Upon his countenance, bemusement softens to amazement. Despite Chiron's transformation, Achilles finds points of familiarity as a sailor would seek certain stars in the night sky to get his bearings: the keenness of his eye, the stoutness of his bearing, the timber of his voice. At once he hurtles back to boyhood, huddled in the centaur's cave and listening as his teacher spun stories into life - braced among the crags and trees of Mount Pelion and absorbing his teacher's advice for spear and bow.

"Chiron! You who are like a father to me, second only to Peleus. It is little wonder I could not recognize you, changed as you are from my memories. And how long ago such memories were! When last I saw you, I was not yet a man."

There is little to do but throw his strong arms about Chiron, glad as he is for this familiar rock in a foreign land.