Once people realized how helpful Bucket was, he became busier than ever. He was not only willing to hold and carry stones, but he played music, too, and people started making requests.
Toward the end of the day, the light was fading and there was only an occasional bell like tone ringing out as crystals were still being pieced together.
A short time later, Bucket and Aino watched the sunset together before taking the path up the valley into the foothills. They could still see their way because the jewels on Olo’s surface absorbed the light, and glowed softly until nearly dawn.
Arriving back at home, Aino collapsed into her bed and dreamed of a happy memory… the day that had just ended.
The flowers were content on the windowsill, and sent delicate aromas into Aino’s cottage through the open window while she slept.
Not everyone on Olo slept at night. In fact, there were more parties, or gatherings that happened while most Ololians slumbered. Food was served on long tables, and everyone was welcome. Some were nocturnal, sleeping during the day. They socialized and ate beneath a star filled sky. If you ever had trouble sleeping for any reason, you could come to one of the tables. You could share what was on your mind, or simply be nourished without any pressure. When interesting events happened in the night sky, many more would gather in the softer light. This could be the visit of a comet, the alignment of various heavenly bodies, or the approach of a spaceship. Almost imperceptibly, dark patches moved across the sky, blotting out the light in the shapes of whale silhouettes.
A boy named Jewely found himself awake one night in the foothills of the reef like mountains. He picked at a fruit plate, and listened to the gentle conversations around him. He looked out across the crystal plains and saw the glow of the castle in the distance. Someone passed a serving plate down the table, and when it came to Jewely, he scooped a ladle-full onto his plate. It was whiteish, steaming and goopy like melted cheese. It went well with fruit and breads, and sometimes made people sleepy.
Some varieties of the fishlike creatures lit up in their tail sections. They liked to swim through the air in curling paths, drawing pictures above the tables. They could be used as messengers from one table to another, and were always happy to deliver these messages in visual form, no matter how silly the message might be. Often, the meaning would be cryptic. It was like charades, or similar to the way earthlings tried to figure out the meaning behind personalized license plates.