La'gaan's classes didn't waste any time. They got right into the material. Some of his classes were frustratingly difficult, while others weren't too strenuous. History wasn't so bad, though La'gaan had difficult memorizing dates and names of important figures. It didn't help that Professor Tullus was constantly calling on him, even though he knew that he didn't know what the answer was. Yet that treatment was preferable to what he got in his sorcery class. The professor, though she meant well, was constantly talking down to him. She told him things like, "If you can't handle this spell, you can sit this one out." Or, "This may be difficult for someone of your background, La'gaan." It humiliated and infuriated him.

But, in some ways, she was right. He was in over his head on almost all fronts. It would be easier if La'gaan were better at reading and writing. He was barely literate as it was. Blubber often had to read things aloud to him, or help him write something down. His friend insisted he didn't mind, but he couldn't hide his astonishment.

"Didn't they teach you how to read in primary school?" Blubber asked.

"I never went to primary school," La'gaan grumbled. He'd known kids that went to school. It was free, and they seemed to like it. But La'gaan didn't see any use for it. Would books get him food? Would they get him money and keep him safe? Now, however, he was regretting not spending time on his education. It would have made his life easier.

"Didn't your parents teach you?" Blubber persisted.

The thought of his parents made La'gaan tense up. "No."

"What? Why?" Blubber was horrified. "Didn't they know how to read?"

"I don't know!" La'gaan snapped. "They're both dead, so what's it matter?!"

This completely shocked Blubber. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't know."

La'gaan didn't say anything. He stared down at the scroll in his lap, willing the words to start making sense. The words were still just symbols on a page and nothing more. Not for the first time, he wished they'd start making sense. It would give him something else to think about. The silence between them seemed to stretch on for hours.

"…you're angry with me, aren't you?" Blubber asked tentatively.

"No," La'gaan answered. He sighed in frustration. "I just…I don't like thinking about them. That's all. You did not know."

"What happened to them?" Blubber immediately regretted asking. He stumbled through his next words. "I- I mean. You don't have to tell me. I should not have asked. I-"

"It's fine, chum," La'gaan assured him. He frowned slightly, looking up from the scroll. "My father…my father was killed by Ocean Master's men when I was young. My mother abandoned me in Nanauve."

"She abandoned you? Why?" Blubber asked.

La'gaan frowned and looked away. "I was sick. I had the Red Cough. She thought I was dying…and she left me. Didn't even wait to make sure I was dead. Just left. I haven't seen her since."

"So…she could still be alive?" Blubber suggested. "Maybe she's out there. You just have to find her."

"What makes you think I want to find her?" La'gaan snapped.

The question caught Blubber off-guard. He'd always had a great relationship with both of his parents. He couldn't imagine life without them. "Well, she's your only family. Isn't she? If she's alive-"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore!" La'gaan threw the scroll down and got up. "I'm going for a swim."

"La'gaan, my friend, I did not mean to upset you!" Blubber got up as well, frowning with concern. "Please. Do not be angry with me."

Something about Blubber always took the fight out of La'gaan. He was the first best friend he'd ever really had. It was impossible to be mad at him. "I'm not angry with you. I promise. I just need to clear my head. I will be back before dinner."

His friend hesitated, then nodded. He was learning that it was better to let La'gaan be alone when he was angry. It allowed him to gather his thoughts and clear his mind. "Alright."

La'gaan left the campus for the first time that evening. There was no rule against it. Students were free to explore the city, so long as it was not during class hours. The streets were crowded with people. But La'gaan didn't notice any of them. He didn't pay attention to where he was going or why. His mind was filled with screaming and blood. So much blood. His father's blood, his own blood, the blood of his friends…there was a reason he did not think about his parents. It stirred up too many bad memories.

When he pulled himself from his thoughts, La'gaan found himself out in front of a temple. There were many throughout the city, each devoted to a different god. Many Atlanteans preferred one god over another. Their 'patron' god, many called them. But La'gaan had no patron. He'd never been able to rely on gods to help him. Yet he still swam inside.

The temple's exterior was painted blue-green, and the frieze was carved with dolphins. La'gaan guessed that it was a temple devoted to the sea goddess Salacia, and he proved to be correct. In the center of the temple there was a giant statue of her. Her head was crowned with seaweed, and her hands were outstretched towards her worshippers. La'gaan's academic education was limited, but every child in Atlantis heard the stories of the gods. Salacia was the goddess of the sea, Neptune's queen, and the protector of every Atlantean child.

"Where were you when I needed you?" La'gaan murmured, glaring up at her. "Why aren't you with me now?"

"Salacia is always with us," said a voice behind him.

La'gaan turned and found himself staring at a girl. She was a mermaid with long brown hair and bright blue eyes. La'gaan recognized her from school, but he forgot her name. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lori. We have history together," the girl whispered. It was impolite to speak loudly in a temple. Talking at all was supposed to be avoided. The priests that maintained the sanctuary were already giving them dirty looks. She motioned for La'gaan to follow her out. And though he hesitated, he eventually swam after her and out on to the street.

"Why do you want to talk to me?" La'gaan asked, eying her warily.

Lori smiled sheepishly. "I have actually been trying to catch you since I saw you leave the dorms. You're very fast – has anyone ever told you that?"

"That doesn't answer my question, chum," La'gaan said. He crossed his arms and frowned.

"I was assigned to be your tutor," Lori explained. "Well, asked really. One of my professors introduced me to the queen, and she requested I help you."

"I don't need any help. With anything," La'gaan growled.

Lori frowned slightly in concern. "La'gaan, there is no reason to be ashamed. Your professors are going to work with you as well. Things have been hectic since the semester started, but now that we are all settled-"

"I don't need any help! Neptune's beard, are you deaf?" La'gaan cried.

She sighed and looked him in the eye. "Her Majesty said you may react this way…this is not Nanauve, La'gaan. There are many people who want you to succeed. I am one of them. But you have to learn to accept help. It is not a sign of weakness. Everyone gets overwhelmed at some point."

La'gaan looked away. "Why do you care?"

"You seem nice," Lori answered. "A bit stubborn, but nice all the same."

"I am not stubborn!" La'gaan protested. The girl didn't say anything. She just raised her eyebrows at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "…ok, maybe I am."

Lori giggled a bit. "So, will you let me help you?"

He hesitated. His classes were only getting harder, not easier. At this rate he would not be able to keep up. Like it or not, a tutor was what he needed. La'gaan sighed and nodded. "I guess. Just…don't tell anyone about it. I don't want word to spread. Understand?"

"Sure," Lori agreed. She glanced back the temple. "Did I interrupt your prayers?"

La'gaan turned his eyes back towards the temple as well. "…no. I was just wandering."

"Salacia is my patron god, you know," Lori said, still staring up at the temple. "It is good luck that we met in her temple. My mother once told me that if you meet a person in the eyes of your patron, your friendship will be blessed." She looked back at La'gaan. "Who is your patron?"

"I don't have one," La'gaan answered. "I don't need one."

"You don't need a tutor, you don't need a patron god…what do you need?" Lori asked, smirking slightly.

La'gaan smirked back at her. "I need food to eat, a place to sleep, and water to swim in. That's all I need."

With that he swam ahead, going back towards the Conservatory. Lori was at his side in a moment. La'gaan glanced at her. A mischievous smile slowly spread across his face. "Last one back to the Conservatory is a piece of rotten shark bait!"

He darted ahead, swimming through the water at an impressive speed. Lori laughed and swam after him. When she got closer, she reached forward and grabbed his ankle. She yanked him back and used his momentum to get ahead.

"Hey!" La'gaan laughed. "That's cheating!"

"So is giving yourself a head start!" Lori shot back. She grinned and kept swimming. They overtook each other multiple times on their race back, and in the end it was La'gaan who won. But by that point they were both so tired and exhilarated that they did not care. Together they sat in the courtyard, recovering from their swim.

La'gaan smiled at Lori. "You know, you're okay."

"Is that a compliment?" Lori grinned.

"Maybe," La'gaan chuckled.

Off in the distance, they heard the chimes that signaled it was time for dinner. La'gaan got to his feet. "You should come eat with me and my friend tonight. I mean…if you want to, anyway."

"I'd love to. Lead the way," Lori said.