98 — STRING REQUIEM

"Shun!?"

The Phoenix Saint awoke to find herself covered in snow, her head aching and her right arm partially frozen; she remembered coming out of Hagen's cave with the Odin's Sapphire and then being surprised by an incredibly strong Cosmo outside. She looked around, but saw no one else; how long had she been out, anyway? Ikki rose to her feet and looked ahead where she could feel, albeit very subtly and briefly, her brother's cosmos glowing.

"Shun is fighting." she guessed, alone.

Nowhere did she find the Sapphire she had conquered, but then she was absolutely certain that the person who had attacked her had clearly also taken the gemstone. Far on the horizon loomed the great Odin Colossus, watching over the castle that was Valhalla Palace below. There were still the footprints on the ground of whoever had dropped her in the snow and Ikki saw how it took a clear direction to where some trees seemed to start to appear already inside the fortified area of Valhalla.

"What do you think you're doing, Hyoga?" she wondered, for no doubt it was the Cygnus Saint who had dropped her in the snow.

His ice was a Cosmo that Ikki would never forget, although it was clear that the boy wasn't wearing his pretty Cygnus Cloth, but a curious crimson protection that she was only able to glimpse before being knocked out. But Ikki remembered well Shiryu's account of entering Asgard; Hyoga was changed.

"Damn you, Hyoga. You got lucky, Hagen nearly melted me all over in that cave. You'll see!"

But then as soon as she moved towards the footsteps, she felt Shun's Cosmos pop on the horizon and hesitated for a moment, torn between following that trail or going where her brother's Cosmos shone. She closed her eyes and chose to trust Shun, because although he was a sweet and peaceful boy, Ikki knew perfectly well what he was capable of and knew how to defend himself.

What Phoenix didn't know was that at that moment, her brother didn't need someone to defend him or help him defeat the enemy, but someone who could tell him why they fought so hard. She didn't know that and ended up leaving to follow the trail that Hyoga had left in the snow.

Shun was sobbing and Míme heard his voice mumble a name against the cold: Ikki.

"Andromeda Shun." said Míme seriously above him. "I think you won't be able stop fighting until you're already dead."

And so he extended the violin bow above Shun's head, as if ready to deliver a coup de grace. And the sadness that Míme's eyes couldn't hide was actually rooted in deep losses, so that all that suffering that knelt before him seemed to him a mirror of the past in which he saw himself so clearly in the boy so young. But that boy in front of him, who seemed to tremble with sadness, actually burned a Cosmo so powerful that it made the God Warrior hesitate for a moment.

Slowly, Andromeda Shun got to his feet again.

"Andromeda?"
"I don't know the answer, Míme." he began, still under the sobs. "I don't know exactly the reasons why I keep fighting. But wherever I am I can feel my sister's Cosmo." and Shun looked at the horizon in the exact direction where Ikki was now standing. "She would definitely give me the strength to carry on. Maybe you're right, maybe it is true that a fight only leads to another fight. The truth is, I always try to fix things without any blood being spilled, but it seems like it's written on my destiny to have to hurt people to ensure that those who can't fight can live in peace."

Míme was looking at him seriously, his eyes always deep and distant.

"A sister?" he asked simply. "You speak of friendships and now you speak of a sister, and then you get up again to suffer for it all. Andromeda, none of that really matters. Friendships, siblings or even our own parents are not worth what we believe in them. None of this is of any use in our world."
"How can you say something like that, Míme?"
"Andromeda, you still don't know the extent of sadness and anger when you are faced with a profound betrayal." and then scored gravely. "A boy like you should never be a Saint."

Míme put the violin back to his chin and played the minor chord of his music, while Shun saw clearly that it again scattered duplicates of him all over the ruin they were fighting. He knew it was again a trick to hit him when he least expected it; and that his Chain seemed to be unable to attack him directly, not recognizing any threat from the God Warrior. All he could do was cast the chains towards illusions, to erase them, without ever actually finding Benetnasch Míme.

The music echoed through the ruin as much as the figures of Míme that Shun's Chains chased on all sides spread out. But just like always, when Shun was sure he had erased all the duplicates, at the end of the ballet he was the one who was thrown against the stones by the white beams of Míme's aura. And this time, his own Andromeda Cloth helm came off his head to roll on the floor of that ruined temple. It even seemed impossible to find him with the Chain, it wasn't guided by an enemy who was eager to kill it, and all Shun could see were false duplicates.

"But how is it possible that he shows no desire to hurt me, when every time he hides in these illusions he attacks me with an immense force?" Shun asked himself, as he got to his feet again.

And the music, that requiem, that melody that repeated itself over and over inside his head, played by who knows how many violins scattered around him continued to play. In the hands of many Benetnasch Míme images, a calm, comfortable and very sad melody, a requiem that really felt like it was made for a funeral. Shun closed his eyes and noticed how the music began to operate even more strongly inside him, making him even sadder, yet comforted. And when he opened his eyes, he saw before him Míme playing his violin; always the God Warrior and his violin.

"The music." he guessed for the first time to himself, wondering if the curious effects befalling his chain weren't the effects of that violin. "It's the music! He doesn't allow my Chain to attack, that's it. In that case, I must not hear the melody. I need to focus on my Chain and my quest to get that Odin Sapphire."

Andromeda Shun closed his eyes, took a deep breath and all he felt were the sad notes of that string requiem; but then his Cosmo began to grow and his mind began to focus on the resonance of his aura with the hum of the Universe that seemed to take over his body. Slowly erasing from his ears that sad requiem that seemed to carry him always towards a comfortable death. And when the music finally fell silent in his ear, giving way to that infinite sound that for him was the song of the Galaxies around his Cosmos, Shun finally released his Chain.

"Thunder Wave!"

And for the first time the Chain leapt into the air violently and the violin stopped blowing, as Míme had to lower his hand from the instrument's bow to prevent the Chain from effectively hitting his waist, ripping the Sapphire from him. He held it with his right arm and saw the bloody fist, wounded by the force of the Nebula Chain; brought it up to his face. He was shaking.

"This time I got you, Míme." Shun said. "You clouded my mind with the melody of your violin and hid your intention to kill me behind the music. Now I understand your technique."

Míme was looking at him with one eye hidden by blond bangs and the triangular chain dangling from his bruised wrist.

"Very good. Congratulations, Andromeda."
"All I have to do is focus my Cosmo and not hear the melody of your violin and then my Chain will be able to show all of its power."

The God Warrior, however, smiled back at Shun, and the chain that was attached to his wrist simply loosened and fell harmlessly back to the ground, much to Shun's astonishment.

"That's not possible, I can't believe it! How can my Chain not react even though you are not playing your violin?"
"As I see it, you still haven't made up your mind to fight seriously, even after being hit so many times by my blows." said Míme. "Or have you given up because you've convinced yourself that fighting is useless?"
"No. Unfortunately, I have a reason to fight." said Shun. "And I will never give up, Míme."

Still, it was a huge mystery that Shun had before him, after all, the Chain continued without considering Míme an opponent, although it was clear before him that it was not true. A terribly dangerous idea crossed his mind, however.

"You're not ready to be a warrior." Míme began to speak. "If you insist on fighting, you will surely end up dying."

The God Warrior, however, was surprised when, in front of him, Shun slowly took off part by part of his Andromeda Cloth, including the cuffs of his arms that held the wonderful Chain.

"What are you doing? Why did you take your Chain off? It is your most powerful weapon." said Míme to him. "Are you mad?"
"I'm not afraid to die." Shun began decisively. "But I'm not gonna die here. Not without freeing Hilda and the world from Poseidon's menace."
"You are mad." concluded Míme.
"But first I want to know something from you, Míme." Shun said, attracting the God Warrior's curiosity. "I'm going to ask you the same question you asked me before. Why do you fight, Míme? It's something I can't quite understand."
"Obviously it's to defeat the Sanctuary invaders, to be loyal to Hilda, and make sure the people of Asgard can see the sunlight."
"That's a lie!" Shun accused, leaving a slight expression of surprise on Míme's face. "I don't think you're telling the whole truth. You are not like any enemy I have ever faced. And you're also very different from the God Warriors I've seen in Valhalla. From everything I have seen from you, I can see that you're not just fighting for Hilda, are you? You are just like me."

They stared at each other in silence, but Shun continued.

"Something deep inside tells me you don't like to fight as well. At first I thought it was your music that confused my senses and my Chains." Shun said, still pointing to the chains that spread uselessly near Míme. "But she didn't react even when you didn't played your violin anymore."

Shun then burned his Cosmo in that ruin.

"Do you think I've given up fighting? Couldn't be farther from the truth. Maybe deep down you hate fighting and hurting people. Isn't that right? Maybe you didn't even realize it. The real reason I'm fighting you is to make you understand how wrong you are, Míme!"
"That's nonsense." protested the God Warrior.
"I can feel your aura, your energy, the universe that burns inside you flowing with a terrible sadness. You also can't fight me or even defeat me."

Míme looked at the boy deeply; he was taller, for he was also older than the young man.

"Is that all you have to say to me, Andromeda? Are you saying I hate fighting? Have you forgotten who gave you all those wounds in this battle? Remember how much you suffered in this fight. Your cosmos is nothing compared to my seidr, and now that you have freed yourself from your wonderful chains that saved your life from my blows, you will no longer be able to defend yourself. That means you chose death. Very well, my blows will pierce your heart next time, Andromeda."
"You won't do anything else from now on, as you won't even be able to move, Míme."

And Shun's Cosmo became a beautiful nebula of strong air that spread through the ruins, preventing Míme from moving his legs as Shun walked calmly towards him.

"What is happening?" Míme wondered, noting that even moving his arms seemed difficult.

It was clear to Míme that Shun had paralyzed him with his enormous Aeolian Cosmos and that he would simply take his Odin Sapphire from his Divine Robe, leaving him there like a statue. All that he guessed from the calm face of the boy who was marching towards him, and the localized wind that paralyzed him slightly increased in power, also driving away some birds from nearby trees.

One of them, very dark and beautiful, flew from there to the balcony of Valhalla Palace, where it landed again on Hilda's delicate wrist.

Shaina's face was covered by a robe that sought to hide her clear foreign identity among the inhabitants of Lower Asgard who fled from the cold and misery. She started from the right flank of the mountain back to the walls that surrounded Asgard, always climbing towards the Odin Colossus, when she found herself facing the beginning of a forest that looked ancient, dense, with old and twisted trunks.

She took off her hood and looked back, in the direction where she felt the cosmos of one of the Athena Saints glowing brightly.

Standing on the pavement that separated Lower City from the mightiest buildings in Upper Asgard, Ikki also felt her brother's cosmos and knew that whoever was facing him was in dire straits. She continued along the main road, noticing with surprise that the place was completely deserted and unguarded.

Surrounded by unconscious palace guards, Shiryu, further on, also felt what made Seiya wake up from his torpor in Freia's hut. He got up with a start as he felt in the fabric of the Universe the magnanimous Cosmos of his friend Shun shining so brightly that it was like a bright sun in his dreams, bringing him back to reality.

June immediately went to his side, wiping the sweat that ran from his face, for he was very close to the fire in the fireplace.

"What happened, June?" he asked.
"Shun is fighting." she replied, a little displeased.

Seiya immediately tried to get up, but June pulled him back onto the mat.

"Captain asked me to keep you here. You are still wounded and without your Cloth, Seiya."
"Shun is fighting…" he said, at the start of a protest.
"Trust him. If Shun fights, no one will be able to stop him."

But the boy then felt his worn overcoat from the seas and did not find the Sapphire that Shiryu had given him, making him promise that he would find them in Valhalla.

"Where's the Sapphire?!"
"Shaina has it." said June.
"Shaina!? Is she here too?" he was confused.
"Don't worry, Seiya. They can do it."
"I can't, June. Shiryu trusted me. When everyone wanted me to stay behind, she trusted me. She gave me the Sapphire and I promised I would give it to them when the time came. I can't just stand here."

It was useless and June knew it would be useless anyway; and that was a situation in which Princess Freia could not interfere and so she did not even leave Hagen's side for those two seamates to decide their fates together. The stubborn boy got to his feet, noticed that the wound was already much better, and announced that he would join the battle, leaving June to tend to Freia and Hagen in that cold shack.

"Impossible, Míme couldn't have been defeated."

Syd's first reaction was when Hilda announced to all of them that Míme had indeed been defeated in battle. The consternation was no less on Siegfried's face, although Alberich, kneeling behind them, was more restrained. He was already the third God Warrior who had fallen in battle.

"Very well. I will personally finish off these wretches in the Palace's entrance hall." Syd announced, standing up.
"Wait, Syd!" asked Siegfried, also getting to his feet. "It is unacceptable that all this should happen and I don't want any more worries for our dear Hilda. I myself will face them all at once."
"But Siegfried…" Syd interrupted, somewhat wounded. "Perhaps if we fight together, then there won't be any chance for these outsiders."
"It looks like the Saints of Athena are pretty strong." said Hilda, as the two of them tried to decide who would have the honor of taking her mind off her worries.
"No, I don't think so. I believe they got lucky, maybe Hagen and the others looked down on their enemies, but Syd is right: they were able to defeat the Gold Saints. We cannot make this mistake."

Siegfried was confident, but another voice interrupted him, drawing everyone's attention.

"Divine Hilda."

The eyes of everyone already up and fluttering fell on Alberich, who remained calm and kneeling behind them. Hilda answered him cordially, as she did all her advisers.

"Speak your mind, Alberich."
"Hilda's faithful followers who here fight to know who will be the next to lose will not be able to defeat the Saints of Athena."
"What did you say!?" shouted Siegfried, but he went on talking.
"You see, Divine Hilda, acting like that was what made Míme and Hagen fall into the same trap. We all need to understand this." he said, looking menacingly at Siegfried. "It takes more than faithfulness and strength to win this battle. And sometimes even these things can get in the way of us seeking victory."
"What do you propose then, Megrez Alberich?" asked Hilda.
"To win, I will resort to all available means. Sometimes it is necessary to leave the soul aside." he said with a curious smile on his face. "I'll show you that I can defeat all the Saints of Athena myself. So if you allow me, it will be an incalculable honor, Divine Hilda."

There was a moment of silence between everyone, where all you could hear was the crackle of the ground fire behind the Councilors and the howl of the wind that sometimes invaded the great hall. Only then did the great Valkyrie speak again among the four.

"Very well. That gives me hope." she agreed, and the God Warrior rose.
"The Alberich bloodline has a long history of worshiping Odin through all generations, and my family has always been among the Great God's greatest defenders." said the boy.

Beside him, Syd could see the displeasure on Siegfried's face, for it sounded like a provocation, like everything that came out of Alberich's mouth to Siegfried's ears.

"Another theater of yours, Alberich?" asked Siegfried, unable to contain his tongue.
"Now Siegfried, don't worry, I'll take care of this myself. After all, I have been given the enormous honor of being Asgard's representative abroad. I feel it is my duty to resolve this situation once and for all. And in the name of my family's honor, I promise that I will defeat the Saints of Athena. One by one."
"Very well, Alberich. In that case, I will rely on the honor of your family to resolve this matter."

And the beautiful and terrible Hilda simply walked to the side of the hall with her ebony spear, leaving them there with their mission to bring down the Athena Saints while she sought strength from Odin.

Shun's mighty winds kept Míme paralyzed in the Abandoned Ruins, but his seidr was brilliant and indeed one of the strongest in Asgard, so the eavesdropping raven judged his death to be near, but took flight long before the battle was resolved. It is true that perhaps any other opponent really already had their fate sealed once they were trapped in that magnificent cosmos of Andromeda Shun.

But Míme was a different kind of warrior.

Even with difficulties, the warrior managed to bring his right hand to the violin strings and strummed a minor arpeggio while his left hand, holding the instrument's mirror, formed the chords of his spell. The God Warrior's simple stalled melody was enough to partially free him from the prison of winds, and even though he couldn't move his legs, he was able to bring the violin back to his chin and make the bristle bow cut through the strings in a single note, long and octave.

Around Míme's body glowed the white of Asgard's snow, which was the manifestation of his seidr. And what was once just a single note, soon returned to the minor cadence that Shun knew so well before the melody that the violin sang. The Andromeda Saint continued his march, for his Cosmo was still too big to take the Sapphire of the God Warrior, but he noticed how the winds seemed to gradually dissipate in a curious way.

Too late he realized what Míme was doing, for the gale of his cosmos seemed to have become a grave bed for the melody Míme played; as if the bright sound of the violin was carried over the low gust of the storm, creating a unique music. Shun didn't stop because he was impressed, but because he felt that his body was gradually enveloped by fine, shiny threads.

"String Requiem!"

Míme's voice echoed and finally the winds stopped all at once when Shun realized that the threads that wrapped him now tightly bound him from head to toe, tightening his skin and tearing him slowly. The violin strings glowed now as Míme played his requiem, and from the violin's scroll, the instrument's four tuned strings simply lengthened until they completely covered Shun's body a few steps away from him.

The boy struggled trying to free himself from those thin, sharp ropes that were slowly hurting his body.

"Your winds are fabulous. This is a great technique." said Míme calmly through his melody. "I think I underestimated you, Andromeda, but I won't make that mistake again."

The melody was still beautiful and Shun's suffering was equally terrible, his neck was slowly tightened by thin and shiny strings and his voice babbled in an almost inaudible guttural.

"My music invites you to your death, Andromeda. You'll be dead by the time it's done."

Shun knew he couldn't die, and yet he saw out of the corner of his eye how the Chain of his Cloth remained motionless on the ground, not reacting to that terrible aggression. It was unthinkable to Shun how it could be that there was no threatening aura in Míme, even though he was literally killing him little by little. His consciousness slowly faded and Shun realized that his death no longer seemed painful, but almost pleasant, thanks to the violin's beautiful requiem.

His bones creaked, his skin bled, but he felt no pain as he saw himself slowly vanquished and leaving the battle for peace in the hands of his dear friends. On the other side, Benetnasch Míme had his eyes closed and was playing his violin with seriousness and passion. His voice, always serious, announced the last chord.

"This is the end." he said, reaching the final beat. "Farewell, Andromeda."

The music ended in fingerings spaced directly on the strings, and when Míme played the last note on the D string it vibrated and a pulse of deadly energy raced through the instrument's body to the mirror, through the peg and shooting out of the scroll, racing along the string that extended up from the violin to Shun's body. And as soon as it touched the boy, Andromeda would die.

But that was not how it happened, for at the exact moment the ropes that held the boy were all torn by the very sharp claws of a last-minute savior. The burst of the ropes caused Míme to stagger back and Shun to fall to the ground, badly injured.

"Who's in there?!" Míme guessed, a silhouette on top of a destroyed pillar of that ruin.

The silhouette was of someone in a dark overcoat and some silver body armor, a serious face and black hair blowing against the icy wind of Asgard.

ABOUT THE CHAPTER: Shun fights Mime just like in the Anime, but who saves him is a different person. =) I loved writing the councilors in Valhalla again, to demonstrate Alberich's personality among them.

NEXT CHAPTER: THE THUNDER CLAWS

Shun is saved by Geist, who fights to the last consequences and dramas against Mime while Shaina finds Alberich in the forest.