Saint Seiya: The Legend of Seiya

67 - Light of Athena

The House of Aries briefly lit up as the glow of the Shield of Justice encountered the Crystal Dome of the temple of Mu. The Crystal dome reflected that majestic light making the entire temple illuminated for a few seconds. Especially the Golden Staff, Niké, who had been standing for twelve hours, without any support, between Saori's and Alice's bodies.

That glow, which seemed to carry something magical, resonated with the Staff, but also without a doubt covered Saori's entire body. And then it went out.

Mu looked apprehensively at the girls and even Shaka, who was still in the House of Aries, got up when she felt a cosmos that seemed to pour from a spring high on a mountain to become a powerful waterfall.

The Golden Arrow of Sagittarius in Saori's chest glowed intensely to the point of appearing to be incandescent and, as if possible, emitted a final glow like a very fast flash. And then Mu realized that the Arrow was no longer inside Saori's chest, but floating a few inches from her pierced and bloodstained dress.

Her eyes finally opened.

The first thing Saori saw was the Crystal Dome on top of the House of Aries, then the Golden Staff that remained standing and finally the Golden Arrow that floated near her chest. She took the Arrow in her left hand and the arrow finally lost its golden glow. She felt the touch of someone beside her. She looked to her right and found Alice standing up and taking her hands.

Mu was delighted to now be sure that Seiya and his friends had made it.

Alice helped her to her feet and neither Shaka nor Mu dared to interfere, as if they were not even allowed to go near what they were now sure to be the Goddess Athena. Saori saw on her friend's face a brief smile, as she knew that Alice wasn't so much for smiling, but in that moment she could recognize how proud she was of Saori for having found her own way. Her Bronze Dolphin Cloth was immaculate, but her spleen was heavily bandaged and both her legs were still stained with her blood.

On the other hand, Alice saw Saori with her hair a little disheveled, which she insisted on touching to straighten the strands that insisted on escaping her ears and bangs. Her white dress very bloodstained down to her chest. She raised her warm hand on Saori's face and saw how she had a slightly different pride in her eyes, as if she had fallen like the girl she had always known, but now that she had opened her eyes there was something deeper in her. As if she had actually discovered the Goddess she was supposed to be. And that made her deeply proud.

Saori pulled her into a long, tender hug. Athena's heart could never be far from Alice and there was no doubt that, from an early age they had been together through good and bad times. And there they were again.

They looked at each other again with sweetness.

"They did it, Mii."

"You came back from your nightmares too, Saori." she replied, smiling.

"We should go now." she announced. "Seiya and the others are waiting for us."

And together Alice and Saori finally turned towards the exit of the House of Aries; Saori took her Golden Staff in her right hand and passed the golden arrow that had pierced her heart for Alice to carry forward. Saori could feel a huge tension that night, so she was in a hurry to get to Seiya.

Aries Mu immediately knelt when Saori turned towards her, but Shaka remained standing, haughty and calm.

"Goddess Athena, allow me to introduce myself: I am Aries Mu, the Gold Saint who guards this Temple."

"Aries Mu." repeated Saori, sweetly. "You must be the Master Mu who helped Shiryu with the repair of the Cloths, right? Get up, Aries Mu, there's no need for that. Please take me to Seiya."