06:00 am.
Elektra got out of bed as usual because, although her training to become a Bronze Saint began that day, she didn't differ from the rest of the obligations that she had imposed by herself since she arrived at the Sanctuary. It had been too long since Capricorn Shura had been her savior, the golden warrior had no idea how important it had been for her to run into him and end up in a place where her face would never be seen by anyone again, more not even by herself.
The girl washed her face without seeing her reflection, as she had done since that fateful day when her world was consumed by the flames; she dressed in one of the new training uniforms she bought in Rodorio and donned the mask with purple design. Once she hid behind that object, her mood was transformed: the desire to live settled again in her heart and guilt vanished like mist. She combed her red hair, moved it a bit for let it free, and left the house behind ready to prove herself.
It was time to start a new day.
***
She arrived punctually for the appointment, the place chosen for the training was none other than the Colosseum where she had seen countless times small tournaments starring the Gold Saints. There she had admired their power, courage and skill to fight with each other. Elektra felt she didn't possess such bravery although if she had to hit an opponent she did it without thinking twice. Her true interior wasn't aggressive, hated to resort to violence and that was why she had chosen Caelum's cloth as target because the qualities of the piece weren't based on attacking on the front line. Elektra knew that other people were interested in Caelum but she didn't care it because she was extremely good at everything she did and didn't doubt her own abilities; being the best wherever she was was always her main goal.
Elyn of Pisces Australis. Silver Saint.
This was how the person in charge of guiding her and her new companions on the arduous path of officially becoming a Saint of the order of Athena introduce herself. Elektra didn't dislike the idea because Australis was known throughout the Sanctuary for being the right eye of Gemini Saga, the one who, even having betrayed the goddess and all her allies, had been forgiven and now ruled the Sanctuary with full powers.
***
Two boys and two girls and both wore the stupid masks that if it had been for Elyn, she would have burned them the same day that Athena issued the order to wear them out of obligation.
"They are optional, a choice of your own, Elyn... and you don't have to intrude on it." said to herself the Saint as she observed the four apprentices who remained as statues in front of her:
"Your Name."
Australis's voice sounded authoritative, as it did every time she concentrated all her energy on an activity commissioned by her superiors. Her violet gaze fell on the first of the boys causing him a small start:
"R-Ram, Master."
The apprentice's hesitation told Elyn two things: The boy was barely fourteen years old, and surely it was the first time he'd had a conversation with an older than him woman other than his mom. Fortunately, his companions proved to have a little more courage: Iris, Derek and Elektra. All three were older than Ram, so Australis ran into her first difficulty as an instructor. Having to adapt to different ages:
"Well, you are here to dispute the Caelum cloth but during my training there will be two rules that must be strictly adhered to and that, in case of disobedience, I will consider you unfit to continue my training, thus losing the option to fight for Caelum: The first , you are not rivals; although only one of you will finally obtain the armor, you must understand that whoever wears it will be the one willing to sacrifice its own cosmos for the victory of the allies. So, any attempt at sabotage between you will be a serious offense. Have you understood?"
They all nodded in agreement so that Elyn began to move subtly towards them, guiding her gaze from one to the other, selecting the target that would serve as an example for the second rule that would mark her training:
"Second." Silver Saint's hand moved quickly to the chin of one of the girls, removing from the face the silver mask with purple decoration that hid her face "No masks."
Automatically, all the training partners stepped back, the boys even turned around. All for not seeing the face of the apprentice in question.
Elektra was pale when she felt her face exposed, no one in the entire Sanctuary had ever seen it since her arrival and the gesture of her Master took her off guard. Suddenly she felt naked, the entire world staggered as she saw her mask drift away between the fingers of the Pisces Australis Saint.
For her part, Elyn admitted to herself that the girl was beautiful: the eyes were red as fire, almost the same color as her mane, short at the nape of the neck and much longer on the side locks of hair; she was a little taller than Elyn was, but seeing her panicked, she looked more like a helpless teenager. At that time, she hated much more the fact of seeing how that beautiful face was hidden behind a symbol of oppression, that girl was foolish for letting herself be carried away by the terror of being discovered by the world:
"Please, give the mask back to me..." Elektra murmured.
"Oh... Get it if you can."
The redhead swallowed but launched herself toward the Silver Saint with extreme desperation hoping to retrieve what Elyn had taken from her without permission. Her efforts to get the mask ended up making her feel the ground of the place; facing Pisces Australis in her state was crazy but anything was better than letting others see her face. There, under the weight of Elyn's foot, she tried to control the fury that invaded her along with the shame of knowing she was exposed against her will. Who did she think spoiled girl was to remove her mask in front of a group of strangers?:
"I want to tell you that you would all have died if this been a real battle." Elyn said showing her obvious disappointment with those present "You, for having been helsef stunned while I took off your mask, it would have been very easy to tear your neck in that second of panic at the idea of others seeing your face. The others... tsk, you have preferred to turn your face before protecting your partner. With those values you intend to fight for a cloth such as The Chisel?"
Elektra clenched her fists, gripping the arena of the Colosseum. That was true, a harsh reality that hit her like a club; a Saint couldn't be overcome by fear or despair, and even less by something as extremely basic as the surprise attack of an enemy:
"But it was inevitable!" Ram hid himself "You did it very quickly and we already know what happens if you see the face of a amazon wearing a mask."
"Ah, yes ... the detail of "die or love". So tell me, Ram. Hereinafter, what are you going to do with me?" The boy was speechless, blushing and not knowing what to answer "I am a Silver Saint whose face remains exposed twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Choose then, I kill you now or tomorrow will you bring me flowers and chocolates? Wearing a mask doesn't mean a thing."
"What will you know about what it means to wear a mask?" Elektra said from the ground, feeling the anger overflowing her "Everyone knows that you are the Pope's pretty baby."
"Whoa, whoa ... That's new." At a speed that nobody was almost able to perceive, Elyn moved Elektra's body enough to get her to stand up, achieving in that lapse of time, that her hand placed on the girl's neck and that her face almost touched the victim's face. Elektra's heartbeat could almost be heard through her chest "Do you think I'm showing my face simply because Saga likes me? No, loser, I stood up to the Pope when I was only six years old saying him my mask was a shit and that I never would wear it... What were you doing at that age?"
The apprentice contained her emotions by swallowing, the one who held her would be her Master for the duration of the training to become the Saint of Caelum so the less problems she gave her better it would be. Elektra should noted for her exemplary behavior so going against Elyn she would accomplish nothing. She took a deep breath to relax, remembering her goal: she would hold anything until he had the armor in the hands.
"I remind you that since the arrival of Athena to the Sanctuary after Holly War, the rule of "love or kill" has been repealed, so in my training you will get used to seeing your faces. I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with my personal opinion with the masks. Tell me, what would have happened if in a mission someone breaks your mask, Elektra?" The general silence proved her right, the fear of being seen could cost her the life but she wouldn't admit it in front of Australis "I don't want to see this shit while you are here."
Immediately afterwards, Elyn handed the mask to the owner knowing that she wouldn't put it on her face again while she was present. Iris didn't need the intervention of her Master to remove it so she showed a piercing blue eyes that sparkled in contrast with her long jet-black straight hair. The boys blushed at first but regained their composure when Elektra moved back to her starting position and throw Australis an expression of rage.
***
This was how the four apprentices gave the welcome of their first training session to become the future Bronze Saint of Caelum, followed by a series of exercises that they performed in mixed pairs, demonstrating that both in close combat and in the control of the cosmos, they were too low-level for Elyn's expectations.