The Wrong Jason Singularity

Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Travel

Jason stared at the sky. He felt dizzy and tired even though he was doing nothing but just sitting tight and gripping his teacher and guardian.

" Do you need to drink water Diomedes? "

Jason stared at where the voice came from. It sounded so distant and near at the same time. Looks like he was dizzy and was now bordering on unconsciousness just looking at his current attitude.

Damn. Jason hated the sun and its scorching glare.

He felt something press on his mouth. And that someone has muttered something and he doesn't understand it. Still, he unconsciously welcomed it. The fresh and cool water entering his body was welcome. He enthusiastically gulped on them. Jason let out a sigh of relief. He could feel that his current muddleheaded state was going away.

" Are you alright now, Diomedes? "

Chiron asked him with a concerned look on his face. Jason nodded his head and just let his hand grip more tightly to the centaur.

It was a surprise to him that he learned that he was also going with Chiron to Athens. Jason was prepared that day to bid farewell to the centaur. But now that he thought of the implications and this current suffering that he experienced, staying in the hidey-hole cave of Mount Pelion sounds so nice and heavenly.

Jason wasn't looking forward to when he arrived in Athens. The dominion of the goddess of knowledge and one of the most popular cities of Ancient Greece. He knows that going to that place is a bad idea. Sooner or later, there was a huge possibility of him encountering trouble in that place.

" You are just doing nothing but being carried by Chiron. Yet, you already feel tired? Looks like you need more training to build up your stamina. "

Jason, even if he wasn't looking, already knows who was the one speaking. The tone sounded so amused, and there was also a clear hint of teasing. Jason can't help but glare at where the direction of the voice came from. It was Aristaeus who was walking a short distance behind Chiron. With his glare, the god of beekeeping only becomes more amused.

Over the time that he spent in Aristaeus's presence, he became somewhat familiar with him. He learned a few things about the Demigod. Like that, his glaring, anger, annoyance, and feisty attitude seem to amuse the god of beekeeping. He's being rude to the demi-God doesn't seem to anger him. Instead, it makes Aristaeus amuse and feed on the demi-god's sadism.

It was maybe that he has the 'appearance' of a child that Aristaeus doesn't get angry for his insolence. Or maybe that the demi-god wasn't a person who was easy to anger or offend. From interacting with the said demi-god, he has just the general attitude of a carefree asshole who likes to mess with people.

Jason continues tightly gripping Chiron during their travels. When he would get dizzy, Chiron would offer him water. On their journey, they passed several towns and cities. They would also stop on the river and refill their supply of water. During the nights, If they are lucky to arrive in the town, then they are fortunate enough to stay in one of the lodgings and sleep. If they aren't fortunate enough and still in the middle of nowhere or forest when the night arrives, Jason would have a camping experience. With no soft bed, or the hidey-hole cave to protect him from the chilly night breeze.

He would stay huddled as close to the campfire as possible. Chiron served as a heater while Aristaeus was looking at him with a smug and mocking look on his face as he cast some kind of spell that kept him warm.

At least, the roast fish, rabbit meat, or boar was delicious. Jason was thankful that he was ready to bring several spices, even though he was surprised that he was also going to Athens.

4 out of 6 days, They go outside and sleep in the wilds. Jason doesn't like staying outside. What's with the uncomfortable sounds of some strange creature from a distance and the pesky bugs that tried to bite him? But Alas, he was certain that he would get several camping experiences in the future.

The next time that this kind of journey would happen, he was determined to be more prepared. He should make a tent and the other necessary camping tools. With trial and error, he would learn his lesson and eventually make a tent.

Jason also needed to train and practice his magic. And find a way to increase his Mana capacity. Aristaeus, in one of his lessons, has told him that since he was still a child, he still has a lot of growth potential. With the rate of his training, the god of Beekeeping was certain that he was improving at an impressive rate.

But despite that, Jason knows that it wouldn't be enough. There was always a doubt that he was lacking. And he with absolute certainty that it was the truth. He was weak. His current abilities wouldn't be enough if he wanted to survive. Jason wanted to live. He would avoid the fate of the Original Iasōn and take the matter into his own hands.

He also doesn't like to end up one of the necessary things to be culled. Just like this world. Of course, Jason wouldn't forget. How the future of this one of the parallel worlds of Nasuverse is bleak. The god of dreams informed him after all of the situation and future of this world.

Over the past year, other than interacting with Chiron and Aristaeus. In his dreams, Jason would have a conversation with Hypnos a few times. Jason was wary and cautious of the god of dreams. Other than Jason's general distrust of the gods and the biased perspective on where he views them because of the Greek mythology of his world, there are other reasons to distrust the god of dreams.

He doesn't like how he has pried and learned of Jason's greatest secret. Even when God has promised that he would tell no one about it. He also dislikes how the god can casually in and out himself of people's subconscious and his other abilities. Despite the goodwill of revealing this world's future, Jason wouldn't ever trust God. Yet, every time he was in a dream and talking to the god, it was like a huge burden on his shoulders was lifted. He doesn't feel like an atlas who is carrying the weight of the world despite their serious conversations.

He feels light and relaxed. In dreams, he could be himself. His true self. Not a person trapped in someone's skin. He wasn't Iasōn. Not the diligent Diomedes. But, just him. Jason wasn't wearing a mask or keeping in his act.

In the dreams, he can be his true self, and he isn't deceiving anyone.

" Diomedes? "

Jason blinked when he suddenly felt a hand on his head. He stared at the person and found Chiron staring at him with a frown.

" Do you need to drink water again? "

The centaur asked and Jason shook his head.

" If you feel hungry or thirsty. You can tell it to me, your teacher. "

" Yes. "

Jason thought as they continued their journey that he should get rid of his absentmindedness and habit of wandering his mind. But he can't help it since the heat was affecting his mind. He was also tired of traveling.

It was already the 7th day. He wondered about the difference between Chiron traveling alone and them. It seems that unlike when Chiron was alone in his journey, their current travel would take at least one week and a few days before they got to Athens.

He misses staying in Chiron's cave. He doesn't mind staying there and becoming a hermit. Jason was certain that he would die of boredom.

Yet, a few hours later. Things started to get interesting. Those interesting things just happened to be in the form of bandits.

" Help us! "

And an unfortunate merchant caravan.

Jason wanted to facepalm and berate himself. Dying in boredom sounds better than getting into action.