Grief

Theme: # 4 Constellation (bonus list, replaces #3 Mirror), # 4 The Sound of the Waves, # 2 Cape/ Promontory (bonus list, replaces of #18 Play),# 24 Meditation, # 27 Awakening ,# 29 Memory(ies)

If it weren't for the sound of the waves pounding against the rocks, you could've heard the laughter of the children who lived once in Sanctuary, but were now gone. You could've seen the twelve gold saints were they were still a bunch of little children and were just getting along with each other; they could've been seen sharing with each other—if only it weren't for the reality surrounding them.

Though it was sunny, the day was also cold. Perhaps it was the fact that the ones who had survived felt cold inside. Perhaps it was the fact that they were going through a commemorative burial. The Masters of the Zodiac Houses had passed away. Only a few silver saints and another few of bronzes remained. Athena had returned with the surviving former bronze saints and was now secluded back in her home, looking after the Pegasus Saint. None of the others, Phoenix, Andromeda, Cygnus or Dragon had set foot on Sanctuary. Only those souls forsaken by Athena that were now gathered in Cape Sunion were the remnants of what Sanctuary once was.

Marin had started the ceremony. Since there were no bodies to mourn for, she had decided to make it all end quickly. There were only the memories of what had been lived with those who were not anymore. The glory gained through their sacrifice and service to Athena.

Jabu, Ban, Geki, Nachi and Ichi were now walking back to the old Parthenon. The silver saints who were there, had also departed along with them. Only Marin and Shaina remained.

"Are you ok?" Marin asked finding no response from Shaina. The woman took her mask off, allowing Shaina to witness her own suffering. Red, swollen eyes faced the cold mask that appeared to stare back. Marin meant to take Shaina's mask off herself, but the woman's freezing hand stopped her. Yet, Marin insisted, and though she didn't try to take the mask off again, she did touch it with sorrow. "Will you be ok?" Marin asked again.

Shaina simply remained silent. The woman turned away, her gaze wandering on the sea and the landscape, "Will you?" she responded, for she knew her loss was also Marin's.

"Have to." Marin said, "We have to." She said again in a whisper.

"What now, Marin?" Eagle shrugged instinctively, before noticing Shaina's face was facing hers.

"We'll turn our love into Sanctuary and we'll ensure its life."

"Why?"

"Because they loved Sanctuary and died for it, otherwise, it would've all been in vain."

"Right." Shaina murmured and then silence fell upon them.

"For now, let's just grieve, Shaina." Marin said in a lower voice.

Marin believed the two of them had covetously loved those who like them, belonged to Athena alone. And they had been loved back; it was all because of that that they felt they could at least that one time let go and cry. Or so, Shaina tried. The woman held Eagle silently. Shaina acknowledged Marin needed that moment for herself in order to release her pain. She felt Marin trembling in her arms, and then she felt calmed. Both did, though Shaina hadn't cried. A silent hug that drew them closer as friends; their grief for both Aioria and Milo, and for Sanctuary bounded them for a lifetime.

The time to return came hastily. Night had arrived, yet, there wasn't a single star in the sky. Were the stars grieving as well, Shaina wondered standing on the place; Marin was already returning to Sanctuary. Were the stars really mourning for the death of those they protected? One more loss to them, she whispered. One more guardian who will come to be.

The moon was shining bright in a cloudless night. And as the wind blew her hair and made it untangled, Shaina turned to look around her. In the silence she was now enjoying, she could actually hear the laughter of those who were dead. It wasn't a child's laughter after all. It was a grown man, one who had fallen for her many years ago and who had shared with her until recently. The woman could see him in the moonlight. Shaina smiled and this time, when Milo smiled at her, she didn't scream out of pain.

The woman murmured something to the wind, and she saw him smiling broadly, before walking away from her and joining the other souls a few meters from him. She waved goodbye.

With Athena gone and no gold saints in the place, Shaina and Marin were now the most powerful Saints remaining in Sanctuary. Its future was on their shoulders but that, Shaina thought, would have to wait until the next day. For now, Shaina reached Marin and walked by her side to their cottages; having an absurd conversation that would help them survive the unbearable pain that despite understanding, threatened with consuming them.