Alina came out from under the table.
The cloth moved quietly as Lucian crawled out too. His small, wet shoes made soft sounds on the damp floor. His eyes usually cold and hard like his father's now looked different. Uncertain. He didn't look at Alina or anyone at first. Instead, he took small, careful steps, like a boy who didn't know how to handle his own emotions.
Dante watched.
For a moment, his eyes darkened with hidden emotion. Then just as Lucian reached Alina's side something changed.
His red eyes, usually as cold as ice, flickered with a faint warmth. His lips parted slightly, not to speak, but as if he'd forgotten to breathe. The sharp edges of his face, always so stern, softened just a little.
It made him even more beautiful.
That frightening, unreadable face… now held something gentle. Something almost like a father's love.
Behind him, the door opened. Staff members hurried in, summoned by Dante earlier and began cleaning up the water.
Alina turned to them.
"Could we get some dry towels, please?" she asked, brushing Lucian's wet hair from his forehead. "And fresh clothes for all of Class D. They're still soaked."
"Right away, Miss Hart," the head staff member said with a nod.
Once help was on the way, Alina faced the children again.
"Come on, sweethearts," she said gently. "Let's go to the resting room, okay? It's just down the hall. We'll dry off and rest for a bit."
Drake, still in dragon form, let out a tired huff and turned back into a chubby little boy with messy red-gold hair. He yawned loudly and lifted his arms, wanting Alina to carry him.
Boo floated over, arms behind his head like he was lounging. "Resting room? Got any pillows for ghosts?"
Sable held onto Vlad Jr.'s sleeve and surprisingly, the little bat prince didn't pull away.
Luna, now in human form, slid off the counter and walked beside Alina, pretending she hadn't been sniffling earlier.
Together, they shuffled down the hallway, wet shoes squeaking, tired feet dragging, but feeling just a little better.
The resting room was warm and inviting.
Soft glowing lamps lit the space, and fluffy cloud-shaped sofas filled the room. Everything was cushioned and cozy–perfect for little monsters to nap after a long, chaotic day.
Alina looked at her drenched, exhausted class and smiled.
"Alright, let's get everyone dry, warm, and snuggled up."
Alina knelt down near the soft carpeted floor, the warm light from the resting room window gently illuminating the delicate shimmer of Kelpie's damp hair. His little body still trembled from the earlier chaos, his fingers twisting at the edge of his wet sleeve. Alina reached out carefully, holding a fluffy towel in her hands and brushing back the dripping strands from his forehead.
"It's okay, sweetheart…" she whispered, her voice soft as clouds. "You're safe now. Let's get you dry, alright?"
Kelpie blinked at her, his royal-blue eyes glassy and hesitant. He didn't speak at first, just stared at her towel, then back at her hands. Slowly, cautiously, she dabbed the towel against his cheeks, then his little arms. His shivering eased under her gentle touch.
Once he was mostly dry, she stood up and walked over to the long wooden table where a staff member had quietly laid out clean sets of baby clothes–tiny shirts, soft pants, warm socks, and small hoodies with magical embroidery that gently adjusted to each child's race and comfort.
Alina picked out a soft pale-blue set with water-resistant charm runes stitched into the hem, perfect for her little water spirit.
She returned to Kelpie and knelt again, showing him the clothes with a bright, encouraging smile.
"Would you like Teacher to help you change?" she asked kindly, brushing his bangs back behind his ear.
Kelpie's cheeks flushed pink. His lips twitched nervously.
"…No," he mumbled, barely above a whisper.
Alina didn't push him. She nodded, placed the clothes gently in his hands, and smiled. "Okay. You can use the little room next door, alright? Take your time."
Kelpie looked at her once more like he wanted to say something but then turned and scurried across the bouncy floor toward the side door that led to the private changing room.
He didn't dare admit out loud what he was thinking.
That… he liked being wet. It was comforting. Soft. Like being hugged by something familiar. Even if he didn't change clothes, his body didn't get sick or cold. But still Teacher's touch had felt warm. He wanted to be good. So he would try.
Alina watched him disappear behind the door, then turned slowly.
On the far end of the room, curled into himself on a corner of the sofa, sat Sable.
Small. Quiet. Still in his damp shirt, knees pulled up, arms wrapped around them tightly like he was hiding from the world.
Alina's heart melted.
She stood and walked over slowly, lowering herself in front of him.
"Sable?" she said softly.
He looked up only slightly, his black eyes glossy, his cheeks pale and damp. He didn't speak. He didn't even blink.
So she sat on the floor in front of him again, towel in her lap.
"May I help you get dry?" she asked gently, as if speaking to a fragile flower.
He didn't move… but his little hands uncurled just slightly.
After a long pause, Sable gave a tiny nod.
It was almost unnoticeable—just a small dip of his head, but Alina caught it. Her heart warmed instantly, and she offered him the soft towel in her lap. When he didn't take it, she leaned forward, moving slowly, gently wrapping it around his little shoulders.
The towel nearly swallowed him whole.
As she began to pat him dry, her hands were featherlight, dabbing along his back, gently drying his damp little arms, then brushing over his black hair that clung wetly to his pale forehead. His eyes remained downcast, his fingers still nervously playing with the hem of his sleeve, but the way he let her touch him now quietly, without shrinking away was trust.
And as Alina wiped behind his small ears and under his chin, she realized just how tiny he truly was.
So small. So soft. So breakable.
She swallowed, emotions swelling up in her chest. The towel was loose over his shoulders, and when she pulled him slightly forward to dry his back, she could feel the gentle rise and fall of his breathing. The warmth of him. His quietness. His softness.
Her heart ached.
She had always loved children. That's why she took this job.
But this moment… this little boy in her hands, vulnerable and silent, clinging onto the edge of her kindness like it was his last lifeline…
She wanted to become a mother.
Not now. Not yet. But someday.
And not just any mother. A mother who held her child the way she was holding him now. With patience. With warmth. With the promise of safety in her arms, no matter what kind of world they came from.
Her eyes blurred slightly as she continued to pat him dry.
"There we go…" she whispered softly. "All warm now, aren't we?"
Sable nodded faintly again, his cheek pressing gently against her shoulder.
For a moment, he just stayed there and Alina… let him.
Because some babies didn't ask for hugs but their hearts still craved one.