On a dark grassland,
a peculiar black horse was quietly grazing on the grass.
A horn grew from its head, and purple fur covered its mane and hooves.
Unlike its other three brothers, it was not so flamboyant, keeping the flames burning all over its body contained.
Even so, on this dark grassland, it still shone like a beacon, frightening off the animals around it.
At this moment, Thaumas had already landed on the grassland atop Griffin.
Thaumas took out a piece of gold and tossed it to Griffin. Happily snatching the gold in its beak, it ran off to play. The darkness could not obstruct Griffin's vision.
During these past few dark nights,
the goddess Artemis and the goddess Nyx had both been forced to work overtime without rest. The moon, in particular, had to ensure its moonlight spread across the earth so the land would not fall completely into darkness.
Thaumas did not light a torch. By the moonlight alone, he could already see the road clearly.
Besides, such a large cluster of light would look far too conspicuous in this darkness.
It would be hard not to draw attention.
He slowly walked toward the fire horse, controlling his footsteps and trying not to attract its attention.
Phlegon represented the arrival of night and the appearance of stars, so it particularly loved the darkness.
Once Thaumas drew close, he said softly,
"Hello there! You lost fellow."
"Neigh—" Phlegon let out a low cry, then stared warily at Thaumas. Light flickered within its pitch-black eyes.
It assumed a fighting stance, then silently backed away step by step.
Hmm?
A workhorse?
Seeing this, Thaumas slowly sat down where he was, careful not to disturb the fire horse.
If he moved too quickly or too dramatically, this timid fellow might run away.
Although Griffin could catch up to it, that might not accomplish Thaumas's goal.
So Thaumas sat down and quietly said to Phlegon,
"Hey, Phlegon, I was entrusted by the gods to ask you to come back. You've played around for long enough. Isn't it time to return?"
"Neigh— I refuse! Going back means working every day, leaving early and returning late. Only when I sleep at night can I admire the night I love most.
Now, as long as I don't go back, it is nighttime at every moment! I refuse to work!" Phlegon roared.
Oh, so it did not want to work.
That was perfectly normal. After resting at home for a few days, no one wanted to go back to work. If work did not earn money, how many people would actually want to work?
It was just like studying. At school, one desperately thought about when class would end and one could go home, but at home, one wished the holiday would last longer.
Phlegon had effectively gained a very long vacation now. Getting it to return to work really would be difficult.
After all, the sun did not have such a thing as rest.
Hmm, he needed to think of a way!
Hmm?
Something seemed strange again?
!
"Wait, you can talk, Phlegon?!" Thaumas was shocked.
After all, he had spent every day with Griffin these past few days and was practically about to learn Beast language. This fire horse suddenly opening its mouth left Thaumas somewhat unable to accept it.
He was already considering whether he should change mounts.
"Wah?" Griffin beside him seemed to sense something and looked over at Thaumas in confusion. Its instincts told it that something bad seemed about to happen.
But after discovering nothing unusual, it continued playing with the gold in its claws.
After all, its instincts also told it that it was no big deal. There was no need to care; Thaumas could handle it himself.
"I am a one-of-a-kind divine beast. What's wrong with saying a few words? I am not like a lowly race such as Griffin. They are merely Phantasmal Species, while I am a divine beast!
And you, get away from me already! Do not let me see you again." Phlegon had begun driving him away.
"Are you really not going back, Phlegon? Giving up your deluxe room? Are you truly willing to sleep in the wild?"
"Neigh~ Although I miss my room very much, compared to working every day, I would rather give up the room and feed the gods prepared for me!" Phlegon refused.
Thaumas had only mentioned the room, so why had it added feed? Was it really that greedy?
"Mm, then let me secretly tell you a secret. Do you want to hear it? Don't worry, it won't threaten you."
"Hmm? Tell me! If it makes me happy, I will share a bite or two of my grass with you and let you have a taste."
Phlegon pointed at the ground beneath its hooves. Clearly, it regarded this grassland as its territory. But only a bite or two? It really was stingy.
"Thank you, but I don't need any grass. Let me tell you, though—you can't tell the other fire horses."
"No problem, no problem. I hate those three bright fellows anyway. I see them every day when we work, and they make me feel ugly. Night is what I prefer. I definitely won't tell them!"
"I heard—I only heard this, okay? The sun god Helios has stepped down!"
"! Neigh—!"
"It is absolutely true. I heard it from the god of light Apollo and the Goddess of Wisdom Athena. They told me themselves! How could that possibly be false?"
"Although it surprises me greatly, so what? I am not going back anyway."
It didn't take the bait? No matter! The important part came next!
"Hey, Phlegon, don't you want to enjoy both the night and a deluxe room with feed?"
Thaumas was already well versed in tempting others. As long as there was desire, no living being was flawless! If there was no desire, then he would make one develop desire!
"Hmm? What do you intend to do? Let me make this clear first: I absolutely will not pull that Sun Chariot! Absolutely!" Phlegon insisted.
"Don't worry. I, Thaumas, have an excellent reputation! Otherwise, the gods would not have come to me and asked me to bring you back."
"Then tell me!"
"Do you know the goddess of night, Nyx?"
Nyx,
was depicted as a woman dressed in black gauze embroidered with stars. Holding the infant god of sleep or god of death in her arms, she rode a chariot drawn by black horses into the heavens each evening, responsible for shrouding the earth in night and immersing the world in tranquility.
It was said that even Zeus, father of the gods, deeply respected this "all-conquering" goddess and regarded her highly. It was also said that Nyx was Zeus's foster mother.
Not only did Nyx hold an exalted divine position, she was one of the few great deities in Greek mythology who possessed immense power across all mythological systems. She also had the great power to restrain both mortals and gods at once.
"Of course I do! What I love most is the night! Are you belittling me? Questioning my knowledge and experience? I am a divine beast!"
Mm-hmm, a divine beast. Just somewhat timid and arrogant.
Hmm? Timid and arrogant? It seemed like Jason!
Eh, it really did!
No wonder communicating with it was so easy. There was even an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
Since it was merely Jason, this would be much simpler!
Before you continue