.'s dignified scoff from across the room, flipping his imaginary cloak.
Drake clapped excitedly. "See, Teacher?! He talks like this every day! Even in nap time!"
Alina blinked. "…And your real name is?"
The boy paused.
Then he raised a hand and whispered like it was a sacred spell: "Max. But don't tell anyone. It's classified."
She smiled warmly and crouched in front of him, gently brushing glitter off his nose.
"Well, Max… welcome to class."
He grinned wide and gave her a big thumbs-up before running to his desk—which was covered in hand-drawn flags, scribbled maps, and what looked suspiciously like a glittery popsicle stick throne.
That made six.
And somehow, Alina knew—
The next three were only going to get weirder.
Just as Alina was recovering from Max's glitter explosion, the boy still proudly adjusting his paper crown grinned mischievously.
"I know the next one!" Max declared, placing a finger on his lips like he was sharing a royal secret. "But Teacher… you must be feeling thirsty."
He pointed dramatically behind her.
"Why don't you drink the water behind you…?"
Alina turned, puzzled.
On the corner of her desk sat a clear glass of water she didn't remember placing there. It glimmered slightly under the light.
She stepped closer.
The water began to ripple—tiny circles dancing across the surface. Then it started shaking. Fast.
Before she could even reach out—
FWOOSH!
A flash of royal blue light burst from the glass.
The water inside vanished in an instant, and in its place, standing barefoot on the desk, was a small boy.
He looked about four.
His skin was pale like porcelain, smooth and glowing faintly like moonlight on a lake. His round cheeks were soft and rosy, his lips a delicate pink, and his eyes—
Oh, his eyes.
They were a piercing, ethereal blue, swirling like whirlpools of ocean magic.
Long waves of silken blue hair fell across his face as he glanced at her for the briefest second.
Then without a word he leapt off the desk and ran straight toward the back of the room.
He slid into his seat, buried his head in his arms, and didn't move.
Alina blinked, still stunned.
"Did that… just happen?"
Drake walked up beside her, whispering helpfully:
"That's Kelpie. He's super shy. He doesn't talk much. Sometimes he hides in sinks."
Alina smiled gently and looked toward the desk where Kelpie sat, his blue hair spilling across his arms like a curtain, completely covering his face.
"Alright," she said softly, making a mental note to talk to him when he was ready.
Then she looked around the room counting heads.
Seven.
"Sweethearts, where are the last two?" she asked kindly.
Vlad Jr., sitting elegantly at his desk, lifted his chin and answered in his velvety baby voice:
"Lucian didn't come today. He's sick."
Alina nodded. "Thank you, sweetheart. That's very helpful."
Vlad gave her a slow blink, then smiled a small charming smile.
"You're welcome, beautiful teacher."
He thought it was charming.
Alina thought it was the cutest thing she'd ever seen.
Just as Alina turned to check on the glitter still stuck in Max's eyelashes, a sudden chill crawled up her spine.
A shadow fell across the door.
SLAM.
The classroom door flew open, and a tall figure stepped in..his presence sharp and heavy like a thunderclap.
"What are you doing?" the man's voice rang out..low, cold and sharp.
Alina froze.
Her breath caught as she turned slowly toward the door.
The man standing there looked exactly like the principal...dark hair, sharp features, dressed in the same fitted black coat but something about his aura felt… different.
His stare held none of Dante's lazy elegance.
This gaze was colder. Stricter. Less tired, more dangerous.
"Is that how you're teaching the children?" he said again, his tone tight with disapproval, scanning the room.
Alina stepped back instinctively, her hands slightly trembling.
"Sir… I was only—" her voice came out softer than she expected, almost small.
She'd spent the whole morning locating childrens..
Was it really wrong?
But the man didn't let her explain.
He took a step closer.
"You're fired." His words were sharp as knives.
Alina's eyes widened, her chest squeezing tight.
"Fired?"
Her heart sank.
Tears welled instantly, blurring her vision.
She hadn't even started a real lesson yet. She had just learned their names, just begun to understand their little hearts.
She felt her throat close up.
"I… I tried my best," she whispered.
Behind her, the children fell completely silent.
Drake looked confused.
Rocky stared wide-eyed in fear.
Luna's wooden stick snapped in half from how tightly she gripped it.
Even Max's crown tilted sideways as his mouth fell open.
Vlad Jr. narrowed his eyes, sensing something was off.
Kelpie didn't raise his head… but his little hands trembled.
Sable's shadow curled protectively under his feet.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Alina stood there, swallowing back a sob.