Having understood the hidden conflict between Olympus and the magical pantheon, Circe finally grasped Alaric's true purpose for coming here.
He was to infiltrate the band of heroes bound for Colchis, sabotage their mission from within, and perhaps even take the opportunity to deal a blow to the gods themselves.
Of course, in truth, with his prior knowledge of the gods' schemes, Alaric could have chosen a far more direct and efficient way to resolve this trouble.
But, as Alaric himself put it, "Staying in the academy all the time is far too dull. It's good to step out once in a while and stretch one's legs."
Led by Meleager and the other three, they soon arrived at the coast.
There, they finally laid eyes on the ship that held a special place even in Greek mythology, the Argo, said to be the first true seafaring vessel in the world (discounting small boats).
It was a magnificent three-masted galley, dozens of meters long, barely enough to carry a hundred men.
Given the technological level of this era, building such a vessel was no small feat.
The Argo was made from wood that would not rot even when soaked in water.
At its prow was a carved figurehead of the goddess of victory, fashioned from a plank cut from a sacred tree. Because it was a galley, a row of oar-holes lined each side of the hull.
All in all, such a great ship moored by the sea was a rare and majestic sight for this age.
Even Circe couldn't help but gasp in awe.
Beside the Argo, Alaric saw many people dressed in different styles, all busily making preparations for the voyage.
Through his perception, he sensed that they were all exceptional warriors for this age, some even reaching the level of legends.
These must be the Greek heroes destined to board the Argo.
As Alaric's group arrived, many of them lifted their heads to greet Meleager and his companions.
Others cast curious glances toward Alaric and Circe; with their striking looks and unusual aura, the pair naturally stood out.
Finally, Meleager led Alaric to meet the initiator of the expedition, Jason himself.
He was a man with short, shining golden hair and a body that practically radiated light.
The moment Alaric saw him, he couldn't help but recall another golden figure he'd seen in anime in his past life, Fate's legendary Hero King, Gilgamesh.
Though Alaric hadn't yet encountered Gilgamesh in this world, the man's dazzling gold attire was so flamboyant that only Jason, or Gilgamesh, could pull it off.
Unlike the proud arrogance of Gilgamesh, however, Jason's demeanor was one of frivolous charm.
He was handsome, yes, but the kind of man whose looks made one instantly suspect he was a bit too slick for his own good.
Even so, Alaric could see beneath that careless smile the deep ambition buried in Jason's heart.
And rightly so, for without such ambition, this man could never have sparked one of the greatest journeys in all Greek mythology.
Nor would he later, in that same myth, abandon his wife and children for a king's daughter in pursuit of a kingdom, only to meet a tragic end.
Despite his frivolous nature, Jason was surprisingly popular among heroes.
When they saw him, both the outgoing types like Meleager and Telamon, as well as quieter ones like Orpheus and Asclepius, all greeted him with enthusiasm.
Jason responded warmly in kind, and before Meleager could even make introductions, he turned directly toward Alaric.
"Oh? Two new friends! Welcome! I'm Jason, Prince of Thessaly, captain of the Argo, and the initiator of this voyage. May I know your names?"
With such open-hearted friendliness, it was easy to see how he'd managed to gather so many heroes for this expedition.
Thinking this, Alaric stepped forward and said.
"I am Alaric, a wandering scholar and mage. This young lady here is Circe, who could be considered my apprentice."
"I am not your apprentice," Circe protested with a pout.
"I've already graduated, thank you very much! Listen up, pretty boy, I am Circe, the Witch of the Eagle. You should consider it an honor to have my company."
"P–Pretty boy?" Jason looked momentarily flustered by her sharp tongue. "Um, my lady… have I somehow offended you?"
"Haha, don't mind her," Meleager quickly interjected, worried that Jason might say something wrong and end up turned into a pig, or worse.
"Miss Circe just has that kind of temper. Please forgive her, Brother Jason."
Then he reintroduced both Alaric and Circe, emphasizing Circe's formidable powers and, at the same time, heaping praise on Alaric's vast knowledge.
He even exaggerated Alaric's feats on the "Invisible Island."
Orpheus and Asclepius both nodded in agreement.
Hearing all this, Jason's eyes widened in surprise.
He hadn't expected these two strangers to be such formidable figures.
Circe aside, the idea that Alaric possessed knowledge rivaling that of Chiron, and had even defeated the monsters of the "Invisible Island," truly astonished him.
Jason was inclined to trust Meleager's judgment.
Though Meleager had a kind heart and tended to exaggerate when praising others, Orpheus and Asclepius were not the sort to speak lightly.
Both were serious men in their respective fields, and if they too lauded Alaric's talents, then the mage must indeed be extraordinary.
Besides, they were magicians. In Jason's crew, nearly everyone was a physical fighter, some excelled at swordplay, some at wrestling, some at archery.
Other than the poet Orpheus and the healer Asclepius, the entire group was made up of brawny warriors.
Even though Jason had never played games, he knew what happened to a party made entirely of frontliners with no magical support.
As for mages, they were usually solitary and hard to approach. Jason rarely had a chance to meet any, but he knew full well how powerful magic could be.
Even his teacher Chiron often spoke highly of it. More importantly, magic could handle all kinds of special situations: flight, tracking, concealment, reshaping terrain, even changing the weather itself, things no mere warrior could do.
And to think Alaric's knowledge rivaled Chiron's,
Wasn't this precisely the kind of companion the Argo was missing?
Thus, after hearing Meleager's introduction, Jason's enthusiasm grew even greater.
"So, Mr. Alaric and Miss Circe are both such outstanding magi! Truly admirable… Very well, I've decided!
Here and now, as captain of the Argo, I, Jason, formally invite you both to join our voyage. Would I be fortunate enough to share the adventure of the open sea with you?"
Facing Jason's eager invitation, Alaric smiled faintly.
"Gladly so, how could I refuse?"
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