As the hands on the classroom clock moved closer to the next mark, the atmosphere in the room changed. The crayons were down, the papers half-doodled, and the glitter had finally settled...mostly. Art time was coming to a close, and the kids could sense what was next.
Alina didn't even need to say it.
Play time.
The second that thought passed through the room, Drake was already halfway in the air, wiggling with excitement.
"It's play time, it's play time! I'm gonna fly! No—I'm gonna race Luna! No—wait maybe I'll build a fort out of Booooo!" he shouted, spinning in place.
His excitement practically set the air on fire.
Alina smiled, watching the way his amber eyes lit up like a tiny bonfire, his fluffy hair bouncing with every movement.
Even Vlad Jr., usually so composed and elegant, had a faint sparkle in his red eyes. He carefully placed his drawing back into his royal folder and straightened his collar, but the soft hum under his breath betrayed him.
"Finally," he whispered to himself. "The real fun begins."
And then—
RIIIIING!!
The bell rang.
And Luna was gone.
In less than a second and a blur of gray fur bolted past Alina's legs.
Poof!
She had shifted mid-run, transforming into a tiny, cute wolf pup, her silver tail flicking proudly behind her as she darted out the classroom door with the speed of a racing comet.
"Out of my way!" she growled in her baby voice, vanishing around the corner like a boss on a mission.
Alina barely had time to react, "…Did she just—?"
"She always does that," Vlad Jr. said calmly, standing now with his hands behind his back like a nobleman walking to a garden party.
"Miss Alina, may I escort you to the playground?" he added with a tiny bow.
But before she could answer, Drake zoomed past them, yelling, "NO FAIR! I WANTED TO ESCORT TEACHER!!"
Boo floated by, spinning slowly like a flying donut. "She's gonna need bodyguards soon."
Alina stood there, watching her tiny monster children launch themselves into the hallway like cartoon characters on caffeine, and she realized something—
She was… loving this job.
Alina stepped into the playground with the children trailing behind her like colorful stars. The moment they passed through the wide double doors and onto the grassy play area, the shift in energy was immediate.
Even though it was early afternoon, the towering trees that circled the playground cast a soft, leafy shade over the space, cooling the ground and painting the air in patterns of green and gold. The gentle rustle of branches above made the whole area feel hidden, like a secret garden tucked inside the heart of something wild.
And then, there was Luna.
The second her tiny wolf paws hit the dirt, she shot forward like someone had lit a fire under her tail. A blur of gray fur zipped across the playground, circling swings, dodging bushes, leaping over fallen branches like she was training for the Wolf Pup Olympics.
Alina could barely track her.
"She's running like a rocket..." she whispered in awe, shielding her eyes.
Drake was halfway into the air already, flapping his little dragon wings as he shouted, "Wait for me, Luna! I'm fast too!! I just have bad knees today!"
Meanwhile, Boo had floated to the top of the monkey bars and was dramatically narrating everyone's actions like a tiny sportscaster.
"And Luna, once again, proves she's the queen of the jungle gym—while Drake dramatically flaps into second place, and I, King Boo, comment from above with dignity!"
Rocky was sitting near a soft pile of sand, stacking pebbles and watching quietly with a shy smile, and Kelpie had found a shaded corner near the tiny water fountain, where he simply... existed. Peacefully.
But Vlad Jr.?
He stood in the sunlight with a deeply offended expression.
His small arms were crossed. His lips were slightly puckered. His eyes squinted at the sun like it had personally insulted his lineage.
Alina noticed him standing there like a grumpy little prince, his black shoes tapping against the stone pathway.
"Is something wrong, sweetheart?" she asked softly, walking over.
Vlad Jr. didn't answer right away. He just tilted his head up and let out the most elegant sigh a six-year-old had ever exhaled.
"I enjoy playing, Miss Alina," he said in a perfectly serious tone, "but I do not enjoy burning."
Alina blinked.
"It's not that hot today, sweetie."
"It's not the heat," he said dramatically. "It's the betrayal of the sun. I'm not made for this brightness. I wilt like a delicate rose."
She tried not to laugh, but her lips twitched.
He reached into his tiny pocket, pulled out a small black lace handkerchief, and began dabbing his forehead like he was attending a Victorian funeral.
"Would you like to play in the shade?" Alina asked gently.
Vlad paused, looked around, then gave a tiny nod.
"If you'll join me."
Of course. He wouldn't suffer alone.
Alina smiled and extended her hand, and the little vampire prince took it with surprising gentleness, letting her lead him under the trees where he could exist dramatically in peace.
The other kids scattered across the shaded playground like magical confetti, Alina sat with Vlad Jr. under the largest tree near the edge of the garden. He sipped red juice from a tiny cup he'd brought with him, like a royal in exile, muttering occasional complaints about sunlight, pollen, and playground sand.
"I do not understand why anyone would roll in the dirt willingly," he said as he glared at Drake, who was now rolling down a small hill yelling, "I'm a tumble-dragon!"
Alina laughed quietly, her heart soft and full as she looked around.
Boo was hanging upside down from a branch, trying to swing his crown into place.
Kelpie was playing with the water spout like it was a sacred temple, whispering something to it and giggling when it bubbled back.
Luna had disappeared into the bushes and reappeared ten seconds later with a pinecone in her mouth, growling proudly.
Rocky was very focused on drawing a map in the dirt with a stick, labeling it "Monster Treasure 100% real."
But someone was missing.
Someone quiet. Someone who never ran. Never shouted. Never smiled… at least not where others could see.
Her eyes scanned the playground and then she saw him.
Felix.