Saint Seiya: The Legend of Seiya

5 - The Cosmo of Friendship

The open Coliseum is gradually filling up with the audience that will see the third day of the Tournament. A lot of excitement, some girls wearing plastic helmets imitating their favorite heroes, boys with articulated dolls pretending to use techniques like Rising Dragon.

In the changing rooms, however, the atmosphere is one of concern and tension among the youngsters, in a circle.

"Tell us Jab, what happened to Ichi?" Shun asked.

Jab, who was usually full of himself, also had a worried expression and even Shiryu who usually set herself apart from them was there to listen.

"Ichi has been coming here to the Coliseum for a few days now. He came hiding to train because he wanted to stay strong for the fight. So yesterday he came again, always at dawn. But at this time I decided to come with him. Lucky for him."

Shiryu, Shun, Seiya and Jack were around Jab listening closely.

"While I was changing in the locker room, I overheard Ichi talking to someone. I thought he went mad, but soon after I heard him screaming and then I ran off to see what it was. He was white. Covered in ice from head to toe."
"Frozen?" Jack asked.
"Yes. I looked around and saw no one, but I also felt an icy presence in the shadows, which soon disappeared. There really was someone there."
"A Saint with a frozen Cosmo?" asked Shiryu.
"I picked up Ichi, dragged him to the locker room, and called the Foundation. They hospitalized him immediately. At least it looks like he's going to be okay."
"It might be just the beginning..."
"What do you mean, Seiya?" Jack asked.
"These battles, this tournament. All of this is forbidden for Saints to do according to our Oath. We shouldn't be fighting like this." Seiya's voice had seriousness and concern in its tone. "And the punishment for those who wear the Sacred Cloth like this..."
"Saints from all over the world will hunt and punish those who are violating this oath." Shun completed.
"I never knew that." Jack said and Jab seemed to agree with him.
"There is a constellation that historically made use of the frozen cosmo."
"Do you know who the bastard is, Shiryu?" asked Jab.
"No. But my Master told me that it has been many, many centuries since there has been a Saint from the Cygnus Constellation, for the Cloth is forever sealed in a glacier over Siberia."
"A Siberian warrior?" Shun pondered.
"Dragon, Pegasus. Ten minutes." announced an organizer, breaking into the locker room and leaving as quickly as he had entered.

Seiya and Shiryu looked at each other worriedly.

"But if it's really forbidden, why did the Pegasus Cloth protected Seiya in our fight?" Jack asked.
"I don't know either." replied Seiya. "Anyway, if we are really being hunted down and punished for this, I guess we reached a point of no return. Marin is going to kill me."
"If this Ice Saint doesn't kill you first." said Jab.

They were all confused about what to do and both Seiya and Shiryu had a fight to fight in front of thousands of people. The shrill voice of the announcers was already echoing throughout the Coliseum. From the locker room, they saw and heard the hologram of Saori Kido giving her usual welcome.

"Do you think she knows anything?" asked Shiryu.
"Well, they call us the Knights of the Zodiac. She must have no idea what's going on." replied Seiya.
"You should give her a little more credit." Jab said and before Seiya could take a hit, he finished. "We don't know what's on her mind."
"Well, Knights." Jack mocked. "Looks like you two have a fight to do." he said good-naturedly patting Seiya and Shiryu's shoulders.
"Seiya... I know how important this is to you. And honestly I don't care about winning. I don't really understand yet what my Master wanted when he sent me here. But I don't think it has to do with winning this Tournament."
"What do you mean?"
"That I'll let you win. So you can make it to the final and have some chance of finding your sister."