Final Chapter: Pavo's Faith

Both the gold arrow and the black arrow flew between the two bearers of Sagittarius.

The black arrow swished by Val's strands of hair; by contact of the gold arrow, the Suplice wearer froze. The arrow was straight – right into Sisyphos's cuirass. He lost feeling in his fingers and dropped his bow; distress colored his face. Was there pain or was Sisyphos dead? Within her heart, Valsylia hoped to open her master's eyes using his Cloth.

"Ah?! You really shot him!" Zelos exclaimed, completely shocked. He held back the urge to laugh. "You devilish woman! Of course you'd kill each other." Frog mocked and kicked Sisyphos's ankle again, goading him to fight back. To him, a mortal was ugly and unchangeable, and he knew that Sisyphos's new form modified his bleak thoughts. Not even a Gold Saint was perfect.

"C'mon you buffoon! Hate! Anger! Failure! Abandonment! Destroy them with these feelings. Now that Gunnar's gone, you have to finish the job. Destroy these evil Saints of Athena who ruined you."

"I said enough!" shouted Val, aiming a finger as Zelos. "We ruined nothing. Master Sisyphos is given nothing but care. Master, I donned this Cloth to find you. Its voice provided the answer that your soul hasn't left this world. I always had faith."

I always did, Val repeated the words in her mind. A kind of faith that he would be a pivotal key in the upcoming Holy War, and in that he was one of the strongest advisors of Athena. Val had heard that he was once recommended to be Pope, and she knew well that this faith was not wrong.

"The Cloth of Sagittarius is the guidance," said El Cid. He turned his head, and his cold glare fell onto Valsylia. "Pavo, you're here because of the Cloth's desire, and probably its owner's." Coming from Capricorn's cold voice, even Val could smile.

There was a glow. Sisyphos, wrapped in black, made no attempt to get the arrow out of him. He was still cold as ice. A moment after being kicked, he leaned back on his heels. Then, the beauty of darkness began to crumble before Zelos. The glow came from Sisyphos's body, penetrating from underneath the Suplice and breaking it apart, freeing the man as he fainted backwards. He fell atop the shattered fragments of his Surplice. Zelos gawked. The Frog Specter was a coward up to his spine; he knew when to hop and run away, spewing insults to the citizens of Aigaleo and the Gold Saints, including the failed Sisyphos. Valsylia did not resist the urge to attend to her master. Marina and Anna offered wet rags for the Sagittarius's forehead.

Sisyphos was carried back to Sanctuary and the House of Sagittarius by El Cid. The Sagittarius Saint was still breathing. The Cloth of the centaur was placed within a pedestal chamber. For hours, Sisyphos was placed in bed but no signs of him awakening. El Cid stated that all that's left is his life to face adversity. Sasha, the vessel of Athena, visited Sisyphos and leaned next to him, while being observed by El Cid, Asmita, and Valsylia, who was now in standard warrior clothing.

"Hades. He despises the weak, and manipulates the weak," said Athena. "Sisyphos is so kind that he carried such guilt within him?'

The three Saints said nothing, but inside, they questioned such words. While a mortal, she was ascertain of her fate, but reflected on the discomfort Sisyphos felt dragging a girl to a war only by fate and the anger of her old friend Tenma was she departed the orphanage.

"Because he drives to counsel my path of reincarnation, Sisyphos will not die," said Athena.

Hearing her goddess's faith, Valsylia smiled. Her role for today has ended. She heard such strong words from someone of the same gender; having little muscle and maybe less fortitude, she wondered if she was a suitable Saint. Leaving the House of Sagittarius and descending the stairs, she did not realize that Asmita gave her a gesture.

"For some reason, the darkness and despair still hovers within Sagittarius," said Asmita. "One hurdle has been passed. The Holy War still hasn't started and that's where the true test lies."

"Asmita, is there something wrong? Do you sense something?"

"For now, the confusion and pain among this company has subsided. The peacock can't use flight. However, its tails shine brightly like stars in the sky."

When Valsylia returned the Sagittarius Cloth back to its temple, she still had hers, which she left at the Sanctuary's orchestra theater in its Pandora box. Anna and Marina were there waiting for her, and were told that Sisyphos would be fine. Speaking to her friends from Aigaleo, she sat against her Cloth's box. Embellishing it was the symbol of an avian with outspread tail feathers – a peacock.

"Athena said that Hades corrupted him with his feelings. No matter how strong we are, we can have wounds inside that we don't know about and open them."

"They can be wounds that you brought upon yourself unnecessarily," said the nun, Marina. "Pain is substantial on his mortal world. Do not be afraid of it. I don't know what fighting like a warrior is like."

"Majority of Saints are men," said Val, "and perhaps they don't see me as much. Maybe spiritual faith isn't everything?" She frowned. Certainly, she fought Specters and manage to retrieve her Master, but not without struggle. She was also told that the enemy wasn't at their best strength. If she didn't train her Cosmos, could she even be useful?

"But you learned today that it's quite strong. Spiritual faith mattered today!" Anna boasted, moving her arms around and showing her friend a flex. "Today!"

"What's going on? How's Sisyphos?" A large voice entered the conversation. The three ladies turned towards the voice and saw a smiling Taurus Aldebaran from before. Little did they know, Taurus and Sisyphos shared a close friendship. When he was told that Sisyphos was taking a rest, Taurus gave out a hearty laugh and rubbed the back of his head.

"Of course he is! Sorry I overheard," he said. "To me, Strength comes from protecting the weak. Of course, a good heart is strong."

"But, what if I'm fated to be weak?" Val still frowned. How did she worry herself again so quickly? "Taurus is obviously a strong man."

"Is it because I'm tall, strong and handsome?" Aldebaran grinned widely and raised a hand. Indeed, he was tall and muscular, suitable for the Cloth of Taurus, having primed his body to take and release heavy blows. Using his hand, he raised it to his forehead and then dipped it close to the ground.

"Big or small. Heavyweight or lightweight. We still have ways to do things, how we manage in a fight. We are humans. What? Do you plan on fighting a giant fat monster?"

Valsylia had no words; Taurus's smile remained. "Didn't Sisyphos tell you to believe in the Cosmos and how unlimited it is? Something along those lines?"

She didn't say it but Valsylia's face showed a revelation. Aldebaran realized it and laughed again. "See? Growth is unlimited. If you can do and you believe it, it will all come together."

Val wouldn't admit it but wearing a Cloth unlike the Gold type like her Master, she had a slight fear of dying. A fear of being useless while gradually heading towards death; would the Pavo Cloth have any effect against the mighty Specters such as Mandrake, Worm and especially Impuldulu? What about gods?

"Omen Lightning!"

When the war finally happened, Pavo Valsylia met that Gunnar again. From her hands were unleashed a cosmic wave of light that blinded the eyes and swallowed all obstacles. The light was so large, did it reflect what she held in her heart? The will that he contained to win for the weak? And for Athena and her friends?

"Argus Journey!"

She wasn't sure yet. On their second meeting, she and Gunnar escaped with their lives.

"I'll do what I can."