It was a long day of March. the sunlight was fading away, twilight was coming and night was soon to follow.

“Do you ever think about those things?” a man said to another in a street corner

“What you mean by those things?”

“Yeah, yeah you know, when all the sudden you go, ye-ye-ye hughy hughy, and you want to see” it came closer “more” he looked at him in the eyes.

“You are insane,” he said while finding a new street corner where to suffer his misery.

“Pff, damn unbeliever” he sputtered on the ground “if only you knew.”

The same scene happened over and over again, slightly different each time, but the result was the same.

A man in working clothes came near the man, maybe it was some office worker or something like that

“Do you ever think ab-”

“It’s not necessary to make all this theatrical effort, all the homeless and poor of this quarter talk about the ‘mad man at the street corner’ “

The man face lit up with enthusiasm and surprise“Master Pxan! I mean... sorry master Pxan for my irreverence” he cleaned his throat “I didn’t know who would contact me or how… I didn’t image that such a high member would come to me…” he looked around “have you brought them?”

“A whole pack of them. Look for yourself” the man gave him a pack of coins.

He looked inside “it can’t be true! I don’t earn this much in months! I could bu-”

“Please keep your voice low, the bureau and the police already suspect me.”

“Sorry sir... “ he picked up a coin from his pockets “don’t know what it’s. My father told me that was found among my grandmother things after she died. He told him once about “an old coin” found by the river near the old church. But I-”

“Wait where did she found it?”

“By the river near the old church… now I believe that is some sort of office or school there.”

“Hmmm…” he paused a few seconds “thanks for the information, I hope that all goes well to you.” he picked the old coin from the man hand and while he went away he heard him say “glory and health to the immortal grandmaster of twilight and light.” something that he was becoming accustomed to hearing, despite how strange it was to hear.

After this Pxan walked a few quarters and came to the door of a house.

“Hi, Thomas how are you?”

His neighbour voice nearly made him jump “Ehmm, ohhh, is you, Richard, you always give me a heart attack. Things in the department aren’t going well, those afternoons appears unending.”

“Yeah I know the feeling, I once too worked at an office job, it was pretty stressful”

“I agree, I have so little time to read…”

“About that, some hours ago a man came by your door, I asked him what he wanted from you he said that you have an appointment at the tribunal at 6 pm tomorrow.”

“Just must be kidding me”

“And that is not all, he wanted to speak to you before that, around… 2 pm? If I don’t remember wrongly.”

“Did he told you his name or something else?”

“His name was Samuel and no; he didn’t tell me anything else.”

“Hmmnn,” he said worry “thanks for the news, Richard.”

“Always a pleasure.”

Entering his home he was assaulted by a little creature with red hair and blue eyes that had the energy of twenty hard-working men.... his daughter.

“Emily!” a woman said, “leave papa alone while he undresses.”

“But mommy,” she said with a sad face “I want to play with pappy”

“Is fine Elizabeth” he patted his daughter head “I want to play with you too”

“Thomas are you sure? I mean you m-”

“Don’t worry, I am fine.”

They played for a bit before he finally managed to undress and wash. After that by the dinner table, they spoke to each other.

“How is has been work?” asked Elizabeth

“Is going fine, we have this big contract in our hands. We are working a bit more becaus-” he paused “because we need to fulfil it.”

“Thomas maybe you could ask-”

“Don’t worry I already spoke to Arthur, he assured me that… that everything is going to be fine.”

Elizabeth looked at Emily “if you say so.” knowing that something was wrong.

“And so Theseus managed to trick the minotaur and slay him. After that he- he-” he had to pause “he returned home. Unfortunately because of a curse it’s flag wasn’t the golden meaning victory but- but” his eyes nearly closed.

“Dad?”

“Sorry my darling, we will finish the story another time, your dad has to sleep, tomorrow it would be a very hard day for him. Goodnight.” he kissed his forehead and went to his study.

Closed the door behind him and nearly collapsed on the ground, he looked at the clock, 10 pm. He wasn’t getting enough sleep or exercise, or for that matter, diversion.

He unlocked his bookshelf, full of rare and odd books, and picked one about the hidden meaning in Greek mythology. He opened a chapter that he had bookmarked: Theseus in the labyrinth of the Minotaur. Despite it being well written and researched he found himself using the book as a pillow.

A hand touched his shoulder, he immediately jumped out of the chair in fear, remembering past experiences.

“Thomas we have to talk,” she said “we must… there is something that you wouldn’t tell me. You know that today an investigator has come searching for you, an investigator! What are you even doing? How did you manage to get an investigator attention while passing all day at the office, how!”

“Eliz-”

“No, no, don’t start again by this tiredness and lack of sleep. We have a bookshelf, a full bookshelf locked in your study… why? Why you insist on studying those texts? Why you don’t come to sleep with me?” he glanced at the coin.

“What is that? Thomas answer me what is that?”

“That” he looked at the coin “just an old coin that I was examining, it might be worth something you know.”

“Thomas tell me something… do you still love me?”

The next day he met at 2 pm with the investigator at a local cafe.

“Tell me Sa-”

“Excuse me, I am waiting for a person”

“Samuel I am that person”

He looked perplexed and surprised “well… I imagined you different… is that a-”

“I had a horrible night.” he paused “So tell me do you have children?”

“yes, two actually…”

“Let me guest one is named Mary and the other Matthew right?”

“Yes, how did you…” his expression shifted “where are they? What di-”

“Relax. Look they are there, one of them is on the other side of the street.” he looked at the other side of the street. A child, his Matthew, was holding hands with a large and high man all dressed in black.

“He would be a perfect take c-”

“What do you want to do with them!” he said getting much attention

“As I was saying I don’t want to do you any harm Samuel, you are a good man, you are only doing your work. So let’s make a pact”

Samuel listened attentively.

The process was delayed by a few days. A few days later all evidence disappeared in thin air and the process was cancelled.

…

“Master the site has been found-”

“By an ex-church by the river. Right?”

“Ye-yes master, how did you know? You are truly omniscient!”

He stood up from his chair and adjusted his white cloak and pendant “no, I just know a few things.” he entered the large hall.

“Gory and health to the immortal grandmaster of twilight and light!” all men in the room shouted.

“My fellow brothers,” he began speaking “another investigator wanted to stop us using his cowardice tricks and methods.”

in the room, a mixture of idiot and insult far heavier were said

“but he mustn’t be attacked. He was only confused and in the dark!” a man walked in the hall. Many men recognized him as Samuel the investigator.

“Before our brother, Samuel be introduced to our brotherhood I want to give you another news.”

All men looked at him

He picked the old coin from his pocket and show to them “thanks to this coin and a good soul, the site of the Minotaur temple was finally located!”

A large roar exploded in the room.

“We will begin work tomorrow, I already gather all resources.”

“Glory to Master Pxan and the immortal master!”

“Glory!”

“Glory!”

“Glory!”

Once Pxan left the hall, he felt exhausted. He couldn’t do this anymore, this wasn’t a hobby, this was a second life with all the struggles, obligations and family that a normal one had. Today he spoke while having his workman clothing under the cloak! He still had to court a bit his wife so he didn’t force him to sleep on the sofa. Still what to say? With the brotherhood it was different. Here he was a master, he commanded. At home? At home, he just hoped that his wife and daughter didn’t notice too much his strange behaviours and routines…

what to do? What to do?

“Master” a voice from behind him spoke, “are you alright?”

“Yes Emily I am fine, dad is just tired.”

“Master?”

“Yes?”

“Who is Emily?”

He turned back, it was one of his brothers “oh, forget about that. I was thinking about something else. I should sleep”

And with this he went home, his home with his daughter and wife, still wondering what he will say.

The end.