Chapter 3

By: MysticFantasy

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Regulus stood off to the side, watching as the Bronze saints interacted with their mentors as the teens offered assorted gifts and gratitude to the older men.

Today was a day he'd been told was a holiday known as Father's Day. A day celebrating father's or father figures.

With the Gold saints being the closest that the orphan Bronze saints had as father's, the teens were celebrating them as their father figures. It seemed the Gold saints were surprised but touched by the gestures.

The whole thing brought back memories to the former Leo saint.

He'd been so young when his father had died. Merely five years old. Although, compared to the Bronze saints who never knew their own father's, Regulus was lucky to have known his for those few years.

After his father had fallen in battle and he'd been alone for a short while, he'd been raised by his uncle until their own time came during the war against Hades. Now in this new time with new life...

Regulus wondered if he should partake in the holiday. Although he's sixteen and had been able to care for himself since he was young, his uncle was still very much his guardian and acted like a father figure to him.

The teen quietly snuck off and walked about aimlessly for a while as he thought this over. While he knows his uncle is not one for grand gestures, Regulus felt that he should do something.

After all, Sisyphus was his only family and he did help raise and guide him to become the Leo Gold Saint and the person he is. In many ways, Sisyphus reminded Regulus of his father.

Although they were half brothers and many claimed they weren't much alike, Regulus could see some traits between his uncle and father that they shared. They did look alike and both were strong of will and determination.

And he knew that Sisyphus had been trained by Ilias so that made them all the more similar to Regulus. In a way, he could see it that his late father's teaching had been passed to him by Sisyphus.

With that, Regulus made up his mind and decided that he should celebrate this day and honor his uncle as his father figure.

The only problem was that Regulus had no idea what to get as a gift to the former Sagittarius. Sisyphus was one of those people who was difficult to shop for. He was not materialistic and believed in possessing what was nessessary.

Granted he did have a few belongings that were wanted out of whimsy but that was still small in numbers. Even though they are retired as saints, Regulus knows that Sisyphus still held onto his duties as a saint.

Helping train those who wished to one day become saints, acting as an advisor under Athena, keeping up with his own training he had done during their own time...

Regulus felt he was in quite a stupor and guessed that his mind could clear up if he was in the forest. Being back amongst nature sometimes calmed him and cleared his mind far better than any meditation the two Virgo saints could get him to try.

Being quick on his feet, the teen quickly made his way to the small forest behind the Sanctuary. While it wasn't great in size like he was use to, it still held a great amount of trees, various plants and animals.

Once he entered the area, he right away felt a sort of peace wash over him. The cool breeze brushed his skin as he walked under the trees, the sound of birds filled his ears and the clear air filled his lungs with a sort of pure air that could only be present in a forest.

Having spent about half of his life in a forest, Regulus felt like they were another home to him. A place where his senses truly came alive and he could just be himself.

Coming to a small stream, he decided to sit for a while to see if any ideas could come to him.

But as before, he was in the dark about what would make a good present for his uncle. His thoughts continued to return to his uncle and father. The bond they must have shared as brother's after meeting when Sisyphus was a teenager, the guidance Ilias gave his younger brother when he became a saint in training, the hurt Sisyphus must have felt when he learned his older brother had fallen in battle...

"You seem lost in thought." a voice said to the distracted teen which caused him to snap out of his trance. He quickly jumped to his feet, his training telling him to expect an enemy, but spotted the former Aquarius saint sitting a few feet away.

"Sorry I scared you." Degel said with a small smile from where he sat on a tree stump with an open book on his lap.

"It's fine." Regulus said. "What are you doing out here?"

"I enjoy the calm and serenity that is present." Degel answered. "Something I am able to enjoy only a few times a week since Kardia and Milo continue to bring unpredictable matters upon many of us. Why are you here, Regulus?"

"You know what today is right?" the former Leo asked.

"The holiday known as Father's Day." Degel answered. "Although not all of our home countries celebrate it, I am aware that the Bronze saints are honoring their mentor's as their father figures. Is this why you look upset?"

"Well, I lost my father when I was young and then Sisyphus became my guardian. I want to honor Sisyphus today but I am unsure how to do it. I have no idea what I could offer as a present."

"Sisyphus is a difficult person to obtain a gift for." Degel said with a small smile. "The entire time that I have known him, he has only wanted to be a saint fulfilling his duties to Athena."

"Tell me about it." Regulus agreed as he leaned against a tree. "I keep trying to think of something but everytime I do...I just keep thinking about him and my father. I keep thinking about how Sisyphus must have felt when he realized his brother was gone or how he felt when they first met."

"I never had the honor of meeting your father but I can see that Sisyphus greatly admired him. Ilias was a great man and a role model saint. Although he hides it well, I can see that Sisyphus misses his brother dearly. But I believe having you present in his life eases that pain. From what I have been told, you look very much like your father."

Regulus smiled sadly.

"I think giving Sisyphus something to remind him of my father would be a desired gift but I'm afraid I do not have anything to offer. The only thing we both had to remember him was the Leo cloth. I admit that half the time I see Aioria in the Leo cloth I nearly mistake him for my father."

"Perhaps there is another way." Degel said as he closed his book and stood. "I believe I have an idea that you would enjoy."

Regulus looked at the former Aquarius with curious eyes, wondering what it was he was talking about.

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Sisyphus quietly walked out of the dinning hall as the small celebration continued. The young Bronze saints continued to show their mentor's gratitude and admiration, celebrating them as the father's they never had.

The former Sagittarius admired how the Bronze saints were giving such an honor to their mentor's. The Gold saints were, in a way, like father's the their pupils. Teaching them important life matters and lessons as saints. Being there for them for whatever the teens might need them for.

He himself had experienced what it was like to never know his own father when he was young. Then he gained a role model in the form of his older half brother Ilias. Sisyphus greatly admired his brother and everything he had done for him. Both in the ways of life and the ways of a saint.

As much as he missed his brother, Sisyphus could only wonder how Regulus felt. The poor boy had still been very young when his father died at the hands of the Wyvern judge and had witnessed it take place.

Sisyphus remembered the day he found Regulus. All alone in the forest with only the Leo cloth and a single grave as the only things left of his father. He remembered the sad look in the child's eyes and his determination to protect the golden cloth from anyone he believed wanted to steal it.

While Sisyphus had done his best to raise and guide Regulus, he knew that he could never take his brother's place in his life. He only hoped that he had done the best he could for the teen.

"Sisyphus!"

The said man whirled around to see his nephew hurrying over to him with what looked to be a picture frame in his arms. The picture blocked by a large red bow, preventing it from being seen.

"Regulus?"

The teen stopped a few feet away as he caught his breath, holding onto the item as if for dear life. After a moment, Regulus stood straight and faced his uncle.

"I...have something for you." he said as he held the gift out toward the older man.

"What's this for?" Sisyphus asked curiously as he took the item and held it for a moment.

"Well...since today is Father's Day...I thought I could get you a gift. To show how much I appreciate everything you did for me during our time and now. After dad died, you were there for me and taught me everything that made me the person I am now and everything that made me the Leo saint. I had some help to get this but I thought you might like it."

With that, Sisyphus looked down at the frame in his hand and removed the bow. Upon seeing what had been covered by the bow, the archer lightly gasped.

His eyes absored the sight of a drawn sketch of three figures. Himself, Regulus and, his late brother, Ilias. All three were clad in their gold cloths and Sisyphus couldn't help but admire how the artist had perfectly captured Ilias.

He looked exactly as Sisyphus had last seen him.

Sisyphus felt a stinging feeling in his eyes and realized he had tears forming. With a small shuddered breath, he was able to keep the tears at bay.

"Regulus," he said softly with a small smile. "This is...This is a wonderful gift. Possibly one of the greatest I've ever recieved. I'm very touched by this."

Regulus smiled.

"Ever since I found you and you came to Sanctuary with me, I was never sure if I was doing everything I could for you. Often times I wondered if I was letting you grow in a way that your father would be pleased with. More often I wondered if you were ever happy."

"Of course I was and still am." Regulus stated. "I know my father would be happy to have known I once wore the Leo cloth and that if anyone was to be my guardian it was you. You taught me everything I needed to be the Leo saint and that helped me avenge him in my fight against Rhadamanthys."

"And you pushed your power to greater limits by performing a technique that no one else has done before or since. A very impressive matter. I'm very happy with how you led your life as the Leo saint and now that you're able to live freely. Anytime that you wish to come see this picture or if you want to hear about your father, do not hesitate to do so."

Regulus smiled and suddenly embraced his uncle. Sisyphus was slightly surprised at the moment but quickly overcame it and returned the gesture. He savored the embrace as Regulus never really expressed himself in such a way.

He felt so relieved that Regulus said he had been raised well and that he was happy with the life he had in their time and in this current time. It made him feel on top of the world to know that his nephew says he had both learned and been raised well by his uncle.

I can only hope that Ilias is happy that his son is happy. Sisyphus thought.

A gentle and cool breeze brushed against his cheek. Sisyphus glanced up and his eyes widened at what he saw. Believing that he was seeing things or perhaps he missed his brother so greatly that it was what caused the sight before him.

For in the distance, with a happy and proud smile, stood his brother as he watched the two with gentle eyes filled with affection.

"Thank you, Sisyphus."

Sisyphus felt the tears he'd been holding back finally surface and stream down his cheeks. He blinked in an attempt to slow his tears and when he opened his eyes again, Ilias was gone.

Seemingly carried away with the wind and back to the nature that he so loved.

Still shedding tears but smiling happily, Sisyphus returned to embracing his nephew. His only remaining family and last piece of his brother still left in this world.

And Sisyphus would do everything to protect and care for Regulus for as long as he lived.