Chapter 2
By: MysticFantasy
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Prompt submitted by SaintofStars
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Albafica stood at the front entrance of the Pisces temple and admired the view as the rising sun cast its warm glow over Sanctuary. The sunlight chasing away the dark shadows of the night and starting a new day.
It was a wonderful view.
He soon spotted smoke coming from the chimney of the Capricorn temple and figured that Shura and El Cid were already up making the large breakfast they insisted on making for all the Gold saints this morning.
Looking down to his hand, the young saint smiled when he saw the gold ring glitter in the sunlight. Given to him and the other previous Gold saints by the young teen who revived them just over a year ago, Albafica found this item to be one of the greatest things to ever happen to him.
In the past, he had always kept his distance from everyone around him because he believed his poisonous blood would put their lives in danger. He knew it had caused others to believe that he was antisocial or that he thought so much of his beauty that he put himself above others.
Neither had been true but he wasn't surprised such things were said. While some of the Gold saints had been making the effort to get close to him, claiming they were not afraid of his toxic blood, he couldn't allow them to do that. He cared about them too much.
His self isolation was his gift to them.
Until the day they were revived and given these magical rings. Not only had they been allowed to stay in this time with their goddess and the current Gold saints but Albafica had been greatly surprised when he had learned that his ring neutralized the affects of his blood when he wore it.
Having been cautious at first, Albafica hadn't allowed himself to get too close to anyone right away but over time he became more comfortable and trusting of the rings magic.
Now he was able to be around anyone he wanted without the fear of putting their lives in danger.
It was wonderous!
Manigoldo had right away attempted to make a friendship with him and claimed that they already had a start on it because of their mission in Venice involving the Black Saints.
Now that he didn't have to keep himself away from anyone, Albafica had wanted to get to know the others better. It was amazing how different they all were but still similar in some ways.
One of the people that Albafica had gotten to know well was Pegasus Seiya. He hadn't gotten the chance to meet Pegasus Tenma in the past but he heard from those who had known him that Seiya was exactly like Tenma.
The former Pisces was impressed with the Pegasus saint and could see that everyone admired his legacy of being the saint to always reincarnate with Athena. Having witnessed a few of his training sessions, Albafica could see that he was indeed a powerful saint and had the potential to climb higher.
No doubt he would accomplish this along with Cygnus Hyoga, Dragon Shiryu and Phoenix Ikki. The four teens were well known to all in Sanctuary for not only fighting in the battles they had but also to one day inherit their mentor's positions as Gold Saints.
It was still amazing for Albafica to believe that Bronze saints had gone through such battles, against powerful enemies, and won. He had never heard or witnessed such power from any Bronze saint before so he was impressed to see that these young Bronze saints were changing things a bit.
Deciding he should ready himself for the breakfast, Albafica walked back into the Pisces temple and to his own room. He spotted Aphrodite's door still closed and guessed that the current Pisces was still sleeping.
Getting his 'beauty sleep' as Aphrodite phrased it. Keeping his appearance as glorious as possible.
Naturally, Aphrodite had tried to pass his beauty treatments and knowledge onto Albafica when they began living in the temple together. Claiming that their beauty as the Pisces saints should always shine and be second only to their goddess.
Although his beauty did gain him great admiration, Albafica wasn't as concerned about his appearance but he did humor Aphrodite every now and then. Plus, some of the treatments were very relaxing so he didn't mind them.
Upon entering his room, Albafica went to his bathroom and began to freshen up. His counter space held all sorts of care products neatly arranged and given to him by Aphrodite. Lotions, hair styling products, fragrances and other items that he never really used.
Luckily he didn't take as much time readying himself as Aphrodite did and was done within a few minutes. He tried to wake Aphrodite so he could get ready for the breakfast but the current Pisces claimed he would rise when he obtained his full beauty sleep requirment.
Deciding to let Aphrodite rest, Albafica began to make his way down the stairs to the Capricorn temple. Knowing Degel and Camus would already be in the next temple, Albafica walked through the cold temple without stopping.
Finally he came to the back entrance of the Capricorn temple and heard various voices from inside. The aroma of cooked food was easy to pick up and it awakened Albafica's appetite. Shura and El Cid were wonderful cooks and he enjoyed the dishes they would make that were native to their homelands.
"Good morning, Albafica."
The former Pisces smiled when the saints that had already arrived began to greet him. Naturally the ones to arrive early and on time were the saints of Sagittarius, Aquarius, Aries, Taurus, Leo, Libra and Gemini.
"I guess Aphrodite is still getting his beauty sleep?" Dohko asked with a grin.
"He is but I believe he will be up soon." Albafica answered.
"At least earlier than the ones still needing to arrive." Shura declared as he walked out of the kitchen and placed two baskets of biscuts on the table.
"The others will be lucky if we leave anything for them." Regulus teased.
"I'm surprised that you yourself are up this early, Regulus." Sisyphus said as he ruffled his nephew's hair and the others chuckled. The teen grinned and didn't argue, knowing his uncle was right. Unless he had to be or felt like it, he wasn't an early riser.
Albafica quietly sat himself on one of the couches along the wall behind the table. Normally he would ask if any help was needed but he knew that Shura and El Cid were particular with the meals they cooked.
But he supposed, as the two best cooks among the Gold saints, they could feel that way.
"Isn't this great?"
Albafica turned to the side when someone plopped down beside him and he spotted Manigoldo with a grin on his face.
"That you are up at such an early hour? I am amazed." Albafica replied with a smile.
"When Cid and Shura are cooking, I'll get up at whatever time they want." Manigoldo replied. "But I mean, isn't it great that you are around everyone without your fear of hurting them?"
Albafica smiled again.
"It is a grand feeling." he said. "I always wanted to become close to everyone but I did not want to hurt them because of my blood. Thanks to the magic of this ring, I can finally become friends with them."
"Just so long as I stay your best friend." Manigoldo said with a smirk. "After that mission of ours in Venice, I should be your number one friend after all."
"Yes and I never did tell anyone about your run in with the children." Albafica replied.
"Those little brats." Manigoldo muttered. "But I do hope they were able to live good lives after we freed them from being used like that."
"I would like to believe they did." Albafica said.
"And it's just like I told you all those years ago. If you relaxed a little you would be happier."
"Yes, you were right. But all those years ago I did not have this glorious ring that neutralized my blood. I couldn't risk putting any of you in danger. I would never have been able to forgive myself."
Manigoldo clapped a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Now you don't have to worry about it and I can tell that you've become happier since you've been able to get close to everyone."
"You're right." Albafica agreed as El Cid called for everyone to take a seat at the table. "And you will still remain my closest friend."
"I'm going to make sure of that." Manigoldo declared proudly as they walked over to the table.