Less nervous this time, Erunestian walked with Helena and Mateo to his first day of school. As they moved through the crowd, the students around them fell silent, staring in astonishment before whispers began to rise around him.

The teacher soon called for silence. “We have a new classmate,” she announced with a warm smile. “I’d like him to introduce himself, and I hope you’ll all make him feel welcome.”

Erunestian stood tall, his back straight and chin high. With his eyes closed and a faintly forced smile on his face, he began. “Well… hi. My name is Sebastián Blanco… I’m sixteen… I come from the Keller Institute and… I like listening to music and eating.” A ripple of laughter spread through the room. “Uhh… I hope to learn a lot and...”

“And make new friends,” Helena whispered.

“And make new friends!” he echoed quickly.

“Very good, thank you, Sebastián,” said the teacher, as more chuckles followed. Once seated, Erunestian leaned over to Helena. “How was it?”

“Perfect, just like we practiced.”

“Excellent.”

As class began, he couldn’t help overhearing the gossip around him.

“What school did he say he was from?”
“I think it’s the school for the blind.”
“He really is blind… how’s he going to read and write? How’s he going to do math? How does he even go to the bathroom?”
“But… he’s kinda cute, right? For a blind guy?”
“No way, I don’t like foreigners. Not my type.”

Erunestian nearly burst out laughing.

“Hey, Eru,” Mateo whispered, “you’re pretty popular, huh?”

“I only wanted to blend in,” he whispered back smugly.

The teacher shushed the class and posed a question no one seemed able to answer. “Mr. Armero, what are the biological molecules?”

Mateo stammered, completely lost. “Sorry, Mrs. Susana… I was just telling Sebastián what’s written on the board.”

“Ah… of course. Go on,” she said, embarrassed. She scanned the room, hunting for another victim. “González!” The poor boy started stammering too.

“No one?” the teacher snapped. “If you don’t take my class seriously, I’ll have to get stricter.” She turned and scrawled on the board: Classification of Biological Molecules – Test Tomorrow.

A chorus of complaints erupted from the students.

“I think I know the answer,” a voice said from the front row.

The teacher turned sharply, surprised and annoyed. She prided herself on her authority and often took her bad moods out on the class. But when she saw it was the new boy, she froze.

“Biological molecules are the ones that make up living beings. They’re divided into four main categories: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids… and that’s… well, that’s what you said.”

“Very good,” she replied curtly. “Take note, everyone. You have to pay attention like Sebastián. That’s what respect looks like.” She turned back to the board and continued her lecture.

“Do you even know what you just said?” Mateo whispered.

“Not at all. I just repeated what I heard,” Erunestian said with a grin.

“Wow…” Mateo crossed his arms, impressed.

When the bell rang for recess, Mateo and Helena lingered with him. “Nobody likes that teacher,” Helena muttered. “She’s always angry, impatient, and she doesn’t even teach well. But thanks to you, no test tomorrow!”

“I know, I’m glad I saved you all,” Erunestian laughed.

The day dragged on, with stares and whispers following him everywhere. Some teachers ignored him; others hovered. A few spoke so slowly it was insulting, while others addressed Mateo instead of speaking to him directly. His blindness clearly made people uneasy, and he spent the whole day feeling uncomfortable. Still, he reminded himself it wasn’t so bad: humans treated him differently, but at least they didn’t expect him to take his own life, as his people would have.

One day during recess, Erunestian stayed alone in the classroom, transcribing his notes into braille by memory. He didn't want Helena or Mateo to give up their break to sit and read for him.

“Hi, Sebastián,” a cheerful female voice called out as someone approached. “Why are you all alone?”

He lifted his head. “Hi… sorry, we hadn’t been introduced,” he replied politely. “I’m alone because I want to.”

“So formal!” she giggled. “I’m Kimberly!” She dropped a hand on his shoulder and sat down beside him. 

He forced a laugh, trying to match her tone.

“Don’t stay cooped up in here,” she urged. “Let’s go out to the courtyard and get something to eat!”

“I can’t. I need to finish writing this.”

“Forget that. Come with me! Otherwise people will think you’re boring.”

“Studying isn’t boring.”

“Oh, well, it’s just that you’re sooo smart,” she said, her voice half-flirty, half-mocking. “I get bored ‘cause I don’t understand anything!” She clutched his arm. “I wish I had someone to teach me!”

“Then ask someone to teach you,” he answered matter-of-factly.

Kimberly laughed. “You’re the smartest one here! No one else could teach better.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. Erunestian shifted uncomfortably, wondering if this was normal human behavior.

“I can explain it to you,” he said carefully, “but I can’t promise I’ll be any good at it.”

“Yes please, I’m doing terrible in biology!”

“Well…” He sighed, annoyed deep down because he was busy, but still willing to help. He began reading his notes to her.

He kept it up over the next few days. Soon, other girls started hanging around, eager to hear him read. Erunestian went along with it for the sake of being accepted.

Helena, however, wasn't happy. To her, those girls were shallow, only interested in his looks or using him for schoolwork. “You can always tell what people want. I don’t get why you don’t see it this time,” she complained. “Listen, Eru, Kimberly’s trouble. I saw her kissing one of the guys in our class. You’re gonna get dragged into something.”

But Erunestian, convinced that Helena was just being overprotective, ignored her warning.

That day, as usual, he stayed behind during recess to study. Soon, his admirers gathered, insisting he join them outside, promising food and fun. At last, he agreed.

The other girls went ahead, leaving him with Kimberly. But when he stood and took a few steps, his foot caught on a backpack.

“Oh! Careful,” she said quickly.

“Wait, I’ll grab my cane.”

“No need,” she said sweetly. “I’ll lead you.” Before he could reach for it, she grabbed his hand, lacing her fingers with his.

Erunestian froze. In his culture, this was no casual gesture: interlaced fingers between a man and woman symbolized a romantic union. He almost pulled away, ready to call her out for her boldness, but then wondered if it meant something different to humans. Suppressing his discomfort, he asked, “I’d rather you gave me your arm or shoulder to guide me… Why do you want to hold my hand? What does it mean?”

“You ask too many questions,” she laughed. “It doesn’t mean anything!”

“It DOES mean something!” a furious male voice thundered from the doorway.

Erunestian dropped her hand instantly, his face hardening.

“What’s this, Kimberly?” the boy demanded. “Flirting with this guy? Have you forgotten you’re MY girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?” Erunestian muttered through clenched teeth.

He recognized the voice, it was a boy from their class, and he wasn’t alone, three others stood with him.

The air thickened with tension as the couple’s argument turned nasty. Erunestian stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “This girl hasn’t been loyal to you. But as a man, you should keep your composure instead of yelling at her.”

“Stay out of this!” Jonathan shouted, shoving him.

Erunestian staggered back a step, but didn’t fall. Ah… now I see how this works, he thought. He stood tall, unshaken, and shoved the boy back.

“You wanna fight? I don’t care if you’re a blind weakling!”

“Jonathan, no!” Kimberly cried, bursting into tears. Though secretly, she was flattered. Two boys were fighting over her, just like in a telenovela.

Jonathan shoved again. “That’s all you’ve got?” Erunestian smirked, his eyes open and enjoying himself.

Jonathan’s friends shifted uneasily, their cocky looks fading into nervousness. When Jonathan lunged, Erunestian sidestepped with ease, stuck out his foot, and sent him sprawling face-first. He hadn’t felt this rush since training back home.

Gasps erupted as students pressed against the windows to watch. “Whoa! Look at Sebastián! He’s amazing!”

“Get him, man!”

“You idiot…” Jonathan groaned, pushing himself up. Now furious, he swung a real punch. Erunestian dodged, caught his arm, and used his momentum against him. Back in the sea, there were only two ways to end a fight: knock your opponent out or lock them in place. On land, it was easier: things fall.

“Let me go!”

“Sorry, I can’t. You’re still too aggressive. I’ll release you when you calm down.”

The classroom roared, the boys shouted encouragement. Mateo looked on proudly, but Helena was fuming.

“Let me go now! I’m calm!” Jonathan cried, wincing.

“I was going to,” Erunestian said, still smiling, “but then I remembered you called me a ‘blind weakling.’ And even though half of that is true, I’d prefer you call me by my name.”

“Let me go!”

“Yes?”

“Se… bas… tián…”

“Blanco! Zambrano! Office. Now!”

“You’re lucky,” Erunestian whispered, releasing him. “Now you won’t forget who I am.”

The hall monitor stormed in, barking that fighting was forbidden.

"One second," said Erunestian. "I need to get my..." He was about to turn and finally pick up his cane when he was grabbed by the arm and dragged straight to the principal’s office.

He sighed. I am completely at the mercy of these humans...

As they walked down the hall, students watched him pass like a hero, holding back their applause to avoid punishment. Amid whispers of amazement and well-wishes, Erunestian and his escort entered what students thought of as a death tribunal.

"Mr. Zambrano, you should be ashamed of yourself," the principal began. "You bullied a disabled student! That is the lowest of the low!"

"But he provoked me! And he’s not weak! He knows martial arts! Look, he hurt my arm!"

"Yes! I hurt his arm," Erunestian admitted.

"Silence! I don’t want to hear it!" she snapped, and went on and on. Erunestian ended up feeling offended by the way she underestimated him. Inconceivable! A total dishonor for the prince of Erymannen!

Jonathan was reprimanded: he had to attend sessions with the school psychologist, his parents were called, and he was ordered to act as Erunestian’s guide until they learned to get along. Erunestian, of course, protested to no avail.

They left the office grumbling.

"I can’t believe they get so angry over two young men fighting. Testing your strength is normal! What kind of weaklings are they raising here?" Erunestian complained. "And what’s even more incredible is the punishment! Help me? Call his parents? A written reprimand? Pathetic..."

Jonathan burst out laughing. He couldn’t tell if Erunestian was being serious. But after seeing his clear physical superiority and how unfairly the principal had treated him, Jonathan felt a spark of camaraderie.

"You’re insane," he said. "Where do you train?"

"Where do I train? In my backyard. Why?"

Genuinely amazed, Jonathan asked, "Are you self-taught? What fighting style is it?"

What does he mean by self-taught? Erunestian wondered. “It’s called Khori. I learned it as a child.”

"Never heard of it," Jonathan said. "I did a bit of kickboxing." He threw a few punches in the air. 

Erunestian nodded, pretending he understood.

"Ah, yes," Jonathan went on. "Bro... sorry about before. I lost it because of my girlfriend... she always pulls stuff like that." Jonathan wasn’t a bad guy at heart; he just wasn't raised in a better way.

"I’m very sorry," Erunestian replied. "A woman who tries to seduce other men is no good for you. Forgive me, too, for allowing it to happen."

Later that day, he begged Helena’s forgiveness as well, promising to trust her no matter what. He still had much to learn about this new world. Though he could hear conversations and read thoughts, he didn’t see gestures, looks, or distant interactions. That promise became a responsibility Helena carried in her heart.

When they got home, Aunt Isabel scolded Erunestian for hours. It seemed that not only at school, but also at home, humans were profoundly pacifist. Not everyone was prepared for danger, only a few.

Even so, his school life improved enormously. Jonathan became his friend, as did Jonathan’s friends, and soon most of the boys who admired him. 

That was to be expected from Prince Erunestian, Mateo thought. He’s sent a clear message about who’s in charge.

Erunestian wasn’t soft, and he was old-fashioned. He solved problems cleverly with words, and if that failed, with a couple of blows. That was why Helena was often worried about him.

And so the days passed, filled with homework and early mornings that wore him out. Erunestian began to eagerly await the weekends.

On one of those longed-for days, before the fierce midday sun blazed overhead, he walked along the rocky shore with Helena and Mateo. The tide was out, leaving tide pools full of life. Colorful little cities inhabited by algae, anemones, starfish, and sea urchins.

Helena and Mateo described everything to Erunestian, and he, in his element, eagerly recognized various creatures. He even taught them how to pry limpets from the rocks and how to open and eat sea urchins, much to their fascination and disgust.

"Look," he said. With a finger, he detached a limpet from its shell, rinsed it in the water, and ate it alive.

"Ew, I’ll pass," said Helena.

"They’re edible, but better cooked," suggested Mateo, playing the gourmet.

"Yes! I want to try them cooked!" Erunestian said, excited.

In no time, they had collected handfuls. They gagged watching the limpets writhe, and walked home between laughter and nausea. But Erunestian licked his lips, already dreaming of the feast.

Suddenly, his expression darkened. Handing his share to Mateo, he said, "Go cook... I’ll be back soon."

"Did the mermaid come to bring him news from the sea?" asked Helena.

"I hope it isn’t bad news," said Mateo.

They headed home while Erunestian strode toward the pier.

"And do you know how to prepare these?" Helena asked.

"I have no idea."

Meanwhile, Erunestian’s heart raced. With each step, his excitement grew. I can’t believe it... a man of the sea, here, on this coast?