CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109 CALLING THE GUARDIANS OF ABSENT STUDENTS

Alina tilted her head, now fully interested. "You mean... I have one too?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes. Absolutely."

She chuckled, half-embarrassed. "That sounds... way too hopeful."

But Gabriel was serious.

"If you focus on growing," he said calmly, "if you heal, become more of who you really are, and stay true to your heart... then yes — at the right time, someone will find you. They’ll see you."

He paused.

"But," he added with a sigh, "nowadays the world is full of noise. Too many people chasing the wrong things. So many choosing partners who match their fears instead of their soul."

Alina blinked slowly, the words settling in her chest like warm tea.

Gabriel leaned in a little, voice quiet but sincere. "So... you have to be careful, too. There are a lot of bad guys out there. Charming faces, cold hearts. People who don’t know what love is. If you’re too kind, they take advantage. But if you stay grounded... you’ll know the difference."

Alina looked down at her hands, thoughtful.

"You sound like you’ve seen all this before."

Gabriel gave a little laugh. "I’ve seen more broken hearts than I can count and a few healed ones, too. You can always tell when a real soulmate connection shows up. It’s quieter. Calmer. But it changes everything."

Alina stayed silent for a while.

Then, softly, she asked, "Do you know when someone’s close to finding theirs?"

Gabriel tilted his head and smiled with a teasing glint in his eye.

"When they stop looking for the wrong things... and start being honest about what they really want."

"Hypothetically," she muttered, "what if someone had no idea what they wanted?"

Gabriel laughed softly. "Then the universe will send them someone very confusing. But also someone they can’t ignore."

****

After another busy class of art time and playtime, all the babies had finally fallen asleep.

All except for one.

Sable.

He didn’t speak. He simply walked over with his little feet making no sound at all, and quietly sat beside her chair on the floor like a shadow.

Alina looked down and blinked. "...You okay, sweetheart?"

He gave a tiny nod, then gently leaned his shoulder against her leg.

Her heart melted into soup.

Trying not to squeal at how sweet he was, she reached over to gently pat his soft hair.

Smiling to herself, Alina picked up the phone from her desk.

She pressed the contact marked: Drake’s Mom – Pyrra.

After two rings, a warm voice answered.

"Hello?"

Alina sat up a bit straighter. "Hello, Miss Pyrra. This is Alina—Drake’s class teacher from Class D," she said softly, trying to sound professional despite the little nervous flutter in her stomach.

"Oh! Miss Alina! Drake talks about you all the time," Pyrra replied with a warm chuckle.

Alina blinked, surprised. Her cheeks warmed slightly. "O-oh, really?"

"Yes," Pyrra laughed gently. "You’ve become his favorite person lately."

Alina’s heart fluttered a little at that. "That’s... really sweet to hear. Thank you."

She hesitated for a second, then asked, "Actually, I was calling because Drake didn’t come to class today. Is everything alright?"

There was a pause on the other end. "Hmm... I think he’s alright, but this morning, he was acting a bit strange. Said his tummy hurt and refused to get out of bed. He was very dramatic about it."

Alina’s eyes widened in concern. "Oh no... is he okay now? Should I be worried?"

Pyrra’s voice softened. "Don’t worry, Miss Alina. Drake’s pulled this stunt a few times before. But ever since you became his teacher, he’s never skipped even once. I think today was just... something else."

"...Maybe he just needed a day," Alina murmured, gently stroking Sable’s hair while her thoughts stayed on the golden-brown haired little dragon boy.

"Yes, maybe. He really likes you, you know. We’ve never seen him so excited for school before."

Alina smiled quietly, her heart a little lighter but still missing one tiny fireball in the room.

On the other side of the room—Drake froze.

The little dragon boy had been eavesdropping with wide, horrified eyes as he watched his mother casually expose him!

He shook his head frantically and clutched his belly.

"Tell her I’m still sick!" he whisper-shouted. "Tell her my scales are falling off!"

Pyrra narrowed her eyes and pointed a firm claw. "Drake. Come here. Your teacher is worried about you!"

Drake groaned like it was the end of the world and dragged his tiny feet over. With a pout on his lips, he took the phone.

"...Hello, Teacher," he said in the saddest voice he could fake.

"Sweetheart!" Alina said softly. "How’s your tummy? Are you okay?"

Drake looked away, suddenly feeling guilty. "Umm... I’m okay now..."

"Hm," Alina said playfully. "Do you know Boo, Felix, Lucien, and even Sable missed you today? They had so much fun."

His eyes shot open. "They came?!"

"Yes," she said, folding her arms with a little smile. "And right now, they’re all taking a nap."

Drake looked like someone had dropped a brick on his tail. "Wh-what? But... didn’t the worm monsters come today?!"

Alina paused for a moment... and then she finally understood.

So that’s why he didn’t want to come.

A soft smile tugged at her lips. "Ah... no sweetheart. No worm monsters. The principal made sure the whole school is protected. There’s a magical shield now."

"Did he burn them?" Drake whispered, hopeful.

"Nope," Alina chuckled. "He scared them so bad, they ran underground and hid."

"Oh..."

There was a long silence. Then a deep sigh.

"...Okay," Drake said in his tiny, sad voice. "I’ll come tomorrow."

After the call with Drake, Alina had a quiet realization. Maybe the children had somehow heard about the worm monsters and that’s why they didn’t come. The thought made her heart ache. She couldn’t help but feel sad for them, imagining just how frightened they must be.

Sable was still beside her, now tracing invisible shapes on the floor with his finger.

Alina gave his hair one more soft pat and then picked up the contact list again. Her finger stopped at a name.

Alpha Ryker.

Luna’s father.

She pressed the call button.

Ring~

Ring~

And then—click.

"Miss Alina," came the voice on the other end.

Deep. Gravelly. Like someone who growls before he talks. If thunderstorms had a voice, it would sound like him.

Alina straightened instinctively. "Hello, this is Alina. I’m Luna’s teacher from Class D kindergarten."