Epilogue
Seiya is noticeably quiet during the flight home. Shiryu asks him what is on his mind.
"A lot," he replies. "For example, what if we couldn’t summon our Cosmos back there? Then all those years, all those battles and hardships would be laid to waste. I owe some thanks to Saori-san for opening my eyes. If she hadn’t, I’d have been still wallowing in self-pity at how useless we were. Without Cosmos we’re not Saints…and I can’t bear losing my Sainthood, I don’t know how I should live my life if I can’t be a Saint anymore."
"But you do know now that we will never lose our Cosmos," Shiryu says.
"And it’s no use imagining the impossible," Hyoga joins in.
Shun sighs. "Those Cimmerians, I have to admire them. They love their land as much as…well, as much as we love Athena. Poor Aristaios, though."
"They are admirable," Seiya says a little sardonically. "Especially when they’re not being xenophobic."
"I don’t blame Harmonia. She thinks we’re intruders, and in a sense we are."
"You always see both sides of the story, Shun," answers Ikki. "If we hadn’t been there that land would’ve crumbled."
Saori listens to their conversation with half an ear. She is delving into her own private thoughts. She has been confused during the whole Cimmerian episode from start to finish about Saori and Athena, but she has reached a conclusion. She understands now who she is, and how she should live with it.
It matters little who I am, she decides. As long as I and the Saints are comrades-in-arms, being Saori or Athena makes no difference. And I don’t have to feel guilty if I can’t return Seiya’s affection for me. We will still all be brothers and sister. That is far, far more valuable than romantic love.
That is of course Athena speaking, but Saori cannot care less. She accepts fully what she is: sometimes Saori, sometimes Athena, with all the advantages and disadvantages. The Saints are her brothers and she their sister. That will keep the Cosmos always burning within the six of them, because Cosmos is just another name for love and faith, and she is certain they will always have them.
The conversation becomes a low, pleasant drone. Tatsumi, passing by, unobtrusively turns off the reading lights above her. She lets her head rest comfortably against the plush seat. Her eyelids droop and soon she falls asleep.
FINIS