The Starwatcher, The Giant, and The Witch

(スターウォッチャーと, ギガースと, ウィッチ)

Dodona was a valley region in northwestern Greece, a ruined landmark that was home to a famous Hellenistic theater. Many bronze weapons and pottery were found here throughout history. Much like Athens, much like Athena's Sanctuary, Dodona was a restored Acropolis. In fact, it was a Sanctuary of Zeus; there was also a bouleuterion, and temples for both Dione and Hercules. Sagittarius Seiya reached there around dusk, the setting sun giving the site a more mystic aura. Soon, the stars would appear, and the ivory of standing relics would shine. Seiya had took a step into the fortification, but then his sense of vision warped. Next thing he realized, his feet were on grass. The night sky was above him, and a cluster of tall trees surrounded him; was he in the forest that led to the sanctuary? In his confusion, a gasp left him. Someone appeared directly in his sights, kneeling vanward a tree trunk. Seiya was completely transfixed, and he slowly approached.

The figure was a lithe lady with long silver hair, a black leather blindfold covered her eyes.

"108 Stars of Hell," she began to speak; a young, shy cadence, but carried an omnipresent wisdom that reached even Seiya's ears and stilled his steps. "Saints, Marinas, Black Saints, Specters, Martians, Berserkers, Angels, Terrae, Blue Warriors, The Golden Tribe of justice, Pallasites, The Giants. The world holds many armies within the Cosmos, divine and human. Oh, I'm sorry?"

"You must be Sextans Agatha," Seiya said. The two had never met; a figure probably more elusive than the Virgo Saints, she felt like an eerie ghost among the living. Highlights of blue among her silver hair, her body covered in a constellation-patterned cape; awe, magnetism and confusion washed over anyone who saw her.

"Hello Sagittarius. Was there supposed to be two of you?"

"My companion Libra Shiryu said that he would come to Dodona with me. He should be here soon enough."

"Nay. He has disappeared."

"What?! It can't be! What happened to him?!"

"It seems he has faced or is facing a struggle himself," she said. "His star, his Cosmos…it flickered out and in like a lifeline, until it completely faded. However, I can't tell if he has left this world or not. Libra is very strong. So is Dragon. But, I do not contain the eyes of the world, thus, cannot tell you what truly happened."

Seiya closed his eyes; rage suddenly emerged inside and shook his fist. He had to finish the mission. If this war was taking more of his friends and family, he had to least contribute to ending it and to prevent any more casualties. He took a long intake of breath.

"I think you know why I'm here," he said.

"The divine oars, right?" Agatha offered a brief smile before her mouth quickly flipped downward with her next words. "Her voice is weak, sleeping soundly until her time has arrived, but her pride is strong. You'll have to convince her." She said with a frown.

"Sextans, Athena was captured by Demeter. Within our ranks…" Seiya was hesitant to say it. "A Gold Saint turned on us and took her away. It's my fault!"

"I saw stars blaze like fire. Who was it? Was it Scorpio? Cancer? Leo? It is only fate. You had no control; you just now need to face it and make it right." Because justice was always different, Sextans seemed deeply aware of the conflicts within the Saints. Seiya wondered how she adjudicated any matter through just watching the stars; did stars have a path laid out for them? Did they give off some spontaneous reaction due to current events or were they speaking to her?

"Sagittarius Seiya, Sextans is not a dominant galaxy," she said. "Sometimes I am called a "myth'. I have minimal participation in the world, even in its Holy Wars, but I still have my purpose. The only ones who usually reach to me is the Pope and Athena. I am only a star reader. Strangely, my dreams, perhaps bestowed by God, would project various events, but only you can witness what's truly real in the outside world. I can only suggest the 'truth'. Like I said before, fate can change."

Somehow, Seiya was unconsciously patient; even though he sensed a faint Cosmos, he stood unmoving to listen to this bizarre lady. Truth be told, Sextans was a Bronze Saint, but despite the class, she was historically potent. Seiya was not sure as to what extent, and wondered if Agatha's position was due to her being incapable of battle or serving as the world's surveillance. The latter seemed likely as she was in Dodona and had a connection to the so-called "Jason's Galley".

"Agatha, I'm sorry for asking this," said Seiya. "But, how old are you?"

Sextans blurted the answer immediately: "Two hundred and thirty years old. Are you surprised at my presence?"

Seiya was frozen stupefied. The oldest person he has probably met in his lifetime was Dohko, but not as an old man like Shiryu did. After him, it might've been Tatsumi, but the girl-like figure before him was past two centuries. Perhaps his insight wanted to confirm the importance of Sextans.

"Perhaps we are elusive seers. Stationed at Dodona, We Sextans try to live for as long as our Cosmos can bear, but like all fates, it is not always predicted correct. Just like you could not predict the betrayal among yourselves."

Seiya's eyes narrowed. "Did you bring me here?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I manipulated your Doppler Shift and brought you here. Say that you were followed, your prior location would've left a 'mark' and unless someone could sense your heat or Cosmos, hear your footsteps, or if you have a funny odor, they won't reach you until a later time. However, you stand in my safe terrain, so you can't be sensed. Once you leave, you enter a 'reionize phase'."

She sure likes to ramble, Seiya thought, and then hoped that she didn't read minds. He abruptly bowed from his hip. "Forgive me Agatha! As for my reason for being here, I need to speak with Jason's Galley as soon as possible."

"Sit."

The single word caused Seiya to lift his head, shooting the young-looking old Bronze Saint with a puzzled glance. "Pardon?"

"If you don't relax, you will be removed from this space." At first, despite her calm voice, it sounded like a complete threat, causing Seiya to twist his eyebrows. However, he didn't protest and sat cross-legged. She explained soon afterward that Seiya must adopt a form of zen or meditation - to throw away anxiety or aggression.

"Evil forces will sniff out your wavelengths, if not your Cosmos," Agatha said, "and more importantly, Argo will not speak with you."

"Jason's Galley?" Seiya asked.

"That is correct – it is so, the Galley of Jason is Argo. Sextans holds the key that leads to Argo's domain, the greatest vessel made by gods. My honorable purpose." Seiya calmed at her answer. She entered a soliloquy.

"Sagittarius Seiya, Argo's call is perhaps driven by a Goddess's revenge, and the ignominy towards Athena; but, she needs more—compassion, joy and courage. As a vessel, she can make any trip, from Hell to Sky. Even the seas of Poseidon. Castor and Polydeuces, and even Hercules set foot upon it. It's said to be so powerful, and so valuable, that the only one who can destroy it is Zeus." Seiya remained patient, his eyes glittering as he listened.

"Demeter and Hades. There are records of Hades being connected to the sky. For Argo to tremble, there may be more."

"Athena said that 'Argo' spoke with her. She said that 'evil would reach even the stars.' Do you know what that means?"

"So that's it. I found it funny that even at this time and era, you would come to Argo." Agatha cupped her chin. "During my sleep, she told me in a dream that an agent of Athena would come. Sagittarius Seiya, the stars lent their voices- Hades's revival will likely happen."

"Why? Does that mean the Bronzes fail against Demeter?"

"Probably. I feel that the stars' voices lent me a prognosis—this is a desired result."

"Of whom?!"

"Heaven maybe? The question is what will happen along that branch of fate? Will the world be destroyed by Hades's malice? Will he retreat to the Underworld, put aside war, and let things go as normal—where humans live their average lives and believe whimsical Gods? However, what of Athena being captured? If something happens, it's the fault of Demeter and the Gold traitor."

The answer struck Seiya with a bit of confusion, and he felt more desperate. "Then please, I beseech the aid of Argo."

"Nay, do you really think it's that easy?"

"Probably not. If it's compassion, joy and courage that she wants, I will gladly show her that."

A smile bent Sextans's mouth – after she scoffed. "As if a great divine vessel will be convinced. For grit to shine, a great disaster must befall Earth. Evil must upset balance and then be countered. Argo will not be needed if such things don't exist. I have a task for you."

"What is it?"

"An evil force seeks me. Could you remove it?"

"Guardian Hecaton was cursed by a witch. Do you think you handle such a challenge?"

Sextans could not battle.

Seiya had left Agatha's safe zone and wondered past the relics of Dodona, finding himself at an open coastal field to the east. There was a six-metre high column serving as a phylax, or a guardian. Crouch atop it was a sculpture. Seiya reached the pillar and placed a hand upon it. A few seconds after, the air turned completely dark. A heavy thunderstorm suffused the air, lancing the air with violet lightning bolts. As soon as Seiya pulled his hand away, two figures lunged out from behind the pillar and towards the Gold Saint. One was an enormous dark humanoid with ten arms, and another was a winged black armor.

"I am the Celestial Murder Star, Impundulu Gunnar. Today, I will become a mighty warrior."

After that phrase, Seiya found himself with fists stretching towards him—multiplied to the hundreds. The pummeling felt like getting crushed by a rockslide – heavy blows blinding him, caressing him, careening him into the ground. The last thing Seiya saw was a flaring red eye.

As expected from the tribe birthed by one of the primordial gods, some being enemies to the Olympians. Many of them were downed by arrows; was it not fitting for Sagittarius? Could the eye follow steps that moved at the speed of light? Sagittarius Seiya elevated at the level of the giant's head, which locked its eye on the Saint. Hecaton used ten arms and nothing more, forming an optical illusion by bending the atmosphere with a refraction. In other words, a manipulation of a thick air density. A normal human would have iher soul crushed, but Seiya's body and senses gradually make out the trick. His Cloth was grazed by the air-like pressure emitted from the barrage of arms. The next thing he faced was a bounce of lilac lightning, burrowing through his back. It was not an illusion.

Back in her Safe Zone forest, Sextans Agatha waited. "Hecaton is a powerful being, and Gunnar is a witch bird that controls storms. However, Sagittarius is strong. Strong. Only a star burning with light and hope can defeat the cursed giant. Afterward, Sagittarius you must remain here. Having crossed worlds, you may be the one to save the Saints on Naxos. I wish Zeus and more of his family could offer a vocal solace in the situation, but alas, there is nothing. This branch of fate…"