COLLECTIVE OF SCORPIO

Fire.

His mind was on fire!

Milo hissed and heaved, his red eyes darting back and forth, pulling his hair and watching it shift to an ash grey as if any moment he was about to combust! He stumbled around, his red nail slashing and parrying the fog around him in the center of the Collection of Scorpio. "IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT! First Saga lied to me! Camus lied to me! Now you betray me!"

*SLAP*

That was the sound of the palm of Scorpio Paris as it struck Milo's cheek, the force spinning him across the hall, parting the fog around, and smashing against the crystal wall. Paris turned his head toward the First Scorpio, standing patiently on the side, drinking a blood-red chalice through his fangs. The First Scorpio wanted Milo cursed, and if such a deed were to be done, he would be the one to do it. Paris knew there would be a bit of backlash from the act, but not to the extent on display. "Use your common sense. Why would I betray you? You cursed yourself first; now deal with it. It manipulates your heart, but it is still early, and you still have control of your actions. Now, focus on your mission and take back your mind."

Milo's red eyes shifted upwards, the piercing blue gaze of his father's good eye on one side glaring at him while his stern brow tilted his eyepatch downwards to complete his disapproval. He tightened his fist, ready to strike back when he recognized it from his past. It was just like when he first learned to take Scarlet Needle, forced to experience blow after blow, day after day, to both enhance his immunity toward the poison as well as to fully grasp the pain of those who must endure the strike.

Milo fell on his knees, his teeth smashing together in torment. His mind struggled to focus as if the curse had spun a web around his thoughts and emotions. He was trained to endure one of the world's most painful attacks and never the mental training needed to parry temptations or deflect another's influences. It was all new, but like anything, sometimes the longer one fights against it, the more they can strengthen any future assaults. He turned to see his father quietly standing there. Back when he was young, there were only two reasons why he would not interfere; it was because he couldn't, or he believed in him.

"Saga…was controlled by the curse…Camus was trying to protect me… knowing I won't stand for a false Pope… now he's controlled by the curse… and you…" Milo whispered as if the words were a way to refocus and empower his mental capabilities. His hair slowly shifted back to purple, the world appearing more transparent and not smothered with a layer of vaseline. "You are doing it because you love me." Milo groaned as he squeezed his head, shifting his eyes back to blue once more. He rubbed his face, the sensation of something sinister still hovering over his shoulder lingered, but at least he felt like he had control.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around him, the same ones that clutched him hundreds of times as he would lay half-naked in a simple loincloth, punctured with at least half a dozen holes each time. Typically Milo wasn't the type to be overly emotional, but how many in the world would actually receive the chance to be with their loved one after they passed away over a decade ago. "Dad…" he struggled with what to say. The last memory of him alive was when he was lying in bed with a tracheostomy in a last-ditch effort to keep him breathing after Mrs. Schfurwatt discovered him unconscious in the bathroom.

"I've watched you grow, and despite the turmoil, you've become a fine young man who never gave into corruption. You remained a true Scorpio, faithful and noble. I'm so proud of you," Scorpio Paris whispered, knowing that their time was limited and embracing what little they had together.

Milo's eyes welled up. He never heard his Dad act like this, but he'll take it. "I wish you were there earlier. I almost stained our honor and killed my friends."

"The first strike of the curse is always the most difficult. A person's mental guards must read and understand what it faces before reacting. Once the curse is in, the mind can react and formulate a proper barrier. How long it takes before the mind can fight back determines how strong their mental abilities are as well as the strategies it utilizes."

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

BOOK OF CENTAUR

Part 7E

CURSED SCORPIO PART 3

Bold: Cursed Mode

Completely Italicized: The Dead

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

Milo looked up before standing up. The First Scorpio. A Saint who was said to have killed so many that the barrels of wine were the barrels of blood he drinks, hence the vampire reputation. He didn't want to stare, but it was challenging with one of two large enormous claws attached to the First Scorpio's back with one clutching a large wine glass.

While he figured it wasn't true, he thought he would be a lot more frightening. He's not sure if he carried the vibe of a killer. He knew. He's met a number of them, many of whom he silenced before they could even say hello. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth as he could feel the curse attempting to chip away in his mind once more. He clenched his fists to maintain control. "But Camus' abilities were stronger than mine. Why was he acting like an asshole for so long?"

"Besides the curse being stronger, the curse tried to make you do something you didn't want to do. Camus wanted to remain stoic, and all the curse had to do was give in to his impulses. In stats alone, Camus is technically stronger in mental abilities. But emotionally, he is consumed in grief, therefore negating any advantage he had in the first place. I've seen it hundreds of times, including with our own," the Scorpio Vampire spoke before he rested his two long fangs into his glass and sucked the fluid dry before tossing the cup and allowing it to vanish in a cloud of cosmos. "Speaking with our own, why don't you summon the others? Call out your House and bring them here. It's far easier than me summoning them one by one."

Milo nodded before he raised his hand. "SCORPIO!" his voice echoed in the walls of the Collective. Numerous figures, each wearing his Cloth, appeared, their faces a perfect mirror of the paintings that coveted the Inner Chambers of his House. "Goddess, it's like there are hundreds of me here."

"The feeling is mutual."

"Doesn't help that over three-fourths of us are named Milo."

"Please don't name your successor Milo."

"We know it is for honor, but it's getting confusing."

"Confusing is right," Milo muttered, his head growing a bit dizzy from the family reunion. It didn't help that being a tenor runs in the family. They may not be clones with varying heights, weight, and builds, but considering how close each of them was in appearance, they might as well be. Combined with a semi-transparent spiritual glow that caused their outlines to overlap, it wasn't easy to focus on any particular person.

"Give him some space. By the Goddess, he's just arrived, and his friend just abandoned him."

Good, it seemed someone had some sense...

…and quite the seductive voice to add?

Milo turned his head. "Oh?" he gasped as the other Scorpios stepped aside to allow a helmeted Scorpio with a brilliant pair of scarlet eyes like a pair of twin suns. Her hair was peeking through the slit between her headpiece and facemask. He watched her tap the side of its pointed edge and caused it to slide and fold before tucking behind her head.

…and unleashing a bombshell of sexy ruby red hair with a matching set of painted plump lips?

"Uh…" That was all Milo could say.

She raised a brow, unsurprised by his stunned and awkward expression. "I know what you're thinking: You would be so hot if you weren't my great-great-great-great grandmother." Fem-Milo laughed as their newest guest produced a guilt-ridden sigh acknowledging her inclination as truth. It wasn't the first and has almost become a tradition. But such feelings fade after the initial shock of seeing her face, and it doesn't take long before it all dissipates and she was one of the boys.

She slapped his shoulder to ease while shifting her tone from playful and mysterious to one that took charge and made it clear that she would be the matriarch here. "You're here for answers. What do you want to know?"

"Ah yes." Milo shook his head as he refocused on his mission. "Time."

"Time? What do you mean?" Fem-Milo raised a brow as if she was thrown a trick question.

"How does time work in this place?" Milo could see that he wasn't clear enough. "Is it faster or slower compared to the World of the Living?"

"Ah, I understand. We see things as they happen. Here." She demonstrated by gently placing her red nails tips on his temples.

At that moment, Milo could see the inside of his House in reality. There, his caretaker Mrs. Schfurwatt was following the greatest gift he could bestow someone who has served the House of Scorpio for three generations: Permission to visit her grandchildren for the next four months. He watched her tie her soft blue silk scarf around her white hair and pick up a sizeable floral-patterned bag that he helped her pack before she left. While there were no visible clocks, considering how excited she sounded when they talked about it, it couldn't have been any more than a day that passed. "I guess that means it is the trip back that takes a long time. At least we aren't worried about us coming back to find a couple of centuries had passed. Can you all see everything in Sanctuary?"

"For us, it is more of a 'feeling' perhaps due to our connections to the cosmos. We feel in tune with those who wield our Cloths with some connections being stronger than most," she gestured to Milo's father. "As far as we know, only Ares can truly see what is going on. We received intelligence that he has a globe that allows him to properly view those who are cursed."

"We also had a feeling Ares can only see those that are cursed," Milo replied. Right now, there was this sense that the God of War was breathing down his neck. He wished his father didn't give him back the curse since it meant Ares would learn what exactly they knew, but there was no other choice since it would take too long to find Camus and give the curse back to him. Sure he could pass his test and give Camus the curse that way, but it also meant losing access to the First Scorpio since Aiolos told them that the First Sagittarius disappeared after purification.

Milo stealthy stole a glance at the First Scorpio from afar. Considering how great his position was, he did not expect the First Scorpio to step aside and divert to the rest of the family. Not just that, but the First Scorpio had moved to the back as if attempting to be discreet to observe his actions.

This was a very tricky position to be in. As a Scorpio, he was trained on how to gather answers through interrogation, a valuable skill to have when gathering intelligence, but challenging when the people he wishes to inquire not only knew the tricks but refined them over time as well.

A challenge he is willing to take.

Milo turned to Fem-Milo and the rest of his family. "Are all of you able to communicate with the others outside of this Collective?"

This time, another purple-haired Scorpio with a strong chin came forward. "We are. Much like how if we focus hard enough, we can use our cosmos to speak to others in the living, we can also do so in here…except if a Gladiator has taken over that particular Collective," spoke Kardia.

"What do you mean-" Milo nearly lunged forward toward the young man, watching him clutch the area around his heart as if it was a habit that transcended even in death. He squeezed his fists, trying to recenter his mind, all the while wondering how Saga managed to handle the curse for years. Once his red eyes had lightened a bit, Milo continued. "-what do you mean if a Gladiator has taken over the House? Who are the Gladiators? I've checked, and there was in Sanctuary History about them." Considering his library contained a signed copy of an original poem by Sappho, he could be confident to say that his collection of ancient texts rivaled the one located in the Pope's Chambers.

Kardia turned his head. "You won't find anything there because they never existed in the World of the Living. It is like the concept of them was some relic lost in time. Unlike those like Scorpio Manticore, who succumbed to the curse and are denied entrance to their respected Collectives, a Gladiator takes over the Collective and turns it into a fortress. There are swords, but they are with Ares in his chambers. So far, Ares only gave out two of them. One in Pisces, the other one is in Aries."

'Aries?" Milo muttered in shock.

That was when Fem-Milo dropped her head, folded her arms over her armored chest, frustration as red as the locks of her hair. "We can't talk to either of them. From what we've heard from the other neighboring Collectives, both places are like dungeons."

"Shit," Milo quietly mouthed out a curse, his eyes flashing red for a moment. It wasn't that he didn't care about Pisces, but he was hoping that he could speak with Shion. Not only that, but how will the others react when they find out that there was a good chance that the former Pope was not resting in peace. "Any word about the Gladiators themselves?"

"Other than what was said, Ophiuchus Asclepius keeps talking about how Gladiators get a nifty sword," shrugged a random Scorpio on the side.

Milo sighed. At least he can tell the others that there are just two, but from the general dread in his ancestor's voices, they sounded pretty ominous. He turned back to the First Scorpio, still standing to the side. How the heck does he get him to speak up? "My friends had quite the encounter with the Virgo triplets who side with Aries. Are there any other First Golds we should be concerned about?"

The First Scorpio finally pulled his cup away from his mouth. "Capricorn is still following Ares' orders. Cancer's loyalties are questionable, but he would mainly be a problem simply because he's one of the biggest assholes you'd ever meet."

Milo smirked. He knew he couldn't charm his way to get him to talk, but nobody, past or present, can ever resist the urge to bitch about their coworkers. "But aren't Capricorns the most loyal to Athena? He has that large statue at his House in the Living. Isn't he being hypocritical?"

"He's a Capricorn," reiterated the First Scorpio.

Milo produced a stupid look. "Touché," he admitted. At least he's grabbed the First Scorpio's attention now and can delve a bit deeper. "It sounds like trying to take the Collective won't be straightforward."

"One would be a fool to try."

Milo nodded in agreement. "The Gemini you met noticed that Ares used Another Dimension and was able to teleport them to-"

"-the Flower Field in the Collective of Virgo?" finished the First Scorpio. "That was how he would execute his enemies if he didn't find them worthy of breaking out his own God Cloth; he would toss them with the Daughters of Mara. He disposes of his enemies, and the triplet worshippers of the enemy of Buddha have fertilizer for their field."

While Milo found it interesting, it wasn't all that helpful with what they hoped to accomplish. "With no disrespect, how was Ares able to do that? How was the same technique able to work for him but not Saga? Was his Another Dimension different?"

The First Scorpio shook his head no. "While techniques have been added and dropped, many of the most powerful ones are still used the same way as they were during my time. If I were to guess, the Collective you see here is not a mirror image of the one currently in the World of the Living but that of the one I lived at. Sanctuary wasn't simply thirteen stories of hell but a thick underground Labyrinth. We had many more tunnels and teleporters like the one in this place that led directly to the House of Aquarius. However, our enemies began to learn and take advantage of them to the point that it negated any benefits for quick travel. Many teleporters were taken away, and several tunnels were filled in the world of the Living, forcing nearly everyone to take the stairs."

Milo nodded his head. "Do you remember the routes? Can you draw them out?"

"I am no map maker, and if you want your Gemini Friend to use Another Dimension, you'll need pinpoint guidance other than recollections from hundreds of years ago. But, there is hope. The Lemurians were the main architects of Sanctuary, and chances are, they should have the layouts of the First Sanctuary somewhere in Tibet. If you are planning to take on the Houses out of order, head there, and it should make things easier to jump where you need to go instead of repeatedly crossing over the same set of stairs."

"Thank you." The First Scorpio's words were like honey. If there was any critical information that Pope Aiolos was looking for, this was it. "This is very useful. I'm glad you are on our side."

"I don't side with either deity, but only what is right."

Milo was surprised by how divided the First Scorpio was. "How were Ares and Athena in your time?" it was a question he was going to ask, and now seemed a good time to ask.

"Fairly similar to how Goddess Athena and your Pope work. Athena formed strategies, Ares saw the execution of them. Goddess Athena focused on the land, ensuring we were always well supplied with resources, and Ares dealt with the organization of the military."

Milo shook his head. "I don't need a definition of their roles. I mean, what were they like?" He watched the First Scorpio pause and ponder, not as if he was trying to hide his words, but perhaps because it was from so long ago, he was trying to draw up his memories.

"It will sound strange, but they both cared about defending humans, but how they did it was in different ways. Goddess Athena would hand us the plans to see us victory while Ares would join, equally eager to join in the battle." The First Scorpio paused, his upper fangs resting over his lip. "But even outside of the fighting, Athena-the-Grey-Eyed would just go off, sometimes we wouldn't see her for days until necessary. Ares would come to visit, train, and break bread with all of us. Grey-Eyed Athena didn't want to be too close, knowing we would die, and Ares hung out with us as if every day could be our last."

Milo raised an eyebrow. It was odd that the First Scorpio was putting Athena's title. "Why? It doesn't sound like either. Ares seems a bit too warm, yet Athena is so cold."

"You wanted the truth about them; there it is: War cannot be won without being passionate about what they were fighting for, just like a good strategist understands you can't succeed without breaking a few eggs."

A sharp gasp followed. Was his ancestor defending Ares this much? "I just can't imagine you supporting the curse," he admitted.

"I don't. You wanted answers, not flowery words. But those are my experiences from Ares from hundreds of years ago, not the Ares that plagues this place today. It was wrong that he was murdered, but the curse supersedes any sympathy I would've had for him. Poor Scorpio Manticore. Earned his Cloth at age five and performed a mission that prevented a civil war between two countries in Asia. His reward after death? Stuck on the stairs for the last couple of hundred years with a mind locked in perpetual madness and that swollen red nail… by the way, thank you for tending to him."

"Of course. He was in pain," Milo replied. "With all due respect. You just don't seem so favorable toward Athena, either." It was a clear contrast to Libra Panda, a comparison he didn't want to openly speak of.

But the First Scorpio could tell. The First Libra was his neighbor, and he still remembered how Qiong wanted everyone to know about his complete devotion to Athena the Grey-Eyed. "Don't forget, I served Athena when she was still a Goddess. She was much different when she reincarnated as a human, just as Ares wasn't the same when he went from being a living God to an undead one. Athena the Grey-Eyed was smart, but Human Athena was wise. Again, understand our perspective. Regardless of how we felt about Athena or Ares, we all wanted them to work together. And they did. It's only natural we all side to some degree with one or the other. It's just like all of you will work with both your Pope and the High Advisor, yet you all side more with one or the other. Do you understand?"

"I do," Milo nodded, surprised that the First Scorpio would hit upon one of the thorniest issues at Sanctuary now. The scars from Saga's betrayal were still there, but the evidence of his masterful way of leading Sanctuary did as well. Having Aiolos become the Pope has slowly brought the others closer and at least talking. While he was doing an excellent job in bureaucracy, it was nowhere near the political grace Saga conveyed when he was in charge. It was a subject that hovered all of them, but no one wanted or was afraid to openly discuss.

Milo continued to speak with the First Scorpio and the others, trying to gather as much intel as he could. Some were a bit more useful. Ares was connected to the curse; his undead body was leaching from their very own Gold Cloths to survive while at the same time holding back their Cloth's potential. But other information simply boiled down to one of his relatives knowing another Gold being cursed and upset about it. While he had sympathy for them, unfortunately, all their confession did was make them feel better without adding anything. All that was clear was that it seemed the curse had affected nearly every generation in some form or manner…all the more reason they need to ensure they are the last Golden Zodiac to endure it. But something was off, or rather, someone was missing. "Where is Scorpio Ecarlate?"

"He's invisible," one of the Scorpios blurted.

Milo's cheek slightly twitched. Part of gathering info is to know when to play good cop or bad, and when someone goes from being open to hiding, that is the time to press. "Being invisible doesn't mean he doesn't exist. I must see him. He had contact with a past Ophiuchus Saint."

The First Scorpio turned his head. "Was what I told you about Asclepius not useful enough?" he pressed back.

Milo flinched, watching the neck of the First Scorpio's glass groan from the tension of the golden claw's grip before he felt a rough hand grab him on the bare section where his Cloth didn't cover his forearm.

"Scorpio Ecarlate is busy, son. Perhaps you will catch him later…after your purification."

Milo turned toward his father's lone stern eye. The only time his father used this type of tone was during training. Not only that, but after their greeting, he thought he would see him more, but instead, Paris stood off to the side, a habit that was reserved when he felt nervous. It was a bit suspicious. Everyone in the room seemed like they were hiding something. But why? His hand sweated a bit. Growing up in the Eighth House, he may have doubts about others in the world, but if there was anything he could put his faith in, it was his comrades. Then Saga betrayed them all… now; such trust was fragile at best. Now his family, those who should have the strongest of bonds, felt like it was being tested now. History has a cruel way of repeating.

Milo kept his calm face to avoid sweating or signs of unsure of what to say. But his flickered red, the heat of the curse rising once more, his own hands slowly clenching up on their own. No…he can't lose control now! Seemingly hundreds of pairs of eyes were gazing at him now as if awaiting his reply.

"Son, just wait until after your purification; I'm sure you'll see him," Scorpio Paris repeated.

Milo gazed into his face. His father was stern, but he had a gentle side. As a child, he would take advantage of those times to shorten his training for the day. His father could be tricking him now, but at the same time, he also could be hinting at something. It wasn't like he had a choice in terms of purification. It had to be done, or else the idea of stopping Ares would be over before it began. "Yes… I agree…" he spoke weakly as he clutched his purple locks as if the tighter he gripped his hair, the more the roots would return to their true color. "How do I go through purification?"

The First Scorpio could see that it was not just a request but a question. He had a feeling he needed to know since not all of them were willing to bestow the test. "I can either trigger it, but you can force it as well. All you have to do is grab them by the hand and demand purification."

"Are you sure?" Milo questioned.

"I am. The rules of initiating purification were established by Zeus, and believe me…nobody defies Zeus. Not even the triplets. They won't make it easy, but they cannot refuse."

The First Scorpio's words sent a chill down Milo's spine and not just because of the reputation of the Daughters of Mara's passion for using Athena Exclamation. "Was Zeus the one who created the curse?"

"No. Who did it? Nobody knows or won't tell. But I was watching when Zeus established the rules since no curse cannot be created unless there was a plausible way to undo it. But whoever created it didn't make it easy."

"Sounds like a typical Greek Myth. The Gods grant fair justice, while at the same time, enjoying watching us humans come close to overcoming an obstacle only for us to fail in the end."

" How true. The fact that your generation is the first to even find the doorway is proof that someone out there either doesn't want us to conquer the curse or may have another purpose." The First Scorpio turned. "Anyways, let's begin." He gestured his hand over toward a small table.

Milo approached and immediately recognized the ancient wood as the same one that sits in his House today. Exceptional how many items from Ancient Greece survived due to the stardust in their Houses, reducing their decay. The worst that ever happened was someone creating a drink ring after setting their cold ouzo on top without a coaster. On top was the silver platter with a single tiny scroll. He picked it up and began to read it.

Milo LXVIII of Scorpio, to have your Cloth purified, you must succeed in completing one of my missions from the past: You will enter the Palace in Asgard and assassinate the King. No high-profile casualties. When it comes to those of lower standing, leave no witnesses behind. We want to send a strong message about their Alliance with Poseidon, but at the same time, we don't want to leave a power vacuum.

The First Scorpio waited until Milo pulled the paper away. "Any questions?"

Milo stared at it. An assassination. "None, not at all."

"Very well." With that, the First Scorpio faced the wall. The two golden Scorpion claws that were behind his shoulders suddenly tensed up and, at the speed of light, slammed their sharp tips against the sacred crystal surface. The tips moved in opposite directions dragging along and shooting sparks from the friction they were creating. They moved downwards in a parallel fashion before reaching the bottom and completing the outline of a door. "Good luck."

The present Gold Saint took one last look at his father before he approached the opening and gently pushed it open, his face slammed with the arctic blast. His boot took a step into the half a meter high snow before he turned to the door and closed it. The illuminated golden outline of the doorway remained. He took a moment to push it back open to see the faces of his family. Assured that once more before he closed it back up and turned to his main objective.

He was definitely not too far from the castle of Asgard. Just like Sanctuary, its layout had remained the same over hundreds of years with its tall, thick stone walls. What has changed was that the giants are huge due to many of them being pure-blooded. Four of them were at each corner of the wall, their heads as large as towers, their arms resting on the wall's surface as if they were at a bar waiting for a drink.

At least it was at night.

Milo sighed before he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a tightly folded hooded cloak, and placed it over his body, reducing the brilliant shine of his armor while reducing any residual cosmos that burned upon its surface. He eyed the four giants. Killing them was not an option. Where the hell would he hide a corpse as big as a whale? Instead, he observed their habits before deciding on the one who seemed more interested in chatting with the others than performing his duty. His guess was that the giant was a bit overconfident in the wall. The Asgardians' defense was a brilliant tactic. They would encase their walls in hundreds of layers of the smoothest and coldest ice over rock with a small narrow passage for movement of troops at the top. It was too slick to simply climb, and anything such as a ladder or a rope would shatter from the freezing temperature.

As ominous as it was, if his ancestor found a way and completed the mission, so could he. That was when he noticed a slight dip in the wall. Milo lightspeed to another angle and noticed that there was indeed a spot where the stone was exposed. It appeared to have been struck by Greek Fire not too long ago. Perhaps this was the reason his ancestor chose to slip in?

He tensed his body, and the moment he saw an opening, he rushed toward the wall and grabbed the scorched stone, using the broken chunks as footholds before reaching the top in less than half a second. He slipped into a discreet walkway used by the Asgardians to patrol the top. Once the giant turned his head, he turned downwards to the inside court. Spying a scaffold, he leaped to it and pressed his body against the shadows to blend in with the darkness.

Despite giants having large brains, they were extremely slow thinkers. Milo watched as the giant suddenly turned and peered at the path he had taken prior, his head so close that he swore the giant could bite him in half any minute.

Once the giant pulled away to go back to chatting with the others, Milo breathed a sigh of relief before searching for his next move.

Good observation with the wall. I didn't think you would find the entrance that quick. How will you handle the inside?

Milo could hear the First Scorpio in his head, clearly observing what was happening. His blue eyes turned toward a large room with a balcony. With it being so high, there was no way he could jump or climb there without others spotting him. Instead, he shifted his attention toward the door leading to the servants' quarters below. "Normally, I would take care to avoid casualties in such a situation. However, these are your memories. They aren't real people."

With that, Milo shot forward toward the door and opened it up. The hallway was extremely narrow, with barely enough room for the tips of his armor. He watched a young man clutching a couple of dead geese stroll down before pausing in the center and blocking his path. Without shouting his technique, Scarlet Needle was as quiet as the wind, the only noise coming from the thud of the servant's body. As bloody as the attack was against those without cosmos, it was so quick the person probably didn't realize he was dead.

Milo turned the corner and performed it once more to an old lady and another man carrying a chamberpot.

Do you not feel any guilt killing all these servants?

Goddess, it was like all the times his father would question him during training. At least now, it was more of a straightforward answer. "If they were real, I would. If I went back in time, I would exercise more caution. But it's all an illusion…no different than if I took their pictures and ripped them in half. You can't guilt-trip me when nobody truly dies in this place." Milo narrowed his eyes as he waited for a pair of chatting maids to pass by, not wanting to leave a clear-cut bloody trail when it came to exiting this place. "Besides, even if this was real, this was the First Holy War. If I was in your position and this King was allied with Poseidon, I imagine you performed your duty to help the greater good."

Yes, I did. I won't deny that.

Milo moved stealthily, striking when needed and hiding when necessary until he reached the elaborate chambers and taking out both guards, painting the white stone busts with flashes of blood.

His path cleared and exit assured, he grabbed the key hanging from the dead guard's belt and opened it up. The room was so warm that sweat began to drip behind his neck. Heavy furs laid upon the bed, the canopy open wide where an old man with short grey hair laid snoring away and deep asleep. Milo stepped forward. He was given the specific order not to harm any high ranks, and he didn't want to risk striking the Queen if she was under the covers cuddling against his chest. He was ready to pull the blanket when he began to hear the sound of something dragging next door before a servant covered head to foot in thick furs stepped inside.

Milo sighed before raising his red nail and was ready to fire at the servant when he spotted some long light blue locks cascading from the side of the hood made from the head of a wolf. He should fire, but for some reason, something in his cosmos was telling him not to. "Camus?"

The figure turned and gasped as he spotted the familiar red light. He pulled his hood of mismatched furs and revealed a handsome man with a sharp chin. "Who's there? How did you know my name?" he asked as he clutched his broom.

Milo frowned, wondering what was happening, unable to recognize the face. There was no way that this man could have the same name. This was Asgard plus France was still Gaul territory at this point. Why would he have a French name? Milo turned toward a nearby mirror and gasped when Camus' reflection appeared in the servant's long robes of fur.

That was when it became clear why the First Scorpio was questioning him, despite it being part of the order. But why was Camus here? He could tell by the cosmos that he was definitely real and not a part of this. He can't imagine them forcing Camus to be in this test, especially since he was confident the Aquarius had already left.

Was Camus taking his purification test right now? Is that even possible?

Milo, I told you, don't leave any witnesses behind.

TO BE CONTINUED

Coming in January

What happened to Cursed Camus when he abandoned Milo?

Author's Notes

Sorry about the delay. The chapter was always meant to be short, but I had surgery in December, which halted any writing until about a week ago. It was a definite struggle to get this out since I couldn't focus on writing well with all the medication. After three weeks, the good news is that I'm off that stuff and better now. I know this chapter isn't up to my usual level, but I hope it entertains enough.