Chapter 206: Chapter 206 Baby bat
He floated closer until his pale face was right in front of hers, his eyes glowing faintly. For a heartbeat, she couldn’t breathe. Then—images flickered inside her vision.
A middle-aged woman appeared, her face twisted in rage, pacing a shadowy corridor. "I WILL DEAL WITH THEM ALL!" she spat, her voice full of venom, her eyes glowing faintly with dark fury.
The vision vanished as suddenly as it came, and Alina gasped, stepping back, her eyes wide. "Wh-who... who is she, Boo?" she whispered, her heart racing.
Boo pouted and crossed his little arms. "Oh, that smelly devil... our old teacher when we first joined kindergarten. Boo hates her. She always smelled like rotten food. Blech!" His face twisted in disgust before he spun upside down and pretended to vomit, groaning dramatically.
Alina stared at him, still shaken, while he floated off, muttering about soap and bad perfume.
Her thoughts, however, stayed heavy. Was their old teacher planning something? Could this vision be a warning? She couldn’t assume yet, but a knot of unease coiled in her chest.
After break, Alina gathered them back with her gentle clap and led the babies through their math class. She kept the questions light..simple sums and subtractions knowing their energy was still buzzing from break time. Even then, Boo tried to copy from Luna’s notebook and earned himself a firm look from teacher, while Drake proudly shouted out answers far too loudly, as if volume alone made him smarter.
Later came PE, and the babies filled the garden with laughter as they ran and tumbled, their tiny voices echoing like bells. Alina stood watching, her heart warmed by their joy, though she had to chase after Kelpie twice when he tried to splash too much water on Rocky. By literature class, the little ones were calmer, their heads bent over the simple story she read aloud.
When nap time finally arrived, the class room quieted into soft breathing and faint snores.
Once the day ended and every child was safely collected by their guardians, Alina left the kindergarten with a soft sigh of both relief and fondness.
Back in her little home, she changed into her comfortable clothes and tied her hair back loosely. The kitchen filled with the smell of simple food as she cooked for herself, humming quietly. After her meal, she set her plate aside, cleared the small table, and spread out her books, notebooks and laptop.
For hours, she worked steadily on preparing their syllabus, her pen tapping, her eyes focused. She organized subjects, listed fun activities, thought of how to explain difficult topics in simple ways, and even doodled little stars on the margins of her notes. By the time the clock ticked deeper into the evening, her eyes felt heavy, but her heart was satisfied.
***
Meanwhile, in the quiet, candlelit library of the Count Vladimir manor, Vlad Jr. padded across the cold floor with unusually quick steps. Normally, he carried himself with the refined dignity of his noble lineage, chin lifted, posture perfect. But right now, the thought of the trip made him forget every bit of his practiced grace.
"Mom!" he burst out, his red eyes glowing with excitement as he spotted Lady Isadora seated near the tall window, a thick leather-bound book open in her slender hands. She was elegance itself—her long blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, her gown pale blue like moonlight, and her expression one of calm intensity as she read.
Isadora glanced up just in time to see her son rushing toward her. Her lips curved, though her voice carried its usual softness of caution. "Careful, my little one," she chided gently, setting the book aside as he nearly toppled into her lap.
"Mom, I want to go on the trip!" Vlad Jr. blurted, gripping her sleeves. "Please say yes—and if Dad says no, you must convince him for me!" His pale cheeks were flushed in rare eagerness.
Lady Isadora let out a soft laugh, drawing him close despite his protests, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His cool skin warmed under her touch.
"Moooom," he groaned, squirming, his small fangs glinting as he tried to pull away. "How many times do I have to tell you? I’m grown up now! Don’t do that in the middle of a serious talk!" His embarrassed voice cracked halfway through, making him sound even younger.
Isadora chuckled again, brushing his hair back with delicate fingers. "Your father has filled your head with such seriousness. Look at you, acting as if you are already a count. But to me, you will always be my baby bat."
Vlad Jr. huffed and crossed his arms, though the tips of his ears turned pink. "I am not a baby bat," he muttered. But when her hand stroked his hair again, he leaned against her shoulder without realizing it.
"Tell me more about this trip," she said softly, indulging his excitement while her mind already turned to how she would speak to Lord Vlad about granting permission. She had never been able to resist the gleam of joy in her son’s eyes.
***
Days passed quickly, and soon it was the day before the trip. The classroom was practically vibrating with excitement, every desk shaking as little hands and feet couldn’t stay still. Alina stood at the front with her list, trying to keep a straight face even though she wanted to laugh at how animated everyone looked.
"Alright, everyone, listen carefully," she said, tapping the chalkboard with chalk. "Tomorrow is our big trip, so you must prepare your bags properly. That means... a water bottle, a snack box, an extra set of clothes, a little towel, and—"
"Teacher!! Teacher!!" Drake shot up from his seat, nearly knocking it over. "Can I pack my shiny drum?? If I don’t bring it, maybe it will cry because it misses me!!" His amber eyes sparkled with seriousness, as if this was life or death.
Alina chuckled helplessly. "No, sweetheart, only essentials. No drums."
Drake collapsed on his desk with a groan. "My poor shiny drum... don’t cry... Drake will come back after trip!"
Everyone giggled, and Boo immediately spun upside down. "Then Boo will bring BANANA!! Banana never cries!! Banana is loyal!!"
"Boo! That’s a toy, not essential!" Alina shook her head, though her lips twitched.