Chapter 254: Chapter 254 Plants
Sable, ever the prepared one, already had his notebook neatly open on the desk, pencil sharpened and perfectly aligned. His small horns caught the morning light, and he sat so straight and proper that even Dante, from the back, raised an eyebrow in faint approval.
Lucien was no different. His posture was princely, like a young lord in class. He gave his father a discreet side glance before looking back at his book, trying his best to set a good example.
Meanwhile, Drake was doing his best impression of a scholar. He puffed out his chest and scribbled random lines on his page as if proving his intellectual might to the entire world. Boo, sitting beside him, copied his movements in the air with an invisible notebook, whispering, "See, Teacher? I also write! Invisible paper! Very eco-friendly!"
Luna side-eyed both of them in disbelief but, for once, didn’t say anything. Her tail flicked as she actually started writing, though her letters were shaped suspiciously like wolf paws.
Alina tried her best to suppress a laugh. This level of discipline was unheard of, especially in her class. Then her eyes—completely by accident, of course—met Dante’s.
He was sitting silently, his sharp features unreadable, his crimson eyes watching the children with quiet intensity. But when his gaze shifted to her, something softer appeared for just a second....approval, maybe, or amusement. She couldn’t tell.
Her throat went dry. "A-ah, very good! I see everyone’s ready to learn!" she said, her voice a little too high-pitched.
Drake leaned toward Boo and whispered loudly, "Teacher sounds scared."
Boo nodded seriously. "Because Principal’s scary."
Alina cleared her throat, pretending she didn’t hear that, though her cheeks warmed. "Ahem, so... plants! Today’s topic is about plants," she said, trying to sound professional while secretly praying Drake wouldn’t say anything else embarrassing in front of Dante.
"Plants?" Drake blurted out, his tail flicking nervously. "Teacher, why we need to cover that? I eat meat!"
The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. His eyes widened in horror as his brain caught up. The principal was still in the room.
He gasped and quickly slapped both chubby hands over his mouth. "I mean... I mean I eat vegetables too! Sometimes... maybe... once a year..." he stammered, looking at Alina with an innocent smile that fooled no one.
Lucien groaned softly, rubbing his temple. "You mean that one lettuce leaf you licked off your burger last week?"
The entire class burst into laughter, and even Dante’s lips twitched in amusement.
Boo, floating dramatically near the ceiling, added in a spooky whisper, "Maybe he eats chickens that eat plants, so technically he eats plants inside meat!"
"Exactly!" Drake said proudly, as though Boo had just defended his honor in court. "See, Teacher? I’m basically half-plant myself!"
Alina pressed a palm over her face, trying not to laugh. "Alright, let’s focus on the topic, plants!" she said, straightening up and pointing toward the board.
"Plants are living things that grow from the soil. They need sunlight, air, and water to live—just like we need food."
Boo raised a hand dramatically. "Teacher! Boo doesn’t need food! Boo is ghost! Boo just needs attention!"
The whole class burst into giggles, and Alina chuckled softly. "Yes, yes, Boo is the exception to every rule," she said. "But for everyone else, food and water are important, and for plants—"
She lifted her water bottle, smiling as the light caught the clear liquid inside. "—water helps them grow strong. Like this. See? Without water, plants dry up and become weak."
Drake leaned forward, eyes wide. "So if I drink more water, I’ll grow taller too?"
"Exactly," Alina said teasingly. "Maybe even tall enough to touch the ceiling."
Drake’s eyes glowed in excitement. "Hear that, Luna? I’ll be taller than you one day!"
Drake was actually tall, but because he was chubby, he appeared shorter than Luna.
Luna snorted. "Keep dreaming, lizard boy. You’ll just turn into a tall stick."
"Stick dragon!" Boo howled, spinning in the air and laughing so hard he almost hit the ceiling.
"Teacher!" Rocky asked timidly, raising his hand. "Do rocks need water too?"
"Well..." Alina smiled kindly. "Some rocks do get polished by water, so maybe you’ll shine brighter if you stay hydrated."
Rocky gasped, his round cheeks glowing. "I want to shine too!"
And Kelpie smiled proudly. "Water makes everything better."
Dante, watching silently from the back, couldn’t help the faint curve of his lips.
Alina chuckled softly, watching as the children went right back to their cheerful selves, completely forgetting that the principal was seated silently at the back of the classroom. She, however, couldn’t forget. Every time she caught the faint glimmer of Dante’s crimson eyes, her stomach flipped. She straightened her back a little, trying to look confident.
"Alright," she said, walking to the board with her marker. "Let’s draw something." She began sketching a simple plant—thin stem, two small leaves and above it, a bright sun with long rays. Her hand moved carefully, pretending not to feel Dante’s intense gaze behind her.
"This," she said, tapping the plant with the chalk, "is a plant. And this is the sun. Both are best friends."
"Best friends?" Boo gasped, floating higher. "But the sun is so far away! How do they talk?"
Alina giggled, turning to the class. "They don’t talk like we do, Boo. The sun gives light and warmth, and the plant takes it to grow stronger. It’s like when someone helps you without saying a word."
Luna’s ears twitched. "So... like when Teacher helps us without shouting?"
The room filled with laughter, and Alina’s face turned pink. "Exactly, Luna."
Drake raised his hand, squinting at the board. "Teacher, if plants love the sun so much, then what about night? Don’t they get sad when it’s dark?"
"Aww, Drake," Alina said, smiling lovingly. "That’s actually a very good question. They rest during the night, just like you. Then in the morning, when the sun comes up again, they wake up happy."
"Like Boo!" Boo said proudly, striking a dramatic pose midair. "Boo always happy!"
"Except when you have to write," Luna muttered under her breath, and the class burst out laughing again.