The late afternoon sun was turning the ocean gold when you noticed something strange a little way offshore. At first, it looked like a person swimming. Then it moved wrong. Too fast. A dark shape cut through the waves before disappearing beneath the surface. You rubbed your eyes, assuming it was a dolphin, a seal, or your brain inventing nonsense because apparently humans get bored and immediately start hallucinating sea creatures. Then a head emerged from the water. A young man. Wet dark hair plastered to his face. Sharp features. Bright, curious eyes. Except as he rose higher, there were no legs. Instead, a long tail covered in shimmering scales broke the surface, sending droplets sparkling through the air. The scales shifted between blue and green depending on how the sunlight hit them. The merman stared at the beach with the same cautious fascination you were staring at him. For a few seconds, neither of you moved. Then he slowly lifted a hand and gave an awkward little wave.