<Chapter 17>

“Yeah.”

As I gave a small nod, the children fell silent, shifting their eyes around, clearly unsure of what to say.

Looks like it was up to me to smooth things over.

“But wasn’t it fun? Different races, different traits, yet here we are, sharing the same time and space. It’s almost like… a miracle.”

Yes. A miracle.

Just like how one block means nothing on its own, but once stacked together, it becomes a house. Countless coincidences, meaningless on their own, came together to create this ‘now.’

If anything had been even slightly different, we wouldn’t be here introducing our races to each other like this.

“Today, we learned a lot about different races. All thanks to our little teachers here! Great job, everyone.”

I gently steered the mood away from its awkward pause.

And after today’s class, we ended up establishing two rules in the classroom:

<1. Do not harm others.>
<2. Respect other cultures.>

“What is respect?” Valentin asked me.

“It means you treat something with care and value, like a treasure. You don’t ignore or look down on it.”

“Then… Teacher Sora is like respect.”

“That’s right.”

I exchanged words with Valentin while holding his gaze.

“So I will follow the rules, too. Drinking someone else’s blood counts as attacking, so I won’t suck—”

“Blood.”

“I won’t suck blood… in the classroom… will not do.”

Valentin always struggled to finish his sentences properly. Probably from a lack of language stimulation.

‘I’ll have to help him more.’

His learning goal was officially “language development.”

His phrasing was still a little awkward, but he was eager to communicate. With some gentle guidance, he’d improve in no time.

“Valentin, if there’s ever anything that makes you uncomfortable, feel free to tell me. Just like how you look out for your friends, they’ll look out for you.”

“I did understood.”

Well, no need to correct every single mistake. He’d only get embarrassed. Better to guide him gently, bit by bit.

Before I knew it, it was already time for the kids to go home.

I helped straighten out their tousled hair and wrinkled clothes, which nap time and outdoor play had clearly taken their toll.

‘That just means they played their hearts out.’

I smiled proudly and waved as the children boarded the bus. I kept waving until it became just a dot in the distance.

‘I really have become a teacher.’

As I stared at the empty spot where the bus had been, the thought sank in.

‘Not long ago, I was just a student myself.’

I used to sit and listen to lectures from professors and supervising teachers. And now, just like that, I was the one guiding children.

Though I majored in Early Childhood Education and had completed internships, the weight of being a teacher was far heavier than I’d imagined.

I was starting to understand why people always said it’s hard for rookie teachers to find their footing.

Even so—

‘I’ve learned that the relationship between a teacher and student isn’t one-sided.’

Yes, teachers help children grow. But sometimes, it’s the children who teach and help the teacher grow too.

That’s what a classroom is.

The classroom, shared between me and the children, was still a little clumsy but slowly finding its shape.

* * *

That night, I had a dream.

[“If you love me, give me your Dragon Heart.”]

[“I can’t do that.”]

My vision was blurry, like it was shrouded in fog. I couldn’t make out who was speaking.

Then again, even if the fog lifted, I doubt I’d know them anyway.

[“So you don’t love me.”]

The voice dripped with disappointment.

[“I thought it was fate… that two people of different races, with different traits, could meet in the same space and time and fall in love. But I was wrong. This is just like…”]

Their voice trailed off, and a long, heavy silence settled in.

Then it shattered, suddenly.

[“…a curse.”]

Hearing the exact opposite of the words I’d said to the children earlier left a strange feeling in my chest.

[“Just watch. Humans won’t fall behind other races.”]

[“Stop. You’ll fail.”]

[“But what if I succeed?”]

The woman’s voice trembled with a strange mix of hope and defiance.

[“Transcendence is every human’s dream. If I succeed… there will be no more relationships cut short by time.”]

[“If you go through with this, there’s no going back.”]

And with that stern warning, I woke up.

“……”

It was definitely a dream, but it felt far too vivid. My chest felt heavy and unsettled.

“Time to get ready for work.”

After rolling around in bed for a while, I finally forced myself up. It was a new day.

* * *

“Uuugh…”

Lately, Ardishu had been full of grumbles.

Why?

“Valentin, you need to eat more. Just one more bite, okay?”

“Okay did.”

“It’s ‘Okay, I will.’ Want to try saying it?”

“Okay… I will.”

It was because Teacher Sora always fussed over Valentin!

‘She even asked me to help take care of him.’

Ardishu couldn’t help but wonder if that meant Teacher Sora liked Valentin the most.

‘But I’m her first student…’

She pouted a little, then quietly scratched at a butterfly-shaped scratch paper with a stick, sneaking glances at Sora.

Crash!

“Paul. You need to stack blocks only as high as you can manage. If it’s too tall and it falls, someone could get hurt.”

“But it’s not fun if it’s low!”

“How about we find a middle ground? A height that’s fun but safe.”

Sora helped Paul build the tower again, finding a good balance.

Even as Ardishu sat at her seat writing a letter in perfectly neat handwriting, Sora didn’t come over.

Even when she carefully tucked the letter into a paper envelope and dropped it into the classroom mailbox, Sora didn’t notice.

Well-behaved kids who don’t demand attention often get overlooked in group settings. Especially when there’s only one teacher for so many kids.

Sora couldn’t help it. Valentin was still adjusting, and Paul was always causing a scene.

But to a child like Ardishu, it still hurt.

‘Maybe I did something wrong.’

Her shoulders drooped. That would’ve been the end of it if this had happened before.

‘No. If that were true, she wouldn’t hug me so tightly every naptime.’

Ardishu thought back to all the times Sora braided her hair differently, or asked about her morning like she genuinely cared.

‘So if Valentin and Paul weren’t around, she’d dote on me again!’

What she needed was time alone with Sora. If she wanted to stay with Sora even in the evenings…

As she leaned against the mailbox deep in thought, her eyes suddenly sparkled.

‘What if Teacher became my mom?’

That way, morning or night, she could always be with Sora.

But… there was one fatal flaw in her perfect plan.

‘If Teacher married my mom, it would work. But Mom’s already married, and she can’t divorce Dad since he’s dead.’

What now? Ardishu grabbed her head and groaned.

Then, like a lightbulb flicking on, an idea hit her.

‘Teacher can just marry Big Brother Eldic!’

Her eyes sparkled again. From a child’s perspective, it was a genius solution.

The next day, Ardishu arrived at the daycare… with Eldic.

* * *

The bus made its usual obnoxious honking entrance. I ran out to greet the kids, then froze.

“Huh?”

Someone I absolutely didn’t expect was riding the bus.

“Sora,” Youngja-unnie rushed off the bus and whispered to me, “the Elf Leader’s here.”

“…What?”

Eldic. The head of the elves. Ardishu’s guardian.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Bringing a guardian without notice usually means something bad happened.

I swallowed nervously.

“Good morning, Mr. Eldic. Is something the matter…?”

I was carefully trying to read his expression when he let out a humorless laugh and frowned deeply.

“What are you talking about? You practically begged me to come, and now you’re acting like this?”

…Excuse me?

I stared at Ardishu in shock. She averted her gaze, looking anywhere but at me.

‘What are you planning?’

I was confused, but decided to go along with it. Ardishu wouldn’t pull a stunt like this just to mess with adults.

“I’m glad you’re here. Today’s a great chance to see what Ardishu’s daily life is like at daycare.”

I welcomed Eldic with a bright smile. Truthfully, there were things I wanted to say to him anyway.

‘He never once replied to a single parent letter I sent.’

Pay attention to your kid, seriously!

“Okay, kids! Let’s thank our Bus Teacher. One, two, thank you!”

“Thank you!”

The children all bowed with their hands on their stomachs and headed into class.

First period was “Weekend Talk,” where the kids drew pictures and talked about how they spent their weekends.

“I decorated my lair. Went on an adventure to the abandoned human lands to get this golden statue…”

Paul puffed up with pride, telling his story. His four-panel drawing was full of bold lines and flair.

“I attended the gathering of the Bloodline,” Valentin said with exaggerated formality.

It wasn’t exactly wrong, just… strangely official. Still, hearing him say it so seriously made me weirdly proud.

“I met all the familiars. I also hope… to have a familiar… will be good to have.”

Hmm. He was clearly stuffing every sentence full of “proper talk,” whether it fit or not…

His drawing was full of all kinds of animals, probably the familiars.

‘Wow, his lines are super sharp.’

He didn’t color outside the lines even once. It was almost obsessive.

Finally, Ardishu stepped up with a gloomy face.

‘Why now of all times, when Eldic is watching?’

Awkward, but oh well. I clapped as usual.

“Okay, now let’s hear what Ardishu did over the weekend!”

“I cried all weekend because I missed my mom. She went on a trip and never came back.”

Her voice trembled as she continued.

“So… I want a new mom!”
 

<To be continued>

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