Westward
After coming down from the attic, instead of waiting for his brother, Harry decided to step out of the Big House for a while. Chiron watched him for a moment. It was obvious he wanted to ask about the oracle Harry had received. But he had already said his quest was a secret to anyone not involved in it, so he couldn't. He simply wore a faintly conflicted expression as he watched Harry leave.
Harry walked quickly out of the Big House and slipped his hand into his magic pouch, pulling out a quill, ink, and a piece of parchment. He sat on one of the nearby benches and wrote down everything he more or less remembered from the oracle. It was quite a lot, and yet it still didn't make much sense.
There had been two voices speaking in unison.
At least, the more he thought about it, the clearer the words became. So he wrote down what he remembered, even though he felt like a few lines were missing. Maybe he would have to separate the two voices later, depending on what each had said. But he would deal with that afterward, because right now his attention had shifted toward a little girl not far away, playing with her own shadow near the woods.
He put his things away and walked over.
Lily was smiling widely, clearly delighted, as she tried to catch her own shadow. Strange. But at the same time, unusual enough to draw Harry's attention. After all, she had once joined Capture the Flag and put herself in danger. And as far as he understood, even though there was a barrier protecting Camp Half-Blood, the forest was still not completely safe. Much less for a small child running around that close to it.
"Hi, Lily. What are you doing?" Harry asked calmly.
"Hi, Harry," Lily greeted, genuinely happy to see him. As always, her mood seemed contagious, able to pull a smile even from the grumpiest campers. There were plenty who rarely had one to share. But at least most of them smiled when they saw Lily, who was probably the youngest demigod currently at camp. "I'm playing with Shadow. Do you want to play with us?" she asked with a sweet smile.
Harry looked around. He studied the shadows of the trees and the girl's own shadow, but saw nothing particularly unusual.
"Uh… no. I'm fine, thanks," he replied, thinking it might just be an imaginary friend or that she simply enjoyed running between shadows. "Just try not to go into the woods. You could get hurt if you trip over a root, okay?" he added gently.
"Mmm… okay. Shadow got mad too because I went in there. Said there was a bad dog. But not anymore," Lily answered with complete innocence.
Harry frowned slightly.
"Well… I guess that's good," he said, not entirely sure what to make of that.
"Yes," Lily replied with a big smile.
Then she stared at him for a moment, tilting her head slightly.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked when he noticed her expression.
"Mmm… Harry, are you leaving?" she asked softly.
"Leaving?" Harry repeated, confused.
"Yes. The camp. Forever. Like the others," Lily said, looking at him a little sadly. "I like Harry. I want him to stay at camp."
Harry didn't understand the context of the question. Much less why it had come so suddenly.
"Well… uh… I think I have to leave for a while. But I should come back soon. I hope," he answered calmly.
"But you'll come back, right? Because they said they would. But they never did," Lily insisted, staring at him.
"Who are they?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. I don't know them. But they said that after they were called to the Big House, they left. And they never came back. A long time ago. Now they can't come back. But they still talk to Lily in dreams," she explained as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Harry took a few seconds before answering. He blinked once. Then again.
"Well, I…" he started, but she interrupted him again.
"I know. So Harry comes back, I'll let Shadow follow you. That way, if you try to leave, Little Shadow will bring you back. And you won't get lost like the others," she said quickly, smiling as if she had just solved the biggest problem in the world.
"Uh… ah… well. Thank you," Harry replied, still processing everything.
Lily smiled proudly.
"Lily, did you wander off again?" a familiar voice called from a distance. It sounded like Daniel.
"Oh. Dani found me," Lily said, following the voice.
Then she turned toward the shadow of a nearby tree.
"Shadow, take care of Harry," she ordered with complete seriousness before running off at full speed on her small legs, laughing.
Before she could get very far, Daniel appeared and caught her, tickling her while she laughed happily for trying to escape again.
It seemed Daniel hadn't noticed Harry, because he simply carried Lily away. She still managed to wave a small goodbye.
Harry remained there, wearing a puzzled expression.
"She's… a little strange," he murmured quietly.
He glanced once more at the tree's shadow she had been talking to. He saw nothing unusual. Nothing out of place.
So he simply turned and began to walk away.
Without noticing that, at that very moment, his shadow did not mirror each of his movements exactly. There was a faint delay before it aligned again.
…
Harry returned to the Big House just as Percy was coming down from the attic after receiving his oracle. Percy looked at him and gave a small nod before walking toward Chiron.
"Well?" Chiron asked as soon as he saw him.
"It said I will recover what was stolen."
Grover, who had been standing in a corner nervously squeezing a can of Diet Coke, peeked up with a mix of interest and concern. Then He let out a small, resigned sigh.
"That's great," he said.
"What exactly did the oracle say?" Chiron pressed gently.
Percy hesitated. Just for a moment.
But it was enough to draw Harry's attention.
"It said I have to go west to face the god who has turned against us. I'll recover what was stolen and return it intact," Percy answered without wavering.
Chiron narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Anything else?" he asked.
Percy looked at him before shaking his head.
"No," he said at last. "That's all."
Harry narrowed his eyes slightly as well, just like Chiron, who was studying Percy's face carefully.
"Very well…" the centaur said finally. "Now, both of you who received an oracle must understand that its direct words often carry double meanings. You must not interpret them with absolute precision until the events you saw and heard begin to unfold. Keep that in mind."
"Alright," Percy replied, while Harry simply nodded.
"So… which god is in the west?" Percy asked.
"As I told you before, I had a slight suspicion of who it might be. This clears up quite a few of my doubts," Chiron began, looking at both boys. "Think. Who would be the only one to benefit if Zeus and Poseidon were to fight?"
"Someone who doesn't like Zeus?" Percy suggested.
"Or someone who wants to take his throne," Harry added.
"Both answers are partially correct," Chiron said seriously. "There is someone who has held a grudge for a very long time. Someone who received the worst share when the realms were divided by lot. Someone forced to swear he would have no children, while his brothers broke that oath without consequence. And someone whose power would grow if millions of deaths came knocking at his door."
The words made Harry frown slightly. Percy lowered his gaze for a moment, silently putting the pieces together.
They seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"Hades?" Percy asked.
"Yes, Percy. Only one being would attempt to make his two brothers turn against each other. And he might be the first to point at you to destroy you for something… ahem. To put it more clearly, there is a particular realm located in the west. And that is the Underworld."
"That can't be right," Percy said, shaking his head. "After all…" He turned toward Harry. His lips parted as if he were about to say something more. But when he met his brother's steady gaze, he stopped, realizing he was about to reveal something he shouldn't. "Maybe it's just an unfounded suspicion," he corrected quickly.
"Suspicion or not, the quest clearly points to you going to the Underworld. Recover the Master Bolt and return it. There is no doubt about that," Chiron stated firmly.
"But… well, setting that aside. I'm eleven. Almost twelve," Percy said, running a hand through his hair. "You're telling me I have to face a god? And not just any god, but one of the Big Three?"
"Well… sometimes a fight is not the only solution," Chiron replied, though he didn't sound entirely convinced. If anything, there was a trace of guilt in his voice.
"And Zeus is just going to let me handle it?" Percy shot back.
"The gods cannot invade another's domain without permission. It is an absolute rule. But heroes can. They can cross borders, challenge thrones, and bear the consequences. No god answers for a hero's actions. That is why they act through you."
"Are you saying Percy is being used by his father?" Harry asked, his tone serious and clearly displeased.
"I am saying it is no coincidence that Poseidon claimed you so easily now. He is in a position where he has little choice. He needs you, Percy," Chiron replied, looking directly at the son of the sea.
"Right. I feel very grateful," Percy muttered sarcastically before letting out an irritated sigh.
"Let's make this clear then," he continued, rubbing his forehead. "I have to go to the Underworld to face the Lord of the Dead."
"Yes."
"Recover the most powerful weapon in the Olympian arsenal."
"Without exception."
"Bring it back before the summer solstice and return it intact."
"Without damage."
Percy nodded to himself a few times, as if trying to absorb it all, then glanced at Grover. The satyr was nervously chewing on a deck of cards at the table. When he noticed Percy looking at him, his expression tightened even more.
"Well, Mr. Protector, ready for the quest?" Percy asked with a faint smile.
Grover froze.
"Well… satyrs and underground places… we're not exactly compatible. Besides, you might want someone stronger, wiser, and more useful on your team. And I think Harry still needs me as his protector," he added, glancing toward Harry.
Harry met his eyes and gave a small smile.
"Yes, but… I have to go west too. So I'll end up accompanying Percy on his quest while completing mine," he said lightly, watching the satyr turn pale.
At that, Chiron's gaze snapped back to Harry, his eyes narrowing with clear concern.
But the boys didn't notice. They were too busy watching Grover's reaction.
"Looks like you're not getting out of it. Though, if you want, you don't have to come," Percy said with amusement.
"I'm coming," Grover answered immediately, though he still looked miserable. "I'm coming. I'd never leave you alone. But… let me suffer in silence for a bit. Just a bit," he added, trying to encourage himself.
That made Harry and Percy laugh quietly.
"Well… this is unexpected," Chiron interrupted, looking toward Harry. "If you are also going west… that makes a group of three. I thought each of you would choose two companions, but that will not be necessary," he said, studying them carefully.
As Chiron said that, Harry felt something bump lightly against the small table nearby. He tilted his head slightly, as if trying to locate the sound, but chose not to comment on it.
A thought crossed his mind.
"Excuse me, sir. I still don't have a companion for my quest," Harry said, raising his hand slightly.
"Hm? What do you mean? Aren't Percy and Grover right there?" Chiron asked, confused.
"But they are two separate quests. Even if we share Grover between us in case something interferes and we have to split up, that would leave me completely alone. Because Percy's quest is more important," Harry explained calmly.
Chiron watched him more closely.
"I see. You have a point. Then what do you propose?" he asked.
"I need my own companion. Of course, they will travel with us and help Percy on his quest as well. But when the time comes to fulfill mine, I will require their help. If they are not afraid of handling two quests at once," Harry said.
"I see. Then find—" Chiron began.
But before he could finish, a figure suddenly appeared behind him.
It was Annabeth.
She removed her Yankees cap casually, her expression serious as she looked at both Harry and Percy.
"I've heard enough. I'll do it," she said at once. "If the west means the Underworld, you're not going without a plan. Two quests at once don't scare me."
Percy and Grover blinked in surprise at her sudden appearance.
Even Chiron regarded her quietly for a moment.
Only Harry smiled, just slightly.
He had guessed right.
Pure luck.
After using his invisibility cloak long enough, one learns that invisibility does not make you untouchable. You should always be careful of what walks beside you.