More than Gold: The Centaur Wars

by Jenny DeVic

Book of Sagittarius: What would happen if Mitsumasa Kido chose to carry Aiolos back to Japan instead of his Cloth? Book of Gemini: What would happen if Saga never committed suicide? Book of Centaur: The Golds are all alive. Can they finally unite while taking on the enemies of Athena?

26. Gemini 4E: MrMistoffelees

No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

-Aristotle

---

THE WHITE RABBIT III (Continues from the flashback in Faithful Traitors Chapter)

5 YEARS AGO

MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT

Galan's mother was a storyteller. She knew every myth of Sanctuary by heart, and would not rest until every child around her, including her own, memorized them with as much vigor as she. Of course, the one she was best at reciting, was the most famous of all the local myths, or stories that must remain in the lands controlled by Sanctuary, was the Pegasus Run.

Somehow, he would be glued by her side every time she recited it despite half of the tale consisting of the endless stairs. Somehow she would come up with a fresh adjective to describe the stairs despite repeating the word for the hundredth time while telling the tale.

Of course, once one started working for the Twelve Houses, the same two words would come up, over and over: long and boring. He knew quite well since anytime Aiolia needed something, he would have to traverse the steps for seemingly hours at a time. Sometimes, he would even have to borrow: the den above the old pub in order to rest since there was nothing worse than trying to walk up hundreds of stairs in the presence of a new moon while carrying a pile twice one's size in order to avoid performing the dreaded return trip.

Nobody liked the stairs. Anyone who didn't complain about the biggest drawbacks of working in Sanctuary was either lying, trying to buy favors, or were given the acclaimed positions in the House of Aries and Taurus where their commute wasn't as far.

But tonight, he wished there were more of them. He wished he could have as many stairs as there were stars in the sky. For at the entrance of the Twelve Houses, was the mob and they wished nothing more than to rip him apart for the supposed crime of Aiolos.

At first, he was quite relieved to hear that there was no body.

But for the rest of Rodario, anger was rampant for there was no body.

There was no traitorous Saint that they could mount his head on a spike or spit upon.

People don't forgive.

People don't care how much good one committed prior to either.

So many people loved to hate.

The only thoughts that would reign in their heads would make the nine circles of Hell look inviting.

These were the type of people that other Gods and Goddesses would point their fingers at in order to demonstrate how ridiculous it was to save the mortals. It made him wonder what counterargument in Athena's grand wisdom that she would come up if she had any?

Such fervent anger doesn't simply disappear when it came to the attempted murder of a sacred symbol, especially if she was still a baby. So, for the past few months, nearly all of those who worked at or near the House of Sagittarius were lynched, murdered, or committed suicide.

He himself had received a couple of close encounters due to his association with the Sagittarius, but unlike many of his friends, he knew how to defend himself. Many of those demanding blood were cowards or pathetic losers who sought nothing more than to see that others were more miserable than them.

He knew there were whispers from both Guards and Saints that perhaps after the death of another worker of the ninth house, the people would move on.

It didn't.

That led him to his fate now. The Saint of Gemini came in and told them the news that nothing would cause them to cast aside their torches except for a worthwhile sacrifice. Either the blood of the Saint of Sagittarius himself or that of his only known family member.

He'll be damned if it was Aiolia.

Tied to his head, was one of Aiolos' red headbands since, unlike those people that mocked him beyond the Twelve Houses, they weren't straps of cheap linen that frayed and itched, but special silk that was carefully sewn, light to the breeze, as if the wind was always encompassing him.

The idea was that he would pass as the ninth guardian and with his death, the mobs would finally have their body to piss upon, bloodlust satiated and leave the Aiolia alone. But did it really have to come to this? Were the almighty Gold Saints who were supposed to tussle with the Gods and defend the world, unable to quell the fervent anger of Rodario? Of course not. It doesn't matter how many mountains they can vaporize when they have no means of ensuring everyone who works for them is able to return to their homes and tend to their families.

The faithful servant of the House of Leo quietly pushed forward with false bravado, but then, they crossed the House of Cancer. Lately, the place was filled with a dark uncomfortable miasma that made it difficult to see past a couple of meters away. Those who must cross it, dreaded so, but chalked it as just another part of the mysteries of Sanctuary.

The endless darkness, the sulfur smell, who knows what it was, but the moment that they entered it, Galan's legs froze in place.

"We have to keep going. The crowds are growing restless," Saga spoke as he stood there, his large helmet surrounding his head and shading most of his face.

"I know…" He looked down at the pendant that was dropped around his neck by the Gemini to accentuate his identity as the Sagittarius. "Please tell me… if I die, will they leave him alone?" he spoke referring to Aiolia.

Saga folded his arms. As one who received every report about what goes on in Sanctuary, never in his boundless imagination would he learn how creative people can get when causing the suffering of others.

Perhaps you should take a page from them?

Saga took a deep breath and dismissed the dark voices. The curse was trying to plant seeds in his mind once more. He needed to fight it off and maintain his focus tonight. He stands there quietly as if in thought, but in truth, he knew with great certainty what Aiolia's life will be like. He turned to the Prototypo. "I doubt it, but by doing this and keeping him hidden for a while, they will lose focus. Of course, there will be those that will hate him for all of time." Like all of the Gold Saints, their identities were not disclosed. To the world, Aiolia was a just a very strong foot soldier apprentice who is assigned to a fake mentor, under a unit that doesn't exist. While Aiolos identity was released, no one ever suspected that Aiolia could ever be the Saint of Leo since the probability of a pair of brothers belonging to the Zodiac at the same time, especially a pair that was born to a low-ranked-foot soldier family, was absurd.

The Gemini continued. Even though he needed Galan to look like an absolute wreck by the time they reach the front, he wasn't going to leave him hopeless. "Aiolia has grown strong, but his size is still quite small. I and the others agreed that if he is to be able to make it out there, he's going to have to go through puberty and add some size. Once he looks physically imposing enough, they won't try anything serious beyond jeers and harassment." He gestured his hand to continue following him.

The two finally reached the House of Aries. From the top, they could see the torches shifting around like fireflies, the cries, growing louder as the Gemini's golden Cloth illuminated Galan's pale face.

At that moment, Galan clutched the pendant around his neck with his reattached prosthetic arm. His mind begins to spin. Glints of shiny objects appeared in the crowd's hands. What were they, he wasn't certain, but it didn't matter if it was a machete or a fork, he was certain they would use it in a way that will make him wish he was facing the Three Judges of Hades instead. "Goddess Athena, may the next sun I see be your smile," he whispered.

"Burn your cosmos. I need you to flare it up for a moment as if you are resisting. The lightning element will make this more convincing since they know that it is yellow and will blend mine long enough." Saga spoke through his cosmos.

Convincing? Blending? What was he going to do? He turned his head and noticed the Gemini's gaze urging him to do so before he threw a black stocking that hid his identity.

Galan took a deep breath. If this may be the last time he does so, he may as well make it glorious. He squeezed his good fist and allowed it to flare outwards. At that same time, the white cosmos immediately covered his body and the metal joints and fingers were replaced with a bloody real hand. "What the?" he muttered as the white servant robes that wrapped around his body were replaced with a dirty, yet familiar torn trainer. He took his hand and grasped his short hair and pulled it downwards and noticed they were replaced with matted brown curls.

*SLAM

A gold gauntlet slammed right in the center of his face, breaking his nose and causing him to stumble down.

"Play along, if you want both you and Aiolia to live," Saga spoke through the cosmos before he grabbed him by the hair and proceeded to drag him down the stairs. He could hear the sickening thumps of his body striking each step, but it was necessary. Based on all the rumors and stories, Aiolos had been through hell, and Galan had to look and act as close as he could to it as possible, even if it meant not telling him what will happen next.

The crowd roared as they hurled everything from sharp broken pieces of pottery, rotten food, to excrement, at the servant. Galan, as frightened as he was, simply turned his head away.

Silence struck when a bad toss from an old man caused a bottle of rotten milk to strike the Gemini's chest armor and soak his trainer underneath. Galan turned his eyes toward the aggressor's face. His old face was pale and his tremble was enough to make him buckle down to his knees along with those around him, fearful of their mistake and a sign of how cowardly the people who seek to rip him apart were.

In that stillness, there was a small child standing there in shock, recognizing it as the five-year-old son of one of the door guards, clutching a bag of rotten food to throw. It nearly broke him. "Goddess Athena, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing," Galan muttered.

But the moment didn't last. The Gemini didn't even pay it any attention, and his benevolence to champion causes of those who belonged to neither the wealthy nor the military preceded him.

"You need to struggle more. Show more fear!" The Gemini communicated through the cosmos.

Galan turned his head, the illusion of Aiolos still matching his features. "You told me to act like Aiolos to save Aiolia, so I am."

Beneath his face mask, Saga raised a pleasant brow. "Fair enough." The Gemini suddenly felt a familiar heat. He gripped his face.

Why not kill him for real? You're risking too much. He's just a servant.

"No more death," Saga muttered to himself. He kills one man and now hundreds of deaths have cascaded from it all by the hands of the numerous mobs that have erupted since Aiolos and Athena escaped. Even being a Sagittarius was enough of a reason for a person to be beaten up or lynched.

"What did you say?" asked Galan.

Saga ignored him before he took a deep breath as he watched the crowd carefully. "Do not move, but when the moment happens, I want you to scream as loud as you can as if your own mother was being fucked by the horns of the devil right in front of you." He spoke as he grabbed Galan's prosthetic arm.

The crowd cheered in delight as the Gemini grasped the limb and tore it out of the socket. The crowd stared at the bloody arm, the bone that stuck out from the opening.

Galan did as he was told. But he didn't need to think of his mother. He just merely mirrored the moment Infinity Break tore him to pieces from years prior, his eyes staring at the severed limb as the illusion perfectly depicted blood dripping from it. He knew it was just his prosthetic, but it still horrified him to no end. He turned downwards to see another familiar face. Standing in rags and a hood, his Italian features illuminated by a large torch in one hand and what looked like a bag of sand in the other. Galan continued to stare at the Cancer Saint as he grinned mischievously as if all of this was some large game.

Deathmask reached into the cloth bag and took out a mixture of simple white sugar and pollen before tossing it into the flame, where it burst into a gigantic two-meter cloud.

Galan felt the pendant being torn from his neck before the ground underneath gave in and he was surrounded by darkness. He spun around in every direction as if a tornado was carrying him around, faster and faster among a sea of stars before his body slammed into the cool dark ground. Was that death? Did he pass through the space between Earth and Elysium? Suddenly, a large cloak was tossed upon him.

"Put it on," someone whispered.

Considering that following directions had kept his heart beating, he does so with great haste, despite how awkward it felt without his prosthetic. He felt the hands assist in the task before the mysterious person helped lift him up.

There before him, was the Saint of Aquarius and Pisces, equally shaded in a set of hoods.

"What happened?" Galan whispered, fearful that his life was still in danger.

"Deathmask of Cancer used a large flame to blind the crowds long enough for Saga of Gemini to teleport you here while we tossed him a corpse at the same time. While you laid there, he immediately took his hand and punched a hole through the dead body and tossed it to the people," Camus calmly explained.

Aphrodite's soft pink lips slipped into a smile. "To add to the illusion, I added a bit of special pollen from a hybrid of various lesser forms of my Royal Demon Roses."

The Eleventh guardian nodded. "It was a last-minute touch, but a valuable one nonetheless. The amount of THC was maddening in its chemical composition. The burning of it caused it's effects to become airborne as it dispersed over the crowd-"

"-But what did it do?" asked Galan.

Aphrodite took a rose and brushed his own cheek. "In short… they are all high as a kite." He gave a slight chuckle. "Along with Deathmask, not that he minds."

Camus continued. "By the time they bring the body to the spot where his Cloth was found, it will be unrecognizable to outside spectators. Hopefully, the tension should ease enough for us to start the process of getting Sanctuary back into some order once more. But there is one more aspect that needs to remain convincing, and that is Aiolia."

When he said his name, he had a feeling what they were going to say, and hopes that they would easily slip him back with the sobbing child who needed someone-anyone by his side, faded. "You are going to tell him I died? I can't see him again?"

Aphrodite shut his eyes. This was a bit harder than he thought since it was clear there was a deep bond that must be severed. He opened his eyes and while he was tasked to let Galan know, he just couldn't.

Camus shifted his eyes. He had the same feeling, but he had learned long ago to set aside his emotions no matter how painful it was. "He's eleven. He's emotional. If this plan is discovered, the repercussions will be worse. It will go from people feeling betrayed by the Saint of Sagittarius to the people feeling betrayed by the entire Zodiac and you saw with your own eyes what they will do next… to him."

Galan turned to the mob once more as they dragged the body around. Their bodies leaping and dancing from the euphoria of the pollen like a gathering of demons after they've snatched an angel from the sky. His eyes traveled toward a scroll, a large pack of euros, and a bag with some starter supplies. "Will I ever be able to come back to him?"

"Of course! We'll let you know!"

Galan held his gaze at the Pisces. The sudden shift from sly to cheerful gave him the feeling that it was clear that Aphrodite was lying. He will go where they ask. He will slick in the shadows of whatever place they send him, but if they think he will wait for their call, they are sadly mistaken. He may have one arm, but he has two ears and several tendrils of connections among those who serve the Gold Saints. But still, he understood the need for the charade, and until then, must leave Aiolia in the hands of the Goddess, assuming she was still alive. "Thank you, May the Goddess watch over all of you," he bowed.

"And to you as well," spoke Camus. But before the servant could turn away, he should let him know. "You may want to remove that." the Aquarius spoke as he pointed toward his own head.

Galan reached up and touched the scarlet silk. "There are still supporters for the Sagittarius. It is night and if I travel far enough, no one will figure it out."

Aphrodite folded his arms. "True, but that doesn't make the red headband less of a death sentence for those who are bold enough to bear it."

But Galan picked up the things with his good hand and turned away. "Yes...it is a death sentence, for any coward who comes up and tries to lynch me for wearing it."

O|=========================================|O

Gemini: Defying Gravity

4D: Mr. Mistoffelees

Author's Note: Cursed Mode is bold

O|=========================================|O

PRESENT TIME

Saga reached over and closed his eyes and focused his cosmos and began to apply it over the holes upon his bare chest. He should've done it earlier, but he was so used to not caring whether he lived or not that he ignored it. Honestly, the injuries sustained by receiving four scarlet needles made a chest wound that pierced through his forearms and body look like a mere papercut. But back then, just like all the other times, he attempted to bleed his way in an attempt for redemption, the curse would activate as he blacked out and he would find himself healed.

But the curse wasn't there, not anymore. Bleeding out was an option.

Saga gripped his head out of habit as if trying to fight off the wicked thoughts of the dagger. But this time it was different, for these thoughts were his own. He's been thinking of suicide for five years that it felt ingrained and almost ritualistic whenever he did something terrible. "I have to change. Now is not the time to think like this," he muttered. He would cut his hair if it meant taking some magic potion would banish the suicidal thoughts once and for all, but he knew that the only way such a thing could exist was if he drank the same stuff as Socrates.

It was so difficult, especially since he's been without his medicine for so long, but he had to try and healing his wounds now was at least a small start.

Once the spots were sealed, he took the spare scrap cloth and carefully poured a container of water, from Galan's bag, on it before he proceeded to wipe his naked body as clean as he could get it. Afterward, he grabbed the spare sleeveless tunic and trousers laying on the ground and slipped them on. He found the set to be quite tight to the point that he had to leave the strings around his waist untied. Not only that, but he could feel and hear the threads groan a bit with any type of movement. He was certain the outfit was fairly unflattering, tight in the wrong spots and lose in others. But better to appear silly than a blood-covered mess and it was only until he reached his House.

He looked at his blue locks. He didn't have nearly enough water to get it clean. Instead, he grabbed his old trainer pants and ripped a couple of clean sections off. He used a small strip to tie it up, before using the other section as a bandana to cover up as much as he could. His hair glowed. He used a small bit of cosmos that was powerful enough to be convincing, but not enough to raise any heads, to bend the light to create a transparent layer of yellow light, giving the appearance that his blue hair was green. It will do until he can have access to some hair dye.

He grabbed his old clothes, burnt them with his cosmos, and then tossed the ashes into the mixture below the old skeleton. He gazed at it. The teen shared enough of the same features to pass. The problem was that he was already dead, and for the illusion to work, He needed to convince a large group of people he wasn't. He asked Camus if he should just toss the body over to the mob.

O|===========|O

You only have one shot at this. If he's already dead, the crowd will certainly hesitate and realize he isn't who we say he is. No, you must show him alive, and then they will not hesitate to drain the life from it.

O|===========|O

He tried using Eternity, but when he applies a layer of skin upon his starry appearance, there is a sense of fakeness from a distance, especially when one looks at his eyes. He found the plan a bit disgusting, but… he swore to Aiolos that he would protect Aiolia if something happened. There were some things that the curse overpowered him, but that was one vow that he will not break no matter how much he and the cub no longer got along.

"Who was he?"

Saga turned to Galan as he came up from behind. He could see a sense of dark curiosity. "Brutus. He was fourteen when he killed an Amazon trainee that rejected him. Since he crossed into the Amazon village, he was taken to the House of Scorpio for an interrogation. That was when he hung himself." He folded his arms. One could say it was luck, but the truth was it wasn't hard to find a body of a young man with how high the suicide rate was in their forces. "Then the mob became uncontrollable and we decided to initiate the plan: The White Rabbit."

The former servant to the Leo, chuckled. It was a proper name considering that the Gemini was also known as The Magician of the Zodiac. He walked over and grasped the Gemini's hands and lowered his head. He was not very sentimental, but he was so grateful. "Thank you. I'm sure it was a lot of trouble, but you saved Aiolia and myself, a debt I can never repay. I will do anything and everything to help you two." He noticed the Gemini pale a bit. This was not when he expected while expressing such gratitude. "Is something wrong?"

Saga stared a bit.

Guilt fell over him. This man thinks he was the one who saved him and Aiolia. Galan had no idea about all of what he had done.

"Saga?"

The Gemini took a deep breath. Galan could continue to think he was some hero, but that would be a lie. If he was free to confess it now, he shall do so. "There is. I-" he bit his lip. "You wear his headband in public because you support him as you should. I am not the savior you think I am. In fact, I am actually the cause of it." He spoke with a bit of clumsy bluntness.

Galan turned toward the small hand behind the rock as it raised up and down as if Athena was still cleaning and changing herself before confusion and anger took hold. Here he thought that he was greeting the man he thought risked his neck to save him! "What do you mean? Tell me what happened!"

But Saga shook his head no. He didn't have a strange room where time nearly meant nothing."I wish I could, but there is simply not enough time!" It was a tale that was too long. He knew this would mark the second time that he was asked to confess, but it didn't make it any easier. Saga turned toward the direction of the Twelve Houses before returning back to the Goddess as she stepped out from behind her rock.

Around her neck was some proper gauze and tape, while white fabric covering the injury like a scarf. Galan's spare clothes were quite large, the shirt heavily tucked and bunched into the large pants. The traveler's cloak at least hid most of it.

While Galan talked about using the shirt to turn into a dress, but Saga felt having her pass as a boy would make it easier for them to slip in and out, since he was certain that any orders would be on the lookout for a little girl. The large brown leather cap worked since it allowed her to tuck in her purple locks, and with a little dirt on her cheeks, she could certainly pass off as the son of a farmer.

Saga returned his gaze back to the servant. "We need to get out of here."

"No!" His face was red. "You were there, offering false sympathy during Aiolia's interrogations knowing he nor his brother had done nothing wrong!" He grabbed his leather traveler's bag and started toward the Goddess. "If you are the cause, I will take Athena. You can fend for yourself!" snapped Galan.

Before the event and the curse, he couldn't go a day without praise whether it be his strength or being 'the good twin'. Ever since waking up, he couldn't encounter anyone without either feeling guilty, them being spiteful, or perhaps both.

And everyone wonders why he wanted to end his life so badly.

He felt his world grow a bit colder, his mind seeking death once more. His eyes shifted toward the Goddess who took her hands and held them in the shape of the Lemurian symbol for infinite power.

Saga raised his finger. "Well… let's see if it works," he thought as he closed his eyes, traced the shape of a heart upon his forehead.

DING DING

ROOM OF THE GOLDEN BALL

"Well, that was fast," spoke the familiar voice.

Saga opened his eyes, realizing he was lying down once more on the couch. Strangely enough, the clothes that he had changed into had transformed into his normal trainer set. "I did it," he muttered. It wasn't a dream. It really was a different place.

Dr. Krios nodded back. "Of course. I told you, all you have to do is trace the symbol on your forehead or if you are under heavy stress, but remember, even if it isn't apparent, every time you come, a little of the Golden Ball will fade," he spoke as he gestured toward the quail-egg-sized sphere.

Saga's eyes shifted toward the Athena pencil sharpener, with a simple "Out of Order" sign hanging around her neck. He was stunned, unsure whether to feel triumphant that he managed to come back or disturbed, considering the manner he must do so. At least he had proof that it really did exist. But where exactly is this place? Every time he tried to think about it, a fog would fill his head.

Dr. Krios' youthful face smiled. Perhaps it was that lonely old man side of him, but he always enjoyed a bit of company even if he was surrounded by other headmates. "I'm quite surprised by your sudden return."

"I was just curious if this would work or not." Maybe he did trust him a little more than when he first came in? "I also want a little advice." He gestured with his fingers. "Just a little."

Dr. Krios noticed that the Gemini was sitting up and not laying down.

The couch was a symbol that was synonymous with psychologists, but it was not for aesthetic reasons as one may think. While many would think a couch was there for the patient to relax and open up, it goes even farther than that. The couch allows both the doctor and the patient to converse comfortably while never making any eye contact. Without eye contact, the patient can certainly drop their guard while the doctor can probe even deeper into their patient's subconsciousness.

The Lemurian was grateful that the Gemini thankfully dropped the whole Kanon imitation, it was clear that by being upright and gazing back at him, it showed that Saga was still a bit guarded by his presence, a fact that he hoped will phase itself out before the Golden Ball ran out. "So, what happened, Saga?"

The Gemini took a deep breath. "I encountered one of Aiolos' old friends. He used to watch Aiolia as his caretaker and servant."

The doctor remembered. Aiolos was just far too overwhelmed when Aiolia became of age to perform combat as well as the Sagittarius' increased duties. "He must be a very good friend if he trusts him with such a task." The Lemurian started doodling a large stone golem with bull horns. "Please continue. What happened between you and this old friend of Aiolos?"

Saga tells him all about the plan from five years ago, how Rodario demanded the body of the Sagittarius since one of the rumors was that they already had him in confinement. Thanks to the fact that Galan had a missing arm, he and the other Saints in his circle decided to trick them. To keep the deception a secret, Galan agreed to stay hidden until the time was right. To his surprise, he actually encountered him, where he provided a change of clothes, water, and dressed the wound on Athena. While they still couldn't transport her through Another Dimension or light speed, it was better than nothing.

Saga paused.

"He was so grateful, but I knew that it would be wrong to hide my crimes. But, he was furious."

The door opened.

"Of course he was pissed! He gave up five years of his life too! You made me think my brother is a traitor! You made me think Galan was dead! If you think he's going to just trust and forgive you like my brother, you have another thing coming!" screamed Aiolia before he slammed the door.

Saga groaned as he threw his hands on his face.

"I am cursed no more.

The shackles that enslaved my tongue are released.

I chose to tell him what I could not five years ago.

I am free!

I am free to decide who to confess without the dagger triggering survival mode and killing those I speak to. I felt it was the right thing to do."

Saga's face saddened deeply. "Everyone tells me to find my own path to repent my sins without death." The Gemini shrugged. " I thought when, of all people, I encountered Galan, wearing his red headband at the site that they hung the body on, with Athena by my side... it was a sign that I could start such a path."

The Lemurian removed his glasses. "You did start a path." And he was proud he done so. "You pressed your foot and made the first step, but found out the ground was muddy and not as solid as you think. It is messy, but you can still travel over it."

Saga nodded. It was certainly a nice way to think about it, but despite the Lemurian being eighteen-years-old, sometimes he sounded like he was over a hundred. "Yes, I know." Saga took a deep breath. "It's just that, it's strange.

Before the curse, when I did the right things, I was praised.

Even Dimitris would shower me in it.

But now that I am back to my old self before the curse, if I do the right thing, I am scorned."

The doctor flipped the page and started to draw a sad angel and a happy demon. "Yes, it does sound difficult." Because of the Golden Ball, he can choose when he can see and hear what the Gemini experienced in the outside world, including the conversation that had transpired. He still asks as if he doesn't know, simply because it was good to compare how much Saga is willing to open up to him. In this case, Saga wasn't wording it right. "Does Galan know the whole situation."

Saga frowned. "I don't have time to explain the whole situation! I have no idea how this curse will affect Aiolos. He could leave us alone until the Twelve Houses, but he could also send everyone and everything at us-"

"Then tell Galan! Let him know! I understand why you are hesitating so much, but I didn't choose you just because you were smart, but because when you were bold...you were bold. Even when others tried to exploit your curse, you did everything to ensure you would not allow th-"

"Wait…"Saga held a hand up, with a mixture of motivation… but also confusion. "...what are you talking about? Did you choose me? For what?"

Dr. Krios/Shion bit his lip. Apparently, despite his youthful body, he was so caught up in his own speech that his senile-old-man behavior crept in. It was true. The Golden Ball can blanket some things, but that doesn't do any good if he lets it slip out. "Well…" he trailed, trying to figure out some excuse. If it is believable and fits the confines of the logic of the room, it should work. "Well...I have chosen you to be one who I shall have my final observation with to earn my diploma."

"Oh, well… thank you," he muttered.

The doctor could hear his disappointment.

Saga doesn't realize that he too wrestles with the fact of whether to keep the peace with lies versus the chaos that comes with the truth.

But his reasons for hiding it were far different. Saga was a Gemini. He was the most powerful of the Gold Saints, but at times, the most fragile.

But this wasn't about him, this was about Saga.

The Lemurian nodded as it became clear. Saga honestly didn't need to come here, since he was certain that if the Gemini wanted to earn the trust of Galan, he knew what to say. But probably just needed a little assurance, like Saga needed to be a bit fired up. Probably didn't help that he hasn't had any servants sneak in his medication for a week. "Saga, try again. Do you really want to just hand the Goddess off to him?"

"No, I don't." Aiolos trusted him with Athena, and until the right time comes, he will do so. He stood up. "I should get back." Ten seconds wasn't very long, but that was more than enough time for a one-armed-man to make some distance with a mute Goddess. "But thank you for listening, even if it wasn't for very long," he spoke as he shook his hand.

The doctor smiled. "That's alright. I told you, this is a safe place. Doesn't matter how big or small, long or short, you are welcomed here for as long as the Golden Ball will last. Until next time."

Deep down, the Lemurian wished Saga could come back as many times as he wanted…

...just like the old days.

DING DING

Saga's body twitched as if hitting the bottom of some endless hole from a dream. His tongue could taste a little dust near his lips with a bit of blood while a hand shook his shoulder over and over. He raised his head to see Galan kneeling down with Athena sitting beside him.

"What happened? You just fell over!"

Saga groaned as he touched the side of his temple. He could feel a small tender lump on his forehead. Judging by the small test, apparently, the Room of the Golden Ball was definitely not a physical place. Did his spirit leave his body or was it something else? Regardless, judging by Galan's reaction, the ten-second rule was proven true once more as was the tracing the Lemurian symbol of infinite power, or the shape of a heart, upon his head, no matter how silly it seemed.

He will definitely take note that the next time he visits the room, he probably shouldn't be standing straight up. Perhaps that sense of him falling was due to his body actually falling and his mind catching up ten seconds later?

The Gemini dusted off clothes and looked up to the servant. For a man who said such cold words, he was surprised that he stayed with him. Perhaps he was far kinder than he appeared? It wouldn't surprise him if Aiolos saw it in the servant, just like how the archer saw it within him as well. "I will be okay. But, listen," he turned toward the servant.

Power defeats Strength

A simple philosophy he's learned from Dimitris, the man who he refuses to call his father.

Galan clearly was a warrior once. He may have one arm, but the rest of him could be mistaken for a Saint. He definitely has that edge from how he seems to be aware of his surroundings and even subtle way he adjusted his body as if ready to take him on earlier while at the same time ready to run off with the Goddess.

"As I said, all of this was because of me, but not by my own will. I was cursed and it made me do unquestionable horrors to you, Aiolia, Aiolos, and many others. If you can't forgive me, that's fine, because I have yet to forgive myself." Saga folded his arms, but not too tightly in order to avoid looking like he was guarded. Allowing his hands to hang loosely makes him appear as if he would give in to the servant, but having them in the position he was in, allowed Galan to see that he would not give in to his demands but was open to working with him.

The servant gave a curious look. Before he fell, the Gemini looked a bit pitiful, nothing like how he met him during The White Rabbit plan, nor how Aiolos described the one who has teleported him to every continent at least twice. "Are you still cursed?"

"No, but Aiolos is now afflicted with it." He raised his hand as he could see the Prototypo ready to barrage him with more questions. "Listen, we can't discuss this now. As I said, Aiolos is cursed and right now he is the one Athena and I are running from." He could see the horror overcome the servant, his head shaking back and forth as if unable to believe the words he was hearing. "I know you want to know more, but there is no time. Aiolos could throw us a bone and leave us alone or he will send everyone from Saint to Saintia after us. I want to free him of the curse. I want to protect Athena just as I swore to. If you don't believe my resolve, then ask the Goddess herself. But right now, I need you. Come with us. Once we're safe, I will tell you everything."

Galan bit his lip as his good hand gripped the side of his traveler's cloak.

Saga felt sweat build up. "Please, if you can come with me, I can reach my destination easier and the Goddess will be safer. I want to help Aiolos! I want to save him!"

The servant turned toward the Twelve Houses. "I came back for Aiolia," he whispered. The sobs and his emotionally broken face haunted him for years and he prayed every night after his run that the child, now a man at this point, would be safe.

The Gemini knew it was a difficult request, but as the false Pope, he's dealt with hundreds of such choices. "You still can and will. Not only that, but helping me will help him as well. I just need you for a short amount of time."

"How short?"

"...I don't know...it could be a week or a month or two. Most definitely no more than three." Saga could see how divided he was. He doesn't blame him. For many servants, the gold saints were like their own children. In fact nearly all, except those that were nursing, spent more time with the Golds than their actual flesh and blood. Of course, both he and Kanon never had such a relationship. When they were young and still mastering their cosmos, their powers of illusion were wild and uncontrollable, scaring off several caretakers no matter how desperately they tried to convince them to stay. Without a doubt, even though he could tell by Galan's proud warrior features that he won't admit it, such a bond existed between the two as well.

The Gemini took a deep breath. "If you don't want to come, at least leave Athena with me." He raised a hand. "You've already given up five years, it is selfish to ask you to give up a little more. But as I said, I will explain everything later, but Aiolos needs help. I betrayed him, yes… but I had no control back then. Right now, I do have control and I won't betray him again. After all, friends don't give up on each other during tough times and…"

"-what did you say?" Galan interrupted.

Saga paused once more. "Friends don't give up on each other during tough times," he emphasized.

At that moment, the servant softened. For it was the same words that the archer told him long ago as he laid there broken and after he committed a crime so heinous that it was a miracle that he only lost an arm and an eye. He loved Aiolia, but if Aiolos was in trouble, then the reunion must wait. "Alright, let's go."

O|==================|O

POPE'S CHAMBERS

"What's wrong with the door?" eight-year-old Paz spoke as she tried to pull it open. She wanted to check on Saga in the bed after hearing his voice, but the Sagittarius Saint was there. He seemed nice, but at the same time, he tried to kill Saga. So did his brother.

She gave up on the entrance, but she had another way. She hurried over toward the East Wing and headed toward the smaller side balcony that was used as a form of defense or a lookout. The nice thing was that the railing was close enough to the other that she could actually reach over and climb to the other. It was not the way she liked. The wind blew hard and the Third Guardian had scolded her multiple times about using it since one slip and she would fall off. But if Saga was awake, she wanted to be there, especially with the horrible rumors of either a long imprisonment or execution circulating about.

Her head darted toward the tile and nearly caused her to lose her grip. Splatters of blood were all over. "Did the red eyes return?" she wondered as she reached the safety of the floor. She ran over to the bed and gasped to find not Saga, but Aiolos as well. "Where is he?" she muttered. Paz's eyes turned toward the blood coming from his nose and a bit from his ears. Her tiny hand reached toward his face and could tell he was still breathing.

O|====|O

"Come on, what's wrong?" whispered Aiolia as he stood there in the Courtyard of the Pope, stroking the long mane. The Leo was clueless. Zephyr was just fine when he delivered him earlier, but now, the horse was tucked into a corner, snorting and pacing nervously with its long tail pulled deep between its legs as if it saw a ghost.

Aiolia even took off his Cloth just to make himself more recognizable, but even then, the horse just didn't want to leave its spot. He didn't understand. This was the same horse that would charge forward against attacks by other Saints. What could possibly cause it to act like this?

"Saint Aiolia!"

He turned his head, recognizing the sweet little accent of the Chilean girl, but his face dropped into concern as her flailing arms and wild rush made it obvious something was wrong. "Paz? What is it?"

She flailed her skinny arms toward the balcony. "Saga is gone! Athena is gone! Your brother's unconscious!"

The fifth guardian gritted his teeth, keeping his foul tongue in check before he practically tore the handle off his Pandora's box, suited up, and lightspeed back over toward the balcony. He was surprised to see it still closed, wondering how she got in. Nonetheless, he filled his shoulder with cosmos and slammed it into the door, breaking the golden arrow that held it in place.

His face paled at the scene before him. So much blood! But who's was it?

He jumped onto the bed and picked up his brother. "Aiolos! Brother! Come on? Wake the fuck up!" He screamed. He shut his eyes. "Shaka, get to the Pope's Chambers. Aiolos has some bleeding in his head." He noticed the archer reacting a bit. It was a good sign, but what the hell happened? He wished he could use his cosmos, but anything that involved head injuries requires a powerful healing cosmos and very steady hands. There were only two in the Zodiac that was capable of that, but unfortunately, the closest one was the one who needed it the most.

All the Leo could do was just pull his older brother closer to him and squeeze him tightly. "What the hell happened to you!" he whispered, the white's of his eyes pink with concern. They were just having a beer and eating shitty ramen earlier. "What did you do to him, Saga!" The Leo bared his fangs. The Gemini has been nothing but trouble and he found it maddening that the two remained friends.

"Bring him to the floor. It will be easier to treat him on a flat and stable surface."

Aiolia turned his head up to see the Virgo. "How did he get here so fast? Was he already on his way?" he thought but still did as he was told, carrying the archer over and laying him down. "Namaste," Aiolia bowed, understanding the proper greeting one gives to Buddhists.

"Namaste," The Virgo Saint reciprocated before he serenely strolled over and sat down. He rested his hands on the archer's temples and focused, but was a bit surprised at what he found. "A mental barrier… or at least the broken remains of one," the Virgo thought. It was quite pitiful. It was the type that small children with mental abilities with the cosmos were taught. One way to describe it was the difference between building a house out of brick and mortar, while another with building blocks. This was one of the reasons why those like Aiolos were not taught these techniques since trying to fight a mental attack may result in more damage than simply having him being possessed. So what was it that made him attempt something so dangerous that it could've left him brain dead if he didn't leave sooner? Shaka searched his memories and could see the familiar long blue hair and an arrow directed toward it.

It was clear that the curse was attempting to break one of Athena's most faithful, but had failed to do so.

Shaka sensed the remains of the barrier. Even though it was very weak and novel, he could modify it some to perhaps make it of some use. Mental armor was just as versatile as physical. If one was unable to carry an iron shield, perhaps the same weight could be distributed around the body like chain mail?

If Aiolos' mind was not strong enough to handle a thick wall, then something longer would be suitable, especially since it fits ideally with the archer's quick reflexes. So just like how he and other novice cosmos users who used their minds were taught, he produces a story to help the archer imagine and build.

Aiolos, listen carefully.

You are not holding back a dam. You and Zephyr instead must guard a wall.

The wall is as long as the Great Wall of China and invaders are constantly trying to scale the tops or destroying the stone. Every invader that crosses the wall means another village destroyed. But you are the wind. Upon your horse, you move beyond the speed of light and you two run back and forth, the wind blowing the invaders off or your horse is crushing them.

You can only block off the curse three more times with this wall.

Make your choices carefully.

Save them when someone you care about is in immediate danger.

The Virgo hoped that would help. Saga was much easier since the Gemini can craft far more elaborate barriers and could resist… but as Shion knew, such barriers had its limits especially when it came to hate.

But every bit helps. The more time Saga has to find the cure for the curse, the better. But he knew that Aiolos didn't have the mental finesse of the Gemini and once this wall is destroyed, he won't be able handle another one. Shaka's hands glowed white and he began the delicate process of healing the soon-to-be Grand Pope.

As the Virgo did his work, Aiolia wandered around the room trying to pull together what had happened. The more he looked around, the less that made sense. He may not be as passionate about hunting as his brother, but he still enjoyed it and remembered the lessons that had been passed for generations. There was a lot of blood, but the way it splattered was odd.

There were two spots, one on the bed and the other on the floor. Both were flared out like a long cone indicating a piercing shot, something that Saga obviously didn't possess.

Perhaps his brother woke Saga up, and he immediately attacked him?

But there was a problem. For one thing, the bed didn't have any visible damage besides the blood splatters. Furniture might as well be wrapping paper if it ever came between two Gold Saints even if one couldn't walk. The other was the amount of blood from the one behind the bed. It was a lot but not as much as from a grown man, which clearly meant it must have come from something smaller… like a little girl.

"Are you alright? What happened, Paz?"

Aiolia turned toward Aphrodite's voice in the Main Chambers and spotted the twelfth guardian with the Chilean.

"I don't know. I was trying to find Saga, but he was gone and the other man was laying there with blood coming out of his nose and ears."

"Oh my, is Aiolos dead?"

"No, he was breathing and Saint Shaka came quickly."

"Oh…"

Aiolia's fist tightened before he turned to the Twelfth Guardian and had no misgivings about being blunt. "Isn't that a good thing? You sound disappointed that the Pope is alive?" Perhaps it was the way the Pisces carried himself, appearing as shocked as if he received a surprise gift and not in the manner that his future leader was mysteriously unconscious, but in some ways, Aphrodite was far worse than Saga. At least the Gemini was cursed. What was Aphrodite's excuse for how he acted for the past five years?

Aphrodite huffed and folded his arms. "Technically he's not the Pope yet if he's not confirmed. Just a Gold Saint in a set of robes." He chided, emphasizing the same words the others used on Saga.

The two stood there with an awkward silence, both filled with the inner turmoil of defending who they felt belonged on the throne, but neither wanting to contribute further division among the Zodiac. There's a good reason why Aiolia chooses to use the passage over the stairs whenever he could, and why Aphrodite would work in the hidden corners of his garden anytime he knew those who preferred the archer would travel by.

This was not lost on the eight-year-old. She's grown used to those with Gold Cloths acting like this. But right now, she was worried about the one who got her out of that awful orphanage and her new friend. "Where's Saga and Athena?"

At that moment, the Pisces and Leo turned their heads back to her, as if seeing as a means of stepping away from each other.

Aphrodite knelt down a bit to meet her height. "We don't know. I'm sure Aiolos will grant us our answers when he wakes up."

While that may be true, it was probably best that she wasn't present when his older brother did say it since it was more than obvious that Saga teleported. If the scene didn't make sense, he would be out searching for the Gemini. He looked down. He may not have worked with a lot of kids, but his older brother was a pro at it, and he still remembers a few excuses to get the little ones out. "You know more of the rooms and hidden places around here, could you check to see if the Goddess is hiding?"

It was true. Paz was taught to go to them whenever Saga asked her to, and there were a few good ones. She nodded graciously and took off in search of her.

The two Golds turned to each other once, as if to warn each other not to try anything, before they both distracted themselves in the quiet meditative pose that Shaka took as he applied cosmos to the archer's head.

Despite Shaka's eyes being closed, he could still hear the tension between the two as he had with the other Golds. Sanctuary was drowning in anxiety and agitation that resulted from Saga being revealed. His hands twitched, immediately dropping as he felt the Sagittarius begin to stir.

Aiolia knelt over to the ground as his brother began to use his arms, out of habit, to push himself up, even though he couldn't walk, the treatments that Shaka had begun to administer were helping as his legs were kicking a little.

The Virgo pulled away and turned downwards. "Aiolos, how do you feel?"

The archer grasped his head, grimacing. "Like I found out what it would be like to be shot through my ears," he groaned, rubbing the temples next to his blue eyes.

"Where are Saga and Athena?" demanded Aphrodite while folding his arms.

Aiolia frowned once more, not taking the accusation lightly especially with the condition that the Sagittarius was found in. But he too wanted to know.

Aiolos eyes were blue and they could see the depth of concern his little brother showed him. He had to fight this, no matter how futile it was, he must try! His head tightened, his ears were ringing. He felt like he was about to pass out, but he had to fight.

I have to tell them the truth.

"I woke him up. I decided not to kill him…

I fired an arrow, it struck Saga,

I have to tell the truth!

it struck Athena too!

He jumped off the balcony while grabbing her."

Tell the truth!

He did it and by the Goddess, he was exhausted. Was this what Saga had to deal with every time he wanted to say something but couldn't? His body was sweating all over as if he did three brutal rounds of sparring with Aldebaran on one of his rare grumpy days.

But then Aphrodite and Aiolia turned toward each other with the same concern over his brief tale.

"Why did you fire an arrow at Saga, brother?" asked Aiolia as his eyes were filled with concern while Aphrodite produced a cutting glare.

The heat of the room was getting worse like his lungs were on fire with each breath. His ears were ringing, his head tightening. He was well aware of the power his words held in this position. While the others see him twist as if the headache from before had returned, a mental wrestling was going on.

But unlike the Gemini Cloth which was crafted specifically to be highly resistant to curses, the Sagittarius Cloth was not.

The archer turned away and gripped his face as the curse seemingly swallowed him whole and undoes his attempt to reveal what happened with six simple words. "Because Saga wanted to kill me!"

"That bastard!" Aiolia screamed as he pounded his fist so hard into the tile that the echo alone nearly busted everyone's eardrums. He was so sick of the Gemini at this point.

All Shaka could do was watch as the same scenario where Saga was forced to declare Aiolos a traitor, play out once more in reverse.

In silence, Aphrodite slowly shook his head no. There was no reason Saga would do such a thing, but what other reason could there be? Aphrodite merely shook his head no faster in quiet disagreement.

Aiolia's face was red. He was ready to bust through the door and tear every hidden shadow to find that blue-haired madman and shove the golden dagger up his ass. But even though his hot-blooded nature was quick, it didn't mean he was blind and dumb. His anger suddenly cooled when he realized something was off from Aiolos' story. If the Goddess was in danger and with how powerful Saga can be, "Why didn't you shout for help? The door was cracked and you told me to give you an hour."

Aiolos gripped his face further, but his will was just exhausted.

"He had Athena hostage. I had to do as he said or he would kill her."

It would've been logical, for anyone except his older brother.

This was the same person who spent weeks demanding to hear Gemini's point of view of the events. It didn't even fit Saga either. There was always this lingering sadness in Saga's face that looked like he was ready to end it all. If the Gemini wanted to take his own life, why would he resort to something so cowardly as taking a hostage? Hell, Saga blew shit up like nobody's business. He could have easily unleashed Galaxian Explosion and killed all three of them right there.

But this was his older brother. He wouldn't lie to him. What reason would he if Athena's life is on the line? Aiolos would do anything for his Goddess, and he shouldn't be doubting him just when he was starting his reign as Pope.

So, the Leo, determined to make up all the wrong he did, stood up. "We have to get her back. I'll go put my Cloth on," he declared as he headed back to the garden where he had set it.

At that moment, Aiolos turned in a way that only Shaka could see and opened his eyes to reveal his cursed red pupils. The Virgo bit his lip. The curse mocks him once more as if it was repeating the same victory it has as before with Saga.

As the Saint of Virgo, he could feel the heat of the curse radiating from the archer's body, but just like Saga, he knew to keep his tongue silent. Shaka could see the different results of the future and knew the best way was for him to remain silent for now and trust Athena's Gambit as well as the others.

Aiolos slipped the mask and helmet back on. Keeping his gaze away from his brother would arouse suspicion and he could tell by the questions that Aiolia suspected something was not right. He pulled the cane and hobbled over to a chair facing Rodario in its nightlife. "He should be heading toward Rodario." A smile curled on his lip. "Using the Southwest path now."

Shaka's head turned toward the direction of the halls, sensing the normal cosmos of Paz zipping up and down.

O|=======|O

Please, don't let her see my curse.

O|=======|O

Those were the words that Saga spoke to him, back when he first brought Paz over. It was definitely a shock, not over the fact that the South American didn't have a lot of the features needed to portray a false Athena, but the fact that she wasn't his illegitimate child due to the amount of sleeping around he did after taking over the role as Pope. But he did as he was asked. Shaka worked with the child to help teach her how to appease the curse side or would escort her to the House of Pisces when the curse was in the mood to divulge in the sexual temptations that would come about in a Gemini teenager.

The Virgo knew that part of his role in protecting the little girl would resume when Aiolos paid the price to save Saga's life. "I will speak with Paz to resume her duties as the stand-in for Athena. If people find out that the Goddess is missing once more, it will cause severe panic."

This pleased the curse. Paz has proved her loyalty in serving it and it's Master. In fact, it brings the Master great joy in knowing that the subjects of Athena willingly bow to a false deity.

After the Virgo stepped out of the room, cursed Aiolos twisted his head toward Aphrodite. Even though the Pisces supported Saga, he knew he had to leave him be, since the Twelfth Guardian didn't kill anyone, thus ending the Pisces would cause more suspicion with the curse than leaving him be. "What do you intend to do?" he spoke, directing his tone straight toward the Pisces.

Aphrodite could tell that Aiolos was testing his loyalty. While the archer was a bit more respectful than the cub, as Saga lovingly nick-named the Leo, there was always this sense that he was inside a petri dish, always moving, but never free, and carefully observed. "I should move into my House and have it prepared. I have gardening supplies all over the place since I've started restoring the roses." The sad fact was, he wasn't exaggerating. People who bitch about climbing the stairs all the time should take the time to see how long it takes to plant and tend to the roses next to them.

The cursed Pope's eyes glowed red, camouflaged under the safety of the mask as it watched the Pisces and Virgo leave. He returned back to his brother as he came back out with Cloth upon his body once more.

Aiolia turned toward the view. From there, he could not only see the village but also how high they truly were and made him wonder how his older brother could have made the run in the first place. But of course, getting out of there was probably quite easy with the one they were going to pursue. The Leo crossed his arms. He would normally be rushing down, but he knew better. "What should we do? He can fucking teleport anywhere."

"He's still in the quarry area. He can't use Another Dimension since Athena was injured. He can't even use lightspeed either," the Pope coldly reasoned.

The tone was dark and off. Aiolia turned his concerned eyes at his brother as his posture indicated he was extremely focused at where the Gemini could be. The Leo shifted his eyes a bit, wondering if he should ask why he was acting so differently, but instead decided to focus on finding Saga and recovering Athena. If Aiolos was acting strange because Athena was lost, he should be fine after they get her back. If it isn't, as long as Aiolos was focused on finding the Gemini, there was plenty of time afterward to delve deeper. "Did you see what direction he was heading?"

"I did. He took the Southwest path… ironically, at his pace, he is certainly in the Region of Castor and Pollux."

Aiolia chuckled a bit, not just the irony, but how perfect the moment was. It was a famous area because the valley was surrounded by two smooth mountainsides that ran parallel to each other, both walls so flat that it was nicknamed the glass passage. It was long and narrow with a clear entrance and exit. "Send a couple of Golds on one end and two more on the other. He's surrounded."

The cursed Pope nodded. He knew the moment that Saga headed in the direction he did, was the moment he knew he stood a good chance at winning. For safe measure, the men he tested his new crimson arrows on, served not in capturing the Gemini, but to guide him toward the perfect area to trap him at.

"If both groups straight shot it at the same time, Saga won't have enough time to throw up Another Dimension. He'll either resist and he dies, or he'll be recaptured. If that happens, this time, we throw him in the Den of Tantalus where he will never see the light of freedom again." His shoulders shook as laughter followed. "Saga, you took my Queen. But everyone knows that in chess, with enough finesse, one can get it back."

Aiolia turned his head once more. His brother had his moments of anger, but he never heard him take joy in the suffering of others, even if its an enemy. The Leo's smile fading, but when the masked face turned to him, he brings his smile back up once more, false as it was, to conceal his concern.

O|=============|O

Saga and Galan walked side by side. The Goddess wrapped her arms around Galan's neck, as he carried her with one arm. While it appeared like a difficult task, the servant was used to doing things on one side, plus with the Gemini being the obvious stronger fighter of the two, it was best to keep his hands as free as possible in case of trouble.

There was a very subtle flash in the sky. Most would dismiss it as just a falling star, but it was enough to cause Saga's foot to stop midstep. His eyes focused harder as another one came down. "Shit…" he muttered.

Galan's eye shifted back and forth. "What is it? The shooting stars?" he whispered as he lowered his stance.

Saga nodded. "Except they weren't natural. Basically, one throws a rock or an object into the atmosphere and allows it to fall back down naturally. Where it falls is where the Saint wants the others to land."

"That sounds a bit imprecise."

The Gemini shook his head. "Not for an archer." He turned his head toward the distance. "I should've known better. My original plan was to head toward the open quarry area. But he sent some foot soldiers. There was no chance they would take me on, but they completed their purpose. Instead of going on and risk him converting more with those red arrows, I deviated as he predicted over toward this path...and now we're surrounded on two sides. Well played, Lucas."

Galan stared hard into the sky. "How long will it take for them to get here?"

Saga shook his head once more. "Camus and Milo are already in place." He was hoping Aiolos would send the cub, especially if Galan is with him. But Aiolia wouldn't be a good fit in this situation since Leos were normally utilized in crowd control or pure assault. "Strategically, Camus can easily capture me or slow me down to make it difficult to use Another Dimension, but Milo could kill me if necessary since Scarlet Needle doesn't miss."

The Servant turned his head, "they're also probably the only two who still get along well enough for an important mission."

The Gemini reluctantly sighed. "Mmm, that too." While Bronze and Silvers were known for working together and having a sense of comradery, the history of Golds and friendship resembled a soap opera, especially the quagmire of when everyone hits puberty. Sometimes he wondered if he did Shion a favor by killing him before that period. "Let me see if I can pinpoint their locations," he spoke as he closed his eyes.

"But why are they waiting? They know where we are at and they have lightspeed." Galan further wondered.

Saga continued to focus. "They do, but so do I. Capturing a Gold Saint is far trickier than simply killing him. It's like chess. You could go for hours, but if you plan it carefully, you can win in four moves. They are biding their time, waiting for us to move further in to increase the odds of success." His eyes widened as his tone became more fervent. "Oh...this is definitely his strategy. If we move further, we benefit Camus and Milo, but yet… if we turn around they can easily predict that we know and will strike anyways."

"What should we do?" whispered Galan. He turned and noticed the Gemini was silent. "Saga?"

Saga clutched his head. It almost felt like when he first left the balcony with Athena. It was a sense of helplessness. Even though Aiolos couldn't see him, he was still able to predict their movements and trap them.

O|=============|O

Rodario Village Rooftop

"They've stopped moving," Camus whispered as he read the cosmos from afar, cloaked in a long brown robe and kneeling down.

Milo's eyes stayed focused on the streets below, to ensure that no one spotted them. The darkness and new moon helped tremendously. "Do you think that they sensed us?"

Camus nodded. "Very possible. Their pace halted the moment the area was marked in the sky. But they aren't turning back either." He tilted his head. "How odd, there are three cosmos. I wonder who the third one is? It's not like one would encounter many people in the quarry. He's not a Saint, but he's more powerful than the average person."

The Scorpio looked down. There was something off with Camus' tone and the only way to know is to take him by surprise. His elongated red nail carefully slid on the slight bunch of fabric on the hood and jerked it off to see how the french man was truly acting before he shifted his face back to a stoic expression once more. "Worry and concern… if you show more emotion than a stone, the Cloth of Aquarius will surely abandon you." He tisked. "What else is on your mind?"

The eleventh guardian raised a hand, as if it was obvious. "This feels off. Aiolos' reaction to Athena being taken seemed rather slow." Camus imagined someone like Aiolos would be summoning every Gold the moment it happened. He can't imagine him simply letting the Gemini go. "Saga kidnapping Athena also doesn't make sense."

"You discount the cursed man who attempted the most overblown suicide attempt in Sanctuary history from kidnapping?" spat the Scorpio, still a bit bitter that his partner had the audacity to hide the fact that the one he's been serving for the past five years wasn't a two-century-old Lemurian and shaming the honor his family held in Sanctuary.

Camus stayed still, but underneath the long sleeves of his cloak, his fist tightened in hidden frustration. With Sanctuary in disarray, he had to spend some time here in Greece and have Ivan the Crystal Saint train Hyoga and Issak. Typically, he would take advantage of these long stays at Sanctuary, but since the reveal of the Gemini, Milo has since removed the Aquarius glyph on the door to his Inner Chambers, thus denying him free entry. It was ironic that his nights were colder without his companion.

It saddened the Aquarius. But the truth was he kept Milo out of Saga's circle because he cared too deeply about what could happen if he found out the truth. The House of Scorpio had the deepest ties to Sanctuary, being the only one where the Cloth was literally passed from father to son since ancient times. Truth be told, the moment it was revealed, the most social of the Saints had literally locked himself in his House. He knew, for Mrs. Schafurwatt, his faithful servant to him and past Scorpios, had been urging him to get some sun but he refused.

Camus finally answered. "What is the benefit of taking Athena? If she is injured, she slows Saga down. If he wants to run away, he is better off leaving her behind so he can teleport. If Saga has demands, why didn't he tell Aiolos what they were?"

As angry as he was with the Aquarius right now, his deductions were still spot on. "I don't know." Milo shook his head. "Fuck, I don't know anything anymore." He was so frustrated. He told his servant that the moment Saga opened his eyes, he wanted to confront the Gemini personally. At least now he will have his chance.

That was the difference in the reaction of the Golds now versus five years ago. As children, they simply accepted the truth and did as they were told. It was quite simple. Now that they were much older and each wielded greater responsibilities, they could question things, and Milo was intent on finding the truth from the Gemini even if he had to repeat the question fourteen times before Antares, to do so.

O|=============|O

Galan, still carrying Athena, took his foot and lightly kicked the Gemini in the shin to get his attention. "Saga?" he attempted a second time, but Saga simply dodged it this time around.

"Galan, do you remember the plan and how I said it would take about ten hours to execute once we are in Rodario?"

"Yes?"

"Well...scrap that...we're going to complete the plan: Invade Sanctuary...in ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?" Galan's mother was a storyteller, and the tales of those who tried to invade Sanctuary were long, endless, and full of failure. "But you said Aiolos has us trapped?"

Saga nodded. "He does and two fine Gold Saints who are quite a deadly pair. But we will make this work." His emotions were on fire and on cloud nine. He was used to this feeling. Sometimes he was feeling quite low to where he could merge with the Earth, but right now, he felt like he was a meteor ready to smash the moon in half. He really needed his medicine, but hell, when he was like this, sometimes it was best to say fuck it and allow the rollercoaster of his emotions to dive straight down, arms high and standing up. "Go on and fulfill your part. I will ensure your path is cleared. As the old saying goes,

When life gives you lemons, you must turn it into a peach!

With that, he cackled as his white cosmos flashed. He brought his hands together and shut his eyes as he focused hard and the Magician of the Zodiac worked his mastery of illusions once more. He will not only set off all the alarms of Sanctuary, he was counting on it!

The night was black and cloudy. Saga burns streaks of white cosmos to grant the illusion of a brewing storm.

In the center square of Rodario, several vendors were selling their wares, a mixture of essentials like homemade bread, to the shirt and souvenir stand where the last group of tourists that were strolling the streets hung out.

A pair of Rodario women, one shopping for the last of the other's eggs, turned toward the sky, as an ominous feeling stirred in the two. They could see streaks of lightning, but the thunder never followed. Suddenly a flash of light blinded the two, to the point that they themselves were struck by the power of Zeus.

At that moment, her basket tumbled causing shells and yolks to scatter. She screamed with all her might while the vendor snatched her cash box and dashed off.

A pair of guards spotted the scene before they too gasped at the three figures that stood there. "Who are you!?" one screamed.

A man with long silver hair and a bat-winged helmet stepped forward, his surplice glowing in the dark of the night. "I am Daemon Lucifer, and I am here to slaughter you all!" He cackled as two more flashes of light appeared with Griffon Vermeer and Garuda Suikyō appeared at his sides before all three of them leaped into the air and began to hover around the city like vultures.

Milo and Camus turned away from their spot as they stared heavily at the sky as the three Specters criss crossed back and forth.

Crowds of people screamed as they gathered their things and ran toward their homes.

"GODDESS SAVE US! HOLY WAR IS HERE!" a guard screamed, so overcame with fright that he didn't use his cosmos to warn the others as normal protocol would dictate.

"What's going on? Are they really flying?" muttered a man from Croatia as he stood there with a Tele-cam in his hands and took a picture of the spectacle. He then turned toward the screen and was a bit surprised and took another picture. "Huh, why aren't they appearing?" he muttered as he gazed at the screen to see an empty sky.

A foot soldier spotted the man and grabbed his arm. "Sir you must leave, we're filming a movie here," he blurted, using the same excuse he always had if those outside of the city caught someone using cosmos or situations like this. "Follow me, it's time you returned back."

Back on the roof, Camus and Milo turned to each other. "This can't be real? Hades shouldn't be able to attack for at least five years!" the Scorpio exasperated as the people ran back and forth. "Are they real?"

Camus shrugged. "It's too dark to tell and they are moving too quickly." His head turned toward Region and could sense that the group of three were separating with one staying behind. He tried to focus, but with all the anarchy going about and the distance between them, it was very difficult to focus. He closed his eyes only to be struck with a wadded up towel.

"Help us!" cried a mother from down below, as she turned toward the two of them and raised her hands. As she did so, others took notice of the two men and began to gather.

"Shit…" Milo cursed to himself as more people began to circle the building they were on begging for them to help. He too tried to focus on the two moving cosmos, but they blended in once they reached the outer edge of the populace.

Camus had the same feeling. The wind was blowing hard and revealed enough of their luminous Gold Cloths. But the problem was he wasn't sure if they were real or not. The two Golds turned as the flame on the Fire Clock illuminated while the mass of people below grew enormously. "Calm down! There's nothing-" but his words were drowned by the heavy clamour of townspeople begging for them to fight the Specters.

O|=============|O

From the balcony of the Pope's Chambers, Aiolia's jaw dropped as the Fire Clock lit up. "This can't be happening? The Specters can't be attacking of all times?" He gasped as the three figures flew back and forth through the night.

But Aiolos, sitting in his chair began to crumple over and laughed. "They aren't…" There was no way the mightiest of Hades' forces would come over here just to fly around. He's read the histories and they would be charging straight for the Twelve Houses, killing everything in their path. "They are flying around because they can't attack. Fire Clock is on and the protocol means that we have to take it seriously for one hour. Camus and Milo have to respond to them and all other Saints must move into position… I can't send any more Golds after Saga until the Fire Clock is reset." The question is, why would the Gemini make it harder for him to reach here… unless he wasn't going to do it now?

O|=============|O

"Ahhh, right on schedule," Saga cackled as the flames illuminated the darkness.

The moment he saw the clock light up was when he knew the timing couldn't be better. Saga focused as he caused his three Specter illusions to fly off in three different corners of the city. The moment he opened his eyes, was the moment the three vanished. However, darkness was on his side, and as long as Camus and Milo aren't sure if they were gone or not, it would suffice.

His lightspeed near the front of Sanctuary. He closed his eyes and covered his body with a layer to appear as a Sanctuary door guard. He produced several quick salutes through the crowd of confused men and ran up the stairs. Far enough, he ditched the illusion and moved once more at light speed. When he told Galan ten minutes, it wasn't in an effort to brag, but rather of strategy.

HOUSE OF ARIES

Saga shot through the main gates. He knew Mu liked to repair the Cloths on the Main floor. But if the alarm goes off, the Aries would need to take the Cloths and carefully bring them back into his Inner Chambers to avoid them getting damaged. This would leave the House of Aries unguarded for approximately one minute after the Fire Clock lights up. It was a very old security hole that dated back to when Shion was in charge of the House of Aries two centuries ago, but it was one that could not be avoided.

HOUSE OF TAURUS

Saga reached the front and charged toward the spot where the Inner Chambers glyph would be. Now this security hole is far more recent. The Gemini noticed that anytime he ran a drill, Aldebaran would spend a lot of time ensuring all his guards and servants reached safety. Same with Mu, if he moved quick enough, he can save time and what would be a very difficult fight. "If Aiolos was able to reach the top with only two fights, by the time I am done, I shall do it better with absolutely zero fights," the Gemini proclaimed in pacifistic glory as he took his hands and used Another Dimension to slip and shift the stones around, causing the door to be stuck. It will take the Taurus about five or ten minutes to get it open afterward from his side, but by then he will be gone.

HOUSE OF GEMINI

Saga had no intention of completing the Pegasus Run right now and shall do so on his own time. Instead, he needed to pick up a few important things here and reach a couple of important contacts. With Galan watching over Athena, he can complete things more efficiently here.

He turned toward the side of the main entrance door and spotted the platter of pitas on the tile that his former caretaker would send him. While mold had yet to settle in, it was clear by the soggy crust that they weren't looking their best after sitting there for a week. He picked it up and brought it inside.

Everyone thought she sent them to him because he absolutely loved them. The truth was, while he still enjoyed them, there was another purpose.

He picked the largest one up and broke it in half, revealing a plastic medicine bottle filled with a month's worth of his medicine inside. The Gemini found it rediculous the amount of trouble that he had to go through just to acquire them. But that was the reality.

He could tell people that his cosmos could equate to the power of an exploding galaxy or tear holes in dimensions and they would find it awe-inspiring but anytime he mentions he has bipolar, people often look at him with sheer terror in their eyes.

STOP BEING SAD!

You really are a monster!

Saga began to cry. After the rush of breaking through Rodario and the first two temples had passed, the light in his soul had quickly switched from a burning sun to a dying candle. Even now Dimitris' words were still tattooed in his thoughts, echoing repeatedly. "It's all my fault!" he muttered as he took a pill. It will need a little time before it kicked in.

While his medicine helped, the problem was that the dosage and type were meant for a four-year-old child, but that was best he could do. He wondered if Mother's hope that he could grow out of it was even possible now?

Maybe he should just take the whole damn bottle at once?

The Gemini grasped his face. No more curse meant if did attempt anything, there would be no supernatural force to prevent it. He had to stop thinking like this, but it was so hard when it seemed like the world has turned upside-down.

*Meow*

Saga raised his head as a familiar orange feline cheerfully trotted over and rubbed its head against its owner's hands. He reached over and picked her up. At twelve years old, her body was thin, her fur was far coarser with a couple of bald spots. But she was still loving as ever. "Oh Hera, you greet me with bites and claws, and yet I cannot help but stroke your fur." He whispered the bit of Geminism. If only he could just pull her out of his pocket, and then perhaps he wouldn't need his medicine as much. It was a small moment, but it helped tremendously. He bestowed a kiss between her ears and set her down before he continued deeper into his Inner Chambers, as quick as he could. Hearing the pair of Gemini cats following behind.

He hated how dark the passages were, but that could be because darkness would obscure any flaws in his illusions. If it was daytime, he would be out of luck. His three specters would waver along the edges and Milo and Camus wouldn't even bother questioning it.

He reached his small hidden annex that he had discovered when he first came. He raised a ball of cosmos and the walls illuminated into a sea of memories. Along the sides were old faded pictures drawn in chalk and a small wooden sign that was clearly crafted by a pair of seven-year-olds due to how uneven the boards were as well as the notable gaps.

The No Little Brothers Club

-Rook

-Knight

The two of them got the idea when Aiolos became frustrated with Aiolia when the Leo devoured all of his candies that he got from an old neighbor. Since he and Kanon were getting along splendidly with the two fighting over the Gemini Cloth, they decided to dedicate the annex as a spot where only the two of them could visit. The club lasted about a total of five meetings, due to the natural order of the pair just simply losing interest, but he kept it there as a small memento. Now he simply used it as a means for storing the one thing he could not live without:

Lots and lots of rolls of toilet paper.

Perhaps it was because of the high altitude that the plumbing couldn't handle it. Or maybe it was due to the fact that it truly was rare back in the sixth century since it was used for the Emperor of China, but for some ridiculous reason, toilet paper was considered a luxury item and was placed on the long list of items a Gold Saint could not amass and the even longer list of things most of them oblige by on the surface but secretly defy. How maddening it is to pay off a servant to walk into a convenience store to acquire Charmin as if it was cocaine?

At least it was easy to purchase. Goddess helps them all the day disaster strikes and others like him hoard it.

He pushed his precious paper aside to unveil a loose tile and pried it open to reveal an old book, filled with notes on the curse that he had kept track of since he was ten years old. It was a miracle that he managed to keep it safe to avoid the curse from destroying it. Back then he was so determined to destroy the curse and he thought Kanon was too. Instead when Kanon betrayed him, his hopes were shattered and the book collected dust and lingered unopened for seven years. But now that Aiolos was cursed, the urge to fight it was renewed. It was also a good reminder the next time that he thought his life was meaningless, that there was someone out there who gave up his soul to show that that was not the case.

His head turned toward a smaller tile and lifted it up to reveal an old Tele-Cam. He found it in the lost and found at the tourist station. No one claimed it after two months and they said he could keep it. The screen was cracked making the ability to view videos or take pictures useless. The internal battery couldn't hold a charge, but it still worked. Saga opened a miniature Another Dimension portal. There was a local yogurt maker in Rodario that he had gone to for years, and for ten Euros a week, the owner allowed him to keep a charger plugged in. All he had to do was reach in and grab the cord to plug in to make use of it whenever he needed it.

O|========|O

HOUSE OF PISCES

Aphrodite, his helmet upon his head and ready to confront Specters turned his head as a familiar ring tone echoed in his Inner Chambers. He rushed inside toward the guest room where an old Tele-Cam was plugged in. Since it was fairly common for those seeking an audience with the Pope to come to use his place to stay at, he not only had the luxury of receiving electricity, but he was able to keep the device by telling others that a guest left it behind. It was the size of two decks of cards put together, making it one of the thinnest models out there. He tapped the edge, allowed it to unlock by scanning his retina before he pressed a button, causing it to flash. "Ugh, wrong one." He muttered as he took a picture by accident. He pressed the one below it and began speaking. "Saga! What have you been doing?"

"What does it look like, I am bypassing centuries of Lemurian security."

The Pisces rolled his eyes, although it was true. In fact, the same stardust that is used to block messages through the cosmos actually enhanced the Tele-Cam's signal. "Did you kidnap Athena and run away?" He shouted in a semi-hushed tone.

"I didn't kidnap her, I took her with me to keep her safe." A small pause followed. "Aiolos stole my curse! That bastard!"

The Pisces' eyes widened with a bit of surprise. He was one of the few who dealt with the curse on a daily basis. "Oh? That's horrible! I suppose if he's cursed, perhaps I can help him out with it…" Aphrodite spoke as he casually produced a white rose.

"Don't even think of it."

"Fine," grumbled the Pisces as he casually tossed the flower aside. "I suppose that explains his strange behavior earlier. But why does he have it?"

"I don't have enough time to explain it now. I'll call you later. Don't tell the others about this unless you need to. I want to gather more info and the curse is far more dangerous in survival mode. Right now, all I ask is that you keep an eye on Aiolos, tell me what you observe. If you see his red eyes-"

"-count how long they stay red," finished the Pisces. Goddess, he could keep track of time better than a watch with how many times when Big Blue became Big Red asked for it. He could tell by how quick his speaking was, versus his normally casual tone during these phone calls, that he was in a hurry. "Anything else."

"Watch over Paz."

Aphrodite nodded, hearing his tone grow quite soft and sad. "Of course."

O|========|O

"Thank you," spoke Saga as he took a deep breath of relief. Guilt still filled him. He wanted to give her a good life, away from the hell that she experienced. Now he left the child behind. He wondered if this was what Aiolos felt when he woke up and realized Aiolia was all alone in Greece?

He shook his head. One last call. He could use his cosmos later, but he suspects they will be watching who says what outside of Rodario after this. He clicked the buttons. "Hey?" He paused. "Yes, it is me! How are you? Ah, I'm well," he cheesily spoke. "Hey listen is that offer about letting me stay at your place is still up?" Saga nodded. "Oh great. I have few guests to bring too-" his blue eyes blinked while his head nodded. "Oh, wonderful. I agree, the more the merrier. I'll see you later."

He stuck the Tele-cam back in its spot before he opened up one last tile to find a small box filled with Euros and US Dollars. Every Gold Saint would take some of their earnings and set it aside and keep it together. Tradition dictated that if a Gold Saint passed away, it would go to those who served or family members. His intention with his stash was that he could pass it to Kanon and perhaps have at least a nice life outside of Sanctuary as a means of patching up the difficult relationship they've had since the path of the Gemini started for the two.

Then Cape Sounion happened.

Saga turned down towards it and sighed. Kanon was an idiot, but he was still his brother. Instead of taking all of it, he parts with half and sets it back inside, with the intention of replenishing it if he manages to come back alive.

After switching out into a contemporary set of clothing, he lightspeed deeper into his Inner Chambers.

Within each House was an emergency escape. Much like how the walls would open when the glyphs were activated, the same would happen with these. The difference was that they only worked one way, and they were rarely ever used since, during Holy Wars, it was far safer to stay in the Inner Chambers than to venture outside and risk running into a stray Specter. To further compound things, it would also trigger a signal to the Pope, thus eliminating any chance of abuse.

Of course, there was no need to fear that since Shion was dead.

Saga reached into his pocket to feel the tablet that Aiolos entrusted to him, the one that was needed to confirm the right to be the Grand Pope.

*Meow*

The Gemini turned around as Hera presented him with a dead mouse. "I have to go, Hera. I feel like I was given a second chance in life, and if that is the case I must use it to repent for my sins." Saga knelt down and could feel the love his cat had for him as she bunted her head repeatedly against his hand. "You're such a good cat. I can't imagine why anyone would leave you in the mud and garbage that night." He sighed as his hand stroked from the top of her head to the tip of her tail. "If only it was like the Room of the Golden Ball where I could produce you from my pocket when I need you," he whispered before he paused.

The Gemini's eyes shifted a bit before he drummed his fingers and an idea came about. He turned toward Hera's green eyes and back at the exit before he grabbed his small leather pack, dumped out the contents before he rushed to his room and produced a much larger duffle bag.

O|=================|O

Galan nervously stood by the sign. Just as he and Saga discussed, he went and bought himself and Athena a cheap souvenir shirt to pass off as tourists. He also went ahead and grabbed a cheap traveler's cloak to hide his missing arm. While he did own a nice one that was passed down in his family, the problem is that it was too well made with cured leather, while the ones sold in shops were stitched from cheap mass-produced cotton. It felt odd to take off the red headband. Except for bathing and sleep, he too kept it on whenever possible in support of his friend.

Galan turned toward his Goddess and could see her head darting back and forth between the two bright headlights in the far off distance. He was feeling the same way. "Where is Saga?" he whispers to her. Perhaps it was dangerous for him to use words, but if he didn't it would leave him deaf with how hard he was screaming in his head right now. It didn't help that the two Gold Saints were no longer on the rooftop and were either hunting for the Specters that didn't exist or the magician that caused it all.

"He'll come. "

He turned downwards to her in shock since it was the first time he'd heard her speak, but perhaps she is keeping a low profile. When he touched her hand, her cosmos was unique, gentle, and very powerful. If he felt it right before facing the mob, he would've told Saga that he would gladly die for real. When the Goddess turned her head, he did the same. "There is he!" he thought.

While trainers or traditional clothes were popular during their daily lives, when it came to blending in, t-shirts and hoodies were the go-to for Golds since their thick muscles made them stand out and hide in the crowd. Not only that, but it also allowed those with long hair to tuck it in.

Galan watched the Gemini hurry in his dark blue SOLO hoodie, a popular clothing brand among those outside of their village, due to its association with style and elegance, but he was a bit drawn toward his bag. "Did you get it?" He spoke, implying about the book.

Saga nodded as he patted his bag, only for it to nudge back.

Galan's eyes widened.

*Meow

He couldn't believe he was going to ask this. "Is there a cat in your bag?" he whispered?

Saga didn't answer when his blue eyes shifted toward a large patrol of soldiers marching and gathering the locals that were strewn all over. The Gemini could tell that per protocol, the people were being placed under lockdown, the normal response of a Specter invasion… or to prevent someone from leaving. He knew, because when he read the report of the night Aiolos ran out with Athena, that it was the first thing his cursed self did. Even if Aiolos left the quarry, the idea was to bottleneck him in Rodario. Every house was searched, every sewer was checked, but the archer had the luck of the Pantheon by meeting the one tourist who had a private helicopter with an onboard medical unit.

Suddenly, a captain paused and began to approach the group. "What should we do?" Galan whispered.

Saga too felt the pressure. Saga could risk it all and use Another Dimension to get them out, but that would endanger Athena, and who knew how close Milo and Camus were. "Stick with the plan...and laugh."

"What?"

"You heard me, laugh… and wave…" With that, Saga unleashed a roar of laughter, ensuring that it was a bit more high pitched to prevent others from recognizing it.

Even though he didn't seem quite there, things have been working out. Galan follows suit and does his best while Athena smiled sweetly and waved toward the captain.

The soldier stepped forward. He gazed at the trio as they were joking about and waited quietly for them to settle. At least they seemed like a friendly group of tourists. "Did you enjoy your stay?"

Saga paused and observed the man once over. He was older than them, but he could tell that he was new to the promotion, having not developed the hard exterior needed for the position. This was good. "We did. His nephew's favorite part was the candle maker," Saga gestured and Galan played along.

The blond knew exactly who he was talking about and mimicked those that came and visited his home. "They were quite well made. I wanted to take some home for a wedding, but I was short on cash. I'll purchase some of her wares when we come back tomorrow," Galan nodded.

But the Captain shook his head no. "Sorry, a movie producer is coming here to film tomorrow. There was a mix-up and he started tonight causing a great panic," he laughed nervously. He paused when he realized that the blond had a very local accent. "Could you provide me with your passports please?"

Saga frowned. He pulled out his wallet and showed his, but he had no means of producing something for Athena and Galan, in such a short amount of time. "Here, but the others left theirs at the hotel. We didn't think we needed all of them since we weren't going over the border."

The Captain nodded. His guess was that they were at the inns in Delphi. "France… I have family there, what region?"

Galan began to sweat as he could see the heavy pause in the Gemini.

Saga took a deep breath but smiled. "Sorry, I blanked out there for a moment. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région, in Cannes, but when I graduated, I moved to Lyon for an internship at the Kido Pharmaceutical Labs," he spoke, adding a slight accent that he noticed the locals had when he visited there briefly to top the warm pile of bullshit he delivered.

The Captain smiled, as he noticed it too. "A very nice place," he spoke as he passed the ID back and shook the man's hand.

Saga did so but noticed that the Captain's face lingered. Even though he held back his strength, due to the insane amount of training done, he could not hide the years of thick calluses that had built up as if his own hand was made of stone. He could tell this man was now examining his body.

*Meow

The Captain turned his head. "Is that...a cat?" He asked as the bag shifted.

Saga nodded. "Oh yes, yes it is!" he spoke quite frankly. "I found her by the road and adopted her but," he shifted his eyes. "I just didn't want the bus driver to see her." He spoke as the bus pulled up and swung it's doors open. "Bonne soirée!"

He stood there for a moment, but simply smiled and waved his hand. "Merci d'être venu." The Captain watched the other two board it, before the twin doors shut. The captain thought he seemed a little too built, but he was insane to think a Saint would take a bus or carry around a cat in his bag. He marched over to his second in command. "Alright, that's the last of the tourist buses. Once it leaves, seal the exits and relay a message to the chambers to cancel all tour groups for the next two weeks."

Inside the bus, Galan dropped into his seat and scooted over to permit room for the Goddess while Saga sat right across. Galan pulled a cloth and began to wipe his face. He turned downwards as the six-year-old Goddess leaned over his lap and began to watch the scene of soldiers marching around, trying to restore order in the small village. He silently waited, wondering if the foot soldiers would stop their vehicle and pull them all out, but nothing happened. As the buildings became smaller and the large rolling fields became more prominent, a sense of relief filled him. "We did it," he finally muttered.

Saga nodded. "See, I told you we would. Oh by the way, I will answer anything you need, but if you don't mind if we can wait until we reach Delphi."

Galan was thinking the same thing. He didn't want to jeopardize this moment of success due to his curiosity. He turned to the Goddess, and she smiled, before wincing and touching her neck. The servant pointed downwards.

Saga nodded. "I have a friend who should be able to help her." He looked down and resisted the urge to refer to her as his Goddess since he didn't want to reveal who they were. Truth was, he wanted to. Not too long ago, he thought he could battle Gods based on the tales of how useless Athena was. But if she hadn't helped, he wasn't sure if he was able to make it out of here.

Sometimes when one sat on the throne for so long, where one's words became law, it was easy to be swallowed by the power it provided. Saga turned to her. "Can you hold on, just a little longer?" he asked.

Athena smiled and nodded. "Yes!"

Saga's eyes lit up as he heard her voice through the cosmos. He imagined she didn't want to be revealed, but he was touched she wanted to let him know.

Galan, leaned back in his smelly leather seat. He never thought he would find himself in this situation when he chose to come back. He missed Aiolia. He missed Aiolos, but he didn't know he was alive. But if they were in trouble, he would wait a little longer to see them once more. His good eye traveled toward the bag as it moved and shifted around. "I never thought part of your grand plan to get us out would involve a cat." The servant noticed Saga's eyes shifting. "The cat was a part of your plan, wasn't it? You didn't just bring the cat because you wanted to… you brought the cat as part of your disguise as a tourist, right?"

Saga didn't say a word and merely smiled contently while opening the bag a little to comfort his feline companion.

Galan reached into his pocket and pulled out the red headband of Aiolos and began to recall his friend's thoughts on Saga.

O|===========|O

It's hard to describe him. Sometimes a genius, sometimes a bit of madness, maybe he's both?

He is a Gemini after all.

Regardless, he's still my friend.

O|===========|O

End of Part Four

Coming April 1 or sooner

The Event: What happened before Aiolos made his run with Athena?

Part One: Enjoy life in Sanctuary where the Gold's are not fighting and are friends.

Author's Notes: I thought about not telling it, but then I looked back and realized several events wouldn't make sense without it. However, I am going to do it a bit differently. When I use flashbacks, they are often placed separately and at different times in order to relate to what is going on. However, I decided that rather than breaking it into separate little chunks, I'm just going to write it as an arc so everything is together.

I also didn't write it the first time too well. There were character problems and not only that but doing these last chapters, I have a better grasp of how to portray the characters with the curse. It also didn't help that the curse was not mentioned at this point.

It also gives me a chance to write the Golds as teenagers who aren't fighting and are getting along. With this pandemic going on, sometimes a bit of lighter reading is in order.

I also would like to talk about Aiolos and it's okay to like his turn to evil as well as his good side. If you don't like his evil side, then that's the point. You're supposed to feel this isn't right. In this chapter, you can start to see the others feel it too. If you like it, nothing wrong with that either. Episode G Assassin has Evil Aiolos and he's the best part of the book.

I apologize if this fic is a little late. With so much sadness in the world, I went through and toned down certain scenes, and included a little more comedy.

I hope you've been enjoying the story. Stay safe at home, read some fics. Leave feedback, not just on mine, but others too.

Jenny

PS: I actually like the original CATS musical, hence the chapter name :p