"MOMMY?!" Izan exclaimed, barely able to believe his eyes when he saw his mother. He had thought she wouldn't be able to attend his graduation because she was busy with work and couldn’t take time off.
But it seemed that was just an excuse to surprise him on that day. Tears welled up as he went to his mother and hugged her tightly. It had been a year since they last saw each other. Even though she used to scold him often, he had missed her immensely.
"I am so proud of you, Izan!" Mommy Josefina said as she patted his back. "I told you to just finish high school, but look at you. You’re graduating with honors! Thank you, my child. Thank you so much!" She was also crying, just like him.
Izan pulled away from the hug and looked at her face. "Because this time, I didn't want to disappoint you, Mommy."
"That's why I'm so proud of you. Oh, and I have someone with me," she said, winking at him. Izan frowned for a moment, but his expression brightened into a wide smile when he saw Hugo standing by the door.
He rushed over to hug his best friend. "Dude!!!" was the only thing he could shout.
"Hey, dude! It’s not like you missed me or anything!" Hugo laughed.
"You idiot! It’s been so long since we last saw each other!" Izan replied, pulling his friend inside.
"So, how's it going? How did you end up here with Mommy? You’re graduating too, right?" "Our graduation is done. We made it through," Hugo chuckled. "I’m here only because of my love for you!"
Izan was overjoyed throughout the graduation ceremony. Mommy Josefina and Granma Ancha joined him on stage. When they got home, he was surprised to find a spread of food.
His mom had arranged catering. Almost all of their neighbors were there to eat and congratulate him on his high school graduation.
"I don’t regret coming here with Tita Josefina," Hugo said while they were eating.
"Why’s that?" Izan asked.  "Because there’s so much food. And it’s all delicious!"
"You’re such an idiot!" Izan laughed and lightly hit his friend.
"Izan, take this food to Juancho; he’s too shy to come here," Granma Ancha said, handing him a plate with spaghetti, vegetable lumpia, and a sandwich.
"Okay, ‘Granma," he replied, taking the plate from her.
He said goodbye to Hugo and went to Juancho’s house. He walked there, since it was close.
After giving Juancho the food, he headed back home. On his way, he saw the large rock by the sea.
He stopped walking and stared at it with a sense of sadness. It Felt like he was enveloped by sorrow at that moment. "Esteban," he said softly, filled with emotion. He couldn’t hold back his tears anymore.
Many memories of Esteban suddenly came back to him. The merman had saved him, and he had brought and Fed him all sorts of food. When Esteban got his legs, they were so happy.
They had created so many memories together. Izan wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "At least, even though we only spent a short time together, I have many happy and beautiful memories of you, Esteban. You were right, it’s not about how long we were together but about whether we were happy during that time. Thank you, Esteban," he said softly.
Izan felt the Piedra in the pocket of his pants. He always carried it to keep Esteban's memory alive. He took it out and looked at it.
For the entire year he had had it, he had never worn it. But at that moment, he decided to put on the necklace that gave Esteban his legs. He was stunned when, upon wearing the Piedra, his legs suddenly began to tingle.
He stumbled and sat down on the sand. In shock, he looked at his legs, which were glowing and slowly merging together! The light intensified, and when it faded, he was amazed to find he had a tail—a merman's tail! It was orange and shiny.
"I'm a merman," Izan said in disbelief, marveling at his new tail.
He looked at and held the Piedra. This must be the efFect of the necklace on someone who wears it—it turns them into a mermaid or merman.
Izan looked back at the sea. "Maybe this is my chance to see you again, Esteban. If before you came to my world, now it's my turn to visit yours," he said, stripping off his clothes and crawling toward the water.
Once in the water, he began to swim underwater.
He dove down and was amazed to find he could breathe and talk underwater.
Izan swam happily, joining the colorful fish in their dance. He played among the corals like a child. After a while, he stopped to catch his breath.
"How do I get to Ver Profundo if I don’t know how to get there?" he said, scratching his head.
Oh well! He decided to swim aimlessly once more. He picked up speed, and in his haste, he bumped into a whale.
"Watch where you’re going, merman!" the whale grumbled.
What? I can even understand the whale’s speech! Cool! Izan thought to himself in amazement.
"Sorry about that, whale. I’m in a hurry," he apologized.
The whale gave Izan a disapproving look. "Next time, be more careful!"
Izan thought to ask the whale about Ver Profundo.
"I'm Izan. I'm looking for Ver Profundo. Do you know how to get there?"
"Izan? I’ve heard that name from Esteban! But the Izan he mentioned was a land-dweller with no tail like yours."
"You know Esteban?" Izan asked with wide eyes.
"Yes! He’s a friend of mine."
"Then where is he?" 
"He’s in Ver Profundo. But wait, who are you?"
"I’m the Izan he talked about. I only became a merman because of this Piedra!" 
"The Piedra!" the whale exclaimed.
"Please, whale. Take me to Esteban. I really want to see him," Izan pleaded. He noticed the whale’s sudden sadness.
"It might not be possible, land-dweller. Queen Raballa has had Esteban imprisoned along with his parents for a long time," the whale said.
"W-what are you talking about?" Izan asked, confused.
"Almost a year ago, King Agrupador and Queen Merluza, Esteban's parents, Fell ill.
Queen Raballa took advantage of that. She convinced the people of Ver Profundo that the king and queen could no longer rule.
With the support of the merfolk and the sirens, and because Izan was missing, she took over as the ruler of Ver Profundo. She ordered me to bring Esteban back to Ver Profundo.
She said that if I didn’t, she would kill my mother. Out of Fear, I lied to Esteban, telling him that his parents were sick. 
Esteban returned to Ver Profundo, but Queen Raballa imprisoned him along with King Agrupador and Queen Merluza," the whale explained in a long narrative.
Izan began to cry again at the news. It wasn’t Esteban’s fault for not returning. The reason he couldn’t come back was that he was imprisoned in Ver Profundo.
"Whale, can you take me to Esteban?" he asked.
"Just call me Atun. But why?"
"I’m going to rescue him, Atun, and his parents too."
"But it’s dangerous, Izan. Queen Raballa is ruthless."
All the merfolk in Ver Profundo regretted appointing Queen Raballa as their leader. She was ruthless and heartless!
"I don't care! I’ll rescue him."
Atun stopped and looked at Izan intently. After a moment, he took a deep breath. "Alright. I’ll accompany you to Ver Profundo. And not just accompany you—I’ll help you with your plan to rescue Esteban!"
Izan was so happy that he hugged Atun. "Thank you, Atun! Thank you! Thank you!" he said.
"You're welcome, Izan!"
Izan furrowed his brow as he looked at Atun. "Huh? How do you know that word?"
"Esteban taught it to me. Shall we go?" said the whale, giving him a wink.
"The staff that Queen Raballa holds is called 'Varita.' That’s where her power comes from. It used to belong to King Agrupador. Only the Varita can open the cell where Esteban is imprisoned," Atun said to Izan.
They were in a grand hall within the Ver Profundo kingdom, discreetly observing Queen Raballa as she sat proudly on her throne. "So, we need to get the Varita from Queen Raballa?" Izan asked.
"Are you sure?"
"Well, you said that it’s the only thing that can open Esteban’s cell. So, we need to get it."
"But how?"
Izan thought for a moment. Then he whispered his plan to Atun.
"Ugh! I don’t want to! I might get hurt!" Atun immediately protested.
"What’s wrong with you, Atun? You’re the only one who can do what I’m asking. You’re so big but you’re so timid! And this is for Esteban, his parents, and the whole Ver Profundo. We’re doing this to restore the rule to King Agrupador and Queen Merluza!" Izan insisted. Atun Fell silent, as if thinking.
He looked at Izan and nodded. "Okay, for Esteban and for Ver Profundo!"
"For Esteban and for Ver Profundo!" Izan echoed.
"Alright, get ready, Atun. When I tap you on the fin, you know what to do, right?"
"Yes."
Izan could still sense the nervousness in Atun's voice. But nothing would happen if Fear took over. They needed to act before it was too late.
Atun positioned himself in front of Queen Raballa. 
"Be careful, Atun," Izan warned the whale, who simply nodded in response.
As soon as Izan tapped Atun on the fin, the whale surged forward and swiftly swam towards Queen Raballa. Izan followed closely behind.
He saw the shock on Raballa’s face as Atun charged towards her. 
Atun accelerated and, upon reaching their target, knocked Raballa off her throne, causing it to break apart and sending the Varita flying.
"Get off me, Atun! You’ll pay for this, whale!" Queen Raballa roared in anger, barely managing to avoid being crushed by Atun’s massive body.
"Izan, the Varita! Quickly!" Atun shouted to him. Without wasting any time, Izan grabbed the Varita. "Where do I go to find Esteban?"
"Go straight, then take the left path! Hurry!"
"Thank you!" Izan said before swimming down the path indicated by Atun.
"You traitor, Atun! You’ll pay for this!!!" Izan heard Queen Raballa shouting behind him.
Izan swam on, Feeling joy in his heart as he neared the moment of reuniting with Esteban. Upon reaching the end, he found a cell with bars made of sturdy Piedra.
His heart ached as he saw Esteban lying on the sand next to his parents. They all seemed to be sleeping.
Izan’s chest tightened as he noticed that Esteban had lost weight and was no longer the muscular siren he once was. He approached the cell. "Esteban," he called out.
Esteban immediately woke up, and his eyes widened in recognition. He swam towards Izan with urgency.
"Izan!" Esteban exclaimed, tears welling up. They ignored the bars separating them, focusing only on the long-awaited sight of each other.
"I'm here, Esteban. I’m going to rescue you!" Izan said, tears streaming down his face. He gently caressed Esteban’s face, and the siren did the same.
"Tell me this is real, Izan. Tell me this isn’t just a dream."
"It’s real, Esteban. I became a siren because of the Piedra! Luckily, I found Atun. He told me what happened to you.
I thought you had left me, Esteban. I thought we would never see each other again!" "Forgive me, Izan. If you only knew how much I wanted to come back to you..."
Soon, King Agrupador and Queen Merluza approached.
"Who is he, Esteban?" asked King Agrupador, who was unmistakably Esteban’s father. "Father, Mother, I am pleased to introduce to you Izan—the human who won my heart. He is the reason I defied you before and took the Piedra." Esteban introduced Izan to his parents.
Izan bowed slightly. "I am honored to meet you."
"So you are the one our child often speaks about. He always tells us how much you both love each other. But why does he have a tail?" Queen Merluza asked.
"It’s because of the Piedra, Your Majesty..."
"It's better if we talk later," Izan said, turning to King Agrupador and handing him the Varita.
"With Atun's help, I was able to retrieve the Varita, Your Majesty. Here it is. You will be freed from Raballa."
King Agrupador immediately took the Varita from him. "Thank you so much, Izan. What Esteban said is true—not all humans are evil. You are truly kind!" he said.
Izan was about to respond when suddenly someone grabbed his hair from behind. "So, you're a human! I won't allow you to succeed!" said Raballa.
She wrapped her arm around Izan's neck, immobilizing him.
"W-what?! Let me go!" Izan struggled.
"I'm not stupid enough to do that! Luckily, I managed to escape from that whale!"
"Let him go, Queen Raballa!" Esteban shouted. Raballa suddenly grabbed the Piedra around her neck. "I'll only release this human if you return the Varita to me!"
"I will never allow the Varita to be in your possession again, Raballa!" King Agrupador yelled.
"Fine, don’t give it to me! I'll destroy the Piedra that this person is wearing! Let's see if he can bear watching as this human slowly loses his breath!" Raballa threatened, laughing maniacally.
Esteban and Izan exchanged worried glances.