The sound of waves crashing up against something and cars zooming by wakes me from my slumber. For some reason, I don’t remember sleeping? As I sat bolt upright, I heard a voice speak from somewhere in the room.

“Someone’s chipper this morning.”

As I turned my head towards the voice, I saw Nocte casually leaning on the wall. When I caught sight of him, my head started to ache and I rubbed my temples.

“What happened?” 

Surely he could shed some light on the matter.

“It seemed that doing a lot really took a toll on you yesterday.”

“Where are we?”

“We’re still on the boat. But we have docked on the mainland.”

As I continued to rub my temples, something started to come back to me. It felt like a weird dream. Was it a dream or? I then heard Nocte’s concerned voice.

“Something the matter?”

“I think I had a strange dream…”

“Oh?”

“.... You, in trouble.”

“Hah, that’s quite impossible.” He laughed it off as he walked over to sit on the bed, and pointed to himself. “As you can see, I’m quite fine.”

As I looked at him more closely, I saw that he looked no different than he usually did. The only difference is that he had tied back his hair in a ponytail. But I could have sworn that my ‘dream’ felt real.

“But when you’re ready, we’ll head off the boat.”

“Do you have more work today?”

“No, I actually have a day off.”

I smiled at him as he got off the bed.

“But I am sure that you want your privacy, so I shall wait outside..”

With that, he heads outside to the balcony part of the room, and closes the doors behind him.  It then occurred to me that I can’t remember much from last night, but I do remember meeting that weird guy. But me actually getting ready for bed? That I do not remember. Was I that tired? As I rubbed my eyes, I hopped off the bed, went into the bathroom to freshen up and changed into some fresh clothing. As I opened the door that led to the balcony of the boat, I saw Nocte leaning on the railing, staring up at the blue sky, basking in the morning light.

“Have you been enjoying the sun while waiting for me?” I asked with a smile as I leaned on the railings alongside him. I noticed that he didn’t look at me as he answered me.

“I enjoyed the sun quite a lot, but sometimes I miss it….”

I blink at him about that comment, and wondered why he misses the sun? Is he legit like his name sake and nocturnal? But, either way, he turned to face me, and acted like he just didn’t say that.

“Ready?”

“Yes, but what about the clothes that are still here?”

“I’m sure you will accompany me on this boat another time.”

I nervously started fidgeting at that comment, and felt like I needed to change the subject.

“Erm… About the Irish guy last night… Was that all sorted?”

“Oh, him? Yeah, totally. If you soften him up with booze, he’s putty in your hands.”

“Isn’t that malupiation?”

“Perhaps, but if it helps then why not?”

I furrowed my brows, for a split second, it made me think that this man in front of me would do anything to achieve something. Even if it was illegal. But I buried those thoughts and gave him a smile.

“Well, I am ready to go when you are.”

As we disembarked the boat, the Captain came to see us off. I didn’t get to speak to her a lot, but I noticed that she was a kind lady and so I said my goodbyes. The Captain had to make a scene by telling me not to be a stranger, which made me think: when did I make that type of impression on her? I’ve only been on the boat barely a day, really. When we could finally leave, we returned to the car and started to drive back. After being on the road for about five minutes, Nocte speaks up.

“Do you want to take it easy today?”

“Honestly…?” I turned my attention from the scenery to him. “My first day here was hectic, so yes please?”

“Well, it definitely was a ride.” 

So, with that, he drove back to the villa, parked up and got out. As we walked back inside the villa, I heard him sigh from behind me and, as I turned around, I saw that he looked somewhat put off.

“I sadly have a few things to take care of….”

“Hm? I thought you said that you had the day off?”

“Family matters never have a day off…”

With an awkward smile, he began to turn away to head back out again, but he stopped and turned to look at me. As I raised an eyebrow, I realised that he took a few steps straight towards me.

“You are really easy to read.”

“Huh?”

As he took my shoulders, he then leaned in and gave me a light peck on the side of my mouth and the gesture made me flush red.

“You’ll have me soon….”

As he gave me a wink, he then let me go and turned to walk out the villa again, leaving me feeling extra flushed, mainly because of that last comment that he made. ‘Have him soon’? Really? What a rather intriguing choice of words indeed… But I can’t dwell on that now really, or it will devour me! Especially that wink… Wait, no… What did I just tell myself? As I slapped my cheeks, I headed straight upstairs and headed towards the balcony and leaned over the railings. I couldn’t see the dolphin, but I did see that there was something memorising about the glittering water. As I watched the water gently sway in the wind, I tried to recall that dream. But, when I try and think about it more, everything about it just becomes fuzzy. Somehow it felt so real, but it also felt like I’ve had something similar happen to me before. Frowning to myself, I pushed off the railing and went to lounge on the sofa. I was not sure how long I was there, but I was just watching the world go by when my phone buzzed. As I took it out and checked the screen, I saw that there was one text message.

I’m sending someone over to ‘entertain’ you

Errr…. Entertain me? The message was from Nocte and, as per usual, he confused me. A mere moment went by, and a musical ring echoed around the villa. Considering the type of ring, I’m guessing that is the door? As I hopped off the sofa, I headed back downstairs and headed towards the front door and opened it. I saw that there, standing in front of me, with a rather disgruntled facial expression, was the man that I saw once before.

“Oh, you’re the man who works for Nocte.”  I said out loud.

As I said that, he looked right at me, and raised an eyebrow. 

“I stress the word ‘work’. But, if it makes things easy, then sure, let's go with that. But I have a name, and it’s Casus.”

“Well, I received a text from Nocte, and he said something about ‘entertainment’. Are you that ‘entertainment’?”

Casus sighs, and rubs the back of his neck in slight annoyance. “Sure… So, how do you feel about horses?”

That’s an odd question to ask, I thought.

“Horses? Well, I find them to be very beautiful creatures.”

“Do you know how to ride one?”

“Well, I grew up in the countryside, so my mum has taken me to some lessons before…. Erm… Why?”

Now I was really curious. But, with a small smile, Casus then side stepped and, as I looked ahead, I saw that there, standing at the end of the path, were two horses. One was pure black and the other was a lovely brown.

“Erm, wait…. Are you suggesting that we go for a ride?”

I was a bit taken aback, since I only met this guy once and here I am, apparently going for a ride with him. 

“It beats being bored, right? Plus… Wouldn’t you like to see some sights? I am quite knowledgeable in these parts.”

“So you’re a tour guide, basically.”

“I suppose….”

I bit my lip, I still didn’t really know this guy. But, if he works for Nocte? Then surely he is ok, right? As I took a deep breath, I stepped further out of the door and closed it.

“Well, why not then? And, my name is Lexi.” I held out my hand for him to shake, and he looked at it with a tilted head, but he did take it and I shook it. “It’s nice to meet you again, Casus.”

“Likewise, I suppose.”

As I let go of his hand, he turned and walked back up the path towards where those two horses were still standing. I had to admit that he didn’t really seem like a people person. Some of his actions were rather stiff, and he had a rather bored tone to his voice. But he didn’t seem to be a bad person. With a smile, I joined him and, as I did, he pointed to the brown horse.

“That will be your one.”

“Oh. Ok.”

With a tender hand, I stroked the velvety nose of the brown horse, and its big brown eyes looked right at me.

“Do you need help getting on?” Casus asked me.

“Oh no. I’ll be fine.”

As I walked to the horse’s side, I basically remembered how to do it and I put a foot in the stirrup. That was when Casus’ voice called out to me again.

“Try putting the other foot in the stirrup.”

“Huh?” As I looked down, I could see that I was putting the right foot in the stirrup. “Oh, right…” It was the left foot in the stirrup, and the right leg goes over the horse. Duh. Of course it was. When I switched over, and with a little push from the floor, I somehow managed to get on. Whilst I was sitting in the saddle, I saw Casus just smoothly get on the black horse. But now that I had seen that one up close, I noticed that that black horse looked like velvet and its eyes?  They were a rather beautiful blue, which, now that I think about it, was the same colour as Casus’ own.

“What’s your horse called?” I asked him, as I got comfy.

“Arcana.”

“Cute! And mine?” I stroked the brown horse’s neck.

“Fasóli, if I remember correctly.”

“Oh, well it’s very nice to meet you, Fasóli.” The little horse didn’t really react much, so I turned to face Casus’ black beauty. “And it’s nice to meet you, Arcana.” This time, that horse gave me a reaction, but my eyes widened as that horse just slowly nodded his head. I mean that was a coincidence, right?

“You ready?” Casus asked me.

“Well, I'm as ready as I’ll ever be.”

With that, we set out, with me following behind Casus. The man didn’t really say much, unless it was time to point out certain landmarks. Which he seemed to know a lot, so me jokingly telling him that he was a tour guide was pretty darn accurate. I did eventually ask him how he knew all the stuff that he talked about, and all I got back was:

“I’ve been around.”

For some reason, that vagueness kind of reminded me of Nocte.

As we were riding through a little town, I couldn’t help but notice some stuff. More importantly, I was noticing certain symbols that intrigued me.

“Erm… Casus?” I called out to him.

Casus stopped his horse, and I pulled back on the reins on mine. “Yes?” He answered back.

“What are those symbols?”

I pointed towards where I saw those unique symbols and, as he looked at them, he noticed that there, on the side of a wall, was what looked like a crescent moon and a sun.

“It’s the Sun and Moon.” Was his rather quick answer.

“Well, I know that….”

“Do you want a history lesson?”

“Huh?”

“I’m sure you know about Greek mythology, right?”

“Well, just the well known basic parts.”

“Then do you perhaps know that there is a mythology that is even older than them, that started here in Greece?”

“No?”

Casus smiled at me. 

“Well, many years before the wake of what was classified as the Greek empire, lived another empire. Who actually worshipped another set of God’s way before the time of Zeus worshipping wasn’t even in the mind of anyone. This small empire worshipped only two. Day and night, which explains those symbols. This empire and the worshipping of them, expanded but, as the stories go, one day those two Gods suddenly vanished, leaving their worshippers behind and eventually becoming a distant memory.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard of them though….”

“A lot of records have been missing, or were just never recorded.”

“So how do you know about them?”

“This town….” He gestures to the little town that they were still standing in. “Promotes themselves as the ‘hometown’ of these Gods. So it’s the only place that actually shows remnants of them, and I’m sure that, if you talk to the locals, they can tell you the same thing that I did.”

“So were the records destroyed when the other so-called Gods came to be?”

“Most probably.”

“I see….”

“I mean this town? Is not called Noxensol for nothing.”

“Nox and Sol??”

“A play on words for the different meanings for night and day.”

“Really?” It made me think of something. “Huh…. That reminds me that Nocte also means night.”

“Fancy that….” Casus sounded pretty unamused.

“But thank you for telling me! I never knew….”

“No problem.”

With that, we both headed off again but, as I looked behind me, as we left that town, it made me wonder if Nocte knows that there is a town that kind of has his name sake attached to it. But, as our little group continued on, I really noticed that the horse that I was on was an absolute gem. I don’t think I have ever met a calmer horse. However, the pool of horses that I knew was rather small anyway, so I didn’t have much to compare this horse to. As we rode on for a little while more, we both decided to stop for a rest. As I got off, I did become slightly curious as to why Casus only tied up my horse and left his own just standing there, not tied to anything. But that wasn’t really any of my business, and I went to go and sit on a nearby bench. After a bit, Casus joined me. However, I did notice that he was pretty stiff.

“So….” I struck up a conversation with him. “How do you know Nocte?” I kinda didn’t know what to ask first, so I went with that.

“We’re mutual friends.” Was his brief and curt reply.

Somehow I’m not sure what I was expecting.

“Erm, thank you.”

“For what?” He questioned me.

“Taking me out.”

“I didn’t exactly get much of a say, but if it gets him off my back? Then sure, I’ll do it.”

“Oh….” I couldn’t help myself nervously laughing, now I wasn’t sure if he was ok with being here now. “But, tell me about yourself….” I thought it would be best to change the subject entirely.

“There’s not really much to say….” Casus shrugged at me. “What you see, is what you get.”

“Hmm…. Do you have a special someone?”

As I asked, his face darkens, and he exhales slowly. “I gave them up….”

“Oh… I’m sorry….”

“It’s fine.”

As I nervously smiled at him, my phone buzzed interrupting the awkwardness that I ended up creating. As I took my phone out and I checked the screen, I could see a message.

You with the Spaniel?

Of course the message was from Nocte, so I unlocked my phone and I typed back ‘yes’. Shortly afterwards, my phone rang, and I saw that the caller ID was the man himself. 

“Hello?” I answered it.

“Can you put him on, please?” Nocte’s voice came from the line.

“I can try… Erm… He wants to speak to you.” I told Casus as I showed him my phone. He looked at the phone and then back at me.

“Does he now?” There was a lot of sarcasm in his tone of voice.

“Apparently….”

Whilst rolling his eyes, he took the phone from me and placed it to his ear. I could hear Nocte’s voice again, but I couldn’t quite catch what he said. Casus got up from the bench and walked a little ways away. As I watched him, I couldn’t deny that I was pretty curious about what the phone call was about. After about a minute, Casus returned and handed me back my phone.

“Everything alright?” I asked him.

“That depends….”

“Huh?”

“Saying that… I am supposed to drop you off at a certain location.”

“Really?” I seemed to look perhaps a little excited about that, and I saw him roll his eyes again.

“Yes….”