"...all right. Well, good luck."

"Thanks! You too!"

Someone else has come to practice! He blinks at them and considers whether he might be interrupting something and then tries to leave.

"Hey! - oh wow, I've totally forgotten your name?"

"Adolph. But I don't want to interrupt."

"No, it's okay! Did you want to try dancing again?"

"Yes. I didn't think I would, but the other day a woman came to the art studio and danced with me. She helped me remember why it is that I love painting. But I thought that I could try dancing again, too."

"Aww. Sure, come on in. I can take a break from practicing for tryouts and help you learn ballet instead. Teaching is fun."

"All right, then!"

Serafin beams at him, and beckons him over to Lampy's corner. Ballet is very good and being able to share that with someone makes Serafin so happy!

Practicing the basics is important, so Duck can practice too! At least until she get tired. Which might be fairly soon, given how much dancing she's been doing.

"Um, so I might head back to the dorms to do homework soon, will you be OK practicing by yourself? Though I guess you can always ask Rue if you need a partner, since she needs to practice being Swanhilda anyway."

"Yeah. Thanks for helping! You were great!"

"You were great too! I bet you'll do really well."

"Hope so!" he agrees.

Rue keeps dancing with Mytho for a while. Eventually she, too, is tired.

"Who was it that came and danced with you the other day?" she asks, almost idly.

"I didn't get her name. She was a woman in a white dress and a golden tiara. I've never seen anyone dance like her."

"I see."

"She sounds like Princess Tutu."

"A little. Thank you, Adolph. Let's go, Mytho."

"All right."

Not for the first time, Serafin wonders what is up with those two. Besides all the things that are apparently up with Mytho. Rue seems to be a whole different pile of questions.

But, well, he doesn't exactly know where to find the answers.

"Well. I should probably let you get back to your practicing. Thank you for the help."

"You're welcome! Anytime!"

The elephant leaves. It's gotten to be pretty late, and the room now appears deserted.