I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 361 Shadow blossom

"Teacher... you are looking so pretty," Sable said, his voice filled with pure awe. The sincerity in his tone made his shadows sparkle faintly around him.

Lucien blinked hard, tilting his head with open admiration. "Teacher... looks like flower," he whispered in awe.

Sable nodded slowly, his mouth still open in wonder. "Very pretty flower... magical flower... shining flower..."

Alina laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear when she realized all three of them were staring at her as if she had stepped out of a painting instead of her bedroom. "Okay, okay, stop looking at me like that," she said, her cheeks warming as she tried to hide her smile. "I just changed clothes, that is all."

Sable nodded rapidly as if this made perfect sense. Lucien opened his mouth, ready to say something, but he stopped the moment he saw his father take a single step forward.

Dante cleared his throat, his expression settling back into calm authority. "Miss Alina, my shadows are already preparing the items I asked for. Perhaps we should leave for the venue."

Alina nodded, smoothing her dress. "Yes, that sounds good."

Dante raised his hand, and the room dimmed slightly as the space around them folded inward. A ripple of darkness shimmered beside them, swirling into a neat, smooth-edged portal. The air hummed with a low vibration that made Lucien and Sable bounce happily in place.

Lucien went through first, holding onto Sable’s hand so he would not fall behind. Sable hopped inside with the excitement of a pup seeing fireworks for the first time.

Dante stepped forward next. Naturally, without even thinking, his hand reached back for Alina’s. She hesitated for a breath, just a breath, before placing her hand in his. His grip was firm and warm, and her smile flickered at how easily it felt right. This time, stepping through the portal did not make her dizzy. There was no spinning, no disorientation. Just a soft warmth and a gentle shift in light.

That alone made her strangely proud of herself. She had no idea that he actually worked to upgrade his portal quality so she would not feel dizzy as a human in strong magic.

But what waited on the other side made her heart jump.

They were standing on a beautiful white boat, not a tiny fishing boat, but an elegant vessel carved with soft glowing runes. The wood looked polished and warm under the dim sky, and the water beneath them shimmered with a bluish silver sheen like liquid moonlight. The sky was overcast, the clouds heavy and gray, hinting at a soft storm that had not quite arrived yet. The air was colder here, sharper too, brushing along her bare arms.

She shivered once, then sneezed delicately.

Dante’s head snapped toward her at lightning speed, distress flooding his expression in a way that made Lucien and Sable blink in amusement.

"Miss Alina," he said urgently, already reaching into the space beside him, "I have a shawl... somewhere... just a moment."

With one flick of his fingers, a soft, warm shawl materialized as though it had been waiting for her all along. He placed it carefully around her shoulders, adjusting the edges with an unexpected gentleness.

"There," he murmured, his voice low. "I should have given it earlier."

Alina smiled warmly, wrapping it around herself. "Thank you, Dante. I am fine."

Meanwhile Dante turned to the babies. "Do you two need one as well?"

Both boys shook their heads immediately.

"It is not cold," Lucien said.

"Very warm," Sable added.

Satisfied, Dante settled beside Alina. Across from them, Lucien and Sable took the seats facing them, swinging their legs with excitement. The boat had four cushioned seats arranged neatly, facing each other in pairs, all aligned with the center where glowing rune lines ran across the floor. It began to move on its own, guided by magic, floating smoothly across the shimmering water.

Alina leaned forward, mesmerized by the scenery. Far ahead, steep mountains rose like ancient stone guardians, their peaks crowned with faint mist. Wisps of fog curled around the base of the mountains, drifting in and out like wandering spirits.

"Where are we?" she asked softly, her eyes wide with fascination.

Dante followed her gaze, his shoulders relaxing. "Shadow Domain," he said simply.

The words alone made her sit up straighter, her heart fluttering with wonder. "Shadow Domain..." she repeated, almost whispering. "It is beautiful."

Her voice carried a kind of awe that made Dante look at her for a moment instead of at the mountains. His gaze softened again.

Lucien leaned forward, gripping the seat. "Teacher, this is Dad’s place. Very big. Very secret."

Sable nodded. "Only few people allowed. You are allowed."

Alina blinked, touched without realizing it. "Really?"

Dante looked away, pretending the sky was very interesting. "Naturally," he said, voice steady. "You are their teacher."

And Alina smiled, but her heart skipped a beat. Just because she was their teacher or something else? she wondered, blushing.

The boat glided forward with gentle confidence, guided by unseen magic. As they neared the shore, the mist parted slowly, like curtains being pushed aside to reveal something breathtaking. Alina’s breath hitched.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

Then several times, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Lining the shoreline were cherry blossom trees. At least, they looked like cherry blossoms in shape and elegance, but their trunks were deep midnight black, and their blossoms shimmered in shades of obsidian and silver. Each petal fluttered through the air like tiny pieces of the night sky falling gently to the ground. When the wind brushed through the branches, a soft cascade of dark blossoms drifted down, swirling in delicate spirals before settling over the pale sand like scattered stardust.

Alina’s eyes widened, glowing with pure wonder. "Are those... cherry blossoms?" she whispered, though she already knew they were something far more magical than anything she had seen on Earth.

Lucien followed her gaze and beamed proudly. "Shadow Blossoms," he corrected gently. "They only grow here."

Sable leaned forward with excitement. "Teacher, teacher, they bloom only when shadow sky is calm! Today is good day!"

Alina could not tear her eyes away. The sight was mesmerizing, unreal, like a painting brought to life. Black petals continued to drift from the branches, brushing across the boat, landing softly in her lap, on her shawl, in her hair. One rested lightly against her palm, cool and silky, like a whisper of another world.

Dante watched her quietly, noticing how her lips parted in awe, how her fingers curled lightly around the fallen petal, how the soft glow of the blossoms reflected in her eyes.