It was a warm and sunny afternoon. On a dusty path walked three young cadets returning from a well deserved break from Chieron's Academy.The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze to welcome them from their travels from Corinth.The three young men walked in silence taking in the beauty of their surroundings.After a few minutes had passed, one of the youngmen spoke up, ending the silence between them.
"What do you think Chieron will have us do when we get back to the Academy," asked Iolaus with a questioning look on his face. After hearing the question, the taller cadet of the trio answered.
"I don't know Iolaus. We'll just have to wait and see when we are back at the Academy."
"You know Chieron, he's always full of surprises," Jason chimed in, the young Prince of Corinth, with a smile on his face.
"Hey, why don't we sit for a spell," said Iolaus. "I'm getting kind of tired from all this walking. And I'm also a little hungry as well."
"Your always hungry Iolaus," said the young DemiGod with a grin on his face.
"Hey, what can I say? I am a growing boy you know. I need to keep up my strength up," said the former thief now a well trained cadet at the Academy.
"Hey, that sounds like a good idea," answered Jason. "Why don't we go sit by that pond over there and relax for a while?"
Hercules, anxious to get back to the Academy just stared at his two friends and decided to go with their request. So they all went to sit by the bank of the pond and have a little something to eat. While in Corinth, Jason had his royal kitchen staff make up small food pouches for the three young cadets. After a filling lunch of cheese,bread and some fruit, the boys began to feel a bit tired. So they decided to unroll their bed rolls and lay down on them. One by one, they fell asleep, taking in the sounds around them.
A few minutes had passed, when Hercules woke up from a sound sleep. He had thought he heard something or someone creeping up to where they were. He looked around once more and thought to himself and then layed back down again. He heard the sound a bit louder now. He then decided to go investigate what it was. Before he did, he looked down to where his two friends lay, still in their dream state. After that he went in the direction of where he heard the sound. Being a half-god had it's advantages. His hearing was as keen as ever. He could hear even the slightest sounds like a pin hitting the floor. His two friends were always amazed at what Hercules was able to do.Hercules got ever so close to where he had heard the noise.
When he got to the area of the noise, Hercules was suddenly taken aback as to what had made that racket. There within a few feet of Hercules was a young woman. She had somehow gotten herself trapped in a hunters net. The young woman tried the best she could to get out, but it was no use. It just got her more tangled up then before. Within a second she looked up and saw a tall young man with hair of gold and eyes as blue as the sky, standing a few feet from where she was hanging in the net. Hercules seeing that the young woman was looking in his diection, saw that she was cold and scared. He then decided to slowly walk up to where she was.
"Hello," Hercules began to talk to her. She squirmed a little in the net from where Hercules stood. "No, no, no. Don't worry, I won't hurt you! I'm here to help you." With that, Hercules got out his fishing knife to cut the net down and to release the girl from her trap.
After he got her down, she started to walk away from Hercules. Before she had a chance to run, Hercules spoke up. "What's your name," he asked her in a pleasant tone. The young woman just stared at Hercules, not knowing if he would do anything.
She then decided that she would be alright and answered Hercules' question. "My name is Mireka," she said in a quiet child like voice.
"Hello, Mireka," Hercules said after shaking her hand with a questioning look on his face. Hercules then asked, "How did you get into that trap?"
She then spoke up. "I was just walking through when I somehow triggered the net that I was in." While she was talking, Hercules had started to notice how beautiful Mireka was. She was tall and a bit thin, she had a little muscle tone around her arms. She had a bronze color of skin which made her stand out. Her hair was long and the color was of a radient honey brown with streaks of gold in it. Her eyes were the bluest of blues, like a blue crystal glimmering in the sun. She stood tall and straight, and her voice was like an angel singing. Hercules somehow caught himself staring at her while she spoke.
When she was done Hercules said, "Do you know where you are going?" Mireka shook her head with a sad look on her face. "Well,I'm not alone. My two friends are over by the pond. Would you like to come with me?" Mireka thought for a second and then started to walk towards Hercules. Somehow Mireka was taken aback by the tall young man. Hercules, with a smile on his face, gave Mireka his hand and she placed her hand in his and they started back in silence to where Iolaus and Jason were now getting their stuff packed to get back to the Academy.
While Jason was packing up, Iolaus turned his head after hearing something walking towards them. Iolaus' jaw dropped as to who was with Hercules. Iolaus somehow got Jason's attention by throwing a small pine cone at him. Turning around to see what was happening, Jason was awestruck with seeing the most beautiful girl he had ever seen on the arm of his best friend Hercules.
Hercules and Mireka were now beside Iolaus and Jason. Still looking at Mireka, the guys introduced themselves to her.
"Hello, Mireka," Jason began. "My name is Jason-"
"And my name is Iolaus," pushing himself in front of Jason to get a better look at Mireka.
"It's very nice to meet you," Mireka with a shy smile returned the gesture. Iolaus, curious as to where Mireka had come from, asked the question before Hercules had a chance to explain.
"Well," Hercules started, "while you two were still asleep, I had heard a noise in the woods. So I went to see what it was and saw Mireka in a hunter's net." When Jason and Iolous heard that, Jason had a serious look on his face.
"When we get back to the Academy, I will put out a warning for whoever planted those nets. That if ever a net is found they would face serious charges." Mireka had a curious look on her face at what Jason had spoken. Hercules then told her that Jason was the Crown Prince of Corinth. With that she bowed down.
Jason, seeing what she was doing, said to her, "No need for that!I'm very glad Hercules was with us or we wouldn't of known you were there." She then thanked the two young men for being so kind to her.
The sun had gone when Hercules, Mireka, Jason and Iolaus arrived at the Academy. They walked into the main room where Chieron was standing, watching his cadets and their guest come in. "I have been wondering where you were."
Hercules told his Head Master what went on that afternoon. Chieron, with a warm smile, welcomed Mireka to the Academy and found her a place where she could rest. It was late and the three cadets were growing more tired than before.
Before going to his room, Hercules gave a warm and welcoming hug to Mireka. He then whispered to her, "See you in the morning." With a gentle kiss on her lips, Hercules slowly went to his room, still watching Mireka go into the room that Chieron had set for her.
When the sun rose in the sky, the academy was all abuzz with activity. Cadets were working on their day's drills and practices. Mireka, looking well rested, looked around the Academy, seeing all the cadets working and practicing. Mireka had never seen a place like the Academy. It was a very nice place.
Slowly, from behind, Hercules walked up to Mireka and gave her a hug. "Good morning Mireka! How did you sleep last night?"
"Hello, Hercules, I slept very well thank you." With that she gave Hercules a big hug and thanked him for saving her life. He just stood and smiled while looking into her eyes.
"Come on, lets get some breakfast and then we will take a stroll outside." Mireka liked the sound of what Hercules had just mentioned. After breakfast, Hercules and Mireka went outside for a stroll. Jason and Iolaus looked at each other when Hercules and Mireka walked by.
Iolaus then spoke, "I have never seen Hercules so happy before."
"Well," Jason interuppted, "You would be happy too if you had a girl with you like Hercules does." They then sighed and went back to what they were doing. A few days had passed for Hurcules and Mireka. They both had never been so happy till they met each other.
Mireka with a sad look in her eyes looked up at Hercules. When he saw the sadness in her eyes, he asked what was wrong. Mireka, with a tear rolling down her cheek, then spoke. "Ever since you saved me from the hunter's net, I thought that no one would ever help me. But when I saw you standing a few feet away, I knew somehow the Gods had sent you to where I was. I have been so happy being with you, that my heart is full of love and full of life now."
"But why are you so sad," Hercules asked with a concerned look on his face. The words Mireka was about to say would be the hardest words she would ever speak. She then slowly sighed and told Hercules that she had to leave him.
After hearing that,Hercules with a sad look asked, "Why?"
"I was on a mission to find my family when I got stuck in the net. Now that I am free and welI, I must continue on to look for them."
Hercules with a heavy heart brought Mireka to him. Mireka, not wanting that moment to end, slowly pushed herself away from Hercules and took her hands and wrapped them around his neck and gave Hercules a passionate kiss that he returned. In that moment, they wanted to stay together for always. But time was against them. They slowly stepped away from each other. Mireka gave Hercules one more hug and kiss to remember her by. Then she quietly walked out the Academy's door.
From a distance Jason and Iolaus were spying on Hercules and Mireka and saw what was taking place. They both then walked towards Hercules while he was still looking to the academy doors. They each put a hand on Hercules' shoulder and said in a low voice, "Come on buddy. One day you'll both meet again." With that, Hercules turned around and smiled at his two best friends. The three cadets walked off into the training room to do some drills.
Hercules once again looked at the entrance of the academy once more and sighed. He then joined his friends in the training room. He knew he would never forget Mireka, the girl with the crystal blue eyes.
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