"Why do you not go with them? There are people that need you..."
“Because I am not what they need.”
Ilias was never one to be drunk on the glory of his many titles or his lofty reputation. A “hero” or the “strongest of all the gold saints”. However, if those were the things that the people needed, that Athena and the sanctuary needed…
“Not as I am, at least.” His hand ghosted over his chest, trailing up to rest above the necklace that was the only thing keeping his alive right now. Even that could only do so much.
“I would only hold them back. Even tell them this would only serve to reduce morale. I do not mean to simply run away from the others or from my responsibilities. But the world of people is not for me anymore. All I can do is retreat to nature until a time comes for my star to shine once more…”
He felt guilt for his weakness. He knew he was leaving Sisyphus with no guidance. He knew he was leaving the Pope without one of his saints. He knew he was leaving people who needed the man who he used to be. “Those people may need to believe that the man they knew still exists in some way, though…”