Treason: n [U] (the crime of) great disloyalty to one’s country, esp. by helping its enemies or by violent opposition to those in power [Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English –New Edition-]

Up, down, sideways, behind, forward... and inside. His brother had told him that, to check his surroundings when in combat and check his soul. See everything and make them think you saw nothing, he had said, placing his palms before him and letting him punch them with his chubby hands to practice. Know where your enemy is, he had added, sweeping him off his feet with a slight tap on his knees.

But his brother was a traitor. His brother – his mentor, his teacher, his role model – was his greatest enemy. So he wouldn’t listen to his words anymore. He wouldn’t listen to the whispers of his past training with him that kept popping inside his mind.

He would be better. The best. And he would prove him... prove the world, that his blood wasn’t the same than his. That his brother might have been a traitor, but he – He would not.

‘’ Dead brother, lonely child... ‘’

Up, down, sideways, behind, forward and inside. His brother had told him that, and even when he hated himself for listening, he checked his surroundings and looked into his soul just as he had told him. Four guards armed with spears and clubs, watching him with evil eyes, mocking smirks on their lips and threats escaping their mouths. No enemy within. His soul was clean.

‘’ Traitor’s brother, traitor to-be ‘’

Up, down, sideways, behind, forward and inside. He had loved his brother, loved him with his entire heart. He had thought his brother loved him too. But now he knew he didn’t. His brother was a sinner, the worst of them. He had attempted against Sanctuary’s Dream and stained them both forever, without even thinking how would it be for him, to have to live without him yet having to live with his fame –sinner’s fame – forever.

‘’ Your blood is corrupted, kid ‘’

Eight eyes fixed on him, eight hands grabbing him and pulling him away from the safety of the little corner he had been crouching against and throwing him against the floor, eight feet kicking him over and over again, the spears’ butts and clubs soon following. Blood sprouting from his mouth, its sweet taste making him gag. Traitor’s blood. No – his blood was not like his, would never be. His blood was clean.

‘’ Let’s finish him off... ‘’

He welcomed the feeling of the cold iron tip against his heaving chest, he welcomed the pain of the edge grazing his skin as it followed the path towards his heart. He hated him for leaving him. He hated him for staining their blood. He hated him for dying. And more than anything, he hated himself for loving him still.

‘’ You shall not touch him ‘’

He couldn’t stop a strangled sob from escaping his throat when hearing that steel-like voice, his empty eyes watching the executioner’s spear fall by his side with a clang, its wooden pole sliced by the deadliest weapon.

‘’ Now leave ‘’

The four men scurried away at the commanding tone of that voice, their steps sounding like hammering against the wooden floor. Silence filled the cottage afterwards, perturbed only by his ragged breathing and the sound of the creaking wood when the one that had stopped the guards crouched by his side.

He flinched at the touch of delicate fingers on his shoulder, regretting doing so when the hand moved away.

‘’ I... I’m sorry ‘’ he stammered, suddenly afraid of losing him too ‘’ ...for bringing you so much troubles ‘’

‘’ Aiolia... ‘’

He managed to crawl to his feet and threw his arms around his neck, feeling him stiffen under him. ‘’ I am sorry, Shura ‘’ he repeated, hiding his face against his shoulder when he couldn’t hold the tears back anymore.

Shura sighed, relaxing after the first feeling of apprehension that had seized him when the child had embraced him, the same way he had seen him embrace Aioros time after time. With care, he stroke his shaking back and cursed inwardly when feeling him flinch once again, this time from the pain.

The bastards... They couldn’t see, could they? What they had dared to damage? They couldn’t see the nobility of the child’s soul?

It was the same nobility that his brother had had, before... before he betrayed them all. He had pondered over it so many times already, on why would Aioros do something like that, trample over their friendship, betray Sanctuary and endanger his little brother. Why he would do something like that, knowing that he would have been the one chosen to punish him. But he had found no answer, and knew he never would.

In silence, he gathered Aiolia in his arms and took him to the bedroom, pain gripping his heart when seeing Aioros’ belongings shattered and torn on the floor.

‘’ They did it ‘’ Aiolia whispered brokenly in his ear. ‘’ They even broke the centaur statue you gave him... ‘’

Shura nodded, wishing he could say that the statue didn’t matter; that none of those things did. But he couldn’t. Because they did. They were the only things that were left of the man he had loved like a brother and respected as a Saint. The destruction of his belongings felt like a desecration of the man he had admired, and an insult to the man he had faced.

‘’ I wish they wouldn’t have broken it... I liked it ‘’ Aiolia added, resting his cheek on Shura’s shoulder.

‘’ It wasn’t your fault, don’t worry about it ‘’ he said, placing the child carefully on the bed to later stare at him with a scrutinising gaze, ‘’ We’ll have to do something about those wounds... ‘’

‘’ I am sorry ‘’ Aiolia whispered once again, tears returning to his eyes. Shura was his brother’s best friend, he had probably suffered as much as he had with his death, and now he was depending on him, bothering him. ‘’ You don’t have to take care of me ‘’

Shura frowned, opening his mouth to say something, but closed it right away, reaching for the chair by the bed and sitting down.

‘’ Stay still ‘’ he said, the commanding tone returning to his beforehand broken voice. Aiolia watched him as he placed one of his hands on his chest and made his golden, all-mighty cosmo flow over it.

Capricorn. Harsher than Sagittarius, yet so less warm...

But the cosmo of a Gold Saint still, so similar to his brother that if he closed his eyes he could swear that the one that was by his side was Aioros.

That was why he kept his eyes open, fixed on Shura’s hand, on his long, delicate yet deadly fingers, the opposite of Aioros’ large, callused hands.

Shura was not his brother, would never be. He didn’t want to wish for that. Shura was a Gold Saint, and his brother... his brother was nothing but a Traitor.

‘’ I only stopped the pain, Aiolia, but for the wounds to heal you’ll have to stay in bed ‘’ he finally said.

‘’ I am sorry... ‘’

‘’ Stop saying that ‘’ Shura said coldly, rubbing his temples, ‘’ You don’t have to tell me that ‘’

Aiolia started. So he was also in pain... his brother had betrayed them both.

‘’ All you have to do now is rest. I’ll get you some bandages and medicine, they are nothing but bruises and some cuts, that shouldn’t take long to heal ‘’ he added, standing up.

‘’ Shura... ‘’ Aiolia pleaded, closing his small hand around his wrist.

He sighed, kneeling by the bed. ‘’ They won’t bother you again, I promise ‘’

‘’ I am not afraid of them ‘’ Shura frowned, arching one of his eyebrows.

‘’ They are only... mistaken... I am not... I am not like my brother ‘’ he finished with determination.

‘’ Don’t say that ‘’

‘’ Why? ‘’

Aiolia’s hair before heading for the door. There he stopped. ‘’ Aiolia... ‘’

‘’ Yes? ‘’

‘’ You know that the one that punished... that punished... Damn ‘’ he let out, running his fingers through his black hair.

Aiolia looked at him, then nodded faintly. ‘’ You didn’t have a choice ‘’

Shura stared at him, surprised.

‘’ He was a traitor and you are a Saint. The law exists to be followed, those that break it... ‘’ he whispered, shifting on the bed and hiding his face against the pillow, ‘’ ... they have to be punished ‘’

The wave rose to engulf him, the sea about to devour the cliff he was standing in, an ant against a giant. He was certain that in the roar of the sea, he could hear his name. It wanted to devour him, to shatter the mortal –the weakling... that was defying it with a single blow.

In the end, everything in the world was a demonstration of power.

‘’ Lightning Bolt! ‘’

Big energy rush, golden flames burning his skin, making his heart jump in his chest. Higher. Higher. Higher. The cliff trembling under him, trying to sustain the ant turned giant; the roaring sea noticing that the ant is no more and has grown larger than itself, but it’s too late to retreat, too late to stop. There’s nothing to be done but yield.

Aiolia stood at the edge of the cliff, panting heavily. His hair was soaking wet, droplets of salty water falling from his curls. His arms hung limp by his sides, drained from any strength. And on his face, curving his full lips, was a wide smile of triumph.

His farewells to his training days were over. From then on, he would be what he was born to be. Leo Gold Saint. The Lion.

‘’ So, cub, is this all? Can we go and celebrate now? Not everyday a Gold Saint claims his cloth ‘’

He pushed his hair away from his face and looked over his shoulder. ‘’ I just wanted... to do this one last time ‘’

Shura shook his head while chuckling lowly, patting the golden box he was sitting on. ‘’ So, will you now see the content of this? ‘’

Aiolia stared at the carvings on the box, at the head of a defying lion, its mane twisting and turning in a maze of gold locks.

‘’ I think I will wait for that, Shura ‘’

The Capricorn Saint looked at the new Leo Saint, then shrugged and stood up. ‘’ Your choice, cub ‘’

He nodded, walking to his side and picking up the box.

‘’ Can we walk, then? ‘’

Aiolia smiled. ‘’ Sure ‘’

Silence. Shura spent most of his life like that, in silence. He rarely spoke unless he had something to say, if not he remained with that sad gaze of his, brows knitted together in thought. Capricorn’s mark was heavy on him. But this time it was different. Aiolia could sense that there was something behind his struggle to be the brother that had betrayed them, that there was something behind his desire to celebrate his naming as Leo.

‘’ Shura, what is it? ‘’ he finally said, placing his hand over his shoulder to stop his march.

‘’ I... ‘’ Violet eyes avoided blue ones, then rose to meet them, ‘’ I won’t be around for a while. I... ‘’ he chuckled slightly, ‘’ have been given a trainee ‘’

‘’ That’s wonderful ‘’ Aiolia replied, meaning it. Gold Saints rarely got trainees, especially Gold Saints that wore Athena’s favours... unless the trainees were highly promising. Maybe Sagittarius would finally find a new wearer and its cloth would return to where it belonged...

A Sagittarius that wasn’t his brother...

Aiolia ran his fingers through his hair, wishing he could brush his thoughts away that easily, and forced a smile.

‘’ It is... isn’t it? ‘’ Shura answered gloomily, pushing Aiolia’s hand away from his shoulder and reassuming his walking.

‘’ You don’t seem... ‘’

‘’ Glad? ‘’ he chuckled once again. Aiolia disliked the bitterness in that chuckle, bitterness that had been hidden for so long... ‘’ You don’t understand, do you? I was given a trainee to teach him how to fail ‘’

Blue eyes were the ones to face violet ones this time, puzzled. ‘’ He’ll get a cloth... a minor one... but that’s all he’ll get from me. He’ll never be... a saint ‘’ Shura answered, savouring the word. ‘’ His cosmo will be nothing but a fake ‘’

‘’ Why? ‘’

‘’ Because he doesn’t deserve the honour. Because... ‘’ Shura’s face went dark, his voice growing cold and unattached, as deadly as his arms and legs were ‘’ Athena wants it ‘’

Aiolia stared at him, eyes wide in recognition. That question... that answer... they went beyond the quest that had been imposed to the Capricorn Saint. They were the remains of another quest, of a stain that marred the Lion as much as it crippled the Sea Goat.

‘’ Take care, Aiolia... your eyes... they betray your thoughts ‘’ Shura said over his shoulder, walking away from him ‘’ So take care. More than ever ‘’. Oddly enough, Aiolia couldn’t but shudder at the premonitions that phrase held.

‘’ Can’t you see that you’ll never be a saint? You are nothing but an outsider! ‘’ cried one of the boys, kicking the curled up form on the floor.

‘’ Sainthood in an honour for the Greeks ‘’ stated the second one, joining his partner in the beatings, ‘’ not for some oriental intruder ‘’

‘’ There’s no room for you, no matter what our teacher says ‘’ added a third one, laughing cruelly. ‘’ Your blood sets you apart ‘’

Aiolia walked to the small gang and grabbed the largest kid’s fist in his hand. He had watched them beat the lean, skinny trainee with no mercy, knowing that it was something their teacher encouraged. Overpowering a mob was an easy task for a saint, and the trainees had to get used to that. Or they could always fail. It was a harsh rule, but a Saint’s life was harsh. Only the bests could hold the honour, and it was known that Ara Kar had high hopes for his foreign trainee. This was just a test, even when Aiolia couldn’t but find it unfair and cruel, and because it was a test, he couldn’t intervene. It was forbidden to intervene in the teachings of the Saints to their trainees. He couldn’t. Yet he intervened nonetheless.

He didn’t know if it was the resignation with which the child took the beating or the yells of the kids what triggered his reaction, but soon he found himself breaking one of the boys’ fists, the rest of them staring at him in awe.

They knew him. Not the Lion, he hadn’t worn his cloth yet, he hadn’t found a reason to flare his cosmo since he had attained it, yet they knew the saint-child everyone respected. They knew Aiolia.

And because they knew him and respected him, they fled, helping their wounded leader back to the barracks and leaving their helpless prey at his mercy.

‘’ Are you ok, child? ‘’ he said, crouching to help him up. But a callused hand with long, delicate fingers pushed his hand away, the child panting as he slowly managed to get on his feet by his own, skinny legs trembling under his weight.

‘’ Hey, I just wanted to help... ‘’ Aiolia said amiably, something inside of him feeling some connection –or was it recognition?- with the child.

‘’ You shouldn’t. I am not afraid of them... they are only... mistaken ‘’

He stared at the child, wide eyed. He placed his hand over his shoulders, finding no opposition this time, and turned him around to see his face. For a second, he was certain that eyes as blue and empty as his own were going to meet him, that the curls of the child’s red hair were similar to the ones he should have had when little.

But a blank mask met him instead, blood and dirt staining its polished surface.

A woman.

The foreign trainee everyone was talking about was a woman. No wonder... no wonder the rest of the trainees treated her like that... More than her blood separated her from the cloth she was training for. She had everything –including herself- against achieving that. But still...

Still everyone knew she had potential.

‘’ They are right ‘’ he finally said, placing his hand over her masked forehead, ‘’ Your blood sets you apart... ‘’ He hushed her when she was about to interrupt him, ‘’ But blood doesn’t determine who you are... or what you will be. It just... ‘’ his hand began to glow with cosmo, taking her pain away the same way Shura had taken his years ago, ‘’ ... makes the path harsher ‘’

‘’ I will be a Saint ‘’ she said, her determination amusing him.

‘’ If you work hard enough to be one, then you’ll probably make it ‘’ he smiled, ‘’ Unless, of course, you keep letting those boys hit you ‘’

‘’ There was no need to stop them ‘’ she shrugged, her voice keeping that self-assurance in its tone that kept catching him off-guard ‘’ I knew you were going to do so ‘’

‘’ You did, didn’t you? ‘’ he asked after some seconds, realising that he wasn’t asking. He knew she did.

‘’ Your eyes ‘’ the girl said, stretching when he removed his hand from her forehead. The pain was gone ‘’ They told me that ‘’

It was his fifteenth birthday and for the first time in his life, he was in love. There were no doubts about it, nothing but a certainty that sometimes felt frightening, others incredibly exhilarating.

It was his fifteenth birthday, and he had decided that the cub was no more, and the Lion, the one he truly was, had to take its place.

‘’ Just pull the handle, Aiolia, you’ve waited five years to do so ‘’

Aiolia looked over his shoulder at the masked girl that was sitting against a pillar of the Leo Temple, then smiled, shaking his head slightly. ‘’ Your encouragement is touching, Marin ‘’

‘’ Kar says that is all there is to do. Pulling the handle, and there, it’s done ‘’

Kar. Aiolia frowned at the mentioning of that name, another feeling he had recently recognised gripping his heart. Jealousy. Over the man that she respected, over the man she spent most of her time with, that had got the honour of seeing her face before she took her mask, even when she had been nothing but a seven years old child then. He knew the colour of her eyes, the features of her face. He knew her more than he did.

‘’ Kar is nothing but a silver saint ‘’ he let out under his breath, hands turning into fists, ‘’ what could he know? ‘’

Silence

Marin rarely stayed in silence. She loved asking him questions about Sanctuary, about him, about his life. She loved talking with him... or at least he hoped she did. Despite the warmth of her voice and cosmo, her mask was always there, colder than ice.

‘’ I will be a silver saint ‘’ she whispered after some minutes, hugging her legs. ‘’ I want to be one... even if that means knowing nothing ‘’

‘’ Marin... ‘’ he sighed, walking away from the golden box and crouching by her side. ‘’ I am sorry... It’s just...‘’ he went on, holding her small, harsh hands in his own. Her skin was warm too, just as her voice... Yes, he was in love.

‘’ You are nervous, aren’t you? ‘’ she said, standing and pulling him up with her, pushing him towards the golden box afterwards, ‘’ At least I would be... sometimes I wonder how the eagle cloth will look like, and all my stomach fills with butterflies at the thought... but other times... The power seems too great to be wielded just out of curiosity, don’t you think? ‘’ she went on, resting her face against his back. ‘’ Or maybe I’m just scared...‘’

‘’ It’s not the power the one that is scary, Marin... ‘’ he said, his heart hurting when knowing she was hurt. Slowly, he stretched his hand towards the golden box and allowed his fingers to brush the curved handle. It was odd, how the surface of the box felt as cold as the surface of Marin’s mask... ‘’ It is what we do with that power the thing that scares us... But the power... it allows us to be anything we want, doesn’t it? ‘’

‘’ That’s why it is so tempting...‘’ His fingers closed around the handle, eyes never leaving its polished surface.

‘’ But it is different for you... the power... you always had it... all you have to do is let the lion in you raise its head... and roar... ‘’ she whispered, her skinny arms circling his waist.

And he pulled.

It was just like that day on the cliff, golden flames everywhere, calling his name... roaring it... But they didn’t want to hurt him... they weren’t daring him, nor was he daring them... the flames, the crackling fire that surrounded that Lion made of nobility, and power, and strength, was his own.

The Lion and himself were one and the same. The feeling... was sacred.

It wasn’t until the Leo Gold Cloth had closed around his body that he noticed that she was no longer holding him, but was standing some metres away, her red curls dancing around her masked face like burning flames thanks to the energy flowing from his cosmo.

‘’ Now you see me... as I truly am ‘’ he said, looking down to see the gold pieces covering his body, making his blood boil with a power that went beyond his wildest dreams

She didn’t answer, nor she stepped back. She merely stood there, her blank mask fixed on him, her arms unmoving by her sides. ‘’ Marin... ‘’ he let out, his voice betraying his fears, his panic, while he flared his cosmo and made the cloth return to its previous form, his skin missing the contact of the warm metal when a gust of wind broke into the temple. He had been a fool, she was nothing but a trainee, promising, yes, but not more than that. And he was a Gold Saint. The closest mortals could get to the gods. ‘’ Did I... ‘’ he stopped, biting his lower lip. But then he strode forward until being before her and went on, ‘’ Did I scare you? You know that I would never.... Marin... ‘’

‘’ It was beautiful ‘’ she finally whispered, her hand tracing a vague figure in the air. ‘’ One instant, you were there, someone I could touch and hold... and the other one... the other one you were Leo ‘’

‘’ I will always be Aiolia for you ‘’ he let out, his eyes hating her mask, yet loving her even more.

‘’ I know ‘’ she said with that self-assuredness he treasured so much. ‘’ The same way I know you will never hurt me ‘’

That phrase made his desire to reach for her mask stop.

The words of a child, a trusting eleven years old child that was beginning to turn into a girl, whose body barely showed the curves of the woman she would be. A child that wouldn’t understand his feelings, that wouldn’t share them and would be, as she had to be, repelled by them... Despite of her mature attitude, despite of her training that made childhood dissolve into nothing and turned children... babies... into warriors, men and women that would kill with no mercy at the orders of their goddess, despite of all that, she was still a child... What kind of monster was he, knowing he loved a child so much that it hurt, that he loved her in a way he knew would love no one else?

‘’ It is beautiful, isn’t it? ‘’ he said coldly, moving away from her to stare at his cloth, now turned into a lion of shinning metal vibrating with power.

She didn’t walk to his side, but stayed behind him instead. ‘’ It is... Thank you for sharing it with me ‘’

He didn’t answer.

‘’ You know why you are here, Aiolia? ‘’

He remained on his knees, eyes closed and head bowed in respect for the man that was sitting on a golden throne before him. ‘’ Because Athena needs my services, my lord? ‘’

Aiolia heard him chuckle. ‘’ That’s the reason indeed... You know, Athena is worried over her Sanctuary... she fears some of her saints have... taken the wrong path ‘’ He heard the rustling of the silk tunic as the Kyoko stood up and began to walk towards him, crouching by his side and lifting his chin with his index. ‘’ Athena is worried because it seems there are traitors in her Sanctuary ‘’

Aiolia opened his eyes wide at the Kyoko’s words, meeting the empty stare of his dark blue mask. But despite his mask was as empty and cold as Marin’s, Aiolia couldn’t but feel himself in danger when losing himself in the twisting shadows that danced over its surface.

‘’ Do not fear... she knows you are loyal to her, even when your blood has harmed her... it is not you the one that worries her now... it is someone that has been plotting against her for years, that has played loyal when in fact he betrayed her... That’s why she needs you, Aiolia ‘’ The Kyoko went on, his finger tracing the line of his jaw, ‘’ A faithful Saint to deliver her punishment to a traitor ‘’ He stood up, walking back to his throne. ‘’ Will you do that for her, Leo? ‘’ The Kyoko added without turning to look at him.

‘’ I will do anything for my Goddess ‘’ Aiolia answered, knowing this was the chance he had been waiting for, a chance to show Sanctuary that he was no traitor, that he was faithful to their cause.

‘’ I am glad to hear that, and I assure you that Athena will be grateful ‘’ The Kyoko purred, sitting on his throne once again, ‘’ The traitor you will have to deal with is the Silver Saint Ara Kar. I am certain he will present no troubles for someone like you... ‘’

Kar? Marin’s former master? Even when he... even when he felt jealous over him, he knew he was a good man... he knew he was once of the best teachers Sanctuary had... He lacked prejudices, and judged his trainees only by their potential... He had been kind to Marin... He had made her dream come true. He had turned her into a Saint.

‘’ Are there any problems, Aiolia? Or do you doubt Athena’s will? ‘’

‘’ There are no problems, my Lord ‘’ he finally said. If Kar hadn’t betrayed Athena, he would have been spared, the Silver Saint had brought this onto himself.

‘’ You may leave ‘’

‘’ Thank you, my Lord ‘’ he said, standing up, his white cape floating behind him.

It didn’t take him long to find him. He knew where Kar and Marin trained, he knew when they went there, to polish their techniques, not as teacher and student anymore, but as equals.

He knew he would hurt her, even when he had promised he wouldn’t.

She was the first one to see him, as always. The Eagle’s sight was flawless, and so was her cosmo. She was also the one to notice that his presence there was not a mere visit, her masked face travelling over the Cloth that covered his body.

‘’ Aiolia, what is it? ‘’ she said, walking to his side, the child-warrior he loved so much. She couldn’t see it all in the end, could she? But Kar could. The Saint had remained on his place, his amber eyes fixed on him, his body stiff.

‘’ I wish he hadn’t sent you ‘’ he finally said, lowering his gaze, ‘’ I wouldn’t have regretted facing any other... but you... ‘’

‘’ But I have come ‘’ Aiolia said, flaring his cosmo.

‘’ What is going on? ‘’ Marin said, her hands closing around his wrist. ‘’ Aiolia, what does this mean? ‘’

‘’ Marin... ‘’ he whispered, his eyes never wavering from Kar. ‘’ This man is a traitor to Athena and Sanctuary. And I have come to punish him in her name ‘’

‘’ What? ‘’ she let out, releasing him, ‘’ Master...? ‘’

Kar smiled, ‘’ If fighting against injustice is treason, then I am afraid he is right, dear child ‘’

‘’ Athena is justice ‘’ Aiolia replied.

‘’ And tell me, Aiolia ‘’ Kar began, fixing his eyes once again on his. ‘’ Have you ever seen Athena? ‘’

‘’ Don’t be foolish, that would be sacrilege, only the Kyoko can see her! ‘’

‘’ And don’t you find that system... flawed? What if there is no Athena, and the Kyoko merely pretends? Who will be able to prove it, if he is the only one allowed to see her? What if all this sanctuary you speak of is nothing but the stage for a play? ‘’

‘’ If you are speaking against the Kyoko, then you are speaking against Athena ‘’ Aiolia said coldly, pushing his cape against his back, ‘’ And that makes you a traitor, Ara Kar ‘’

The Silver Saint ran his fingers through his flame-like hair, then chuckled, ‘’ I had to try. Your brother did the same ‘’

‘’ My brother was a traitor ‘’

‘’ Your brother was a hero ‘’ Kar replied, shifting into a defensive position.

‘’ Master... ‘’ Marin whispered, her masked face turning to meet Kar’s gaze. For an instant, Aiolia feared she would join her master, that she would prefer facing him and turn into a traitor herself. He knew he would not be able to harm her if she did that, but also knew he would not be able to protect her from the rest of Sanctuary. But she moved away from between them and stood behind him, her hand closing around his wrist once again ‘’ ... I am sorry ‘’

‘’ There’s nothing to be sorry about, my child.... ‘’. Aiolia pushed her hand gently away, then dashed forward, his fist finding home on Kar’s stomach, ‘’... I know that you... ‘’ he went on, the smile never wavering from his trembling lips, ‘’.... like the eagle you represent... ‘’ he closed one of his hands around Aiolia’s arm tightly, gripping to life with his last strengths.

‘’... will always see further than the rest ‘’

Aiolia watched him fall limply on the ground, his body empty of life. He crouched by the dead man’s side and took of his cape, placing it over him. ‘’ I used to hate him ‘’ he finally whispered, feeling the tears welling over his eyes. ‘’ I really used to hate him... ‘’

He heard her footsteps, then felt her warm hand resting against his back, ‘’ But you didn’t kill him because of that ‘’

‘’ No ‘’ he answered, allowing her to turn him around so she would see him. His heart felt in further pain when seeing the tears sliding at the edge of her mask.

‘’ I didn’t ‘’ he repeated, louder this time.

‘’ Then you did your duty ‘’ she said, resting her masked face against his chest and making him place his arms around her waist. ‘’ That was all ‘’

He could still feel her small, lithe body shaking between his arms, her frailty and strength. He could still feel her, while his body demanded for her and his heart bled.

That was why he had accepted the Kyoko’s present... his gift for having followed Athena’s wish to completion. That was why he was now sinking over the woman the Kyoko had sent for him, kissing her skin hungrily, running his hands over her body, lifting her skirt to press his groin against the source of her heat. To forget about her, to get rid of his hopeless ideal, of his love –his curse- for a child that would never be his, that he would never deserve nor possess. The woman under him didn’t care about that, he was pretty sure she didn’t care about him either. But she was good at pretending that she did. She kept urging him, whispering sweet words in his ear, letting him do whatever he pleased to her. He would even hurt her on purpose to get a reaction, but all he got in return were further cries of encouragement and faked sighs and screams of pleasure that hid those of pain.

The sacred whore was a beautiful golden-crowned woman –not a child bride, not a trusting girl- not much older than himself, with full, heavy breasts and perfumed olive skin. But he lusted for someone even younger whose face he would never be able to conjure in his mind. He loved and lusted for a demoness with flame-like curls and a blank, empty face; that, like a succubus, plagued his dreams and poisoned his heart.

‘’ Oh... that feels so nice... your beautiful body over mine... possessing me... making me yours...‘’ the priestess said, parting her legs and closing them around his waist, talons locking and keeping him in his place, trapped, while her fingers worked expertly around his manhood, guiding him inside of her, into her, initiating him in the mysteries of the Dark One.

‘’ Tonight I am yours for the first time in your life... ‘’ she whispered between moans, her fingers stroking his hair while he suckled her breasts, trying to taste as much of her as he could, ‘’... you will give me many faces... during your life-span... ‘’ She went on, even when he wasn’t listening, even when he didn’t care about the secrets she had to offer, the things she could reveal to him. All he wanted was to forget about the small body that had looked for shelter between his arms. He wanted the woman to erase the child, to vanish her memory... her skin... from his mind and hands.

‘’ ...And in the end... when you have taken... everything from me... you will see me... as I truly am... One face that it is none and all... and you... You...‘’

He groaned, a monster thrusting with animalistic fury into a willing goddess, making her arch her back and dig her nails into his shoulders, finding a strange sense of satisfaction and pride in every moan and scream he forced out of her lips. He lifted his face from her breasts to watch her face as she climaxed, delighting at the way her body went stiff in his arms, a shuddering, glistening world of curves and beauty that clenched around him, burning him, until the fire was too much to bear and it consumed him.

‘’ You will be mine ‘’ she sighed, holding him against her while he released his seed inside of her, the woman no longer goddess soothingly caressing his back like a mother would do to a child, gently taming the beast that she had awoken in him as the burning sensations of the orgasm washed away.

Aiolia cried against the curve of her neck, helpless and damned. ‘’ You are wrong... ‘’ he muttered, moving away from her and lifting the discarded cloths on the floor. ‘’ When I return to you for the last time... You’ll have no face. But I will be yours, oh yes, by the Goddess that watches us all, I will always be yours, my darling temptress ‘’ he added cynically, talking to the goddess whose face would always be behind a veil for him, a goddess that would not.... could not... listen. Talking to the Eagle.

When he left the room, the nauseating feeling was such that he couldn’t stop himself from puking, his body feeling as empty and rotten as his soul.

He couldn’t remember ever feeling that alone.

He closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze wash away the heat of his skin. The shadow of the olive tree was a welcomed shield against the burning midday sun, especially after a morning of hard training. He had learnt some years ago that the training he had thought was over in his life, was in fact a highly needed outlet for someone with a cosmo like his, and he had spent the first hours of the day at the cliff, facing the merciless sea. He wondered if it was the same for them, the other Golden Ones, if their cosmo sometimes grew too great to wield and they also had the need of releasing part of that power. He wondered if they were also there, training in the forgotten corners of Sanctuary, those places that most of the saints and the trainees ignored, their cosmos burning as high as his, daring the elements to trample over them.

Or maybe that need, that hunger for showing Nature his power; was only his, something inherent of the Lion.

Yet power was something he didn’t care about at that moment. All he cared about was enjoying the breeze, the feeling of his locks brushing his skin from time to time, soft caresses that still smelt of the sea.

‘’ Aiolia-san! ‘’

A half-smile curved his lips, yet he stayed still and kept his eyes closed, wishing that he had misheard that high-pitched childish voice he was so used to.

‘’ Aiolia-san, guess what? ‘’

Impossible to escape.

‘’ What, Seiya? ‘’ he asked amiably, trying to enjoy the breeze despite of the boy’s presence. He heard him sigh and sit by his side.

‘’ The Kyoko spoke with Marin... ‘’ Aiolia opened one eye, taking a brief look at the young trainee sprawled by his side, bright crimson eyes shinning with pride and anticipation meeting his own.

‘’ And? ‘’

‘’ And he told her that the Coliseum would be ready for us next equinox. I will be a saint in less than a week! ‘’

Aiolia chuckled at the young trainee’s optimism. No, it wasn’t just optimism, it was also a blind determination, an absolute trust on himself. The boy was just like his sensei... Yet even there, Aiolia knew he was mistaken. The boy’s optimism was strengthened by a joyful personality Marin lacked. One of the few smiling faces one could meet at Sanctuary... A face with no masks.

‘’ A saint? That’s unlikely if you keep disappearing from the training grounds ‘’

Aiolia protected his eyes from the sun with his hand, watching the figure standing before them, the sun shinning behind her. He had to stop thinking about her so often, his thoughts were starting to conjure her.

‘’ But Marin, I was just talking to Aiolia-san about... ‘’

She sighed, placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. Displeasure turned flesh. ‘’ Training grounds. Now ‘’

‘’ But... ‘’

‘’ Now ‘’

Seiya frowned, pointing at Aiolia. ‘’ But he isn’t training! ‘’

Marin ran her hand through her fire-like mane, her patience visibly running short, while Aiolia couldn’t but laugh.

‘’ Aiolia is a Saint ‘’ she said matter-of-factly, ‘’ You are not. If you are ever a saint, you can be as lazy as you want to, but until that day comes, you will follow my orders ‘’

Seiya’s shoulders hung and he lowered his head, then stood up and began to walk towards the grounds. But before leaving Marin’s sight, he pulled her tongue and began to run.

‘’ This boy... ‘’ she said, her voice sounding amused. ‘’ ...And his role model ‘’ she added warmly, shifting her attention to him. ‘’ I wonder who is worst ‘’

He grinned, placing his arms under his head to look at her from a more comfortable position. ‘’ I guess you already know ‘’

Marin gazed at him from behind her mask, no longer the child bride he had been afraid of desiring, but the woman she had promised she would turn into, the goddess with no face that plagued his dreams and owned his soul. A goddess he loved, but had never returned his feelings. A goddess that hadn’t changed her attitude towards him since she first saw him, a beaten little girl. So he loved her in silence, his body drowning his needs in the rituals of the sacred women that followed the Goddess’ darker side, while his soul remained untouched.

Alone.

‘’ Then I guess I’ll leave you under the sun, Aiolia ‘’ she said with her soft, warm voice. ‘’ I’d better beat some sense into Seiya’s head before he defeats Cassius ‘’

‘’ How do you know he’ll beat him, Marin? ‘’ he asked, surprised when realising he feared the boy’s fate. Maybe because it was hers, her trainee, and that part of her showed him some love. Respectful love, love founded on admiration instead of passion, but love in the end, with no restrictions or fears.

‘’ I thought you had noticed ‘’ she said, ‘’ His eyes shine just like yours, and you made it, didn’t you? He’ll be Pegasus ‘’

He opened his mouth to speak, but decided to keep his thoughts for his own. Marin was wrong, they weren’t his eyes the ones that shone on the young trainee. They were his brother’s.

A Traitor. That was what his boy was, what his child bride was. That was what his brother had been, and his brother had died because of that. Would they die too? The boy with the crimson eyes and the goddess with no face; would they leave him alone too?

Why everyone he loved left him? Was he so horrible? But... he had tried to be just. He was just. His goddess’ precepts had always been his reason to be, his path.

Justice.

Such an overwhelming word. A word that promised fairness to everyone, a word that every soul was demanding for. Justice. A cause to dedicate an entire life to.

A cause that brought so much pain...

It would be so easy... to forget about it... to leave Justice into other hands, and forget about everyone and everybody, and follow his wishes instead. Even if those were unfair. Even if they would mean treason.

Aiolia opened the Kyoko’s door and entered the large hall, his eyes set on the blue mask staring at him. He didn’t even acknowledge the man standing next to him, his cosmo showing a mixture of anger and puzzlement.

‘’ Aiolia, you too...? ‘’

He smiled. Yes, he was also one of them, and he was also there, now that the traitors had trampled so much on Sanctuary’s rules as to catch the attention of the Golden Ones.

But the Scorpio Gold Saint was not of his interest. He knew he had rejected the task the Kyoko had presented on him, he knew that Milo, the dangerous Scorpio assassin, wouldn’t lower himself to the task of facing bronze saints. They weren’t worthy opponents for someone like him.

Or that would Milo think, a man too selfish as to see their task in a broader view. It was true that a Bronze Saint was no match for a Gold Saint. But a Gold Saint, as such, had to keep Sanctuary’s pillars, its rules, on their place. Even if that meant staining them with the blood of children.

‘’ My Lord, let me take care of them ‘’ he said, kneeling before the Kyoko.

He could sense the amusement in the Kyoko’s mind, and the doubts in Scorpio’s cosmo. He could sense that his request would be accepted.

Because they knew, as everyone in Sanctuary did know, that he would never forgive a traitor. No matter how much he loved them.

No matter what.

‘’ Go to Japan, then, Aiolia. And bring me their heads ‘’ the Kyoko answered in a playful purr.

He nodded as he stood up, his white cape swirling around him as he strode towards the gate.

He stared at her twisted form, limp in Pegasus’ arms, and couldn’t but think of one thing. Why?

Ophiuchus loved him, that she did. But he loved him too, and so he loved Marin. But he would punish them – was punishing them - still. So why had she, the one that not only was faithful to Sanctuary, but had also sworn revenge on the boy that now held her, betrayed everything in that single moment.

Because of love?

Love...

No, people betrayed each other despite of Love. Love made people reckless but did not turned them into traitors.

His blood tasted funny when Seiya hit him. Sweet and bitter at the same time. It had been so long since he had last tasted it... when he had been nothing but a child, alone and scared... deprived of the being he loved most...

‘’ Are you feeling better now, Seiya? ‘’ he finally said, ‘’ I am sorry... but there is nothing I can do to change what I did ‘’ he added, walking to Ophiuchus’ side.

A sleeping beauty... Shaina had never seemed so strong to him as in that moment. Love had given her strength to resist his blow, but it had made her weak at the same time, weak enough as to make her loyalty falter. But she was no traitor.

The same way he had done with the child he loved years ago, he placed his hand over the unconscious woman and allowed his cosmo to break into hers, to numb her senses and check her wounds.

‘’ She’ll live ‘’ he finally said, lifting her in his arms. So light...

‘’ What will you do to her? ‘’

‘’ I’ll take her back to Sanctuary, she’ll be look after there ‘’ he replied, ‘’ Don’t worry, I won’t tell them what she did ‘’

That Love had made her protect a Traitor. It wasn’t her fault after all. All her mind had told her to was to kill him... she wasn’t to blame if her heart had made her act against herself.

Seiya didn’t answer, but remained still, staring at the ground. Aiolia couldn’t but wonder if he felt betrayed. Betrayed by the one he had admired for so long, for the one he had loved as a brother.

But he hadn’t betrayed him, he had remained the same being he had met at Greece. The Saint.

‘’ Are you betraying Sanctuary, Aiolia? ‘’

He stopped on his tracks when hearing that mocking voice, surrounded by a glittering cosmo. The genii had come. Silver Saints.

‘’ What are you doing here? ‘’ he asked, trying to keep his anger at bay.

‘’ The Kyoko sent us to make sure you finished your task... but we see you are betraying him.... Not only you are letting Seiya live, but are leaving Shaina’s insurrection unpunished ‘’

He remained silent, his eyes fixed on the green-haired woman’s closed ones.

She wasn’t a traitor, nor was he.

‘’ You can do to Seiya what you please. As for Shaina... I am taking her back to Sanctuary ‘’ he finally whispered, turning his back on the voices.

His words weren’t unheard. Soon, three cosmos filled the park, Seiya’s screams echoing in his ears as they completed his unfinished task. Seiya could be a strong bronze saint, but had no chance against three Silver Saints. Sanctuary will have the traitor’s head.

That voice... could he...?

‘’ Brother...? ‘’ he whispered, a warm yet somehow distant cosmo answering his call, surrounding him in an embrace that brought long unshed tears to his eyes.

The voice... was in his mind?

‘’ I am... a Saint ‘’ he whispered painfully.

The cosmo that was surrounding him vanished, only to burst into life some metres from him, entwined with another cosmo he knew by heart. He turned, unable to believe his senses, just to be blinded by the light surrounding Seiya.

‘’ Aioros... ‘’

No.

Sagittarius. The Silver Saints had no chance.

It was when Seiya, clad in the cloth that still shuddered with his dead brother’s cosmo and in as much awe as he was, stood before him, that he felt another cosmo between them, something that overpower both his brother and himself.

Puzzled, he looked around.

And found just a woman. Mortal and weak, that was what her frail looks told him. Immortal and powerful, corrected her dark, calmed eyes.

And by her omnipotent cosmo, a single word was screamed over and over again.

Athena.

‘’ Your brother... saved me ‘’ she whispered with tears in her eyes, tears that he knew he also was shedding.

‘’ Saori... ‘’ whispered Seiya, still clad by Sagittarius. ‘’ And now he protects my saints... do you think that is the work of a traitor, Aiolia? Do you think I would cherish the life and death of a traitor as much? ‘’

‘’ Do you believe... do you honestly believe that the Gods would let a mortal traitor reach the stars? ‘’

It wasn’t long when he found himself kneeling at the feet of the young woman he knew was his goddess, both overpowered by his love and loyalty to her, as by the feeling of being before something.... someone... sacred. Someone worth dying for, just as his brother had discovered thirteen years ago.

Which meant... that the traitor was elsewhere. That everything he had believed in, everything he had been loyal to, had been a lie. Sanctuary was the traitor.

‘’ What will you do now, Aiolia? ‘’ she asked, placing her hand over his shoulder, bidding him to stand.

‘’ I will go back to Sanctuary.... and find my own answers ‘’

She smiled, a sad, all-knowing smile that seemed to foretell his fate as much as it wished his answer had been other, for his own sake... but he was still a Gold Saint. His task was to keep the pillars on their feet. And the pillars were Sanctuary, twisted or not. ‘’ Then go... with my blessings and my love ‘’ She reached for him, whispering in his ear, ‘’ Go and follow your heart... Justice is in there... It always was ‘’

He walked away, leaving behind both goddess and child, both gold and bronze saint, taking with him the saint that was betrayed by her own heart yet remained faithful still, and on his way, he smiled. Justice was so human...

##################################################################

Derre’s blah blah: A very late merry xmas Iri!!!! I hope this little present lives up to your expectations, and if it doesn’t... messa tried, honest! At least I wrote eighteen pages dedicated to the kitten instead of going in my usual ortygian rampage, that must mean something *flutters her eyelashes cutely*, even when Marin and Shura did pop in here and there (couldn’t help it, honest, they were screaming at me to have a part in the story ^_^U) And well, if it sucks, sorry, the kitten ain’t no easy victim, nonononononono ¬¬ *glares at Aiolia* Anyway, leaving all my ramblings behind, I do hope you like it! And as the merry something cards say.... with love from war to death! ^_________^