64 — UNMASKED
In the Temple of the Stars, the Camerlengo Arles prepares the recently deceased body of his brother Zion in the chamber at the back of the temple. With a thurible lit, he swings the censer to coat his brother's frail body with a layer of thick, bluish smoke; the body of Supreme Pontiff Zion is lying on a wide stone bench in the small chamber. At that time, the bookshelves were still full of books of the most varied sizes and lengths; carrying knowledge of the oldest civilizations around the world.
Arles was smoothing the hem of his brother's gold-trimmed white cassock, the ecclesiastical beads around his neck, and his long gray hair with two strands that fell to his chest. A face very wrinkled with age, for that man lived for more than two hundred years defying the vitality of an ordinary man. But he was no ordinary man. Survivor of the last Holy War, Zion was one of the only ones to emerge alive from a terrible battle and, for that reason, he ruled for all that time the Sanctuary of Athena.
Until time finally took his life.
His brother, the Camerlengo Arles, would be tasked with preparing his body for his funeral and burial. As well as wearing the Supreme Pontiff's golden helmet temporarily until Zion's chosen successor finally ascended a new Pontiff, which was to be in a few days.
He left the thurible on the floor, which still burned its aromatic herbs, and walked to the bookcase full of books in front of him. In a space between tomes, he took a goblet he had prepared, took a deep breath, closed his eyes and drank the liquid completely, returning the cup to the shelf.
He knelt before that holy figure.
"Rest in peace, my brother."
He got up and left the small room to face his own fate.
He came out of the Temple and found a Gold Saint waiting for him, the Gemini Cloth in his body and the double-faced helmet in his hands, his kind, calm face kneeling, waiting for him.
"This is a place destined only for the Grand Master Supreme Pontiff and his Camerlengo." said Arles' voice, wearing his gold helmet but his black cassock. "What are you doing here, Gemini?"
The man before him lifted him up, eyes calm, and spoke in his deep voice.
"Everyone in the Sanctuary admire me and adore me as if I were a god. I met all the requirements and have kept the Seal of the Seas for years on end. Why was I not chosen as his successor?"
The Camerlengo took a deep breath as he replied.
"My holy brother Zion chose Aioros because he has the kindness, intelligence and courage needed to be the next Pontiff of the Sanctuary."
"I don't think I'm inferior to Aioros in any of these respects." replied him. "Tell me Camerlengo Master Arles, you were the closest person to Pope Zion, why was I not chosen?"
The Camerlengo Arles knew exactly why, as he was, after all, the confidant and right-hand man of his brother Pope Zion. And for days and nights they conflated about the important choice he would have to make.
"My brother Zion felt a great indecision and the most terrible doubts in your cosmos, Saga. Feelings that are not allowed to a Supreme Pontiff of Athena." said the Camerlengo's calmer voice. "He was well aware of the respect you inspire in the Sanctuary and how dedicated you are to your mission on the Sea. On my part, whenever I look you in the eye, I see that there is a poison deep in your body that even I don't know what it is."
The words hung between them like smoke from the thurible that burned inside the Temple of the Stars. Like a dying star, the Gemini Saint fist lunged forward and entered the chest of Camerlengo Master Arles, who immediately lost his breath. As close as he was, the last things he saw were Saga's white hair and his eyes reddened with madness.
His body fell at the feet of the Gemini Saint, who was smiling. He took the golden helmet and placed it on his own head, confessing to the dying body of Arles what would henceforth be.
"I will take his place and Aioros will never rise as Pontiff."
"Then I was right. You are not kind as a god, but malevolent as a devil."
Gemini's laughter was interrupted when he noticed that Arles' body, now dead, shone a strong white aura around him.
A glow that took over the entire Starhill and blinded Gemini's mad eyes. When he opened them, he found himself again in the darkness of an altar whose floor was of dark marble; at his side was Sagittarius Aioros kneeling, and before them was the golden throne of the altar of Athena. Pope Zion seated and Master Camerlengo standing beside him.
The pontiff's aged, hoarse and broken voice spoke to them.
"As you may know, the Goddess Athena has returned to Earth. Born again in her human form." He coughed lightly. "This is a sign that evil is about to rise again. The Seal of Athena guarded on the Five Old Peaks slowly loses its force. Which means that a new Holy War is about to begin."
The Gold Saints wearing their sacred Cloths only listened to the Pope speak.
"My time as Supreme Pontiff has come to an end. I have a few days after a long life of service to Athena and peace on Earth. Even to me Time is relentless. Therefore, I must choose the one who will succeed me on this golden throne."
With difficulties, but with the help of his brother, the Camerlengo, Pope Zion got up and walked towards the Gold Saints. He walked bent over, as time had taken away his vitality. It was in front of the two that he announced.
"Sagittarius Aioros, you have kindness, intelligence and courage. I will entrust you with the task of the Supreme Pontiff of the Sanctuary of Athena."
"What?!" asked the young man. "Are you sure about that, Master Zion?"
"Although the Twelve Gold Saints are finally among us, many of them are too young, as are the aspiring Silver and Bronze Saint. In just over a decade from this birth, a terrible Holy War will break out. I want you to take care of Athena and prepare the Saints for when the time comes. You, Aioros, are the chosen one."
He just listened and accepted the mission, closing his eyes.
"Saga." called Zion close to them. "That's my decision. I would like you to help Aioros build this future for Athena."
"I will spare no effort to help Aioros, Pope Zion. I will serve Athena and justice, I will continue to dedicate my life at the Seal of the Seas. I also believe that Aioros is the ideal person to become the next ruler of the Sanctuary."
"Saga, I trust the goodness of your heart. You can be whoever you want to be, just trust justice and Athena."
And those were the last words Gemini heard from Supreme Pontiff Zion, for the next night he would die in peace beside his brother. Gemini looked to the side and saw Aioros, who returned his trusting eyes to his friend, but then they were no longer on Athena's cold altar, as they were under a starry night, kneeling on the stone in front of the gigantic Colossus of Athena.
The Gemini Saint looked around and noticed that there were the other nine Gold Saints who lived in the Sanctuary. Only he and Aiolros were mature fighters; Shura, Death Mask and Aphrodite were younger and the rest were mere kids, all with their big Golden Urns at their side.
In the arms of Pope Zion there was a white trousseau with a newborn child who did not cry, just moaned adorably in the arms of that little gentleman with the curious helmet.
"The arrival of Athena." announced Zion to them. "Athena's arrival is the sign that a Holy War will soon begins. All of you must prepare for this battle."
He passed the adorable baby into the arms of his brother Arles and then again headed for that gathering of the Gold Saints.
"The time has also come to choose my successor." spoke Zion gravely in his voice hoarse with age. "The time comes for everyone and it has come for me. I will choose from among you someone who will ascend to the rank of Supreme Pontiff and govern his Sanctuary for Athena."
The younger ones there looked at each other, some even exchanging some frightened words, until one of them asked to speak.
"With all due respect, Supreme Pontiff Zion, allow me to say something." she asked, a girl with messy hair and terribly black.
"Say it, young Shura." allowed Zion.
"Only Saga or Aioros can be chosen for this mission. Not only are they the oldest among all of us, but they are also the ones who gathe all the benevolence, wisdom, and bravery that we all look up to."
"I understand your heart, young Shura. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. I will take your words into account."
"Forgive me if I've said too much, Pontiff."
"There's nothing to be sorry for. In any case, I will make the decision as soon as possible and when the time comes, the new Pontiff will receive everyone's support. For Athena."
"For Athena." repeated everyone.
For Athena.
For Athena.
The words echoed in his mind as he lay on a hard bed in the darkness of the House of Gemini. His body shivered with cold.
"You are the one who should be the Supreme Pontiff."
"Shut up!" replied Gemini to the void.
The voice that spoke to him in the darkness was his own voice.
"You are the one with the most power. Most capable."
"I'm not!"
"Don't try to deny reality. You know within yourself what you are capable of. The Underworld will invade the Land of the Living and Athena is still just a child."
"She won't make it." Gemini lamented, answering his mind.
"Rule everything, Saga. Rule them all."
"I cannot."
"There is a secret hidden in the white desert. You could reign over everyone with it."
"Shut up!" screamed Gemini.
"Surrender yourself, Saga. Be who you want to be. A god under heaven. Use your enormous power, that child can't keep the gods where they are and you know better than anyone."
Gemini trembled and the voice that echoed in his mind in the House of Gemini kept talking and talking and talking, driving him crazy. Until he finally got up from his bed with his eyes crazed and his Cosmo green with hate. To meet at the altar of Athena. The empty golden throne, the black cassock on his body, the golden helmet on his head.
In his right hand he had a beautiful golden dagger.
He ran behind the red curtains and into a corridor, where he was greeted by four women, bandaged head to toe.
"Camerlengo? Why are you here?" asked the first one.
He didn't respond and his golden Cosmo attacked the four girls at the same time, mortally tearing their chests. They fell one by one around him as he marched down the hall, determined to take the child's life.
He opened and closed the room where the baby slept, a peaceful sleep in a beautifully carved but also very antique wooden crib. Saga was panting under the mask, but he also didn't seem to have any doubts in his heart. He raised the dagger above his head and descended to tear the small body, when his fist was stopped by the young Aioros.
As soon as he saw before him the image of the boy who had been chosen to be the Supreme Pontiff, his heart lurched.
"What are you doing, Camerlengo?" asked Aiolos, desperate.
"Don't stop me, Aioros!" replied a strange voice under the mask.
Saga tried again to lower the dagger, but then Aioros took the baby out of the crib to be with her in his arms near the tower window.
"What's going on through your head, Master Camerlengo? Could it be that your brother's death has driven you mad? This is Athena! I can't believe what I'm seeing. The four Owls of Athena are all dead in the halls. What do you think you are doing?"
"Get out of my way, Aioros!"
He lunged for the young warrior, but was hit in the stomach with such violence that when he slammed into the wall, his golden helmet fell to the ground, revealing his terrifying face.
"What?!" Aiolos was astonished when he saw the owner of that face. "Camerlengo? No, you are not the Camerlengo. Is that you… Saga?"
Saga under the Camerlengo's black cassock took a deep breath.
"You saw my face. You won't live. You can't live!" threatened Saga.
And his fist fired a powerful cosmic energy forcing Aioros to throw himself from the window to run away with the baby. Saga took the helmet from the ground and, crying, went out into the corridors horrified, but with a terrible pain in his mind; he saw the bodies of Athena's aids dead in the hallway and made his way to the exit to Athena's Colossus.
He ran to a parapet at the highest point of the Temple, where there was a huge stone plinth from which Saga had to climb a few flights of stairs. This was a complex stone building that would reverberate his words throughout the Sanctuary. His Cosmo rose golden and menacing; he put his hands inside a small vase, digging them into the white sand so that his cosmos spread all over that stone building. He took a deep breath and called out a voice that on that sad night was heard throughout the Sanctuary.
"Come forth Sanctuary! A traitor! Aioros tried to kill Athena! A traitor!"
Those words echoed throughout the Sanctuary and for many years was repeated in every tavern and winery in the region by those who swore they were awake that night.
Saga opened his eyes, took his hands out of the vase and then knelt in front of the Colossus of Athena. He tossed the golden helmet aside, revealing his natural hair again, and there in despair he wept at the feet of the Goddess he must protect, begging her to take his life away. In tears. A deep pain in the chest.
ABOUT THE CHAPTER: Based on Episode Zero and the events of Classic Manga and Anime.
NEXT CHAPTER: SAGA
The ultimate battle against the man who disguised himself under the Camerlengo's mask. His real name is finally uttered. Saga.