Hanna paid for her coffee, waving off the teenage girl when her change was offered. She kept her head low, sipping her coffee as she strode out of the coffee shop and outside. She squinted in the bright light of the sun and moved her gaze to the sky. She had never paid much attention to the night sky before and her brows furrowed as she tried to recall what Virgo looked like. Its constellation, anyway. Not the woman who claimed to be the personification of Virgo itself. 

“Извините.”

Hanna jumped at the voice that brought her out of her thoughts and she met an older woman’s annoyed gaze. Realizing she was still standing in front of the door, she apologized and stepped to the side, then took a seat at an empty table. She sipped her coffee, then pulled out her phone and began to search. She first looked up Demeter and the Olympians, which naturally led her to dive deeper into Greek mythology, including the Gigantes Demeter had spoken of. The Gigante were born as the offspring of Gaia… Angered by the banishment of the Titans, Gaia ordered the Gigante to attack the Olympians…

Her search shifted to Virgo, noting its constellation. She read up on the history of Virgo from early Greek astronomy. She read her horoscope for the day: It's time to apply the knowledge you've accumulated and come to recognize the truth. Perhaps you've been sitting on the facts while contemplating their meaning. A key theme of the day is transformation, so feel free to contribute your part.

“May I join you?”

Hanna looked up and met Virgo’s gaze.

“Гавно,” Hanna muttered. “Are you going to drop the act now?”

Virgo sat but avoided Hanna’s gaze. “I am sorry I deceived you,” she started. “I was not sure how to approach such a delicate subject.”

“So you made our boss do it?”

Virgo shook her head. “Demeter said I was taking too long.”

“I don’t get it,” Hanna started. “Is this some sick way of firing me?”

Virgo frowned. “No. Quite the opposite.”

Hanna snorted and rolled her eyes. “This is ridiculous. What are you trying to achieve?”

“This is real,” Virgo said. “Everything we said to you is real. The Olympians - the whole universe - is in danger. We need your help.”

Hanna blinked at her. “I thought we were friends,” she said softly. “This is so messed up. Why would you continue this?”

“We are friends,” Virgo said. “In every sense of the word. I would not lie to you, Hanna. I would do anything for you.”

Hanna stared down at her coffee. She should have been mad at Virgo. It was a cruel joke, or prank, or whatever it was. But in the six months she had known Virgo, she considered Virgo her closest friend. They had become incredibly close in such a short amount of time. Virgo was more than a friend, she was a sister. Her better half. She wanted to be mad at her for betraying her like this… but she couldn’t.

“I know you are confused,” Virgo started. “You’re afraid to believe any of this. I don’t blame you. All I can ask is that you give me a chance. You saw what you can do. Meet the other eleven. See what they can do. See the Gigantes for yourself.”

“I can’t believe you would drag other people into this,” Hanna muttered. “This elaborate prank is ridiculous, and anyone that believes you is crazy.”

“You might be right.”

Hanna looked up at the young woman who approached them with a man at her side. The woman offered a hesitant smile.

“My name is Aiko,” the woman said. She gestured to the man beside her. “This is Aquarius.”

Hanna met Virgo’s gaze and shook her head. “You really did that?”

“No,” Aiko started quickly. “No, no. I’m, uh, here because I believe them.”

“When Demeter told me she was going to tell you, I made contact with Aquarius, hoping they could come and help.”

Hanna turned to Aiko. “How can you believe them?”

“Maybe I’m crazy,” she started with a shrug. “But I’ve gotten to know Aquarius. And, I don’t know, I can’t explain it, but it just feels like something I have to do.” She met Aquarius’s gaze and smiled. “And it helps knowing he’s at my side to get me through it.”

“As your Ouranos,” Virgo started, “we are bonded to you. It is as Demeter said; we are here simply to aid and protect you at all costs. We have no other purpose.”

Hanna looked between the three of them, then her gaze settled on Virgo. “So, what happens when it’s all over? Where do you go?”

“We return to our place within the stars,” Aquarius said. “It is only through our bond - through the power granted to us by the Olympians - that we are able to take life here on Earth. When we have fulfilled our duty, we will no longer have a reason to be here.”

“I have been in contact with Libra,” Virgo said to Aquarius. “She will need our assistance as well.”

“Where is Libra?” Aiko asked.

“India.”

“India?” Hanna repeated. “You don’t expect us to go to India, do you?”

“We can get you two plane tickets,” Aquarius said.

“Of course you can,” Hanna said. “You’re not coming with us?”

Virgo smiled. “Does this mean you believe me?”

Hanna rubbed her face with her palms and groaned. “I’m obviously not thinking clearly.”

“We can meet you there,” Aquarius said. “We can get there faster. We’ll try to find the others in the meantime.”

“Leave it to us,” Virgo said. “We’ll see you in India.”