It was the first time Dohko and Shion stepped out of Sleep's residence by themselves. They had never received any interdiction of doing it, but until then they had never tried, aware that they had no place to reach nor any mean of finding their comrades. And to Shion, going in the open felt like breathing again, after a long time of reclusion.
The sky was bright blue, even if no sun could be seen. Hypnos' palace was set on an elevated location, and as soon as they got on the top of the descending staircase, they could look at a landscape similar to the one they usually saw from the terrace; it looked like the court of a noble estate, all green with sprouts of red flowers blooming here and there, probably poppies. More of it became visible as they went down, displaying trees and elegantly placed vines.
«And who knew there was such a pretty view, in the Underworld.» Dohko muttered. «It still surprises me, it doesn't even look real.»
«We are in the Elysium.» Shion answered. «I suppose the Twins would want to reside in a pleasant place.»
«Lucky to be gods, huh…?»
Aries just vaguely smiled to that, and they kept going, now walking amongst the trees.
«Any idea on how to move from here to… wherever our comrades might be?» His friend asked, looking around. «I guess we won't find any kind of road sign.»
«Especially not one pointing towards prisoner saints.» Shion crossed arms on his chest, stopping to consider their options. «And probably, the specters we would meet won't be willing to give us information.»
Dohko sighed, moving some more steps forward and then turning around to look at him.
«So, what should we do…?» He asked again, running a hand through his dark hair. «I could go so far and ask specters, you know. But I doubt I'd receive polite answers.»
«I might have a better plan.» Aries replied. «I retain a glimmer of my cosmo, for some reasons I am still unable to comprehend. I could try to focus and feel our comrades' presences, even if they have all been stripped of their powers. I am trying right now.»
Libra nodded with a small frown, moving again to rest his back against a tree log.
«I wish I could be of some assistance.» Said then, tapping his fingers on an arm. «Don't push yourself, anyway. Don't forget that there's still is a dark cosmo here, which could swallow yours.»
Shion just vaguely nodded back, closing his eyes and then focusing at the best of his possibilities. The task was made harder by the fact that he didn't know where to begin, for his thoughts swayed from his former teacher to Manigoldo, even if Aries knew that the first one had yet to be claimed from the dead, and the second was very close to them, locked up in the nearby residence of Sleep's twin, albeit they couldn't think of reaching him.
Eventually he decided to try and concentrate on one single saint at a time; most certainly, he had no chance of sensing all of them at that distance, with just a faint glimmer of cosmo and unaware if they were claimed or not. He begun following an order and going from bottom to top, and being the keeper of the First House, he focused on the second, thus looking for Aldebaran's presence. And he had managed to exclude every sound and feeling from his perception, going into blank meditation, when he felt a pull on his arm. Shion realized that there was something like a cosmo, very close to him, but it wasn't belonging to any of their comrades saints… rather to that of a specter.
Aries opened his eyes and blinked, finding himself looking at a specter, in fact. He had a winged surplice and long, silvery hair… and he looked somehow familiar. The pull on his arm was Dohko trying to get his attention, as the specter was still far, albeit approaching.
«What's a specter doing here?» Libra hissed, almost taking a fighting stance, and Aries put a hand on his shoulder.
«Probably he's here to speak with Hypnos… he's an Infernal Judge.» Said then, finally recognizing the other. «It's the Griffon.»
«The Griffon…? You told me that he fought against-»
Dohko had to stop for the specter was now too close and could hear them, and was also giving them a curious look, arms crossed on his chest.
«Hello there, little dolls…» Said then, tilting his head. «I was kind of looking for you. Lucky to have found you out here.»
«What do you want?» Libra asked with a glare, and Shion tightened the hold on his shoulder, as to silently remind him to keep calm.
«Easy, kid.» The Griffon answered, now half smiling. «No harm will come from me. We are in the Elysium, and Sleep likes to say that this is always been a place of peace, and not even once a single drop of blood was spilled here… not that I need to draw your blood if I wanted to play with you, but I guess it's the concept which counts.»
Dohko had never stopped glaring, and Aries could almost hear his answer as "come here and try", but luckily he kept silent.
«You said you were looking for us, not for Hypnos.» Shion said then, tone careful. «What would be the matter?»
«Well…» The specter tilted his head again, and even if they had the same height, Aries felt like he was seizing him up. «I remember your pretty face, kid. Do you remember mine? Your azure haired friend prevented us from fighting, a pity he did… I was just starting to like you, back then.»
«My comrade fought better than I could ever manage.» Shion answered in a plain tone, recalling the fight between Albafica and that Infernal Judge. «And it was a privilege to witness, on my behalf.»
This time the Griffon sighed, sliding fingers into his locks as to make them fall back.
«You have such a weird, distorted idea of "fighting well", you golden dolls.» He commented then in a lower tone. «The Pisces saint committed suicide in the most ingenious way I've ever seen, and I do hope you wouldn't have done the same… how old were you, when you died? Like, seventeen…? Isn't it a bit crazy, for the Sanctuary mentors, to teach kids how to kill themselves?»
Shion found himself blinking at those words, and then frowning. He felt short of an answer and Dohko vaguely stepped forward, anticipating him.
«Are you the one who claimed the Pisces saint?» He asked and the specter nodded, making Shion's frown deepen.
That was all but a good new, he thought, even if he had expected something like that to happen. He remembered how ruthless and cruel that specter was, using his technique to inflict severe pain and put his enemies through torment, before killing them. He found himself gritting his teeth, at the idea that something like that could have been happening to Albafica, during the past weeks.
«Do not give me that look, both of you.» The Griffon said again. «I know, this sucks for you golden dolls. But it could be worse, couldn't it? I can see you're all fine and well… you walk and talk, and are not locked up in some hole.»
Dohko stepped forward again, now standing right before the other, and Shion approached as well, hoping to prevent him from doing anything stupid.
«What do you want, specter…?» Libra asked again in a hiss, and the Griffon chuckled.
«Such a charming and proud doll you seem to be.» He said, moving even closer and slowly unfolding his wings. «You know, my prize has been acting like this as well… at the beginning.»
Libra moved too quickly for Shion to stop him, being Dohko a lot more well-versed into physical combat, but before anything could happen, the Griffon had given a light flap of his wings and withdrawn, all the while smiling in an almost dangerous way.
«What are you possibly thinking of doing…?» Shion muttered with a scowl, and his friend shook his shoulders to avoid being touched, still glowering at the specter.
«It's such a pity I can't lay a finger on you.» The Griffon said then, and his fingers snapped but nothing actually happened, even if Aries remembered quite well what he was capable of. «I'd love to see what face you would make, when you realize it wasn't worth the while to try and hit me. Then again, I suppose you don't want to hear what I've come to say… even if it's about your precious comrade, in the current status of my prize.»
«You must forgive my friend.» Shion said, after inhaling deeply, and moving forward. All the while, keeping a hand on Dohko's chest and almost pushing him back. «Whatever it might be that you've come here to tell us, please do. We have no means of doing anything but hope that our comrade is alright, and that you've shown respect for his condition of fallen warrior.»
«And does your friend here know that being cute and polite is the key to open every door…?» The Griffon asked back, raising his brows. «No need to try too hard, anyway, nor to fuss over the wellbeing of your comrade. I could go on and tease you for the rest of the day, since you're a promising deal of fun, but I don't have this much time to spare. Former Pisces is fine, and currently asking questions about you little dolls… so anything you could tell me, starting with how you're being treated, would be greatly appreciated.»
Aries breathed deeply, so did his companion slightly behind him, and the specter seemed to wait for an answer. And Shion thought that he couldn't trust that person by any mean, as he was afraid that saying anything could put Albafica in a worse position than he already was.
«So… nothing? You don't want me to tell him that you are still willing to punch a specter…?» The Griffon insisted. «No messages to deliver?»
«Would you do it?» Dohko hissed again, crossing arms on his chest. «Deliver a message, I mean. What's the point?»
«The point is world domination, of course.» The specter answered with a shrug. «You have no idea what I am trying to accomplish. I can't give you the details for you would undoubtedly try to foil my plans, hence you can only try and trust me.»
«All very funny.» Libra retorted. «I have no idea how, but if I find out that you've been hurting our comrade, I'll be sure to make you swallow your surplice, bit by bit.»
«And I suppose I'll ask Sleep if I can borrow you, from time to time.» The Griffon had another dangerous smile. «I can promise him that I'd return you with all your pieces at the right place… except for confidence.»
«If you are sincere,» Shion said, before their exchange could go on, and mostly, before the Griffon could think that hurting Dohko was worth the while. «and it's true that you only want to deliver a message, you can tell the Pisces saint that we're alright. We are not being mistreated, are allowed to stay together, and… that we hope we could meet him, eventually.»
«And you will meet him.» The specter answered. «If your friend here behaves, and if Lord Hypnos allows you to… and if little Pisces complies to what I tell him to do. So I guess you… have some chances.»
Aries breathed deeply and decided to say nothing, hoping that Dohko wouldn't have replied in any possible way, which luckily he didn't.
«Just another thing and then I'll be off.» The Griffon added. «Any idea if Lord Thanatos claimed someone? I'd go up there and ask him, but I suppose you two little ones would be more talkative than the very God of Death.»
Shion hesitated, unsure whether to tell him or not. He was aware that no good could come to Albafica by knowing about Manigoldo, but then again, that specter would have found out, one way or another… so it was probably better if he had lied and kept imprecise, not giving him details about what was happening to the Cancer saint.
«Death claimed a saint too, for what we know.» Said eventually, and Dohko turned towards him with a slight frown. «He wielded the Cancer cloth. We know nothing about the others, but… if you could tell us anything, we would be glad.»
«Sure thing you would.» The specter opened up his wings and lifted from the ground, and they both had to cover their faces for a gust of wind was spreading. «Next time, when your friend's temper has cooled down a little, I could tell you something more. You enjoy Elysium here, and know that you can never get out, if not with Sleep's allowance.»
He gave a flap and his figure turned, rapidly moving away, and Shion sighed while rubbing fingers on his temples.
When he looked up again, Dohko had eyes closed in a deep frown and arms crossed on his chest, his jaw clearly clenched, and Aries decided to avoid saying anything. Libra was probably aware that his behavior couldn't do any good to anyone of them, let alone Albafica… but then again, Shion had felt like punching that specter as well.
«Damn it.» He heard Dohko hiss through gritted teeth. «This… this can't be really happening. He is… Albafica is kept prisoner by that freak, and I do remember how their fight went, you told me back then.» Libra was clutching his fists so hard that the knuckles were white. «I can't simply accept it. He ended his own life to finish him, and now…»
«Dohko…»
«There must be something we can do. Anything. I can't just stay here, knowing what's happening.»
Shion tightened his fists as well, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, his throat now half blocked by a knot.
"Don't you both do anything stupid, because you have no idea."
Manigoldo's words echoed in his mind, and Aries almost shook his head at the memory of his companion laying there, so weak and pained he couldn't even sit up, and his image was overlapped with that of Albafica, which was probably suffering a similar fate.
He felt a small touch on his arm and opened his eyes, his expression still plastered in anguish.
«I don't know what to do.» He said, without looking back at his friend. «I'm sorry. I wish there was something… I wish I could. But I don't know.»
I'm nowhere as brave as you, though then, remembering how Dohko stood fearless before Hades himself, allowing Shion and the others to retreat, sacrificing his life to do so. I haven't been able to make any difference. I could just try, and I failed. I failed Master Hakurei too.
«Shion…» The touch on his arm had stayed there, and he realized that Libra's expression had turned softer, almost worried. «Don't do this to yourself. I am… I'm just overreacting. I should just be more patient, as you are.»
«I am not patient.» He answered, again raising a hand to his face and rubbing his eyes. «I am just trying to avoid more damage. It seems as this is the only thing I could do, even back then…»
«This is not true, and you know it.» Dohko replied, almost cutting his sentence. «I told you, don't do this to yourself. I'm the one who's behaving like an idiot, not you… probably, if it wasn't for me acting like that, the Griffon would have told us something more. He seemed willing to talk, even if he was clearly having fun mocking us.»
«You're right.» Shion answered after a deep sigh, relaxing his expression into a plain one, and realizing that his friend was somehow trying to comfort him. «I mean, it's true that the Griffon seemed willing to talk. Should he return, I will try and ask him again.»
«But please be careful.» The other said, now with a concerned look, and Aries almost sighed again.
If there was someone who had to be careful, that was most certainly Dohko.
«I will.» He said, not willing to insist.
It seemed impossible to reason with Libra on that matter, or better, Dohko clearly listened and tried, but every time he was confronted with that kind of things, he couldn't restrain himself. Therefore, Shion had been very vague when he was asked about the conditions of the Cancer saint. He had been telling Dohko that Manigoldo was very tired and undoubtedly not treated as they were, but avoiding to describe his real condition, for he knew that Libra wouldn't have been able to keep calm as Shion was currently trying to do.
But what did he actually hope to achieve, by acting like that? By bending to their captors' will, and not actually trying to solve things the hard way…?
«Come on, let's check this place some more.» Dohko said, slightly pulling his robe by the arm. «That specter said we can't go out without Sleep's permission… let's see if it's true or he was just mocking us again.»
Shion just nodded and followed, trying not to think about what his companions were being put through. And he only knew about two of them, as many more were probably suffering the same fate… as all humankind, for what he was aware of.
I should have been there to protect them all, he thought, swallowing hard to keep a wince to himself. I should be trying even now.
They kept exploring Elysium, but that strange garden seemed endless. At some point, they both realized that the Twins' residence, whose form stood out above the tall edge of the trees, wouldn't be outdistanced, as if they weren't moving at all even if they kept walking.
And as the dim light of the day was turning into night, they both decided it was time for them to get back, since they had no mean of seeing where they were going. The Griffon seemed to have spoken the truth; it was clear now that they couldn't leave the place, if not without Hypnos' allowance.
When they reached the palace again, they realized that Sleep had returned from his errands and there was Death too, apparently playing chess together on the terrace; the saints unanimously decided to try and listen to their conversation, with the hope of knowing more about what was happening outside of that place.
They managed to understand that a group of specters was about to leave the Underworld for Earth, but they couldn't catch the reason why, nor the Twins spoke about anything regarding the current conditions of human beings, or other prisoner saints.
They moved when seemed that Death was about to leave, and retired to their room to avoid being noticed.
«If anything, this place has a whole lot of books I could never imagine to find.» Dohko commented, stacking some of them on a small rounded table. «Those are comprehensible, while that other pile are the ones written in a language I don't recognize.»
Shion approached to check them, and blinked at one with a deeply engraved cover, which seemed made of stone more than leather. He guessed that reading could have been a good way to keep distracted, and took it to go sit by a candle.
«Do you mind if I read for a while?» Asked then, and his friend smiled vaguely.
«Then you will tell me what that book is about.» Dohko answered. «I'll go find something to eat. Strangely, every time I do I feel better, as if some weight was lifted from my shoulders.»
«I suppose it's normal.» Aries flipped some pages, doing it carefully for the paper was clearly old, and seemed very frail. «Eating helps us adjusting to this place, even if we don't need it anymore.»
«I'll get you some fruit then, if I find it.»
Shion lifted his eyes again and nodded, thanking his friend.
Sleep's residence, now enveloped in the soft light of numerous candles, was surely the largest he had ever seen. It hadn't been easy for him to keep track of all the rooms, at the beginning. Now he was getting used to it, and also to the fact that small feminine figures appeared from time to time, only to fade away a moment later, and to his question, the house owner answered that they were nymphs of the Underworld, residing in the Elysium to be his and his twin's servants.
Dohko was wondering where to find fruit, if there was any to find at all, and eventually stopped into a big living room, going to lean on the balustrade of the window with a sigh.
There were small lights in the distance, but weren't undoubtedly those of stars. Apparently, the Elysium sky was completely black at night, for what he could notice. And he missed the sky as he remembered it to be, and to watch as the sun would rise above the mountain peaks of Lushan, and beyond the tall structures of the Sanctuary.
He closed his eyes, feeling wind on his face, and pretended to be still in the House of Libra, with the scenery he knew displayed before him, and the moon shining upon a starry night. He needed to put his thoughts aside for a while, aware of the fact that he was thinking too hard, at the same time feeling the urge to do something, anything to keep his mind busy. Training would have been a solution, and he wished he could go sit under one of the scalding waterfall he had used to toughen up his body.
Amongst the other things, Dohko was aware that Shion had been telling half truths about Manigoldo. His friend had never been a good liar, and Libra knew him enough to realize that he was keeping a lot of information to himself, but couldn't manage to insist. Shion was clearly distressed, and he didn't want to torment him more than how he was already doing, behaving like a stubborn youngster.
Fucking damn it, he thought with a deep frown, almost hitting the balustrade with a clenched fist.
If he only could, he would have made that smug faced specter regret everything he did, from the very moment he had obtained his surplice. He would have made everyone regret everything, even Hades himself.
«Young man.» Dohko heard a voice suddenly call to him, and opened his eyes to turn around, meeting Sleep's golden orbs. The god was standing on the doorframe of the room, apparently having approached in utter silence. «I need to speak to you and your companion, but since you're here, I think you can tell me what I want to know by yourself. Come.»
He blinked and frowned as the god walked out, and after a moment where he asked himself whether to comply or not, he sighed and ended up following him on the terrace. There, torches made him blink again, as their glow was a lot more blinding than that of the candles.
«Sit down.» Sleep gestured him, and he complied again with another sigh. «I could sense the presence of an Infernal Judge, as soon as I got back from my errands. Have you been meeting with him?»
«Yes.» He answered, crossing arms on his chest.
«I suppose he wasn't looking for me or my brother.» Hypnos insisted. «Was his intention to speak with you?»
«You could very well go and ask him.» Dohko replied with a lower tone.
«But I'm asking you, right now.» The god twined fingers on the table, and seemed waiting for him to resume speaking.
What is this about…? Libra asked to himself, now vaguely frowning, and unsure of what to say.
«He just spoke about a saint he took prisoner.» He answered eventually.
Hypnos kept silent for some more moments, then slightly frowned as well and sighed.
«I find myself too weary to try and pull out half sentences from you.» He commented. «Nor I wish to call for your companion and ask him, even if I suppose that he would be more obliging than you, as usual. You're about to feel your head spin.»
Dohko raised an eyebrow as the small star on the god's forehead gleamed purple for a second, then realized his temples were strangely throbbing. And as Sleep just said, his head started spinning and he had to lean on the edge of the table, eyes widened, trying to keep balance. The encounter with the Griffon flashed before his eyes, as if he was seeing the scene from a window, and realized that Hypnos was probably watching his memories.
Vaguely shivering and trying to regain an upright position, the saint pressed a palm on his forehead and shot a glare at the other, which had arms now folded on his chest and a detached expression.
«Was that interesting…?» He hissed.
«Not particularly. The Celestial Noble Star has been very considerate, for he clearly didn't even think about laying a finger on you.» Hypnos answered, tone perfectly plain. «What I find interesting, young man, is that you don't seem able to get a grip on yourself. You provoked an Infernal Judge and even tried to hit him, almost asking him to show physical violence… and both you and your companion have been very lucky, since he eventually didn't.»
«I haven't been asking anything to anyone.» Dohko retorted, his expression darkening all the more. «You Underworld scum are keeping my companions prisoner, tormenting and abusing them…» He found himself clutching the edge of the table, which he was still holding. «I won't stand to this. I won't bend to your will, now and never… am I supposed to sit and watch, while knowing that one of my comrades is being tortured by a specter, and another one by your brother?!»
He realized he had been almost shouting, albeit through gritted teeth, but Sleep's distant look didn't shift by an inch.
«You are supposed to sit and watch, yes. And be glad you never happened to challenge a god, as your companion did, and I'm talking about former Cancer.» Hypnos answered then. «Do you know what hubris is? Are you aware of what happened to past humans, when they decided to rise up to a god's same level…? I could speak of the Sun God Apollo, which unleashed a plague on the populace, because a man was keeping his priestess prisoner. Or about how Athena turned a young lady into a spider, for she would weave a better arras than her.»
«Those are nothing more than legends.» Dohko replied with a wince. «And we are saints. We would fight every enemy which tries to harm innocent people, regardless if he wears a cloth or a surplice, if he's human, specter or god. It matters nothing.»
Sleep sighed vaguely, averting his gaze and seeming to look away for some moments.
«As I said, I'm too weary to try and reason with you.» He added, after looking back at the saint again. «I will probably give it a second chance in a while, hoping that you manage to calm down in the meantime. For now, know that I can't allow you to provoke specters at your own likings, with the safe status of being my property.»
«Like I cared.» Libra muttered.
«I know you don't. And I hope you will be changing your mind, or maybe your companion will be able to make you more judicious.» Hypnos stood up and approached, and Dohko frowned again, raising to his feet as well and now standing before him. «I could also try and teach you some respect, but I'd rather not hurt a human, if not unavoidable. Hence, know that from now on, if you talk back to a specter or to my twin, and they wish to remind you of your current position, they will be free to do it.»
«Is this a threat…?» Libra asked back, almost lifting his head to look at him in the eyes. «Because if you hoped to scare me, I suggest you try harder.»
«I am in no need of threatening or scaring you. I suppose your companion described the condition of your comrade, being currently a property of my brother, so you can guess for yourself that Thanatos is nowhere near as patient as I am. Still, you seem to wish to join former Cancer in Death's chambers, and I won't step in to avoid it, if the occurrence comes to be.»
They were now standing so close that Dohko's clothes were almost brushing those of the other, but he didn't back off.
«As I said… I don't care.» He muttered, still looking daggers at the god.
«Very well.» Sleep nodded. «Let's see how things will unfold, then… and know that your companion will be subjected to the same circumstances, meaning that if he steps in to help you, should you decide that it's worth the while to anger an Underworld dweller, I won't protect him either. I suppose you both will be clever enough to know when to quit.»
The god withdrawn and moved to reach the entrance of the terrace, and Dohko tightened his fists, still glaring.
«Now go rest.» Hypnos turned his head on a side, glancing at him. «And remember that you belong here, now, for you're not alive anymore. The quicker you get used to this, and the better will be for you and your companion.»
A note about the ancient Greek concept of "hubris", to clarify what Hypnos was talking about, when mentioned that Manigoldo had committed hubris.
Hubris refers to extreme/foolish pride, or dangerous overconfidence. It typically describes a behavior that defies or challenges the gods, and which in turn brings about the downfall of the perpetrator of hubris. So basically, being too arrogant and thinking to be superior to gods, challenging them, leads to committing hubris (and to extremely - extremely - bad consequences).
While sketching the plot for Loose Ends, we immediately thought that the concept applied perfectly to Manigoldo, and to his intention to "defeat Death". He even crashed on the Twins' chessboard and challenged Thanatos directly, stating that he wanted to... well, to "punch Death in the face" XD
Of course Manigoldo wasn't "intentionally" committing hubris, meaning that he was acting for what he thought was a right cause. But we guess that on Thanatos' perspective it doesn't really count, and he only felt defied for a mere human actually went so far as to challenge him, and directly hit him.
About the examples of hubris that Hypnos mentioned, those are two legends belonging to ancient Greek folklore.
The first refers to a part of the Iliad, where Apollo punished the Greek leader Agamemnom, for keeping the Sun Priestess Cryseis as a concubine (albeit Cryseis' father pleaded him to free her).
The second is the legend of Arachne's arras. Arachne was a Lydian maiden and a great weaver, and she boasted that her skill was greater than that of Athena herself. The Goddess then approached her, presenting as an old lady, and warned - Ovid, Metamorphoses: "You can never compare to any of the gods. Plead for forgiveness, and Athena might spare your soul." But Arachne persisted, even when the old lady revealed herself as Athena; they set up a weaving competition, and Arachne's final work depicted scenes which were insulting and slighting toward the Gods. Such as things were, Athena ripped her arrass to shreds, beated her, and after the maiden hung herself, Athena went so far as to turn her into a spider - so that the curse of her hubris would spread to Arachne's offspring, through the generations and forever.