Chapter 19

I walked beside Principal Evora down a long hallway, my tiny feet echoing softly against the polished floor. Doors to classrooms lined both sides, and the lively chatter of children filled the air. Their voices rose and fell with excitement, some laughing, others reading aloud. For some reason, the sound made my heart race.

We stopped in front of one classroom, and I peeked through the glass window on the door. Inside, a teacher was holding a book, her soft voice guiding the students. When her eyes caught sight of us, she froze in surprise.

"Principal Evora?" she mumbled, lowering her book.

The door opened, and we stepped inside. The lively noise quieted instantly. Every single pair of eyes turned to me.

As a goddess, I'd stood before countless mortals, their gazes filled with reverence, fear, or awe. Yet, this... this was different. Their eyes weren't filled with worship-they were curious, innocent, even judgmental. It made my chest tighten in a way I didn't understand.

Hesitating, I quickly hid behind the principal's arm, clutching her sleeve.

The teacher, who I now knew as Talia, raised a brow. "Principal Evora, what's going on?"

"Talia," the principal said with her usual calm authority, "I've already completed her registration. From today onward, she'll study in Class 1."

Talia's eyes flicked back to me. Her expression twisted into a mix of confusion and skepticism.

"But ma'am," she whispered, glancing at me before leaning toward the principal, "Class 1 starts at age 8. She's... what, 6?"

I puffed my cheeks indignantly and crossed my arms. "4!" I corrected loudly, pouting.

The entire class gasped, their whispers growing louder.

"She's only 4?"

"How can she be here?"

"She's so small!"

Talia blinked at me in surprise before turning back to the principal. "Ma'am, this is just... unusual."

Principal Evora leaned in and whispered something in Talia's ear. I couldn't catch what she said, but the moment the words left her lips, Talia's eyes widened.

"Seriously?!" Talia blurted, startled.

The principal simply nodded.

Then, Evora knelt down and whispered in my ear, her tone gentle but firm. "Aleena, don't reveal your light or dark magic, okay?"

"Why not?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

"Just trust me," she said with a small smile. "Can you do that for me?"

"Okay," I mumbled, still unsure why she was so obsessed with keeping them hidden. Was it really such a big deal? Well... if she insisted, I'd comply. After all, it might help hide my authority as a goddess.

The principal stood and addressed the class. "Everyone, this is Aleena. From now on, she'll be a part of your class. I trust you'll all get along with her."

The room erupted into murmurs and whispers.

"She's so little!"

"Why is she here?"

"She's kinda cute, though."

Evora turned to me one last time and whispered, "If you ever need anything, my office is always open to you, alright?"

I nodded silently, feeling her words settle like a warm blanket. She gave me a reassuring smile before leaving the classroom.

---

Talia stepped forward, her expression softening as she crouched slightly to meet my gaze. "Aleena?"

I hesitated, then slowly approached her.

"Yes?" I mumbled, my eyes fixating on her shoes. They were the only thing I could see without craning my neck.

"Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?" she asked gently.

My face lit up, and I raised my hand. "Yes, yes!"

The teacher chuckled and gestured toward the microphone on the desk. But when I tried to grab it, I realized the table was far too high for me. I frowned, standing on my toes in a futile attempt to reach it.

Talia noticed and quickly handed me the mic instead. I took it with both hands, clutching it tightly.

Taking a deep breath, I faced the class. "M-My name is A-Aleena!" I stuttered, my voice shaking slightly. "I am 4 y-years old!"

The words tumbled out awkwardly, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. What else was I supposed to say? My mind blanked under the weight of their stares.

The class burst into murmurs again.

"Four? No way!"

"She's like a baby!"

"Why is she here?"

Talia noticed my hesitation and gently took the mic back from me. "Thank you, Aleena," she said with a kind smile. "You can take a seat now. How about the back row?"

I nodded quickly, eager to escape their curious gazes. Clutching my bag, I hurried to the back of the classroom and slid into an empty chair.

The desk was much too big for me, and my feet dangled far above the floor. I swung them nervously as the lesson began, my eyes darting around the room.

Thus, my first class had officially started.