"I realise I seem entirely like a stalker now… But I wanted to see if you were alright," Oleander carefully spoke as he approached her, having heard the manager telling her to leave, he took a chance on her leaving through the back.

"Isn't this the creep that picked me up last night? Definitely a stalker," Skully hissed.

Ellie stared at his ash blonde hair and pale skin, finding his eyes for a moment, "I- I'm fine. Really." She felt her cheeks become warm again. 

"That's good. Great. I can't help but feel like my sorry excuse for a joke was at fault here." He smiled at her, wishing he had said something a bit more elegant. 

"This is awkward. Or is it just me? Who is this guy?" Skully grumbled at Ellie. 

"N-no… It's my second day. I'm not very good at this yet. Not your fault at all," Ellie exclaimed too loudly as she kept staring at Oleander. 

"Do you have time for a coffee? In a different place I mean? I didn't really get the coffee I ordered so…" He glanced at her with hopeful eyes, "I'll buy you one of course." 

Ellie thought about it for a moment before replying, "Sure, I can probably do that now. My manager did tell me to take a walk. Whatever he meant by that." 

Oleander beamed, "I was actually looking for you… And I sound like a stalker again. I didn't expect to see you in the coffee shop, I was just buying a coffee for my search," he laughed softly. 

"You were looking for me?" Ellie asked before they started walking down the small street. 

"Yes. Your skull made me feel curious I suppose. Or something like that," he muttered awkwardly, realising he sounded all too silly, and Leon would probably whack him on the head if he heard him right now. 

Skully chuckled from the backpack, "So he's curious about me, huh? What a fudging loser." 

Ellie wanted to tell Skully off, but decided against it. "I- I'm actually pretty new in Dawn…" She told Oleander. 

"I've lived here my whole life. Which is not very long, but maybe if you want, I can show you around?" He glanced at her, she was almost the same height as him, and he guessed that she was around his age as well. 

"I wouldn't mind that. Could you show me around Old Dawn? I heard there are some super old buildings here, and that there are tunnels underground," Ellie said excitedly, smiling wider and wider. 

"Old Dawn is filled with old buildings. Though I suppose I can show you some really old ones. Whenever you're free, and I'm free of course," he laughed awkwardly. 

Ellie's eyes lit up, "I'm free now. For a while at least." 

He couldn't help but be drawn in by her, how was she so carefree? And what was this peculiar yet magnetic scent he was getting from her? He wondered if it was another bad idea… Oleander shook his head, "Let me get that coffee first, at least. I was planning to go to class eventually today, but I suppose I can skip it completely for now…" 

"What about your job?" Skully grunted from the backpack. 

Ellie ignored him, letting Oleander lead her to another cafe. She felt excited about the fact that he seemed to know the city very well, for she did feel quite alone in the vastness of Dawn, even with Skully, there was no one else really. Could this possibly be a friend? She smiled to herself at the thought of making an actual friend. 

Oleander bought them both a coffee each, half-relieved that he didn't have to drink the black coffee anymore, but also half-worried because he was bad at directions and there was a fifty-fifty chance he would get them both lost. He glanced up at the sky for a moment, clouds were slowly gathering in the previously cloudless sky. He decided that it would probably be fine. 

"I can show you the old temple first. If you haven't seen it that is," he suggested and glanced back at Ellie. 

Ellie nodded energetically, drinking the hot coffee. "I haven't yet." 

Oleander exhaled; the temple was one of the few locations he knew extremely well, having gone there many times as a child, there was no way of getting lost there. 

"I'm from Everwood by the way," Ellie remarked, slowly feeling more comfortable talking to him, "I've always wanted to move to Dawn though." 

"I've never been to Everwood. I went to boarding school for a few years in Elare. Which I realise is very far, and nowhere near Everwood," he said with a smile.

"How fancy…" Skully grumbled sarcastically from the backpack. 

Ellie giggled, "It is very far from Everwood. I'm sure you've been to a lot of places. I wanna travel one day too, but for now I'm in Dawn." 

"Dawn is alright I suppose, at least Old Dawn. Downtown is a boring place though, unless you like shopping and partying. But you don't really strike me as someone who does." His eyes drifted to the cobblestone street before taking a sip of his all too sweet coffee. 

"I like exploring. I- um- this is portably gonna sound a bit strange, but do you know anything about vampires?" She suddenly blurted out. 

Oleander almost spat out his coffee, "Vampires? Who? No. Nothing. I don't think there's any such people," he stuttered. 

Skully chuckled, "And he keeps getting more and more suspicious."

Ellie decided to press the matter further, "I saw something once, years ago, in Everwood. I'm still trying to make sense of it I guess… There was this kind of vampire called a Sorrow, and this man —hunter— killed it right in front of me. I think he was from Dawn, though I'm not sure. I want to find out more," she said and gazed at Oleander as they stopped in the quiet street in front of the temple. 

He was lost for words, knowing that humans did encounter vampires from time to time, and there were humans who knew more than others. Her eyes pulled him in again, like a wild ocean beckoning him to take a swim. How curious that she should mention Sorrows… 

"You saw a Sorrow? In Everwood?" He kept staring into her eyes.

Ellie felt her cheeks turn red again, his hazel eyes were fixed on her, "Yes. It was horrifyingly scary, but also interesting. I guess I'm not easily scared, but more curious about where it came from." 

A smile formed on Oleander's lips, and in a split second —on a hunch— he decided that perhaps she could aid his investigation, for he was not doing a very good job by himself. "I am actually investigating Sorrows." He boldly proclaimed. 

"You are? Are you a hunter too?" Ellie asked, eyes lighting up even further. 

"Suspicious meter rising even higher here…" Skully muttered, knowing Ellie wasn't paying attention to him at all. "Fine. Don't listen to me. I might as well just be a fudging prop." 

"Not exactly. I am simply investigating them. Because there have been a steady increase of them in Dawn…" Oleander wanted to omit the fact that he himself was a vampire, and that he was investigating on behalf of the Vampire Council. 

Ellie's eyes widened, "If you need any help… Not that I know much about these things- I just want to learn more." 

Oleander glanced at the temple, it stood tall and proud on the side of the street, the cool wind blowing around it. In Dawn they worshipped the god Illucesco first and foremost, though there were others. The old temple had once been built for Lorelei ,the old goddess of the kingdom, about a thousand years years ago.

Was he being foolish? Wanting Ellie, who he had just met, to help him with his investigation, which he was supposed to do by himself… He would get to spend more time with her, and she wanted to find out more about Sorrows, it wouldn't hurt, would it? 

"I wouldn't mind a little help," he let slip, "It's not the easiest investigation." Which was not a lie, he did have a hard time. 

Ellie didn't question why, this was a chance for her to find out more about vampires. If he was investigating Sorrows, then chances were he knew more about vampires as well. 

She squealed and twirled around, "I'm very happy. I was worried it would take me forever to find anyone who knew anything when I came to Dawn. But meeting you has been the best thing ever." 

Oleander almost blushed at her bold choice of words, "Ah- Well… I am happy to help? Shall we go into the temple?" 

Ellie nodded, smiling wide as she entered the massive doors to the temple. The ceiling was high, supported by golden pillars as tall as two storeys that formed a circle, paintings covered the walls and the ceiling. A massive chandelier shaped like a golden sun right above the altar which was at the centre of it all. She had never seen anything like it. 

"Wow. I feel so small in here…" She said softly, not wanting to disturb the quietness. 

"It's pretty much been unchanged since The Cataclysm, except for the change of deity. Lorelei is still here, but they removed the grand statue," Oleander explained, "I study history so I know a thing or two." 

"I- Uh- Is there a bathroom here?" Ellie asked. 

Oleander pointed to a sign at the other end, "That way, just follow the sign. I'll wait here."

Ellie swiftly found the other end, stopping outside the bathroom she pulled Skully out of her backpack, "Alright, this temple is super old. Recognise anything?"

Skully sighed, "You know I can see from the fudging backpack. Also now you choose to take me out? Ugh. You know what. I'm gonna take in the temple for a moment." 

Ellie looked around the hallway she had entered where the bathrooms were. The walls were stone, full of paintings like the rest of the temple. It seemed to lead further inside, perhaps to some inner chambers. She couldn't tell. 

"I'm gonna say it seems somewhat familiar. It's hard to tell. Everything is too blurry," Skully grunted, "Maybe it used to look different." 

"It's fine. I'll put you back inside and head back. I don't want to leave him waiting too long. If we're lucky he might lead us to some good information," Ellie said with a smile, stuffing the skull back inside. 

"I still think he's suspicious, but what do I know… Yes. What do I know? Incense. Candles. Songs. I have been here before," Skully muttered as Ellie walked back, "There was a different statue to your left. A goddess. The songs were beautiful, ethereal, mystical, like they were made by the gods themselves." He could almost see it, like a faded dream that played out before him. 

Ellie had to hold back from saying anything to Skully, her gaze fell on Oleander who smiled at her, "I should get back to work," Ellie whispered, "Maybe we can meet up later or tomorrow?" 

They both wandered out of the temple, "Come to my place tonight. I can show you my investigation so far, and maybe we can have some dinner," Oleander suggested while fishing a note out of his pocket and writing his address on it before giving it to Ellie. 

"See you later, new friend," Ellie yelled out and ran down the street, back toward the coffee shop. She had a million questions prepared to ask him about vampires.