Kelpie looked at her like she had just handed him hope.
"I am?" he asked.
"Yes," she said warmly. "Last time, it was much worse."
Luna blinked. "Wait… worse?"
"Yes," Alina said calmly. "Once, when he got very excited about something, he accidentally made a small puddle under his chair." Alina laughed softly, remembering how, back then, he had flooded almost the entire classroom, but when she saw how anxiously he was looking at her now, like he was scared she would expose him, she gently chose not to say anything more.
King Corvus coughed into his fist, trying not to laugh again.
Lady Maris turned her face slightly, shoulders shaking.
Kelpie slowly covered his face. "Teacher…"
"But," Alina added quickly, smiling softly, "he has improved a lot."
Luna looked at Kelpie again, her expression softening just a little. "Then… maybe you can sit one desk farther from me."
"That is fair," Kelpie said solemnly.
