Chương 5: Nothing can stop Her-...me!

The sun beat down mercilessly as we trudged along the dusty path to Nemea. I couldn't stop stealing glances at Iolaus, my companion on this bizarre journey. Here was a figure I'd only read about in musty old tomes, now walking and talking right beside me. My inner academic was doing cartwheels, while the rest of me was trying not to trip over Hercules' enormous feet.

"So, Iolaus," I began, aiming for casual but probably hitting somewhere closer to 'mildly panicked', "remind me again about our history together? I suddenly feel like hearing it from you."

Iolaus stopped, giving me a look that made me feel like I'd just asked if the sky was green. "Are you feeling alright? We've been friends since I was a kid. Trained together under Chiron, fought side by side. Any of this ringing a bell?"

I nodded, trying to hide my excitement at the mention of Chiron.

The academic in me wanted to pepper Iolaus with questions about the legendary centaur mentor. Did he really have the body of a horse? Was he as wise as the myths claimed? And how did he manage to teach archery with hooves?

But then a pang of sadness hit me as I remembered Chiron's fate.

In some distant distance – or was it the future now? – Hercules would accidentally cause Chiron's death. The weight of that knowledge settled heavily on my shoulders, adding to the already overwhelming burden of pretending to be the legendary hero.

"Right, Chiron," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "How could I forget our old teacher?"

Iolaus gave me an odd look, probably confused by my sudden melancholy. "You alright there, Hercules? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I forced a smile, pushing away thoughts of Chiron's tragic future. "Just... remembering old times."

As we resumed walking, I made a mental note to be extra careful with my words. The future – or was it the past? – was a minefield of events I wasn't supposed to know about. One wrong step, one careless comment, and I could end up changing the course of mythology itself.

"So," I said, trying to steer the conversation to safer ground, "remember that time we..." I'd start, hoping Iolaus would fill in the blanks.

"Which time?" he'd sigh. "The Lion of Cithaeron? The three cyclopes you wrestled? That awkward dinner with the Amazons where you kept putting your elbow in the soup?"

I blinked, my mind racing. "I did what now?"

Apparently, I had recently wrestled multiple cyclopes. The academic in me wanted to take furious notes, but the rest of me was too busy trying not to look like I was hearing about my own life for the first time.

Anyway, as the day wore on, I learned more things about Hercules than the myths mentioned and at the same time, Iolaus's concern grew.

During a rest by a stream, he finally confronted me.

"Alright, out with it," he said, his voice a mix of worry and exasperation. "What's going on with you? Did you hit your head on a low-hanging cloud or something?"

I took a deep breath.

I couldn't tell him the truth - 'Hey, I'm actually a professor from the future who's somehow ended up in your buddy's body' seemed like a one-way ticket to being abandoned in the wilderness. But I also couldn't keep fumbling through every conversation.

So what should I do? Of course, spout some bullshit!

"I've been having these weird dreams," I admitted, opting for a half-truth. "They're... messing with my head a bit. Making me question things."

Iolaus's face softened. "Ah, the gods are at it again, huh? Trying to shake you up before the big fight?"

I seized the excuse like a drowning man grabbing a rope, taking advantage of emotional Iolaus.

Did that make me look like a bad man, well. who cares?

"Exactly! You know how they are, always... god-ing around."

He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder hard enough to make Hercules' knees buckle. "Don't let them get to you. You're Hercules! A few odd dreams aren't going to stop you from taking down that lion, right?"

"Right," I agreed, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Nothing can stop Her— me. Nothing can stop me."

As we set up camp for the night, guilt gnawed at me. Iolaus clearly cared deeply for Hercules. They had a bond forged through years of adventures and shared experiences. And here I was, an impostor wearing his best friend's face.

But as I lay down to sleep, Iolaus's snores filling the night air, I made a decision. I might not be the real Hercules, but I was here now. And maybe, just maybe, I could use my knowledge to help navigate the challenges ahead.

As I drifted off to sleep, one thought kept circling in my mind, my crash course in living mythology was far from over. But with Iolaus by my side and Hercules' strength at my command….well, sort of…. I was beginning to believe I might just survive this adventure.

Tomorrow, we'd face the Nemean Lion. And who knows? Maybe by then, I'd have figured out how to flex Hercules' muscles without accidentally causing a landslide.

One thing was certain - being a hero was a lot harder than the myths made it out to be.

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