31_days | [July 19] [Saint Seiya The Lost Canvas] Perusing the Contract

Title: Perusing the Contract
Day/Theme: July 19/if logic or theories cannot explain
Series: Saint Seiya The Lost Canvas
Characters: Tenma, Dohko
Rating: G

Saint Seiya The Lost Canvas © Kurumada Masami, Teshirogi Shiori, et al.

"There might be rewards but they - " Dohko began, then interrupted himself, "From what I've seen at the river last night, I could've sworn you're not the type of person who'd check first what's in it for you before you help others. Or have I been mistaken all along?"

The conversation was being held on a ledge, under a sky as flawless as a clear conscience. Tenma tilted his head, for he was sitting down, and Dohko was standing and towering over him. "Let's put it this way - try my shoes on for size, just for a moment. You are about to take me away to another country so I can spend the next few years honing my fighting skills, and at the end of it I'll be serving a goddess, someone I haven't been raised to believe in. It's only fair that I want to know the nitty-gritty, including the benefits. Assuming there are any."

The kid was not being cocky; Dohko knew genuine curiosity when he saw one. "Athena is the guardian of peace and justice for all mankind. If that sounds like a huge undertaking, that's because it is. We, the Saints, are Athena's warriors. Our duty is to protect her and help her maintain that peace. I trust you're bright enough to understand why peace is important."

"She's a goddess - why'd she need protection?"

"She's fully capable of protecting herself, but - all right, I'll try to make this simple. There has been a Holy War in the past, and there's no knowing whether or not there will be another one. Wars are busy affairs, and Athena can't possibly be in more than one place at the same time; moreover, the other side always brings warriors of their own with them. And this is where we Saints come in."

"Huh. Yeah, I can see what you're getting at." Tenma slapped his knee, then leaped to his feet in one unbroken movement. That agility, Dohko knew, would stand him in good stead during trainings and beyond. "It's one of those jobs that somebody's just got to do."

That was rather an oversimplified description, but Dohko was in no mood for arguments. "So are you coming with me?"

Tenma blew out his breath. "What the heck. Can't be any worse than working at the sweatshops or the docks. Even if does pay less." Before Dohko could tell him to spare both of them the facetiousness, an earnest grin broke over Tenma's features. "Alone and the kids would be glad to know I'm going someplace where fighting is actually legal."