TEN YEARS AGO

UNDINE RIVER

The six-year-old Leo stared at the small floating cork that was attached to his hook and bait. He took his thin fingers and stroked his golden curls waiting for something to bite. "It feels like we haven't gotten anything today!" cried Aiolia as he rocked his anxious legs.

The ten-year-old younger Gemini turned his head. "Yeah, they have been a bit on the quiet side. I wonder why? The weather is great, the worms were plump and it's about the right season when they try to eat more and fatten up before laying their eggs."

Aiolia looked around. He wasn't as good at tracking as his brother was, but he knew enough. He pointed toward the grass and the mud on the other side. "Maybe that's it? Looks like a group of foot soldiers just ran in and took a bath not too long ago."

Kanon sighed. "Figures. It will probably be like that for a couple of days."

Aiolia watched the Gemini pick up his rod and began to recall his line, indicating the fishing trip was done for. "Should we do training?"

Kanon darted his head. "Why?" he asked with a cross between curiosity and mischievousness, as he pulled the bait off the hook to toss back into the water.

But the child shrugged. "Well...because that was what we told our brothers, that is what we were going to do."

But Kanon laughed. "That's way too much! We already sparred with our brothers."

"But, Lucas said that if we don't train, we're not going to be strong enough to handle our Cloths!" Aiolia frowned. "Don't you want to train and beat Saga!" the cub growled, clenching his fists.

Kanon gazed at him with easy eyes. It looks like he's going to have to educate the poor misguided Leo. He reached into the mud and grabbed a stick before he walked over and sat next to him and drew a large square. "Listen, yes, we need to train, but hear me out. Think of when you first learned to use the Speed of Sound. You went from running like ten miles an hour to over a thousand. That's a huge improvement, right?"

Aiolia nodded. "It was cool!"

"Hell yeah, it is. Now… if you look at this," he took his stick and drew a slope. "As you train, you go from Mach 1 to 2...to 3...to 4...to 5…" He made a drawing of the slope go high slowly, "finally, we hit the Speed of Light!" He took his stick and made the slope go so high that it touched the top of the square he drew it in. "But now that we can do the Speed of light with ease, what is there left? We can't go past the Speed of light without dealing with time travel. This is called a plateau. This means any improvement is either non-existent or so gradual that it's not worth it. Think of your alphabet? You've already memorized all twenty-four letters. You don't need to redraw them anymore just to remember them. Same thing with running, and the only way to break a plateau is to find someone who can go faster than the speed of light. Do you know anyone like that?"

The prototypo shook his head no. "Well, what about sparring? You're better than me! We can do that!"

But Kanon let out another chuckle. "That's true...but you have to think in the long run." He pointed back toward his diagram. "Our training schedules are based on someone who can only do it without the speed of sound. But we train at the speed of light. We can do a whole day's worth of exercise in less than five minutes. So if we are training at lightspeed for hours a day," he took his stick and tapped the top of the slope, "most of us will hit that plateau by age ten. The exception is that some of us will reach it sooner. You don't have to train every single minute to get good because we're going to hit the…" he gestured with the stick.

Aiolia blinked watching Kanon gesture his hand. "...ugh...plateau..."

Kanon nodded wisely. "Any improvement will come not from training, but from just growing up at this point, cub. So why waste so much time with hardly any improvement?" Kanon spoke before he took his hand and gently tapped the Leo.

Aiolia smiled. He's not sure why, but recently when Saga calls him cub, he hates it, but when Kanon does it, he likes it. Maybe when he's near Saga, there was always this sense of dark dread. "So what should we do?"

That was when the navy-haired youth grinned, waiting for him to say it. "How about we learn about….uh...American culture. That is something useful."

"Are we going to talk about how they write their dates weird and how everyone puts cheese on everything?"

"Nah...although that is quite true." Kanon drummed his fingers. "Something more important. Ever been to the Tower of Terror?"

DISNEY WORLD!

Kanon laughed as he watched Aiolia gingerly step out of the exit.

"Oh Goddess! Goddess!" The little boy muttered as his body was still shaking. He felt as if every curl on his head had straightened. "Did the elevator really break?"

The younger Gemini shook his head no. "Nah, they make it do that on purpose because it makes it scarier! How do you feel."

Aiolia felt like he couldn't bend his legs. "My heart feels like it's going to rip out."

"Yeah?" asked Kanon.

"I can't move my arms?"

"Yeah?"

"It hurts to blink!" muttered the cub before he jerked his glazed eyes to him. "Can we do it again?".

Kanon folded his arms proudly. "I thought you would like that! But come on, there are some cooler ones we can visit while we are here." He grabbed the boy's hand. "Come on! It will be fun!" His lip pouted, recognizing that expression that Aiolia was thinking about something that Mother Hen said. "What is it?"

Aiolia looked around. "My brother says that you're supposed to pay to go into places like this."

Kanon rolled his eyes. Apparently Mother Hen was still upset about that time he teleported Aiolia into the theater. He didn't see the problem. The movie started and not all the seats were filled. It wasn't like the place lossed money by allowing them to see it too. "Are you asking if it's wrong?"

Aiolia nodded innocently.

Kanon looked at him. Technically, he used Another Dimension to skip out on paying for a ticket and a two-hour line. He pointed over toward the crowd. "Look, this isn't like something where if you steal a cookie, the business is out a cookie. That ride is going to run regardless if you pay or not. We're not costing Disney World any money by standing around here. We can make them more money by paying for overpriced food and drink!"

"We do?" asked the Leo hearing a plausible excuse to stay.

Kanon nodded. "Yeah, we do! They make these places so people stay as long as they can! They make their money through food and toys!"

With Aiolia being six, any excuse to discount bad behavior was very acceptable. "Okay! So if we buy something, it's okay!"

While Kanon wasn't looking forward to spending $20 for a pretzel, he liked Aiolia. The best part of all, he never has to worry about competing for a Cloth. "Sure, just don't tell my brother or yours. Our secret, okay?" Knowing Saga, he would be all bent up that they didn't purchase an entry ticket over stupid shit like it being 'the right thing to do'. If a billion-dollar business can afford to let sick kids in for free, it shouldn't be that big of a deal to let a pair who are destined to die in Holy War get in free too.

Aiolia reached over and hugged the Gemini that stood almost a foot higher than him. "You're so cool, Kallen! I hope you win the Gemini Cloth! Saga doesn't have a chance!"

Kanon nodded confidently. "I don't think so either. Not sure if the Cloth will accept him."

Aiolia raised his head. "Because Saga is crazy?"

"Nuttier than a Butterfinger," Kanon chuckled. Truth was, now that Saga was cursed with whatever evil engulfed him, there was no way something so sacred will allow him to be a Saint. Once he was guaranteed Gemini, he would figure out whatever was afflicting his older brother. It couldn't be that hard. He gets the Cloth and Saga gets his sanity. Everyone will live happily ever after.

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

PRESENT DAY

CENTER OF SOCRATES

A young man with brown hair that was smoothly combed over hair, felt awkward as he sat there silently at his desk while staring at the older teenager sitting in the chair anxiously. The male secretary turned his head as a thin woman with short red hair, with a long brown dress and pants underneath stepped inside carrying a small bag. "Dr. Z, this is Aiolia. He says he needs to see you right away," the secretary spoke through the cosmos.

"Is he suicidal?" she asked.

"No, I asked. I even questioned him if anyone was in danger and he said no to that as well."

Aiolia shifted his eyes. "Look, I know I'm not going to kill myself or anyone but can I just see someone!?" He pleaded.

This took the two of them by surprise. Only those who were Saints seemed to be able to hear messages through the cosmos between a pair as low leveled as them. Needless to say, telling this one to make an appointment tomorrow was certainly off the table, despite it being her lunch hour. "Alright, come this way. Ajax, we'll need some supplies," the psychologist spoke as she gestured to Aiolia to follow her.

The Leo took a deep breath before he entered. His original plan was to see a psychologist after helping his brother get over the curse. But as Saga predicted, he couldn't last the three weeks.

They were so close to the solution...but at the same time, it frightened him.

He couldn't talk to Marin about any of this.

Worst of all, he couldn't confide in his brother.

Two days later, and he lost it and just ran over here. No rhyme or reason, but merely impulse. As he walked over toward the couch, he listened to her steps. While he was nowhere near as good as his brother when it came to hearing every single sound in the forest to decide whether it was a rabbit to hunt or a mouse to ignore, the Leo knew enough to sense something different. "Your steps...one of your feet sounds...hollow."

The doctor took a quick bite from her bowl of sliced eggplant before she looked up at him. It was a strange observation, but one that was quite true. She could tell that he was not asking out of curiosity, but perhaps he was relating it to someone he knew. She reached for her left side and lifted the side of her pants to reveal the wooden leg and foot. "I lost it about six years ago. I was in the main square and tying a sandal when a black-haired man whizzed by at Mach 1."

Aiolia's mouth parted. "But that's illegal! You can't travel that fast without cosmos in the busiest part of Rodario, unless you had a good reason." Running like that in a crowd was the equivalent of trying to drive a jet-powered motorcycle through a mob of people.

Dr. Z shrugged. She thought about the unfairness of it all long enough to stop crying about it. "Some people don't care. His foot stepped directly upon it and crushed it like ripe zucchini. One moment I had a leg, the next I had a pile of sausage. No amount of Gold cosmos could heal it."

The Leo could hear her tone grow sour. Probably not the right approach to a first meeting."Sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"So...what do I do? Do we just talk and you give me medicine afterward?"

She looked up. It amazes her despite her attempts to educate the people about what she does, many still think that seeing a psychologist was just the prerequisite to the insane asylum. "Medicine is not necessary for all and shouldn't be the first strategy. The first day is for us to get to know each other." She rested her hands on her clipboard. "But before we begin, may I ask if you are required to go anywhere within the next hour?"

"No...I'm free for the whole day."

Dr. Z nodded sagely. "Good. Alright, wait there, while Ajax brings out the tranquilizer and…"

"Tranquilizer!? What the hell? I thought I'm going to be talking!" snapped the Leo.

"And you will. We're only going to use it on your arms and legs. Just enough to make them feel heavy, but not too much to where you can't think or speak clearly."

Aiolia groaned a bit, uncomfortable with being rendered helpless, especially with a small gut fear that Aiolos will break out and Athena will be helpless up in the Pope's Chambers. "I can control myself."

The doctor held her ground. "The last time someone told me that, this room had no window," she replied, gesturing her wooden prosthetic toward it.

It was enough to silence the lion. He pulled his sleeves up and looked down at his thighs. "What about my pants?"

She waved her hand. "Don't worry, we just do below the knee." Her eyes gazed at the Leo. He looked huge for a guy who was supposedly seventeen years old. But seeing his muscles greatly expand twice their size by merely bending over to remove the leather straps on his boots made her a bit nervous. "So...how high are you in the Army of Athena?"

Aiolia bit his lip. "My neighbors and I are pretty high," he spoke with a humble tone.

But while the doctor demonstrated a calm demeanor, her pulse was sent over a cliff.

Bronze and Silvers call each other friends and allies.

Only Golds were neighbors.

Quietly she turned to Ajax and passed him a couple of extra jars, just in case.

The Leo watched the secretary/nurse clean and inject the areas. As the man did so, he watched the doctor hurrying with her food. "Sorry for your lunch break."

She shook her head. "Don't worry. You didn't know. Just make an appointment next time."

Aiolia could feel certain parts of his body grow heavy. He could still move his fingers, but there was a heavy lag. It was like being drunk, but his mind was still intact. He studied her face. It felt so strange. Normally, in encounters like this, it felt anytime he needed something, it felt like he had to pull tooth and nail just to get it. Yet she has done the opposite and accommodated him. "You...know who I am, right?"

She nodded. "I do. The local black sheep of Rodario. The smudge on the white rug." She can understand his doubts. Someone like him had developed a distrust with those outside his circle and perhaps it was a miracle that he even approached her. "I told you earlier, I lost my leg, because some people don't care, however, someone spotted it happen. Therefore, I am alive today because some people do." She reached over on the table and tossed the Leo a copy of a book she was reading.

Aiolia turned to the front, before tilting it toward the top to see her a long red headband with old bloodstains on it.

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

Gemini: Defying Gravity

6H: Sorry

BOLD: Cursed Mode

BOLD and Italicized: Ares

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

FIVE PEAKS CHINA

A bright light flashed as a door-sized tear in reality, appeared before Saga casually walked out of it. He expected the entire legion of those who were loyal to Libra, but instead, he saw a single lone trainee with long black hair.

The eight-year-old quickly rolled up the scroll that he was studying and performed a deep bow. "Welcome to the Five Peaks. My name is Shiryu and I am here to escort you over to where my Master resides."

They should go, but he couldn't help but study the child. The two had met before, even if Shiryu didn't realize it.

While the deal between him and the Kido Foundation was finalized quite nicely, the clause of having at least one trainee train under a Gold was one that he and Mitsumasa Kido went back and forth upon. At first, he permitted Hyoga since ice cosmos was rare and Camus was the only one who could teach it. But Mitsumasa Kido wasn't the world's richest man for no reason and fought diligently to get a second one with a Gold. Saga held his ground, stating that trainees weren't randomly assigned as if they were candy and that only those worthy of Gold may train under Gold. So a private demonstration was shown and he was quite impressed with not just his moves, but his intelligence as well. Shiryu was one of the most gifted prodigies he had ever seen and was permitted to come to China.

Saga returned the bow. "I look forward to meeting him," the Gemini kept his calm only because he took an extra dose of his medicine prior. He was familiar with the eccentric nature of Libra Saint. Shion had hundreds of stories about Dohko to the point that if he didn't know prior, he would've believed that the Libra was the crazy Lemurian and the Old Aries was the normal human. Who knew what would happen here.

He followed the young trainee, using the slow pace to breathe and try to ease his nerves.

Luckily for him, the atmosphere did assist in the task. Five Peaks was considered one of the top training areas in Sanctuary, and not just due to the Saint who runs it. The landscape was extremely diverse with its snow-covered mountains, jungle terrains, large fields, and broad deserts. It was fairly isolated from civilization to the point that former barracks created by Sanctuary several centuries ago were still intact. Food was plentiful, the water was still pristine. But most importantly, the area was devoid of all the Sanctuary politics that had gripped all of Greece for over a millennium.

Saga's dark eyes traveled ahead, reading the path that the two had to take. He could already tell that at their pace, it was going to take at least a good twenty minutes to reach the waterfall. This was no coincidence. The Old Master clearly wanted to build up a sense of dread and he was succeeding like a boot upon an ant. "Do you know why I am here?"

But Shiryu shook his head no, his long hair swaying back and forth. "Normally I am present for most of his meetings, but for this one, he asked that I stay away and continue to focus on studying the pressure points in the body to use them against Saints and Specters," he spoke with a sage-like deposition.

"I see," the Gemini spoke. This should come as to no surprise, considering how personal the issue was. Oddly enough, Shiryu's words stood out to him. "Did your Master say those exact instructions?"

"Of course! He is wise, and his words should be treated like water in a desert," Shiryu spoke as he turned down another winding section to guide the Gemini.

It may not relate to the curse, but this was driving him nuts. "Do you not hear yourself? For someone without cosmos, pressure points would work, but to take down or heal another Saint or Specter, you must aim for their star points. Aiming for pressure points may even do the opposite. Anytime you rob someone of their senses, you may weaken their current performance, but you gamble upon them tapping into their sixth sense."

The child halted his step and turned toward the Gemini. "Are you saying that my Master is wrong?"

"No, he wouldn't make such a careless amateurish mistake. He's testing you. One of his most famous quotes from his younger years… and these are his exact words: We are trained to know that the enemy is full of shit, but let's not forget our allies are capable of doing that too."

The future dragon took a deep breath. He turned to the Gold, unsure of why he was here, but knew that it was true."Do you think he'll be mad if I studied star points?"

Saga shook his head no. "I doubt it. Your Master is trying to teach you to follow your gut instinct and that's why he is highly regarded." Saga shifted his eyes at the distance. "Come on, let's continue."

Shiryu nodded and continued to guide the Gemini. Once they reached the fork, the child bid him farewell, leaving him alone to continue without him.

From there, Saga could hear his destination. Back when he was cursed, he searched for things to soothe him. He's heard that waterfalls were supposed to be calming and the sound would leave one in a meditative state. However, right now, the noise gave him the feeling that he was entering the den of a roaring dragon.

There was so much humidity around him that he couldn't tell if the moisture under the nape of his neck was his sweat or condensation. Once he reached the final bend, he turned his head and gasped.

Sitting next to the Old Master was Shaka at one side and Mu on the other.

They say that for a murderer, the one thing worse than facing God's judgment was facing the ones that were left behind. How true that was. At least when he was confronted with the faces of all those he killed, he had a sense that it was either an illusion, his madness, or they were ghosts...all temporary and of the moment. But the Old Master and Mu were alive and they won't just vanish with the tug of a cursed arrow.*

*Remember Me

The worst part was, he couldn't even read how they were feeling. The Lemurian carried a rather stoic gaze while the skin of the Old Master's brow had lost all elasticity to the point that it sloped over and provided shade for the time weary eyes. Shaka was Shaka, eyes closed as if his body was on earth while his mind was off in the far reaches of Saturn.

The Old Master studied the Gemini's stunned gaze. While he told him that he wanted to meet him, he never said he was going to do it alone. "Saga of Gemini," he formally greeted before he took his cane and gestured toward a spot that had been sat upon by so many trainees over the last two centuries that the stone looked smooth and polished. He waited for the older twin to take his seat.

Dohko was too old to mince words or pull out a parable. His best friend was murdered and he refused to pull punches. "You killed a great man."

Saga knew this wouldn't be easy and already he could feel his eyes lids clench so tightly that he swore the skin would crack. He held his breath for a few seconds before he let out a controlled exhale through his nose. It was at that moment did he realize his inability to raise his head to meet their stares.

This was not the first time he's ever met the Old Master of Rozan. But every single time prior, he had treated him and every other like a grandchild, full of delight and filthy humor. However, this was a tone that was foreign to him. Within the old man, he could hear the mixture of heavy grief and fierce anger that comes from any highly seasoned warrior desperate to avenge his trusted comrade.

At that moment, hearing Dohko's simple profession broke him.

"Yes...I did. Thanks to me, the world lost one of the greatest heroes that it never knew about, and I am truly sorry," he spoke before he lowered his head and allowed his thick bangs to fall upon his face. It was all he could utter.

Dohko's wrinkled hand stroked the top of his cane. His outer body had faded with time, but his mind was still as sharp and keen as the talons of an eagle. He carefully dissected the patterns of breath, the sweat of the youth, the way each syllable of the apology came out. He still wasn't sure if Saga was sincere or faking it like had for the past five years. The only way he could tell was if the Gemini did more talking. "Tell me, Saga. What happened that night."

Saga pursed his lip a bit confused. "Has no one told you?"

The Libra stroked his beard. "Oh, quite the opposite. The problem is, some versions are filled with too many apologies and excuses, others with bitterness and resentment. I am a man of balance and therefore, if I,Mu, and Shaka here are to grasp the truth, we know you will be the source of it."

"It is a bit long...and goes beyond that night and into my childhood."

Dohko's nose wrinkled. "Well then, speak, and may the moss grow upon us all as we hear it."

The Gemini turned to Mu who remained as silent as the moment he first spotted him before he took a deep breath. "It started when I was nine. Kanon and I were training, using Another Dimension to transport various objects into the room when we came upon a large trunk that reminded us of a treasure chest. We opened it up and found the dagger in a case with thirteen red jewels. We knew it was valuable, but we weren't sure if it belonged to a noble or was something more sacred." For a moment, Saga paused, his lip twitched at the realization of how any slight alteration would've changed the future for another...where his brother would've been the recipient of the curse instead of him. "Kanon wanted to keep it...finders keepers… I told him no. It was far too valuable and surely someone missed it. A long fight later, I triumphed. I intended to impress Pope Shion by researching its origins, searching for past statements about a missing family heirloom. Before bringing it to him, I intended to clean and polish it up to make it pristine after our grubby hands had been streaking the surface. That was when all the trouble began..."

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

? ? ?

Ares watched as Ophiuchus Asclepius rested his hand upon the viewing glow before his glowing ruby eyes turned toward the serene image of the medic and the archer strolling down the woods. It may all seem mundane, but this was how the false bonds of trust were made.

The curse twisted the heart and if the heart senses the figure is trustworthy, it will make it easier to manipulate him.

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

Every step parted the fog that filled the forest.

In a way, it reminded him of his little brother back when he was a babe, carefully monitoring each step, fearful that the next one will cause him to tumble, yet each step filled him with a sense of wonder.

"You stare at the ground more than the scenery around you," spoke Ophiuchus Asclepius as he held the hand of the Sagittarius.

Aiolos, still grinning from one end to the other, turned his head. "It...just feels unreal, almost like if I take my eyes away, I'll fall."

But the medic shook his head. "As long as my cosmos fills you, do not worry about that. Enjoy the scenery," he comforted him while analyzing the archer's face.

"I still don't understand how you are doing this."

The Medic nodded. "Think of Greek myths. Whenever someone is hurt or dies, it is the Gods who heal them."

"But I can use cosmos to heal."

"Yes, you can, but Zeus formed humans into his image. However, it is nowhere near what those in Olympus can do. Think of art, just because someone has access to paint, doesn't make them capable of creating like DaVinci. If you are wondering why I am different, that is because when our goddess chose to become human, she was wise and passed her abilities to me, to ensure the Saints had such access to such abilities." Suddenly he felt Aiolos pause his stride. The Ophiuchus turned his head and could see that right in front of them was a picturesque view of Rodario.

The archer gazed upon the buildings. They seemed so small compared to Tokyo, but when he was a child, he stared at them as if he was among giants. Not only that, but anytime he came there, it invoked so many wonderful memories.

The medic turned his head as a private smile curled on the archer's face. "You're thinking of something. Care to share?"

Aiolos nodded before he pointed over toward the western side. "That's the inn and the linen store. The buildings there were so close that one time, me and my friends would take turns daring the other to leap from one roof to the other." He turned his head. "I was four at the time, before Sanctuary. Anyways, one of us didn't make it, and at first, we screamed when we saw him slip, but then, he had a growth spurt prior and he got stuck in between, his legs were just dangling back and forth. We struggled to get him out because his belt got caught on a nail," he laughed. "Oh...Dad was furious. When I got home, I was stuck staring in a corner of the house while holding a bucket of water over my head until dinner time. I was mad at him back, thinking he didn't let me do anything fun. My Dad forgave me, and it was one of the few times he told me he was more scared than angry and made me do that so I won't try something stupid like that again." Aiolos sighed a bit. "Of course, I guess in a way, I won't be climbing on the roof of any more buildings." He was standing now, but not by his free will.

The Medic squeezed his hand and sent more of his cosmos to him. "It doesn't have to be that way. I have helped many Golds, such as yourself, heal. You have sacrificed so much, you deserve to walk again."

Aiolos rubbed his head with his free hand, feeling a dizzying warmth, almost as if his mind was telling him to ignore how wonderful things were right now. Suddenly, he frowned a bit as sensing something off. "I want to walk...but I don't deserve anything."

Asclepius' red eyes gazed gently at the archer. He was well experienced in these matters and knew it was time to end their time together. "You're so humble, I am not surprised that you were chosen to be the Saint of Sagittarius. Until next time."

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

Aiolos opened his eyes, to see the shiny floor of the Stardust prison cell he was in.

That's right, his brother placed him there. His eyes shifted toward his robes, spotting the small puncture near the bottom where Paz struck him. He had changed into his normal cotton trainers since it was warmer than the silk set that he wore when he was conducting business there.

He sat himself up, attempting to pull his legs up as nimbly as he used to, only for them to not respond quite well, as if weights were attached to them. He was so used to it before, but his eyes were drawn to his own feet.

It all felt so real.

He felt whole.

In a way, it was like flying.

He pulled his leg over and examined the bottom of his shoe, trying to see if there was any trace of brush or dirt. Instead, they were shiny, a result of the stardust upon the floor.

"Aiolos, how are you doing?"

The archer turned his head toward the bars, assuming that Athena was on the other side. He should have answered, but instead he lowered his head. While tossing the one he swore to protect in the dungeon wasn't the worse he's done when cursed, he still felt shame for his actions.

"Aiolos? Is everything okay?"

He bit his lip and felt he needed to answer her. "許してください、私の女神。私は夢を見ました。"

"What did you say?" asked Athena.

Aiolos felt odd. Normally when he switched his language, she would do the same. Maybe he said it wrong? He still needs to iron out his Japanese. "Forgive me my Goddess. I...had a dream."

"Oh my, please stick with Greek," she spoke with a little discontent. "But what was your dream about?" her sweet voice asked.

Aiolos felt his body tense for a moment, expecting the curse to hold back his words, but for some reason, he didn't have that sensation as that felt like some force choking him. Perhaps it was because he was around her presence? "I met someone… his name was Ophiuchus Asclepius."

"You did? He visited you?"

"Yes...he did."

"That's wonderful!" her voice beamed.

O|======|O

"The thirteenth Saint is very powerful," spoke Ares as Asclepius stood beside him, watching the dream occur.

The Gold bit his lip. While his Master knew several languages, there was only one during the First Holy War that spoke Japanese and Athena handled that one.

Ares continued. "He must always come in secret, for the Gods are very wary of him. What did he tell you?"

O|======|O

"He must always come in secret, for the Gods are very wary of him. What did he tell you?" spoke the voice of the Goddess on the other side of the door.

Aiolos shrugged. "Not much. I held his hand and he helped me walk, but only if I held it."

O|======|O

"He probably felt you were in trouble. He wants to heal you. Do whatever he asks you to do. Perhaps he's the secret to ending the curse? I have to go now. Take care, my Sagittarius," Ares spoke as he ended the dream within a dream with a gentle snap of his fingers. That was the nice thing about the archer being stuck in a prison. Without any sense of time or change of scenery around him, he will be unaware that the conversation he thought he was having with the Goddess was merely an illusion as well.

If Aiolos begins to suspect it is all an illusion, the curse will consume and render the Sagittarius into a crippled husk.

But if Aiolos gives in, they will fix him up and he will join the illustrious line of one of Ares' gladiators.

The thirteenth Saint turned toward his Master and former Pope and smiled. Ares knew how to break the wills of even the most seasoned warriors, and Asclepius knew how to enslave them. Both were extremely powerful, but together, they were unstoppable.

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

ROZAN WATERFALL

"...and that is why I am here today," spoke Saga as he finished his long tale. He stared at his shadow. He had watched it grow as he told the Old Master of how he was cursed, killed Shion, framed Aiolos, touched...very briefly...his life as the Pope, Aiolos stealing the curse, and his journey to finding the cure. He probably sat there for at least an hour, his legs so devoid of blood flow that they were probably as useless as Aiolos',but honestly, it was probably the shortest he ever told the story since he's had practice with several others demanding what the hell happened. "Any questions?" he spoke trying to end the awkward silence that followed.

Dohko shut his eyes. As he told Saga, he too had heard the long tale so many times that it seemed to have become a myth of its own. But by hearing multiple takes, he now had a good grasp of what was most certainly true. "Yes, I do have some questions." The Libra closed his eyes to ensure the children were far enough to avoid hearing what he had to say before he continued. "Although Rozan is fairly isolated, you would be surprised at how many rumors and tidbits I receive."

"Shit…"Saga thought, his gut telling him what type of rumors he was talking about.

Indeed, the Gemini's suspicions were on the nose. "Tell me Saga. These...parties… filled with…" He wrinkled his lips. If he was in his youthful body, the words would flow so easily, but as a grandpa, even he felt awkward talking about it. "Sex...drugs...orgies...brothel plays… tell me, were you unaware of all of these indulgences?"

Mu felt his cheeks grow red too. "You shamed my Master's reputation, Saga." Before you came, he was a hero. Sanctuary was in ashes after the 18th century Holy War, and he resurrected it to what it is today. He was kind and just. He was one of the most intelligent Popes of all time, but after the last five years, he will be seen as the most vice-ridden ruler in the history of those who took up the helmet."

There was a good reason why he held back most of the details during that part. Saga felt as silent as a mouse for a good minute, his eyes rocking back between the Libra Saint, Mu, Shaka, and his hands. But he knew he had to be honest before the Libra, no matter how shameful he felt about it. Besides, Shaka was there and trying to fool him was like trying to fool Buddha.

"Sometimes, I was unaware. The night I falsely condemned Aiolos as a traitor was the same night that the curse had me take Athena's Maiden, who was in charge of watching the Goddess, and had my way with her." Saga felt his face grow hot, not out of shame but horror. He still remembered Maiden Helen coming out as if she had the best ride in her life...but yet...he felt used. Like some object.

Saga continued. "The weeks followed, the same thing repeated. I would wake up tired and she would be there, clearly covered in a mixture of our...fluids with no memory of it." He may have told the others the tale, but he left out these details for good reason, because he woke feeling sick and nauseous. Those that he would find in Shion's old bed found it amazing. But he didn't. It wasn't adventurous or thrilling, but dirty.

He felt dirty.

"As time went on...maybe my heart was lonely or needed some sort of escape, the parties grew more elaborate, and more guests came." Saga frowned, realizing he sounded more perverted than intended. "Slowly...I," he felt his teeth press so hard against his lip that he could taste his own blood. "I...gave in…" His hands slid over his face.

"Why?" asked Mu in confusion. "It sounded like you didn't like it? Why-?" But Dohko quickly grabbed the Lemurian's knee to try and silence him.

But it was too late, and Saga felt his tear rain down as thick as the waterfall. "I...gave in….so tired….why not...they were prostitutes...they did it for a living….the inner circles knew I wrote legislation with one hand while I fingered with the other…." he whimpered weakly, his face red and wet. "...but at that point...I wanted to die…

I WANTED TO DIE!

I didn't care….

...fuck it...

my life was over...and death was the only salvation left for me...at that point."

Dohko waited until Saga paused, before he sent a message through the cosmos. "Mu...this is a very hard subject for us humans. Saga had been punished enough."

"Forgive me, Old Master. I didn't know. This is a human matter that I am not quite familiar with," the Lemurian apologized through the cosmos.

"I know. I've been friends with your Master for over two centuries. I will talk later, right now, we should leave this topic. But you should say something."

Mu nodded and turned his gaze to Saga. "Forgive me. You went through something quite dark. But no matter how dark it is, remember, my Master would never ask you to give up your life to repent. As he would say, the only cracked pot that you cannot repair, is one that has been thrown away."

Saga's eyes were as red as if the curse came over him again. "Yes...I know that now. If Aiolos didn't give up on me….I would have never realized that."

Dohko looked up. He was silent, only because the layers of wrinkles hid the amount of shock that came about what he expected to be a short yes or no, only for it to reveal a fragment of what sounded like absolute horror. He still remembered when bandits would raid villages...kill the men...enslave the children and rape the women.

It saddens him that despite the age of technology and civilization it still occurred today.

The hardest part is that for Saga, is that it was a terrible crime that is often associated with the Amazons. The Gemini was one of the most powerful golds, and yet despite the strange circumstance...he was technically a victim of rape both of his mind and body.

While the Libra could easily tell the Gemini was serious and honest, others would dismiss him as a liar simply for the fact he was a powerful man and not some fragile woman. "Saga, first, I am sorry you had to go through that. In that matter, you were just as much as a victim. In regards to this matter, I will ask nothing of you. You also have my sympathy."

The Gemini nodded quietly. "I don't want to talk about that part anymore."

The Old Master gave a firm nod. "And you don't have to. But there is another matter that I'm afraid we must go over."

"Please give me a moment," Saga whispered as he closed his eyes doing a few breathing exercises while he dried and cleaned his face. While he knew he shouldn't, he reached into his pocket and took another dose of his medicine.

Dohko allowed Saga as much time as he needed and only continued when he seemed to be breathing normally. "I wish I could say that we can put all of this behind us. There is still the matter of the disappearances of various servants and soldiers."

Saga's hands were still trembling. But he knew this would come up, and unlike the last topic, he was ready.

"I would never kill others to hide my secret by my own will," the Gemini asserted. "I could barely handle watching my mother or brother beheading the fish for dinner and I never took up any offer of Aiolos to go hunting except to seek mushrooms in the woods. When people died, I would only discover it afterward. The curse...Ares or whoever would taunt me by leaving them in places that I am certain he knew I would discover them. I even remembered a time when I was eating soup one moment, only to discover the hand that made it literally in my bowl just because she spotted some blood on my robe not long after she served my dinner to me. I repeat, that any acts of murder were never by my will!" Saga gritted his teeth. The curse had robbed him of much of his honor and he will defend the last tiny fragment of it no matter how pitifully small it was at this point.

The Old Master was surprised at the affirmation.

Saga took another heavy breath, before he continued. "I know...I...killed...many people...and my actions broke hundreds of families. But I didn't do it on purpose I swear!"

Dohko gazed upon him and weighed the words. Justice can be tricky. "I wish I can say it is in the past, but there are simply too many who are dead. Tell me this: A madman, that he has no control of his actions, comes and murders an entire family. Does it absolve him from all guilt? The answer is, it does absolve some...but unfortunately not all. This is not something that can be fixed by the though in mythological times, Gods and Goddesses could bring back heroes from the dead or dedicate them to the stars. These were simple men and women who received what should've been a privilege to be in the Pope's Chambers only for it to be a death sentence.

Nobody will magically resurrect them.

And hundreds of families have been broken because of what happened."

It was quiet once more.

The Gemini had no more tears to give at this point, so his red cheeks simply dried up, leaving a set of rashes upon their surface. The issue was so complicated. Even he struggled on how to repent for that. "I can't bring them back, but I have been praying for them."

Dohko continued to gaze. "There is a power within prayer, but in this case, I don't see it as enough."

Saga nodded. "Yes." He closed his eyes. "Your father, he used to raise horses for the army. He too was a servant of Sanctuary, was he not?"

Dohko was surprised at such a small fact that even he could not remember telling the other Golds. "He was."

Saga took a deep breath. He had no easy answer, except one. "Then tell me, what should be my judgment." He could see the old Master's thick eyelids rise a bit. No surprise since this was the best friend of the man he killed. "As long as I can finish ending the curse for Shion and salvaging Aiolos reputation for Aiolia I will honor it no matter what it may be."

Dohko raised a brow. Saga is well aware of how he feels about this and yet he was willing to offer anything to him at this point. "Based on what I've heard, taking your life is out of the question." That was the easy part. Saga was a victim too.

But he wasn't the only victim.

"In regards to those who were tragically killed, the only fair thing will be, should you rejoin the Zodiac, you will have no more servants. You will do your own cooking, cleaning, shopping, and maintenance in your House and you are forbidden from ever asking for...comfort from the brothels and other forms of such entertainment. You will still have guards at both the entrance and exit of your House, for reasons of security. Finally, eighty percent of your pay will also be given to cover the salaries of the dead and given to their respective families. Whatever isn't covered, I will see that Sanctuary will handle it. That way for these souls, they can see from Elysium that their loved ones are properly taken care of."

Saga let out a quiet exhale. It was lengthy but fair. Human life, no matter how simple, was still precious. Perhaps the most shocking part was that Dohko allowed him to keep twenty percent of his pay and not all of it. It was small but livable, especially since he didn't have to worry about rent. It was probably as close to granting justice for those who served the Pope's Chambers as he will get. He bowed his head. "Very well. I will honor it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of two tablets needed to confirm the Pope. He held it out. "This was stolen from you long ago. I wish to return it."

Dohko stared at the shiny metal, crafted from a material that was so rare that even the Lemurians were unsure of what it was called. He was still angry that one of his Hidden Daggers had stolen it from him, nearly sending a priceless artifact to some random millionaire's home where it could have been lost forever.

As Dohko stared at it, he was still quite shocked that despite Saga being cursed, he still resisted in using it and giving the curse full access and complete control over Sanctuary. "Saga, in the past five years, I questioned why my friend picked you as a possible candidate, but despite it all, I can see why you would've brought greatness in the name of Athena had this curse not plagued you. A pity that your false reign will be the last time you ever sit upon the throne as its ruler. However, do not allow what has transpired to deter you from doing what's right as you do right now." The Tiger passed the tablet back. "One tablet is always held by the one the Pope trusts the most. I have watched over it during Shion's reign for over two centuries, but we have a new Pope now. He placed it in your hands, and I shall honor his decision. Not just out of respect, but I think he made the right choice." It was time the Libra got over his anger. Only when trust is built, can Sanctuary heal once more.

Saga turned down upon it. It felt so odd to hear the Old Master speak to him like this after all that has happened. "Thank you. Shion was wise, and so are you."

Dohko produced a brief chuckle. "Your first lie in our conversation. Replace 'wise' with 'crazy', and then I would actually believe you." With a wave of his cane, he summoned his Cloth in front of him to permit the Gemini to examine. "Now, finish Shion's work."

Saga was about ready to do so when he turned to Mu.

As of now, he mentally kept track of a list toward redemption.

-End the curse for Shion

-Restore Aiolos reputation for Aiolia

-No more servants or brothels… give up part of his salary for their families of the ones he slew for Dohko

Saga turned his head toward the Lemurian. "Mu...I've killed your Master. You had lived in seclusion for so long because of me. I offer the same as the Old Master. Tell me what I can do." Redemption would mean nothing if he didn't attempt to seek all those he wronged.

The truth was, the Aries was contemplating it during Saga and Dohko's discussion. "You killed a Lemurian, therefore, I think it will be fair if you submit yourself to our form of justice."

Saga swallowed nervously but nevertheless agreed. "So be it, as long I have a chance to fulfill my obligations to Shion and Aiolia."

Mu raised his chin. "Very well, Saint Saga of Gemini. Among my people, the worst crime that can be committed amongst our people is murder. Therefore, when you have completed the quest to end the curse and have honored Aiolia and Dohko's requests, you will subject yourself to the maximum penalty of the Continent of Mu. For the murder of Pope Shion, I sentence you…

.

.

.

.

.

.

...to at least five years of psychological therapy. Should any homicidal tendencies be aroused, you shall receive an additional five years and so forth until you are considered free of all desire to take the life of another."

Saga felt his jaw drop. "Wait...that is the maximum penalty on the continent of Mu? You don't have prison or executions?"

Now it was Mu's turn to be surprised. "Oh Goddess, no! The point of a punishment is to ensure that the crime does not occur again and rehabilitation. You can't heal a person's mind if they are dead. It's quite messy and we prefer to avoid techniques involving resurrections. As for prisons, putting someone into a closed-off room for an extreme amount of time would only heighten aggression and cause the opposite. Look what happened to Aiolia with merely a year of that," he spoke while shaking his head in disagreement. Humans were so strange. And they wonder why the number of people going to jail was increasing without realizing they should try something else if locking others in prison was not effective. He paused for a moment. "Actually, there is another thing. The next time you see Dr. Krios, could you fetch the Golden Orb for me?"

Saga was a bit surprised since Mu was the first person to actually mention him outside of his office. "I will try if he'll let me." He approached the Libra Cloth and began to examine it.

Dohko turned his head. "What exactly are you looking for?"

But Saga shrugged. "I don't know," he muttered for the millionth time since starting his search to end the curse. He grasped each weapon to see how connected to the Cloth before examining all the surfaces. "There is a theory that perhaps the Golden Dagger functions as the thirteenth weapon. It was in the painting that Aiolia talked about."

Dohko tapped the Gemini on his shoulder to get his attention. "I know this Cloth better than my own feet. There is no clasp or opening for a thirteenth weapon."

But Mu disagreed. "Actually, there is a possibility." He waited until the two of them turned directly at him. "The Cloths may seem like they remained unchanged, but that is not true. They gradually evolve, much like how people have a tailbone, but no appendage to speak of. The fins on Pisces, were far longer to allow proper swimming against Poseidon, but shrank over time. It is possible that if there was a slot for a thirteenth weapon, it may have closed, but that doesn't mean it cannot be accessed. Let me take a look."

The Lemurian stood up and grasped one of his lenses that he used his smithery and began to carefully examine the Libra Cloth.

Saga watched Mu twist and tilt, moving the piece of crystal back and forth until he stepped back with a disappointed look. "Nothing?" Mu shook his head back and forth before Saga clenched his fist in frustration. He can't afford a dead end!

Mu folded his arms. "There are two ways to examine whether or not a slot existed. One would be to simply take the dagger and repeatedly pierce the Cloth until we find a whole. However, that is far too risky and requires damaging the Cloth. We could even risk destroying the slot if we stick it in the wrong spot too many times. However, there is a sure-fire way. That would be to examine the original mold that the Cloth was formed from. Each of the Houses has it secretly hidden in the event that the Gold Cloth is obliterated beyond repair. We can simply lay the Cloth over it and it should reveal any holes or alterations since its conception."

Dohko looked up, just as desperate to end this curse as everyone else. "I can teleport it back to my House. Do you know where the mold would be, Mu?"

The Lemurian shook his head no. "That is a long lost secret. But even if we find the mold, we will still need the dagger."

Saga stood up. "Teleport the Cloth, I will acquire both."

"I will come with you!" cried the Lemurian.

But Saga shook his head no.

"Why not? The curse has taken my Master!"

But Shaka, who was as silent as a statue, finally spoke. "Mu...he's right," he spoke as he continued his meditative position.

Saga could see the rare fire in Mu's eyes. "The others are cursed. They may still have access to crimson arrows. We cannot afford to have you be cursed. Aiolos had already fired one into me, and I know I am immune to it." He wasn't sure if it had to do with how Gemini's had the highest resistance to curses or perhaps because he was under the dagger before, but either way, he had to do it. "If I fail, then you can go."

The Lemurian looked back and forth between the three Gold Saints. "But you are a wanted man! Even if you manage to sneak into Sanctuary using Another Dimension, how do you expect to have enough time to search for the mold and the dagger without being detected by the others."

But the Gemini grinned. He and the cub had thought deeply about that for the last three weeks. "I am the House of Arts and Communication. I will not only get in...I will be welcomed."

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

RODARIO

CENTER OF SOCRATES

DR. Z'S ROOM

Aiolia felt the tingling in his fingers and toes fade a while back, but he wanted to stay. "What do you think is wrong with me?" he muttered.

Dr. Z looked at her mess of notes for a moment, before her brown eyes returned to the Saint. "Aiolia, this is only our first meeting and I don't believe in talking about theories until at least the third one."

"Please, just tell me something!" Aiolia begged.

The doctor turned back down. "Well, I can safely concur that your ordeal after what happened to your brother, is the root of your trauma. Childhood is a terrible time for something like that to occur because the brain is still growing, developing, and imprinting. The problems you spoke of had not surfaced during this meeting, and show hints that it could be the byproduct of some other deeper issue." She shook her head. "As for what that issue is like I said, I would like to meet a few times, perform perhaps a few tests before we can properly narrow down. If you are still concerned about your anger until our next appointment," she reached over for her shelf and produced an old book."Borrow this. It deals with ways how we can better manage our anger. I suppose you can even call it a bit of homework. Search for some strategies and try them out. When you come back, tell me what works. You do read, correct?"

Aiolia nodded as he flipped through the pages. His eyes suddenly locked onto one page. "After a stressful day, take a long warm bath with essential oils such as chamomile or lavender. Not sure how effective that is since it did fuck all for Saga," he thought. But still, he will do as she asked. He tucked it under his arm and shook the woman's hand before he walked over toward Ajax and received a card for his next appointment.

He left the light blue building, feeling the heavy warm wind strike his face. His eyes shifted over toward the guards as they stood at every corner and in between the streets. There were quite a bit of people right now. His guess was because today was when the truck from Crete would bring its imports over and if one wanted to receive the freshest produce first, they had to be here. And if they were there, they might as well tend to their other tasks.

Suddenly, the Leo paused as he felt a pulse of cosmos before several pulses followed in rhythmic succession. It was the signal, and his eyes widened. "Now!? We're doing this now? What happened in China?" he messaged the Gemini.

But he didn't get an answer. Instead, the calm crowds strolling down the streets began to erupt with conversation before folks, both with cosmos and without began to run toward the main square.

Aiolia shut his eyes. "Fuck!" he cursed in a panic. He thought they were going to do this after Saga met the Old Master. He didn't quite expect them to do this so soon. He darted his head and began to search for somewhere private so he could switch to his Cloth.

O|=======|O

Several red-eyed guards began to charge forward, each passing the news as quickly as they could. What started as a tip from a pair of gate guards how now erupted to everyone on duty funneling in was a strong man with long thick dark blue locks, a blue trainer with several tears and stitches, dusty pants with holes over each knee, and worn black duffle bag with several stains upon it. "Is that him? Is that Saga?" muttered one of the cursed soldiers.

The other foot soldier turned his red eyes over to him. "He matches the description perfectly. We should take him to the commander."

"We should summon the commander here. He's supposed to be extremely dangerous."

"But...is it him?" spoke another foot soldier. "He looks just like….him."

Suddenly the Gemini ran up to him and fell upon his knees with a large smile upon his face. "By the Goddess, please tell me...am I in Rodario?" he asked as his dusty face turned to reveal a starry gaze.

"Saga, you are under arrest. We have strict orders and have contacted Sanctuary. As of now, every Gold Saint should be descending from the mountain to see-"

But the Gemini reached over and clenched the soldier's hands. "Sanctuary?" He asked with curiosity before he brought his hands back to his mouth in shock. "I've made it..." he muttered. "I MADE IT!" The Gemini let out a loud whoop and raised his arms in joy. "I'M HERE! I'M HOME! I'M FINALLY HOME!" he screamed so loud that his voice seemed like it could reach the top of the Pope's Chambers. Suddenly he darted past the guards and began to rush like a wind into the main square. "WWOOOOOO! BY THE GODDESS! I DID IT! I FINALLY DID IT!" He screamed so loud that his Adam's apple was about to explode.

The cursed soldiers all froze into place, for the crimson arrow had caused them to follow all orders. But the moment their minds began to examine what was going on, the crimson arrow began to give them headaches because a problem came about as two specific orders were conflicting in their minds.

Arrest Saga or….

Many of the children began to turn to their parents. "Mommy? Why is everyone staring? Who is he? Is he the Pope?" asked a small boy.

But the mother stared hard, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "No sweety...he's far more famous than that."

The little boy walked up to the Gemini. "Who are you?" he bluntly asked.

The Gemini whipped around so quickly it brushed his nose before he took his hand and tossed it back behind his shoulders. "You don't recognize me?" The Gemini reached into his pocket and pulled out a large packet of folded papers before he opened it up and showed the crowd.

A large gasp followed, a few women nearly fainting before the Gold Saint of Leo appeared.

Aiolia, his face masked and hidden turned toward the Gemini. He stepped forward, casually ignoring the awes. His hands raised in amazement causing the white cape to flutter. "CANON!" He screamed as joyfully as if the Goddess had been reborn once more.

Canon turned his head and threw his hands in equal happiness, causing the seemingly hundreds of Missing Kanon flyers to rain upon them like snow.

The two embraced for a warm hug before Leo leaned over greeted him by kissing the cheeks with the tenderness of a grandmother.

One of the bakers came out of his store, still wearing his flour-covered apron. "Wow...he's been missing since my son was born. I thought he was dead!"

A pair of maidens stood with tears in their eyes at the beautiful sight. "Praise Athena! Miracles do come true!"

One of the little girls ran up to the Gemini and placed a flower bracelet upon his wrists before dozens of others began to pull off their bracelets and do the same.

The foot soldiers who were once riddled with headaches turned their heads as the Gold Saint cleared up all confusion.

They were going to Arrest Saga and Find Kanon… and judging by the Leo Saint, clearly, it was Canon who had come home.

Far in the distance, another figure with dark blue hair, dressed in a Solo hoodie stared off. A blonde Canadian teen turned downwards and picked up the sign to see the face of the Sea Dragon upon it. "Why does Sanctuary want you so badly?" Baian asked.

FIVE DAYS LEFT UNTIL AIOLOS GOES PERMANENTLY INSANE

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

Coming November 29ish

Kanon and Canon are back in Sanctuary!

Saga has taken all those dreaded Missing Kanon posters and twisted it to his advantage. But now he is deep within the Brainwashed Sanctuary and Aiolos is nearly out of time.

Author's Notes: This chapter was a little shorter, but it was a bit harder due to the subject matter. However, it was also very important since it added to Saga's redemption arc. The Gemini still has the other Golds to go, but he's reached One thing about this chapter is that I'm finally able to integrate Kanon in while maintaining the plot.

Hope you enjoy it and don't forget to review.