14.
The weather had suddenly turned.
It had become cold, windy and it was raining in steady icy sheets, inundating Sanctuary in a way reminiscent of Poseidon's attempt to drown the Earth.
Nevertheless, the new recruits kept on training in the great Arena. Forced to harrowing exercises, little children, some as young a s five, all ankle deep in the mud and drenched to the bone, struck out and parried ceaselessly. Sometimes one would fall. Then their Master would take that one by the scruff of the neck, put it back on its feet and order it to continue.
Relentlessly.
Shun looked on with a deepening frown.
"Is this how it was for us? I cannot remember anymore. How did we stand it?"
He shivered. Did this mean that underneath they were hard as nails, precisely because they had stood it, because they were still alive?
'The weak do not survive training.' His master had always maintained. That was why June had continually begged him to give up.
Kind, caring June, who had always looked after him. Even now she worried over the little ones. She and Thetys the former Marina shared the task of training the girls.
How odd it felt to have a former enemy on your side now. Still, Thetys had nowhere else to go, and Poseidon had helped Athena in the fight against Hades.
"Why the sudden change?" wondered the Andromeda Saint, "First He opposes us with all He has, then He sides with us. Given Their opinion of the Human race, Poseidon and Hades should be natural allies."
He answered his own question: " Athena vanquished the Sea-God, and by doing so proved that She was in the right, fighting for a just cause. Is that how it is? The winner is automatically right? What if He had won, would we have joined forces with our erstwhile enemies like Thetys and Sorrento did? No, the Siren Marina already had changed sides after a fashion, before his Master's defeat, overcome by the Love of Athena, and because he learned of Kanon's treachery. After all, it wasn't Poseidon who started the war; it was Saga the Gemini Saint's evil twin. Now Saga was possessed by Ares so he wasn't all-evil, but Kanon was. Oh, this is really getting complicated. And then Kanon was also turned in the end…"
Nervously, he looked over his shoulder. Both Saga and Kanon had returned only a week after Shaka had. Understandably, they had not been greeted with much enthusiasm. The memory of their deeds was still fresh in people's hearts. Yet Athena had forgiven them, and they had redeemed themselves fighting against Hades. Their arrival came not as a surprise really, for if Shaka was undoubtedly the strongest of the Gold Saints, the twins were past master in the art of passing between dimensions. Mu too had reappeared, actually the first to do so being the best teleporter of all, though not in Sanctuary. He had made his way to his long-time home in Tibet, wounded, exhausted, but alive. Kiki, sensing his Master's presence, had flown to his aid and brought him back. Shun was happy for the boy: the little Tibetan had been so devastated by his Master's death.
With three (four if you counted Kanon) Gold Saints back in office, their prospects for the coming war were decidedly brightening up. Mu's arrival had been particularly appreciated, as he was the only one capable of repairing Cloths.
Not that that made any difference to the Andromeda Saint. He considered Mu a friend. Alone among the Gold Saints, he had helped the Rebel Bronzes and saved their lives; in fact, he had been their ally before they themselves were Saints, having aided Aioros in his flight, neither asking nor needing proof of the Pope's treachery or Saori Kido's true identity.
"And yet not even Mu would assist us other than repair our Cloths. How much lighter our struggle would have been with a Gold Saint on our side!"
Shun tried to chase away the thought as being and unworthy one, and found it impossible. The evidence was staring him in the face, plain and simple: once back in their Temples, Gold Saints stayed there. They were the final ramparts, the last protection of Athena. Bronzes and Silvers were just canonfodder. Occasionally one or more would rise to greatness like they had, and a former Pegasus Saint before that, vanquishing Hades. But there was never any unity in the ranks, no co-operation, no sharing of knowledge, no discussion on strategy and tactics, no plan. 'For Athena!' thay would cry, and run up (or down) flights of stairs to face their opponents, never questioning the 'why'. Even Seiya with his rebellious streak had been no exception in the end.
With a slight smile Shun remembered Pegasus' astonishment when he, Andromeda, had offered his medallion to Charon in exchange for their passage across the Styx, without combat.
"Underneath all his protesting, Seiya liked being a Saint. Being the strongest. Shiryu likes it too."
Shun had always hated what he had been forced to become. So, he believed, did Ikki.
As for Hyoga…
"I'd have thought Ikki would have been the one to revolt."
Once more he looked over his shoulder. The very thought of the Renegade by name could be dangerous, if captured. Not even Athena, with her great love, could forgive him for raising his hand against her. Both Saga and Kanon had done so previously, but they had not accompanied their acts with those terrible words of defiance, a veritable declaration of independence: ' I do not need you.'
For that, Hyoga would die.
"Your guard! Keep your guard up! Will you listen to me?"
The impatience in the Master's voice was almost palpable.
The Andromeda Saint passed a hand over his face. He would have to intervene. Shiryu pressed his charges too hard. He was not, as Marin, Shaka and the Twins were, indifferent to the pain of his trainees, quite the contrary: he could be extremely solicitous over a hurt child. But he would drill it on and on without making allowances.
"Dragon! A moment, please, I would speak with you!"
The words were out before he thought them.
Shiryu looked up, surprised.
"Shun? Yes, of course, in a minute." he turned towards the children and called: " Enough! Back to your barracks, clean and dry your gear and start on your theory. I will be with you presently."
Shun's heart all but broke as he watched the despondent line of boys, heads drooping, too tired even to cheer the end of the lesson, staggering towards the huts that served as their lodgings.
"Yes, what is it?"
The Andromeda Saint hesitated. He did not want to give his halfbrother the impression that he was criticising the way he treated the raw recruits, however…
"Shiryu, please remember that they only arrived two weeks ago."
The Dragon Saint sighed.
"Do you think I don't know that? I simply cannot grant them the time to adjust. It was different for us: seven years ago we still had all of the Gold Saints and most of the eighty-eight Cloths had found their bearers. Our Masters could afford to be a little lenient. "
"Lenient! He would not think so if he had been trained on Death Queen Island like me."
"He had a point though. Sanctuary was in no condition to face the Gods once more. Athena had committed a no-no in the God-Game: she had killed Hades. Actually killed him, body and spirit, not chased it away like Ares or sealed it in a vase like Poseidon. It disturbed the equilibrium, and Zeus would not tolerate that. No wonder she made such allowances on whom she employed and how they exercised their functions. She must have been terrified!"
"Yes, but is that a valid excuse?"
"Even so, some are simply too young to be Saints yet. Even Kiki may not make it before the year is out or beyond. I have arranged for the Temple Guards to compete for Silver. Some are very promising."
Shiryu made a face.
"Possibly, but they are hardly proper Saint material."
"Who would you qualify as proper Saint material? Remember the mindless brutes we had to face."
"Products of Pope's rule."
"So was Seiya."
Shiryu stared at his younger halfbrother for a moment, then said: " Alright, Shun. What is truly eating you? "
"Well, we had to talk about it some time…here goes."
"You. You are so…driven."
"By our great need, true."
"Yes, but do you have to be so severe? If you have a problem, don't take it out on the children."
"Shun, if you are trying to be devious, don't. It neither becomes you nor are you good at it. Obviously you are having a problem with me. Say what it is, and let's have this over with."
Shun's heart sank. This was not going to be easy.
"Ikki saw you in Tokyo." He blurted out.
"I imagine he did. " replied the Dragon Saint with a chuckle, " He could hardly have missed seeing me, since we were both staying at the Mansion before coming to Sanctuary with Athena."
"I meant…a certain place."
Shiryu started and went pale.
"What…certain place?"
"You know what I am talking about."
Shun placed his hands on his halfbrother's shoulders.
"Shiryu, you don't have to be afraid. We are your friends and brothers, we love you. Don't you trust us any more? Please don't hide."
"I…I…"
"Let me tell you what Ikki said: 'It makes no difference. Shiryu is still Shiryu.' Are you?"
The Dragon Saint let out a long, rattling breath.
"I…thank you, Shun. And Ikki."
He hung his head.
"It is all so…so confusing. I felt…foul. But I could not help myself. When I went to …to that place I knew for sure what I was…I wanted to run, hide, I was ashamed…and I kept going back! But I never…you know?" he looked a little pleadingly, "You believe me, don't you?"
"Of course I do! You are Shiryu. You would not buy…love."
Andromeda hesitated somewhat on the last word.
"Love…my Master spoke to me of it, when he forbade me to take part in the battle against Hades. He suspected, I think. He asked me if I could imagine Sunrei's pain if I were to die. I admitted that I could not, because…because I was so inexperienced."
"What kind of a lame answer is that? This from the guy whose ardent belief in friendship changed the heart of my Black Dragon…"
"It is true, he actually did say that. I knew then in my heart of hearts that my Shiryu had never been mine. And still I did not wish to give up on him. Thus, after Hades, I begged him to come with me to China, leaving the Dragon behind, and turn to farming, like he loved doing that time he was blinded by Medusa. If only he had not listened to Old master then! If only Deathmask had not come! Shiryu would not have gone to Sanctuary. He would not have become so fixed on his Sacred Duty. That was all he could talk about, and not being able to abandon Athena now that she had lost Seiya."
"Don't blame him. Giving up the Cloth is not easy. Remember: they were more like living beings than simple armour. The very souls of former Saints had impregnated them. They pushed us to continue the fight as much as Athena or Old Master did."
"It also explains why Hades thought he recognised Seiya. For a brief moment the image of the first Pegasus, projected by the Cloth, superimposed itself on our brother's body. How could there be a resemblance? All that stuff about reincarnation is just so much rot. In those early days of Sainthood Japan had not been discovered by the Greeks yet. Marin and Seiya were the first of our race to set foot in Sanctuary! How could an Asiatic resemble a white man? I mean, look at Hyoga. The only similarity between Seiya and the first Pegasus lay in their fighting spirit and love for Athena."
" Shiryu was no different. No, Sunrei, it would have taken a miracle to stop him from being the Dragon."
"A miracle? Or force of will? Are we any stronger or better than Shiryu? Because we stopped."
"Did we, really?"
"The truth was that I do not … love …Sunrei like … like a man loves a woman. Because she is a woman. ."
Suddenly the Dragon smiled, and he was the Shiryu of old again.
"If it makes no difference to you and Ikki then it should make none to me either. Thanks, both."
Shun smiled back.
"That is what family is for, no?"
"I'm glad you're not scared of me. I'm not sure I wouldn't be, in your place…to tell you the truth, I am, just a little."
"Well, you know whom to turn to when it becomes to much for you."
The Dragon's smile twisted into a grin.
"And if you need someone to cover for you with Alexer…"
The Andromeda Saint groaned.
"Did someone advertise or something? Look, Nastassia and are not that serious. I mean, we are but we're not…oh, you know what I mean. Anyway, we're managing just fine. Alexer is off somewhere…"
"Hot on a trail that is cold already. To prove his worth to Athena he wants to capture the Renegade where I failed…"
Shun bit his lip. Then he took a risk.
"You too, Shiryu? Can you not bring yourself to call him by his name: Hyoga?"
The Dragon Saint grew serious.
"I am not happy with the way the situation with…him…has developed either, yet you have to admit that he has become a peril to our cause."
"That is how the Pope used to reason about us."
"We were with Athena. The Renegade has openly declared himself against her."
"So did we once, remember?"
Shiryu shook his head.
"You are muddling the issue. At that time we had only known Athena as the spoiled, arrogant Saori Kido, whom we despised. We did not see her true nature, the love and compassion she holds for humanity. Abandoning her was a selfish act. More, we did not think ahead, nor did we realise that the world was at stake, as it is now. United we stand. Hy…he threatens that unity."
"So he is to be eliminated, just like that?"
The Andromeda Saint snapped his fingers.
"Is that what you want?"
"No, it is not. But he must either return to us or face the consequences. I will do my duty by Athena."
"Duty! What happened to Friendship?"
Shun's eyes grew wide.
"Then…if you saw it as your duty … you would kill Hyoga?"
His halfbrother considered.
"That was decent of him."
"Leave it, Ikki. How often in history has a Saint thought it over before he made the decision to kill someone? Mind you, I'm very glad he did. It makes me feel better about Shiryu. But since it was my life or death, I'm perhaps not objective enough"
"Hell, it's one of those blooming miracles again, if a Saint starts thinking. Obedient action was their forte, not deep thought. Not even shallow one."
"If the order were given, I would, though it would hurt me more than I can say."
"Then Hyoga stands condemned, if even you will not help him."
"If he were to come beg and beg forgiveness, I will gladly plead in his favour." answered Shiryu gravely, " Believe me I will. The Mercy of Athena is infinite. Let us hope for the Renegade's sake that she will extend it to him."
"His name is Hyoga."
"Say it…oh, say it!"
Shiryu made no answer.
"He never said a word! He simply walked straight past me! I am so sorry, Hyoga."
"Don't be. It is not his fault. He must have been deeply troubled, and Seiya's death hit him harder than he let on. They had always been the greatest of friends and perhaps, subconsciously, in Shiryu's case, there was also something more. The dragon found solace in the strict performance of his Sacred Duty, and set aside all form of affection, like a true Saint should.
'Sentiment breeds weakness, let it get hold of you and you are dead." that's their motto. It was my master's, anyway."
"He was wrong. Love is our greatest strength, that is what Athena too proclaimed when she faced Hades."
"How easily she abandoned it."
As the Dragon Saint moved towards the barracks, Shun balled his fists.
It wasn't fair.
Hyoga had fought just as hard as the rest of them to save Athena. Harder, considering he had changed sides and had had to face his own Master. He deserved the love of his brothers he deserved a chance to explain himself. Why pardon Saga, Kanon, Jamian, Asterion and the others and not Cygnus?
It wasn't fair.
He chided himself for that childish reaction. He should have more faith in his brother and his Goddess. Even though Shiryu too labelled Hyoga a Renegade, he was still willing to speak for him. So would he himself, and Ikki, and Athena would listen.
One thing he had learned as a Saint was never to give up hope. He would not.
"Ah, what a wonderful fool in a fool's paradise I was!"
"Always trying to think well of other people. It is your most endearing quality, little bro'."
Reassured and confident that all would work out well in the end, Shun stepped away light-heartedly, to find his Nastassia.
Had he stayed but a few minutes longer, he would have witnessed the arrival of Alexer and his henchman, dragging forth the body of a man.
"You will answer for your crimes to the Goddess Athena!" cried the Lord of Blue Graad, "Move, you dog!"
The man looked up, and knew there would be no mercy for him.
To be continued