Here's the continuation of the Camus series. Much like Mission: Siberia this one may actually end up in a separate story eventually. That being said, it's not happening any time soon because I have other projects I have to finish first.

Concept: Training with the Gold Saint candidates is always chaotic, but Camus has gotten used to it, sometimes, it's not even that bad. Strange, but not bad.

Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya or any of the included characters. They all belong to Masami Kurumada.


"Nico, for the last time, get off." Camus hisses as she attempts to dislodge her fellow trainee.

Nico just snickers from where he has plopped himself across Camus's back after taking her down in a spar. "Or what?" He asks with a smirk.

Camus lets out a frustrated growl and squirms until she can twist her own arm behind her and get a hand on Nico's bandage-wrapped forearm. Gripping tightly, she focuses a bit of Cosmo into her hand, quickly cooling the temperature of her palm significantly. Nico yelps and jerks away-Camus doesn't bother holding on-and jumps off of Camus, finally allowing the irritated Aquarius trainee to get to her feet.

"Or that." Camus says bluntly as Nico rubs at his arm.

"That was cold!" Nico complains.

Camus just gives him a blank look. "I warned you to get off. You didn't listen."

Nico opens his mouth to retort, but Aiolos steps in before the two younger trainees can start bickering.

"That's enough. Nico, let Camus up next time. Camus, try not to give Nico frostbite please." The Sagittarius Saint says with remarkable patience.

"Yes Aiolos." Camus says dutifully.

"Yeah, I got it." Nico grumbles, still rubbing at his arm. Camus is fairly sure that she hadn't actually frozen the older boy's arm that badly, but the eleven-year-old tends to be very dramatic, especially when he gets bested by one of the trainees who is younger than he is.

"Alright!" Aiolos calls, raising his voice to reach the rest of the trainees spread around the training ground reserved specifically for the aspiring Gold Saints. "That's enough for now, it's lunch time!"

In a matter of moments the various levels of training going on, ranging from Shaka and Mu's quiet meditation to Talus and Aiolia's noisy sparring match, stop, and everyone moves to gather around Mu and Shaka, who are sitting near where everyone had left the packs with their midday meals.

It takes a minute or two, but eventually they all get settle with their meals.

If there's one thing Camus has learned about Maia, it's that the kind older woman loves to cook. She's always making things to add to Camus's lunches as little treats. Today's treat is stuffed olives, along with the usual assortment of protein and vegetables and the requisite canteen of water. Hydration is incredibly important when it comes to training in the Grecian heat.

The Aquarius trainee takes a quick glance around at the others and finds that everyone has ended up arranged the same way they always do.

Camus herself is seated next to Milo, who, for whatever reason, always wants to sit next to her.

To Camus's right are Mephisto, Aphrodite, and Shura. For all that Shura is awkward around everyone, he seems to get along pretty well with the Cancer and Pisces trainees, and usually eats his lunch with them.

Mu, Aldebaran, and Shaka are seated across from her. Camus finds it curious that Shaka is willing to sit next to anyone, but she supposes that if there were to be anyone the reserved Virgo trainee would get along with, it would be the mild-mannered Mu and the friendly but gentle Aldebaran.

To the right of the younger trio are Talus and Nico, with Aiolia and Aiolos sitting past them.

Lastly, sitting to Camus's left past Milo, are Kanon and Saga. The Gemini twins are seated practically shoulder-to-shoulder, and are thoroughly engrossed in switching around their lunches.

Unlike the others, who all have meals that are at least semi-customized for their individual tastes, the two oldest trainees come to training with a pair of identical meals every day, and then just pass things to each other until they both have what they'll actually eat. It's a weird system, but Camus supposes it makes sense to make two identical meals and let the twins figure out who gets what themselves. Both boys are sturdily built and look pretty healthy though, so Camus figures that they're both getting what they need to eat every day.

Soon enough, the not-quite-divided groups of trainees and young Saints settle into conversation. Mu and Aldebaran converse quietly with each other while Shaka sits between them, eating placidly and apparently unbothered at being talked across. Aphrodite and Mephisto are a lot more lively in their discussion, and Shura watches the other two boys with a faint, crooked smile on his lips. Aiolia and Talus babble excitedly to each other about some new technique they're in the middle of learning. Talus, in particular, seems quite confident that he's figured whatever it is out, and is busy sharing his idea with the two brothers.

(Sometimes, Camus feels like Talus is the middle child to Aiolos's older brother and Aiolia's little brother.)

Nico, as usual, is fairly quiet. The oldest Leo trainee is not one to make unnecessary conversation. He tends to look down on the trainees who are older than him, and doesn't get on particularly well with the four older boys. Sometimes Camus swears she sees jealously in the boy's eyes when he looks at the boys who are already Gold Saints, even Kanon.

Camus eats quietly, letting the usual chatter flow over her. It's calm, peaceful even, as the various trainees start to relax and let the stress of training fade a little bit.

They're a good fifteen minutes into their hour-long meal break when the inevitable argument breaks out. Unlike usual, however, it's not one of the trainees, but rather Saga and Kanon who are having one of their heated, wordless disagreements.

(It's oddly fascinating, the way the two oldest boys seem to know exactly what the other means even without speaking. Camus often wonders just how that works-if she'll ever be able to do that with someone, or if it's a twin thing.)

Finally, after the silent, heated conversation has gone on for a good minute and attracted the attention of almost everyone in the training ground, Kanon stands up with a huff and takes off towards the entrance to the training grounds.

"Kanon!" Saga calls after him.

The younger Gemini twin just waves one hand. "I'll be back in time to get back to training!" He yells without looking back.

Saga huffs in exasperation, but turns back to his own meal, a faint scowl on his face.

"Should we be worried?" Aiolos asks his friend.

Saga just shakes his head. "Kanon just forgot something and didn't want to go back for it." He answers.

Aiolos raises an eyebrow. "But you made him."

"It's important. Don't worry about it."

Aiolos looks skeptical about that statement, but doesn't push.

(Not for the first time, Camus wonders. Kanon, for all his apparent openness, his laughter and mischievous grins, is more of a mystery than any of the other Gold trainees or Saints. He's hard to read, and Camus gets the feeling that he's keeping secrets from everyone except Saga. A curious little part of her wants to know more.)

Camus brushes off the thought and goes back to eating.

"What do you think, Camus?" Milo's voice interrupts Camus thoughts-or lack thereof-and she blinks.

"About what?" She asks.

Milo huffs. "When do you think we're going to start learning our special techniques? I've heard that the ones for Scorpio are super powerful!" The bluenette's eyes seem to practically sparkle with excitement at the idea.

Camus pauses to think about it for a few moments, then shrugs. "Probably not until we've gotten basic mastery over our Cosmo." She finally answers. "It's probably not safe to practice our special techniques otherwise."

Milo pouts. "That's dumb." He grumbles.

"Maybe, but Camus is right." Aiolos breaks in from his own spot. "It's not safe to practice your special techniques without reliable mastery of basic Cosmo manipulation." He smiles gently at the excitable Scorpio trainee. "And you've only just awakened your Cosmo, Milo. Best not to expect to be able to do too much so soon."

Milo's pout gets bigger, if that were even possible, and he huffs. "Fine! But I'm gonna master my Cosmo faster than anyone! Just you wait." He declares firmly.

A quiet, derisive scoff comes from Nico, and Milo takes offense at the sound, rounding on the oldest of the Leo trainees and snapping at him.

Camus blocks out the impending argument in favor of watching Aiolos. The Sagittarius Saint is watching Milo with a small, fond smile, but his eyes are dark with something Camus can't identify.

(It almost looks like the brunette is sad at how excited Milo is about learning the techniques of Scorpio.)

(It makes Camus wonder. Makes her worry in a way she normally doesn't.)


And that's all I wrote.

(Ha... haha... literally.)

See y'all later then.