Summary:

A day in Camus Aquarius life, coming back from the Holy War(s).

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Modern Earth Realm

It was early morning in Greece, spring time.

His birthday was just about two months ago, meaning the temperature that he like the most will be gone in another 2 months. Next month, he's got to have a birthday present ready for Gemini Saga, the previous mentor and a kind of the big brother-slash-boss that he had. Saga was what he considered as his family through out those insane gods' realms. Although of course Scorpio Milo is nowadays proudly pronounced himself as the best brother and best friend he could ever have in what they all call the earth realm, which pretty much referring to the present day, out of the gods' realms.

Tying up his long dark blue-green hair with a simple rubber band, he bend on his knees and started working on cleaning up a grave. In front of him is a stone with his star sign written on it : Aquarius Camus (20). That is all what defines the saints when they leave the earth realm through death in gods' realm.

Had he died without entering the gods' realm at all, the stone would have more written on it: where he was born, when he was born and died, and probably some poignant lines from the loved ones called family or spouse. But no, although he spent years battling several wars for his chosen god or goddess, once a saint enters the gods realm and dies there, only the name and the age of when the saint dies in the first gods' realm would be written on the stone.

It must have been several years already for the earth realm, since he left it for the gods' realm. Almost 3 years, to be precise. He was busy fighting, scheming grand deceptions with his mentor, dying or running around between limbos in those gods' realms, until finally his true goddess Athena won all those battles and decided to go back to earth realm with her chosen saints. Luckily, Aquarius Camus was included in those chosen ones. After being dead several times as a traitor, he wondered why Athena forgave him just like that. Although in fairness, if she could forgive Saga with ease, his case would be easier. Also, the fact that almost all of her saints were resurrected or brought back to the earth realm suggesting that she was not in a picky mood.

Camus put all the weeds he had plucked out into a plastic bag. Not so environmental-friendly, he had to remind himself how this realm apparently started to deal with microplastics and all of things that were unheard of before he left. But old habits die hard, on the subject of plastics, that is.

Out of boredom and a bit of absent-minded, he laced some wild-flower petals with very thin and light version of his ice coffin technique and then putting them in the jar near the tomb. He stood up and took a look around him. This place actually looked like an abandoned cemetery, especially the part where his and Saga's tomb were.

Probably the traitors area, huh? Camus snorted, half amused with the findings.

So he decided to extent his work, doing the same thing with Saga's tomb, just because he liked the quietness of this place. Soon, he was back being almost mechanical while his minds wandering into the time when he woke up in Sanctuary after Hades saga.

Yes, he was dead, twice, for the war with Hades alone.

It was confusing that times run differently between the gods' realms and earth realm. It was not surprising for Aquarius Camus, though. As per tradition, Aquarius saints were the first candidates to be trained as the reader of the stars and knew how time would behave upon them, those could be the signs of descending Athena.

Still, knowing and experiencing it was not the same animal. Apparently, he was in the gods' realm for almost 3 years of earth time. He died the first time at the age of 20. He particularly remembered that last birthday, just because Milo had sent him a welcome-back prank-cake as his first celebration in Sanctuary.

So, two months ago, he was back in Sanctuary and celebrated his 20th birthday, again. Just like Saga would be having his 28th birthday next month. Indeed, the mass resurrection by Athena after the Holy Wars were unheard of, undocumented. Traditionally, most of the saints would not reach their mid 30s or would have been succeeded by their apprentices.

This time was different. Perhaps it was because the wars led by current Athena was like marathon-wars. Or because the fight against Hades had even reached Elysian realm and it took both sides three major fights in three realms. Not to mention other gods who spontaneously joined the mud with their little side wars against Athena.

The paradox of those wars, was that family bonding strangely developed and strengthened for those gods and goddesses. So, not only that the saints had to build their life back in the earth post-alien invasion era, but they also had to build their new lives together with the warriors of their ex-enemies, particularly those of Hades' and Poseidon's.

Ah, that alien invasion!

Camus eyebrows furrowed. Those long, perfected-shape brows.

Giving the thoughts on the 3 years-alien invasion era on earth that he missed, Camus climbed down the bushy hill for a particular Cafe in the nearby village as destination.

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"Bonjour, Camie," a guy with dark purple and long curly hair shouted, throwing his arms hugging the neck of the ice saint from behind, "Why so sad and lonely when you have us?"

"Milo," Camus sighed, "We've met this morning and you already said your 'bonjour' to me, how many times I told you not to do that more than once in a day?" His critic fell on deaf ears, as the Scorpio saint only grinned wider. "Also, I'm not a sad and lonely Camie, I am enjoying my coffee and thinking about this world."

"Our deep thinker here." Milo laughed. He knew that Camus hated being called Camie, that's why it was fun. "So, have you think of the gifts for next month's party? One more gift, I mean." He winked and nodded to the other guy coming and sat next to them. He was tall, a bit tanned, with long blueish hair, and looked far matured than the Scorpio saint. However, the way he smiled mischievously was similar to Milo.

Camus caught off guard. "Er, I was still thinking, but of course there'll be one, Kanon."

"Meaning, you forgot me, haha."

The second Gemini saint and also a marina joined Milo in laughing at embarrassed Camus. He liked joining Milo in teasing Camus, because if Camus was a little brother to Saga, then he should be his little brother as well, right? Although he knew that Camus tried politely to be in distance with him. Apparently, the Aquarius need more time to accept that there was a double Gemini acting very differently than his mentor, Saga.

"I never mean it that way," Camus mumbled. "But why are you two here? I thought you like the pub better in the next village?"

"We're bored and just want to try something else, then I saw you from the window, secretly being here." Milo browsed the menu. "OK, not bad. Shall we stay here, Kanon?"

"I'm not in secrecy..." Camus stopped, realizing that the two guys were just teasing him. Although, it was true that being alive again involving working at the Graad Foundation, and some of the works were indeed classified. "You can join me here, if that's what you were asking."

"Are you sure? No appointments with girls here?"

"Hundred and one percent, positive, Milo."

"Poor heart of girls will be broken hearing this, mon ami."

"And how many time I told you that it's the wrong use of 'mon ami' in the sentence?"

"Probably two hundreds?" Milo's eyes started wandering around, finding some eyes were secretly admired them from across the table, or windows. He playfully winked to one of them, a skillful courtesy, to get their ordered menu faster.

Seeing it, Camus couldn't hold his next critique. "You are the one who will break some girls' hearts by the time we finished our brunch."

"It's a handy life skills, dear friend. You are free to take lesson from us." Milo took a sip from Camus' coffee and flinched. " You always choose the weird blend."

"Non, merci." Camus was referring to the lesson.

"Just don't learn it from Saga, mind you." Kanon laughed.

"He's your twin, how could you..."

Kanon sipped his Ellinikos kafes, "He did broke several ones very badly, didn't he?"

"But he wasn't really himself."

"Ah, yes, yes. But you know what, Camus?" Gemini's tone became suspicious. "I think you are the one that will exceed all of us here."

"What that supposed to mean?"

"Haha...why so serious?" Kanon laughed at the annoyed Camus. "If you're always like that, perhaps even if it's only one, but you could break a heart so badly that even Saga has to learn it again."

"Why are you always picking on Saga?"

"Because he's not here and you will always defend him?"

"Aww, Camie, you're so easy, hahaha." Milo grinned, playfully hugging the ice saint again.

"I wonder why I'm always stupid around you, guys." Camus groaned, but he then smiled as well. He liked being surrounded by the loud friends like this, just not too often, thank you. Shortly, he slapped Milo's hand in front of him. "And stop stealing my mezedes, will you?"

"So, dear friend, what topic were you deep-thinking about?"

"Nothing special. I just starting to read about the invasion again. Because last week I saw some remnants on our beach. I guess sooner or later Graad Foundation will want us to work on that, too."

"Oh yes, we're the marinas are already starting looking around in the deep ocean. Just to make sure that there are no strange horned-aliens left nesting there."

"Hopefully not, Kanon. They were all already flying back to their galaxy together with the Falcon teams, for fighting there, I watched the footages from Graad."

"We were busy saving the world, but it turned out that the world was still in a mess, how sad," commented Milo. "And you know what sucks? everyone on earth knows about Voltes V the robot and the crews, while no one will ever know about us. I mean, we died for this earth and the people, too."

"Milo!" Camus protested.

"I don't mean it in a jealous way, Cams, do not worry. It's just...it would be nice once in a while to have some people appreciate what we have sacrificed, to have someone that will cry on your tomb, like I did."

"I agree, Milo," Kanon said, "It's not nice living as a shadow. But on the bright side, you should know that I will cry on your tomb, I promise."

"Guys, do not dwell on this topic further, please." Camus sighed. "You'll ruin my coffee," he contemplated, "And thanks for visiting my tomb, Milo."

"OK, OK, we should not make this nice brunch a therapy session. Otherwise, we should invite my brother to join us here" Kanon said, "I love him dearly, but I had too many dinners ended up like therapy sessions with him." He chuckled. "My poor Saga."

"He went through a lot, Kanon, please be patient with him." Camus apologized.

"Only if you really don't forget that I want a birthday gift, too."

"Sorted!" Camus smiled. "And back to the Falcon team, I am actually surprised to know that our earth forces was capable of sparing with the aliens like that. It makes me proud of us, humans."

" Yeah, I hope the Falcon teams can really handle those aliens there, where they came from. I think Earth has done well in recovering nowadays, I like it that we can enjoy our meals right now. I would be pissed off if I had to fight those horned-aliens the moment we woke up in Sanctuary." Milo stole another mezedes from Camus.

"I wonder what is happening there, at this moment. How the battles look like. How the galaxy and the planet look like." Camus mumbled.

"You, curious cat. Don't you have enough fighting? You still want some more?" Kanon laughed. "I had enough. I want to live, like really have a living for once, preferably with a normal brother."

"Not that I want more battles. But I'm interested in knowing more about their technology, their knowledge on the stars and galaxies. It could be important for us as well, who knows?"

"So you can wait until they come back, I mean the Falcon team, not the aliens. I do hope that they can come back here like us. In the mean time, let's just enjoy this brunch to the fullest, Cams."

"It's 'Camus'. And stop it, Milo, that's my meal, wait for your own order."

"But, but I'm dying from hunger."

"We're used to dying, aren't we? You'll survive."

"Aw, you're so cold, Camus."

"Thank you."

"It's not a compliment!"

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