Alexo

Chapter 16: Meeting A Long Lost Brother

Alexo marched across the land.

He had no idea where he was going, not even a direction.
He just continued forward, his arms low and his head barely able to lift itself up enough to stare forward.

His eyes looked tired, struggling to stay open after the months and months of endless wandering.

Somehow managing to avoid every single village.
No signs of life on his path.

Alexo could hear something in the distance.

Cheers. Laughter. Talking.

Alexo continued to limp his way in the same direction, his foot beginning to drag due to how exhausted he was.

His stomach was rumbling, his body looking frail and thin.

His hair having grown longer to obscure more of his face, acting like a hood.

He slowly lifted his head, every inch causing his neck to loudly crack. He lifted his gaze, spotting a city that was coming closer and closer.

It was obvious to see they were celebrating something. A massive festival with thousands of people gathered together. Fabric acting as banners and streamers all over.

Music became louder and louder as people were visibly dancing.

There was one figure that seemed to be the center of the celebration.

A man with a similar body and build to Alexo, or at least when his body is at full health.

He was being carried on a large piece of wood, decorated with more streamers and banners. Expensive fabric laid across in artistic displays as it was carried by 8 men on each side, wooden poles stretching across their shoulders as they walked in unison.

The man became more clear as Alexo limped his way into the crowd, joining in with the loud cheering and singing and applause.

The man was adorned in a lion's pelt, the mouth wrapped around his head like a twisted heroic hood. Around his back was a quiver full of arrows, a bow in one hand and a large sword in the other.

Alexo raised his eyebrow, unaware of who this man was.

Who he could be.

Alexo's attention quickly turned to the massive buffet. The most food he had ever seen, even more than the village of giants.

His mouth began to water, his body pushing through just long enough. Forcing his way through the dense crowd before collapsing onto a bench, digging in to chow down on the food.

"Hey! Food is not served yet!" A man shouted.

Alexo's body quickly grew back to normal when men dressed in elaborate armor grabbed hold of him, pulling him back.

Alexo tried to break free, but he still wasn't at full speed just yet. He headbutted one in the face, causing them to fall to the ground in a heap before throwing the other.

Alexo went back to eating the food, lifting an apple to his mouth before it was suddenly shot out and stabbed into the table by an arrow.

He looked down at it, the arrow tip covered in liquid. The apple melted and burned away as Alexo turned to look back.

The man on the elevated platform still had his bow in firing position, reaching back to grab a second arrow while staring at Alexo.

"I suggest you leave my good sir, before there are any other injuries." The man said.

Alexo stared at him curiously.

"Who are you?" Alexo asked.

The man stepped down from the platform, marching forward as all of the people bowed or cheered. They reached out towards him, yet none of them had the honor to touch his skin.

"I am Heracles. Son of Zeus and Alcmene..." Heracles continued to speak, but it trailed off into the abyss while Alexo's mind was lost in thought.

Feeling everything pull away and zoom out, staring mindlessly at the man in front of him.

"Brother?" Alexo finally spit out.

Heracles stopped talking, his face looking confused.

"Brother? What are you referring to? Are you some sort of mad man?" Heracles asked.

Alexo wiped his face, trying to snap himself back into his true, conscious mind.

"I...I thought that...I was the only one...there are...others?" Alexo asked.

Heracles looked back at other men dressed in armor.

"My friends here will take you somewhere safe to rest. You look tired and...hungry." Heracles said.

He reached out, putting his hand on Alexo's shoulder.
Alexo stared at it, feeling a bubbling rage he couldn't quite understand. Something that forced its way into his system without much control.

Alexo clenched his fist and reeled back, punching Heracles in the face. Heracles did not move, but a shockwave erupted out that caused a gust of wind to fly in every direction. People were shouting and screaming as they felt it wash over them. The banners and streamers all flapped wildly.

Heracles slowly turned his head, reaching up to rub his cheek.

"I've never been hit so hard before...maybe you are my brother." Heracles said with a smirk.

Alexo stared with intense eyes while Heracles only rubbed his jaw while staring back.

"You seem proud of your heritage." Alexo said softly.

"I only accept the fact. I have had to deal with more punishment and torture with this burden of my birth." Heracles said.

"The burden is that our father is a demon pretending to be a God." Alexo said.

Heracles raised an eyebrow.

"Demon? I have had nothing but love and peace from 'our' Father. The problems come from his wife Hera, doing whatever she can in her power to torture or kill me." Heracles said.

"And why is she trying to do that?" Alexo asked.

"Father has...a habit of...loving all he comes across." Heracles said in his best attempt to avoid the conversation.

Alexo scoffed, sitting back on the bench of the table. He reached back and grabbed a large piece of pork, biting and tearing it apart. Heracles watched on as the muscles became larger.

"Something tells me that we won't get along too well." Alexo said while chewing with a mouth full of pork.

Heracles stepped back to make sure none of the food flew out and hit his body.

"And why do you say that?" Heracles asked.

"Cause our father is a piece of shit. Next time I see him, I'm killing him where he stands." Alexo said as he finished the large piece of pork, his body back to its normal size.
Heracles laughed, crossing his arms.

"And I guess I'll have to stand across from you to prevent that from happening." Heracles said.

Alexo wiped his hands as he continued chewing the last bite. He marched towards Heracles, getting face to face with him.

"Well then...here's a warning."
Alexo suddenly punched him in the chest. This time, Heracles went flying backwards. His face looked full of pure disbelief until he crashed into the platform, wood shattering and flying in every direction. Fabric flew out as well, floating in the air and dancing across before landing across the crowd.

The armored men ran over to check on Heracles.

"Are you alright?" One asked.

Heracles struggled to his feet.

"He sure is a strong one." Heracles said.

Alexo rubbed his fist, smoke coming from his knuckles. He watched as his dislocated and broken bones snapped themselves back into place within seconds.

"What should we do Heracles?" The men asked while grabbing their shields and weapons.

"I will handle him. Get him to the colosseum. I want a wrestling match."