Charged situation (Patreon)

Ainz, the beloved Master of Angrboda, of course, had done his best to help her and the (emergency food) human to get to what passes as a fortress to the people of this Singularity. But, as befits her beloved Master and his great wisdom, he had not teleported them directly to the city, taking care to be mindful of the reaction of the Servants there or to preclude the springing of any traps. Not that Angrboda herself would be in any danger from such things, but it just shows how much her dearest cared for her.

And so, after a flash, Angrboda and the human were now at some distance away from their destination, with a clear and strict order in case of anything happening, even the smallest or just suspected danger, to inform Ainz. The thought of just how much her beloved cared for her made Angrboda feel a sense of warmth spreading in her chest.

However, this bright feeling of love and joy was almost overshadowed by the annoyance of being entrusted with the task of watching and protecting a (bug) human.

If one were to compare Angrboda's way of thinking with that of an ordinary human, then for her, this current assignment was for her an occupation as strange and even as repulsive as a request from her lover to follow and protect his beloved cockroach, freely running around his house. In other words - Angrboda was barely holding herself from just squishing the disgusting human. But…  Oh, what great sacrifices she makes for the sake of love!

Of course, it was difficult for Angrboda to even endure a human being next to her, she can barely imagine how she would feel when, out of her own free will, she would be entering into the nest of these creatures. She could feel her skin crawling with goosebumps imagining such a scenario! But, for the sake of her beloved Ainz, she will endure even much worse things! And so, overcoming all of her disgust, having have to wait for the (waste of air) human to do whatever it is it’s doing, Angrboda, with all the fake cheer and kindness she could dredge up, addressed the bug. “Okay, Medea, what did you see?”

“Medea?” Hearing himself being called by the name of another Servant, Tesla was confused. It definitely grabbed his attention, so props to that, but then, he looked at himself and looked confusedly at Angrboda. “What part of me could be confused with that of Medea’s? Or are you talking to Medea right now?”

“Um,” Angrboda was surprised, this bug was not Medea? Hmm, is this one Nobu… something, no Nobu has black hair, and it is with Ainz right now. Ah! That’s right, this one’s Tesla! Her perception of people was so bad that she could hardly distinguish them from each other, never mind remembering their names. Who would be bothered to name ants, never mind actually remember it! “Exactly, Tesla. What have you seen?”

Tesla thought for a second whether he should ask more about Angrboda's perception and this unknown similarity to Medea that he even didn’t know about. That is of course before, once again, demonstrating his ingenious intellect, he instead chose the most correct solution, to not anger the incomprehensible and strong being. A being that is already trying, very unsuccessfully, to hide her disregard and hatred of the situation they’re in and him in particular. And one that, just to be safe, he should try his best to limit his interaction with.

In addition, he could foresee an unavoidable battle in the future where he needs all his strength to survive, much less prevail in. And he could not expect anything else when it involved his arch nemesis, so he would be taking the option that preserves the most good will from this creature in front of him. And that evidently involves not needlessly provoking the beast by indulging his curiosity.  “It’s a City and one that is, for this era at least, is huge. But, still, given the general technological level of this time, I noticed that, by indirect signs, it is one that is not so big for the modern world. I would say that the city would have a population of one and a half or two million people…”

At Tesla’s explanation, Angrboda grimaced in disgust as if she was just splashed by rotting garbage, she then nodded gloomily in reluctance, taking control of her emotions. Angrboda almost lost her meal at the prospect of having to walk amongst so many crawling insects. Especially since she can’t just start stomping the disgusting things. No, she has to tolerate them - at least for now - but it took all her will and self-control to carry out Ainz's orders.

“And, according to my estimates, at least half a million robots, perhaps more.” Tesla concluded his findings, grimacing a little at what he had seen, though for a radically different reason from Angrboda. That damn Edison! That damned thief! While he, Tesla, the father of a new era, had created miracles and lauded as a visionary, society had rebuffed him. While Edison, that charlatan, was welcomed with open arms by the people for his works. But none of ‘his’ works are his! He stole inventions from others, appropriated others' works as his, and then made an industry out of it! That thief, getting rich on other people's labors without shame! That stupid, pathetic, insignificant worm, unworthy to be called a scientist, is in that City!

“They did not notice our presence?” Angrboda asked all the same to the silently fuming scientist, to which Tesla shook his head. Grimacing at the prospect of entering the city full of bughuman, the two Servants started walking towards the city. “Well… In that case, we need to go there…”

Judging by the information the two of them had received from Ainz, who in turn had received the information from another source, their supposed background was extremely simple if anyone were to confront them. Apparently, in this Singularity, Servants periodically appear in the blasted desert for some reason. These newly Servants then would wander for a time through the desert scorched by nuclear fire, until they eventually would wander onto the strongholds of the two warring factions. And so with some simple subterfuge, Tesla and Angrboda appearing out of nowhere in Edison’s capital was nothing unusual.

Of course, there might be some problem with the fact that no Servant would be able to recognize Angrboda. But, seeing that Servants hide pretty much any information about them on principle, barring some peculiar exception that is, it was no issue at all. In addition, Tesla's presence would instantly divert people's attention from Angrboda to his person. Tesla’s identity was pretty much impossible not to identify, especially in this city controlled by that empty-headed idiot Edison. So, from the point of view of hiding information about Angrboda as their strongest trump card, Tesla could only reluctantly admit that Ainz had made the right decision.

The knowledge of which, of course, did not calm Tesla himself at all!

He and that brainless blockhead! If it does not turn into a battle in the first minute of their meeting, Tesla might even consider converting to a religion at the sight of such a real miracle!

Gradually, the usual sight of a bustling city, people scurrying about their business, and the patrols could be seen on the horizon, the sight becoming clearer as the two Servants walked. The blotches that could only be seen by an Archer’s eyes, now jutted upward into buildings, crisscrossed with many streets and houses. The city was lit with electric lights on the sides of the roads, and one could even see very modern cars hurrying about their business.

Tesla almost spat in anger, disregarding his gentlemanly disposition at such a disgusting sight. That charlatan even dared to steal the designs of Henry Ford and even have the temerity to call the cars an ‘Edison’ ! What a pathetic action from a nonentity!

Tesla and Angrboda had barely entered the city limits when one of the many robotic patrols noticed their presence and surrounded them.

Tesla could hardly refrain from rolling his eyes.  That scoundrel even blatantly used Babbage's robot design, before sticking his ugly emblem to each and one of them. Acting as if he were the inventor! How impudent!

To the mechanical guards, the two of them made for a very colorful sight, that is if the robots have the capacity to appreciate it. Angrboda, who was simultaneously frowning and disgusted at the sight of the multitudes of people who were rushing about their business close to the pair. And Tesla, who was glaring at the various mechanical inventions that he could see, seemingly ready to explode with a force no less equivalent to the recently invented, and, of course, appropriated by Edison as his personal invention, the nuclear bomb.

However, to the emotionless robots, having approached their pre-programmed suitable distance of several tens of meters, the new visitors’ murderous intent was not something they could detect. After the mechanical guards attracted the attention of Angrboda and Tesla with a loud beep, they began speaking with a mechanical voice. “You were identified by this robot, a masterpiece manufactured by Edison Inc. the best technology not only in the world, but even in America… "

At the robots' unintended mockery of everything Tesla stands for, Tesla gritted his teeth so hard that if he were not a Servant, it would have broken to pieces. At that moment, it became a coin-toss whether it was he or Angrboda that would be the one to snap first and start destroying everything.

“As you’re Servants, the amount - two - with an unknown signature,” Disregarding the palpable malice the two Servants in front of them were emanating as they’re but robots, they only continued to speak. “Please stay here as the information about your arrival has already been transmitted to the Eternal President, Thomas Alva Edison, and he would like to meet you…”

“Oh yes…” Tesla's expression changed from a grimace to a grin brimming with teeth, watching as a Servant, who most likely would be playing the role of a messenger or a guide, moves towards him from the distance.  “I literally can't wait to meet him…”

***

On the other side of the continent, approaching the place that from what she read from her books was called Washington, Mashu could only wonder at how the city would look. Of course, now, instead of the name of the first President of the country that they were in, the city was now named a word from the Gaelic language that Mashu couldn’t even pronounce, never mind understand the meaning of. That is, of course, if she had not immediately forgotten the name as soon as the Saber that was leading the way had said it.

Strangely enough, even when she was heading towards the stronghold of a possible enemy, Mashu was not feeling nervous at all.

First of all, it was because Mashu was confident in her abilities, as arrogant as it might sound. And if not that, then in Medea's capabilities, which would be a terrible force to reckon with in a battle, especially with Mashu’s protection. Secondly, because the Saber next to her had shown her nothing but friendliness, not even bothering to ready his blade as they walked and calmly showing his back to his possible opponents. But thirdly and perhaps most importantly, because next to Mashu was Ainz, her Master and Senpai, a person capable of fighting on equal terms even with the legendary Solomon. So, whoever they meet or fight in the future, Mashu doubts that anything they could bring would be able to make Ainz pause, let alone pose any real danger to him or her.

“Ah, we’re almost there, look!” Saber pointed ahead, all the while maintaining his grin, which somehow looked like an animal that strangely enough looks familiar to Mashu. At Saber’s exuberant display, Ainz nodded and in a flash, the group was teleported closer, exactly where Saber was pointing at. “Fuck, teleportation is definitely fucking convenient!”

“How, how did he do it…” A voice came to Mashu from the direction of Medea, who was frowning as she attempted to understand the workings of Ainz’s magic now that she could watch it up close. Not to say anything bad about Medea, but Mashu held little hope that Medea would be able to do such a feat. Medea, of course, was a great magus and, for sure, an incredible scientist. But, if even the great Da Vinci in the end fails to even make an iota of progress in understanding Ainz's magic, the theory of idols be damned. So watching Medea watching Ainz’s every action with great focus, Mashu could only offer her sympathies to Medea in this endeavor, before shifting her gaze and looking around at the city that was now in front of her.

Mashu, of course, has never been a great connoisseur of architecture and couldn’t really tell what she’s looking at. Something which was not unusual, given the conditions of her life before her adventures in the Singularities. But, when she heard the words ‘Gaelic Kingdom’ she had imagined something much more…  Medieval. Peasants, knights, horse riders and maybe something like she saw in the Rome Singularity.

And so, to her undisguised shock, instead of seeing a quaint medieval city straight out of storybooks, what she sees is a modern city. One that is from the 1900s, that is perhaps a few decades ahead of the London Singularity. In front of her, she could see primitive puffing cars slowly riding along the cobbled streets, people in clothes from the times of the wild west walking along the side roads that were lit with archaic lampposts.

Perhaps the only thing that stands out to Mashu that she could see was the many varied banners flying all around the city as far as the eyes can see. And on each of the banners was adorned the image of… huh?

“Is, is that…” Ainz blinked in surprise, noticing the same that Mashu did, and apparently coming to the same conclusion. “Cu Chulainn?

Each banner flown around the city featured a man very reminiscent of Cú Chulainn, but with some very significant differences. The first thing that anyone that knew Caster would see was that the skin of the Cu on the banner was not Cu Chulainn’s slightly pale skin color, but somehow darkened with various red symbols adorning his body.

It is as if someone had decided to draw Cu as a demon in the most cliché way possible. With his torso that was practically naked, teeth that were drawn with sharpened edges like small fangs, and the gloves covering his arms and legs in the manner that suggested some kind of paws or the bones of a monster, they were definitely successful in depicting Cu as such. Only to fail in the last detail, as Cu Chulainn was drawn with the expression of incredible boredom, looking somewhere into the distance uninterested, ruining the entire aesthetic.

“Something like that!” Saber burst out laughing at the group's bafflement. “Our King!”

Furthermore, on many of such banners, he was drawn accompanied by a short girl with long pink hair, the cutest expression on her face. An expression which would usually be accompanied by the words ‘innocent’, if the girl was not exposing her body so openly that the thought that the girl was clearly someone that is well-versed in the bedroom arts came up by itself. And this was from Mashu of all people, someone who never looked at girls in that way before, so what can we say about other people! What will people think if…

Mashu's gaze then came across a beautiful flag, it’s contents expressing all the beauty of the girl in question, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Mashu could feel her cheeks reddening in embarrassment as she saw it hanging almost in the form of a flag over the entrance to a large building, with a large sign expressing what it’s used for. "A Brothel?".

“And that is our queen,” Not at all embarrassed by the sight of his queen almost naked for all to see, Saber shrugged his shoulders, as he pointed his finger at the banner with undisguised pride. “She’s one hot piece of ass, I'll tell you! And I speak from personal experience!”

"In that case, the Servants' identities are established," Medea sighed at the display in front of her, at least there’s not much mystery as to the identity of the Servants anymore. With a long-suffering sigh, she used her connection with Ainz, giving him information that Mashu was not privy to, to which Ainz only nodded.

“Okay,”, - Ainz nodded again, - “I would like to meet them…”

“Everyone would like to!” Misunderstanding Ainz’s words and his intention in wanting to meet them, at least Mashu hoped so, in regard to the pink haired harlot, Saber just laughed louder. “But they aren’t so easy to meet! For the Queen, you need to prove that you are a worthy hero before you meet her and be ‘rewarded’. And it’s impossible to meet the King as he does not care about anything at all, he is more busy with battles and war…”

“I’m not talking about that,” Interrupting Saber's spiel, Ainz corrected him to Mashu’s delight. “It is necessary for me to meet them to discuss the situation with them…”

“Oh, I see,” Saber, not at all embarrassed by his misunderstanding, just shrugged his shoulders before nodding. “If you want to do that, then it's easy to arrange.”

Ainz nodded at the news before heading forward, not even paying any attention to the numerous risqué portraits of the girl. Something that Mashu greatly approves of, thinking that Ainz was really loyal to his lovers to not even be tempted by the sight… Something that Mashu failed at, as she openly gawked at the many, many bold images of the very open Queen strewn around the streets and buildings…

‘Or, as his relationship with Medusa shows, he doesn't particularly like short girls.’ Galahad openly wondered in Mashu's head, making her jump in surprise at the unexpected voice, once again forgetting that he was able to read her mind.

‘Come on, experimenting with such things at your age is normal, especially mental ones!’ - Galahad laughed, but Mashu chose the best possible tactic - silence and ignorance, hurrying after Ainz. Though, her burning cheeks clearly showed that Galahad’s words had gotten to her.

Medea, pausing as she looked at the two portraits on the banners, sighed and looked up to the sky. - “I’m surprised that she hadn’t created a whole harem of Cú Chulainns for herself… We really shouldn’t allow her to meet our Cu Chulainn.”

With one last look at the supposed ‘Lover and Lord of all men’ she hurried after the others.

***

Cu Chulainn felt uncomfortable walking next to his teacher, Scáthach. But he felt especially uncomfortable standing in between her and Nobunaga, not sure whether from caution of any attacks or to provoke Scáthach with these actions. Yet, although she agreed to behave herself, this did not mean that she couldn’t be provoked into a fight. After all, if she was not the one that swung first it’s not her fault, right? Is what Cu could guess she’s thinking.

Cu Chulainn swallowed a nervous lump at the realization of just how fragile the peace was at the moment. Nobunaga… Cu could tell that she was not bloodthirsty, excited about any possible conflict, but she also does not shy away from battle. And Scáthach? Scáthach was so familiar to the very concept of battle, as natural a desire as that it was to breathe. She loved to fight, simply because it was an integral part of her essence.

Cu could definitely see where his love of fighting comes from.

Cu Chulainn swallowed his saliva, after which he steeled his resolve. If the both of them did not want a peaceful resolution, then all that was left for him to do was to try to change the atmosphere. At the very least, change into some kind of armed neutrality rather than the ‘ready to explode’ it is right now.

Haha, what an irony, Cu Chulainn, the hero of Ulster, the hound of Chulainn is trying to resolve something peacefully!

“So,” As he broke the charged silence, he instantly felt the eyes of the two Servants beside him crossed on himself. Cú Chulainn had to fight his ingrained reflex of conflict resolution, that is, to stab till it disappears, and nevertheless tried his best to continue talking. “In this Singularity, we have three camps? One under the control of another Cu Chulainn, as strange as that sounds, the other under the control of this Edison and, lastly, yours, teacher?”

Scáthach frowned a little at Cu’s words, but, after casting a glance at Nobunaga, who was refraining from hasty actions, still answered. “Yes. Moreover, both of the other camps are using the Demon Kings for their own purposes. Or the Demon Kings are using them? No matter, it is the same thing in the end. As for the Grail… It is not known who exactly owns the Grail, but this is not so important, after cooperating with the Demon Kings, none of them can be trusted and each of them is an enemy. After they are destroyed, the Grail would be found anyway.”

Cú Chulainn once again thanked all the gods, even those in whom he did not believe in, for the fact that Scáthach had made an important distinction when he was questioned under geas. After all, he has no connection at all with the Demon Kings in ‘this Singularity’ except as enemies. It would be very, very unfortunate if he had to tell her that there was actually a Demon King that they were working with, or at least are working under Ainz. Of course, one that Ainz had stolen and subdued, but Cu didn't think that his Teacher would appreciate the distinction.

And Cú Chulainn could only thank his lucky star, as much as his luck like to screw him over, for the fact that he did not interact with Focalor much. Something as a result of which there was no distinct mark left on him about her nature that his teacher could sense. As for Ainz…

Well, there’s nothing about him that he understood in any way whatsoever. No one has yet been able to fully understand his nature in any way. Never mind the fact that the only thing one could tell by examining him was their own death, it wouldn’t be a mystery that is solved any time soon. The fact that Scáthach mistook him for a Balor's offspring for some reason also indicated that she would not raise this topic in the near future.

Although if one day his lies are revealed…

Cú Chulainn could only hope that his second death would be more pleasant, but not eternal, as the first did.

“And they have been warring between themselves for two months now, and all without a clear winner.” Cu Chulainn summed up the information that his Teacher had revealed. - “And at the moment, you and your side are planning your next step and are waiting for them to commit to a big offensive before decapitating both sides with one blow.”

“At least I was able to teach you to repeat the things that you were told,” Scáthach exhaled with some sense of mocking disappointment, “I will consider it a satisfactory result that it penetrated your thick head.”

“Thank you, Teacher,” Cu Chulainn exhaled at the backhanded compliment. Of course, her response came out a little colder than usual, but in the current tense environment, it is probably to be expected. Perhaps he even should be glad that all he received from Scáthach was a slight coolness in the tone of her voice, and not the suspicious ‘expecting an attack’ look that Nobunaga receives from Scáthach. “Is there anything you can tell about the other Servants and if there were any fights?”

“Yes,” Scáthach nodded, then glanced at Nobunaga, “I’ll tell you about it a little later when we’re somewhere safer.”

At Scáthach’s words and suspicious glare, Nobunaga grinned a little, and Cu Chulainn immediately hurried to change the subject.  “How about the mood in your camp? How many Servants have you managed to attract to your side?”

“Only a few,” Unexpectedly, the answer to Cú Chulainn’s question did not come from Scáthach nor from Nobunaga, but from someone else entirely. “But trying to grasp victory depending on one’s number was never our plan from the beginning.”

Scáthach did not even react to the appearance of the new person, continuing to move nonchalantly towards the small camp that could now be seen with the naked eye, for a Servant anyway, while Nobunaga and Cu Chulainn, who was completely taken by surprise, stopped in place. In concert, the both of them immediately took a defensive posture towards the source of the voice.

The speaker turned out to be a short man, the most prominent feature of which was his dark and slightly reddish skin and his face, on which a white line was drawn. The mark on his face and his skin color told Cu Chulainn that the speaker was a Servant, which was a very rare sight, even in these strange Singularities. It was one of the American Indian Servants, a sight that even a hero like Cu Chulainn had never seen before.

A deep, calm voice, an eye-catching hairstyle in the form of several long braids, eagle feathers fastened on his belt and arms wrapped in bandages, to be honest, Cu Chulainn did not know who he was meeting with right now. Though perhaps that was to be expected with Servants and their need for secrecy. Of course, if he was given a name, he would probably be able to remember this Servant from what he could remember from the Throne of Heroes. But without it, Cu Chulainn unfortunately was not that knowledgeable about the legendary heroes from the New World, especially those that were American Indians. Of course, there’s no need to ask Nobunaga if she knew the Servant. The Japan of her times was famously not the most open country.

But, if there was one thing he knew, it was that he was very familiar with the other Servant that was overshadowed by the strange appearance of the Servant. At the very least, he was very familiar with her voice. “It’s new guests ~ umu!”

Cu Chulainn blinked in shock and surprise.

No, they had left Nero in Chaldea! This is absurd, there’s no way Nero could have found herself here! Definitely not! No way! Not a single chance!

Cu Chulainn, with a kind of inner dismay and perhaps resignation, turned his gaze to stare at the approaching Servant…

And it was definitely Nero. Or maybe it was her twin sister? Or maybe it was like his situation, where he was summoned as a Caster? The Nero in front of him might be simply another reflection of the same Servant…  the possibility of which gives little comfort to Cú Chulainn.

Looking at the color of her eyes, at her blond hair and stupid ahoge, even her strange manner of behavior and voice, one could only conclude that the speaker was indeed Nero. The only other difference between this Nero and the one in Chaldea was her outfit. And what an outfit it was, Nero's already outrageous red dress was replaced by a white laced dress… That is somehow even more suggestive.

Cu Chulainn was frozen, as he saw the manner of dress this Nero was wearing.

Ahem, what is the most correct way he could call it, a wedding dress? Well it is indeed white, brimming with lace, it was definitely beautiful. On the other hand, it was not voluminous like a traditional wedding dress, but instead so skin-tight that it showed off the beautiful curves of Nero’s body. The sight of which added at least ten points to Nero’s appearance, at least according to Cu’s internal scoring board.

Looking a little closer, Cu Chulainn then noticed that a small translucent piece of white cloth was also hanging behind Nero's head… Is that?

Yes, it was indeed a wedding veil. Nero was indeed wearing a wedding dress, at least her interpretation of it, while in America during the time of the Wild West, somehow. Hanging around a desert where nuclear bombs had exploded nearby.

Well, um…  Yeah, nothing out of the ordinary, just another day in the life of the saviors of mankind.

Nobunaga, just now noticing the approaching Nero, did not come to the same realization that Cu Chulainn had received. At least she didn’t if judging from her shocked exclamation. “Nero!? What the hell!?”

“Hmm, do we know each other?” At Nobunaga’s question, Nero turned towards her with a puzzled look on her face. “I don’t think we have met before…”

Cu Chulainn blinked and looked at the other Servant, hoping to get an answer from his lips, but he only closed his eyes and shook his head a little, - “Fate sometimes goes in strange ways…”

“Truly,”, - Cu Chulainn could only sigh as an answer to that before returning his attention back to Nero. “So, ahem… Your Imperial Majesty, why are you here too? In this Singularity?”

“I am where victory, glory and my honey awaits me!” Nero shook her head at her declaration, as if it answered anything. “Umu! You know how to address my imperial personage!”

“I had practice…” Cu Chulainn muttered almost to himself, before finally realizing that Scáthach had left him and Nobunaga with the strange pair, continuing on her way having already retreated a decent distance away. “I'm sorry, Your Imperial Majesty, but duty calls!”

“What the hell, Cu?” Nobunaga complained as Cu tried to drag her along.

“We need to hurry,” He said with pressure, looking into Nobunaga's eyes with desperation, forcing her to roll her eyes and nod.

“Later, you will explain to me everything you know.” Nobunaga muttered under her breath as she hurried along after Scáthach and Cu Chulainn.

Nero and another Servant, left without newcomers in their presence, only exchanged glances.

“They are pretty cute”, - Nero smiled harmlessly, and then completely childishly caught fire with the idea, -” What if they can lead me to my darling ~ umu!”

“Fate sometimes goes in strange ways…” - the Servant also nodded meaningfully.

“You answer all my questions like that, umu!” - Nero stamped her foot in indignation at their non-answer.

“I have no other answers for you,” The Servant smiled a little, - “If you want to hear another answer - ask your question to another Servant.”

“Yes, yes, I know,”, - to these words Nero turned away, waving her hand, - “Good luck to you.”

“Good luck to all of us,” the Servant just nodded gravely at the not-so-serious phrase of Nero, before exhaling and looking up at the sky.

In the sky, among the cloudless blue, the black bulk also continued to hang.

***

Comments on the story of the Argonauts in six parts, scientific monograph:

… Among the many tellings of the story about the legendary Argonauts, there are many contradictions, as expected as there are as many authors as there are stories about the Argonauts. Sometimes, a telling would include heroes others would exclude, or even exclude heroes that others would include, making the members of the Argonauts vary wildly from each telling. Sometimes the path the Argo took would change radically, either adding more places they visited or the route their adventure took. And sometimes, even the outcome of the voyage itself.

Of course, there are elements that remain unchanged even from the many tellings of the same story by different story tellers. First is the ship ‘Argo’, next is Jason's goal to recover his kingdom and his leadership over all the Argonauts. That of his journey to acquire the Golden Fleece and the help he had acquired from the princess of Colchis, Medea. As well as his marriage to the princess.

But everything other than that is extremely hazy, information that easily changes from one author to another.

In particular, in some versions of the tale, the legendary Jason himself is described as a coward who never entered any battle of his own free will and only survived the fights he could not escape by the help of his much more capable teammates. And that he once even betrayed the Argonauts for the sake of saving his own skin, turning against them to serve the ‘dark forces’.

Something which is especially ironic considering the fact that the ancient Greeks themselves did not divide the world into the unambiguously evil or good. And therefore, the fact that Jason supposedly served something that is ‘evil’ in his cowardice serves only to highlight how much the mythological Jason was not loved. A telling that was possibly created as to serve as an insult to the real king of Thessaly, Jason.

However, according to the other tellings, the one that is more widely accepted, Jason, on the contrary, was a brave navigator, a loyal friend and a selfless hero who once had even defeated a Heracles maddened by his grief in battle. Something so rare that, perhaps, in ancient Greek myths, this is the only story in which Heracles was defeated in battle. Of course, even in the legend where Jason fought against the distraught Heracles, he was not alone and obtained his victory due to their help.

The source of the story itself might have been born as an allegory and not as an actual event. One must keep in mind that the very lineage of Jason himself was destined to fight with the gods, at least according to legends that is. It might even be prudent to say that the genealogy of Jason is not at all inferior to Heracles himself. While Heracles was related to the Divine Zeus, Jason was descended from the line of his grandfather, Krefei who is in turn the grandson of Ellin - the legendary founder of the Hellenic people themselves. The legendary Ellin who himself was the great-grandson of the legendary Titan Prometheus.

In other words, literally fate itself was pushing Jason for this confrontation…