Go-girl

 As the St. Maxmas holidays approached, the bustling Berk Academy emptied out as students made their way back to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones. Even my closest friend and roommate, Alice Tozman, had departed on the train just yesterday, leaving me alone in the nearly deserted school. For me, the prospect of returning to my hometown of Baron Belotte was not feasible. Situated near the southern border of the kingdom, the round trip would be too arduous to make in just one week. But the true reason for my decision to remain at the academy was the absence of family. Ever since my mother passed away when I was just eight years old, our family had never fully reunited for the Maxmas holidays. As a toy business owner, my father was always busiest during this time of the year, and my two older brothers, who were attending the academy with me, were fully consumed with their studies. I still recall the first Maxmas holidays after my mother's death, when my nanny held me in her...

As I stirred awake from my slumber, my bleary eyes struggled to focus on the curious creature before me. It emitted a sound that was foreign to my ears - "Mau...bu." - and began to squirm on my bed, seemingly pleased with its own utterance. In a haze, I tried to make sense of the situation. Had I just woken up, or was I still in the throes of a dream? The latter seemed more plausible than the scene unfolding before my very eyes. "B-baby?" I stammered, my confusion mounting as the tiny being continued to coo and gurgle. Its bright blue eyes blinked with innocence, while its plump cheeks and small, saliva-coated lips added to its cherubic appeal. Its miniature hands and chubby legs flailed about with abandon. I rubbed my eyes vigorously, hoping that the creature would disappear upon my next glance. But when I looked again, it was still there, grinning up at me with unbridled joy. "Baqqabu!" it exclaimed, as if expecting a response from me. It was then that I...