The Second Big Bang

Chapter II

It had been 3 years since I had last seen Alcmene and Heracles. Chiron had increased my training and teachings once discovering how quickly I could adapt. Currently, I was accompanying my mentor on a journey to Athens, where supposedly, a demigod had been born.

It was a 2-day walk to Athens, or rather, the encampment we would be staying at near Athens. Chiron had many camps around Greece, allowing him to move wherever he is needed. Usually, due to the magical nature of centaurs, he could get to his camps in a few minutes. But since he was traveling with me, and carrying all our supplies so I couldn't ride him, we were walking normally.

I had suggested that I just leap after him as he ran, but he disproved that notion when he had me leap straight up to see if I could see him from that height. Needless to say, I couldn't.

I had learned geography during my first year with Chiron, which was a part my survival training. He said it was so I knew the best places to survive, and if I'm trapped in a certain place, I could also survive off the materials there as well. It was useful, but I marked Thebes as the most important one I learned.

In fact, we would be stopping in Thebes to resupply before heading towards Athens the next day. I had already reserved the afternoon to myself on our day in Thebes, telling Chiron I just found something interesting there once, and didn't have enough time to explore it. He knew I was hiding something, but thankfully, he didn't press.

We were just outside Thebes at this point, having took a detour at the Oracle of Delphi yesterday, before setting off during the night. The sun was just beginning to rise in front of us, and people would just start beginning to rise.

I became jittery under the morning light, and with me being closer to Alcmene. And Heracles! But, I have to remind myself, I have to help out Chiron with resupplying before setting up a temporary camp, before I can have the afternoon.

The rest of the day went by so slowly with my impatience. We stocked up on water via a river nearby, so we didn't have to pay. We then paid for food, fresh clothes and for ours to be cleaned (by ours, he meant mine), and then paid for a place to rest.

Once the sun reached its climax, Chiron motioned his hand at me like he was giving me something. I beamed, and leaped out of our campsite, instantly going over to where I sensed my rune.

True to my magic, which really disproved any thoughts I had about if they got hurt despite my rune, the field was relatively unchanged. The garden outside was larger and fuller, and a small farm was near the water, beside a short dock with a fishing boat tied up.

I bounded to the door, and knocked thrice. I heard something fall and break inside, sounding ceramic. Alcmene's voice shouted something, but it was muffled because of the door.

A second later, the door opened to a young, black-haired boy. He was quite muscular for his age, and stared up at me with suspicion but also curiosity. "Hey, there. You must be Heracles," I greeted, crouching down to the kid. He nodded shyly.

"I'm Perseus, a friend. I met you when you were younger, but I doubt you remember me," I stated, chuckling to myself. He just shook his head. A moment later, a beautiful woman appeared in the doorway behind Heracles.

Her black hair was combed down, and twisted around her shoulder and covered her left breast. She wore a pure white chiton, with vines woven into the fabric around her shoulders and waist, blooming with pink flowers. Her sky blue eyes stared back into mine, full of love and admiration.

I stood up, our eyes never leaving each other's. "I had a dream of you last night. I saw you marching towards Thebes with a stupid grin on your face, beside an old man with the body of a horse," she informed, doing a little twirl. "I hoped I dressed well for this reunion," she added, lightly blushing.