Chapter 15: Lands beyond the West
STORY START
It was the next day of the celebration that Naruto and Annabeth left for the lands beyond the west after saying goodbye to their cabin mates in the Athena cabin as well as Chiron and Dionysus who allowed them to leave due to Naruto's status.
"So where are we going first" Annabeth asked from her spot on Naruto's lap. Why was she seated there this time you wonder well it was to fully optimize the speed of Vimana to lessen travel time.
"Hmm probably London or Ireland" Naruto said still deciding since they had a bit of time till the reach the European areas.
"Hmm how about Ireland first I remember you saying something about going there for something?" Annabeth offered.
"Oh right yes thanks for reminding me I almost forgot" Naruto said with a smile as he picked up more speed towards Ireland.
It took them only about an hour or so to reach Ireland from wherever they were and they had moved along at a leisure pace once they saw land allowing Annabeth to take in the beauty of the place.
"Wow this place is amazing" Annabeth said in rapt awe at the nearly preserved Ireland it had seemed nature was still a part of the community not much buildings but it was nice to see that nature so well kept here.
"Indeed a shame the west has lost all touch with nature huh?" Naruto commented as they neared a mansion overlooking the sea by a cliff.
"Heres our stop McRemitz manor please mind your manners and hold your questions as much as you can." Naruto said as he landed the Vimana near the manor.
"Um I'll try what are we doing here?" Annabeth asked as she got off with Naruto's help.
"Were here to pick up my first companion and to get you started on your magic training" Naruto said as Vimana dissipated into golden dust.
"M-magic training I can learn?" Annabeth asked shocked.
"Yes did you think I would leave you defenseless in these lands. After all here you barely have any demi god abilities just your advanced strategy planning is all you have along with your learning curve other than that you have no other gifts of the gods this far out in the lands beyond the west. Only I retain my powers since I'm the son of the goddess of crossroads allowing me to keep my powers." Naruto explained just as a few people rushed towards the two.
"Master Naruto what an unexpected pleasure Lord McRemitz is indoors shall I bring you to him?" A well-dressed man asked Naruto.
"Indeed please show us in" Naruto answered with a slightly respectfull tone.
"And who is your company?" the man asked once more.
"My step sister Annabeth treat her as you would me." Naruto said.
"Very well Master Naruto. Welcome to the McRemitz estate Madam Annabeth. Come come milord is waiting" the man said leading the way into the mansion.
Stepping inside Annabeth was fascinated by the grand architecture of the place as well as the fact it seemed the insides were filled with servants numerous butlers and maids lined the walls and bowed as Naruto and herself entered the hall.
"This way young Master I leave you to your business" the man said as he stoppd before a huge set of double doors.
Stepping behind Naruto, Annabeth watched as he opened the door without much effort and walk into a room the size of half the Camp.
"Welcome Naruto it has been to long since you have last visited." An elderly man said he had greying hair most of which was still a maroon in color. He was dressed in a dark brown suit a head taller than Naruto.
"Lord McRemitz indeed it has how have you been?" Naruto asked with a slight bow of his head.
"I'm doing well my boy and who is this is this her?" Lord McRemitz asked.
"No this would be my step sister Annabeth the daughter of Athena." Naruto said explaining to Lord McRemitz.
"It's a pleasure" Annabeth said remembering high class mannerisms.
"Oh no the pleasure is all mine young Naruto rarely bring any of his family this far out" Lord Mcremitz said kissing the back of Annabeths hand.
"So what is your visit for this time?" Lord McRemitz asked Naruto sternly.
"I'm here to honor my deal with you in exchange for Gae Bolg I would take your daughter with me to explore the west." Naruto said reminding Lord McRemitz of their deal.
"Oh yes now I remember please follow me Bazett has been expecting you for quite a while now." Lord McRemitz said as he led them to an adjoining room.
The adjoining room was half the size of the previous one and this time instead of an open hall with just a table and a few chairs this was filled with gym instruments from barbells to punching bags there was even a boxing ring in the center of the room.
"Over here please follow me" Lord Mcremitz said as he moved to the further side of the room where they could hear someone working out finally seeing who it was Annabeth saw a woman in her mid-twenties to early thirties with the same maroon colored hair as Lord McRemitz though she was dressed in a black tank top and biker shorts along with a pair of sneakers.
"Bazett we have guests." Lord McRemitz said getting the attention of the girl.
"Oh hello father I was busy I didn't hear you enter." Bazett said as she finished what she was doing and stood up to wipe her face with a towel and take a drink from her water bottle nearby.
"Oh Naruto it is a pleasure to see you here" Bazett said not realizing he had seen her working out making her blush slightly.
"It's good to see you too Bazett I want to introduce you to my sister Annabeth she will be accompanying us till we reach the west." Naruto said as he introduced Annabeth who shook Bazett's hand.
"Well are you ready or should we wait for tomorrow?" Naruto asked inquiringly.
"If it does not bother you I would prefer to leave tomorrow instead." Bazett answered.
"No problem I want to begin Annabeth's raining after all" Naruto said to Bazett before turning to Lord McRemitz.
"Is there a spare room we may borrow?" Naruto asked.
"Yes I will have someone show you and I will also send a servant to tell you when it is time to dine." Lord McRemitz said as he summoned a servant before heading back to the large room.
"See you Later Bazett." Naruto said as Bazett nodded in response and got back to her own training.
Following the servant who led the two into a smaller room filled with books Naruto turned to look at Annabeth sternly.
"Annabeth there are some books here that contain their own magic and can kill you just by opening them since you are just a beginner. Do not read anything other than what I give you understand." Naruto said with a serious expression on his face.
"Yeah I get it who was that girl back there?" Annabeth asked as she sat down and watched as Naruto got some books together.
"Oh you mean Bazett? Well she's an old friend who taught me how to use her clan's magic quite effective I might add. You may believe it or not but I have yet to win a fisticuff against her." Naruto said shocking Annabeth.
"You haven't won a fist fight against her is she that strong?" Annabeth said in shock the man who beat Herakles couldn't beat a girl?
"Yeah without weapons I couldn't handle her at all she has more experience and skill than I in hand to hand combat" Naruto explained as he set down a few book in front of Annabeth.
"I-I see" Annabeth said shakily just as she took hold of the first book.
"What's this about?" Annabeth asked as she started reading.
"I wanted you to start with the basics of magic like unlocking it and sensing it as well as a basic spell the Gandr Shot" Naruto said as he left Annabeth to read before moving to a secluded part of the room where Annabeth couldn't see him.
"I know your there mom" Naruto said as he stared at a bookcase.
Just he said that the bookcase shimmered and vanished and in its place was a woman shorter than him by a head with long red hair easily reaching her ankles. This was Naruto's mother Hecate in her Kushina form as she liked to be in when she was around him.
"Oh my dear sweet baby boy how are you doing?" Hecate asked as she brought him into a hug.
"I'm doing fine mom how about you" Naruto said still hugging her.
At this point the two separated and Naruto could see the seriousness in Hecate's eyes.
"I told you not to use Ea until you became a god even though you have the blessing of Chaos same as with Gilgamesh the Fates feel it necessary to balance things out" Hecate told her son seriously.
"What! What did they do?" Naruto asked in worry.
"Oh nothing to us anyway more like to Herakles. They have deemed him too early to die and he will reform in about a year or two's time" Hecate said sadly she knew how much Naruto wanted to kill the man only for his victory to be turned into a hollow one.
"But that's not all they have also sealed away the use of Ea until you reach godhood in two years' time" Hecate said calming Naruto slightly.
"At least they let us off light" Naruto said still disappointed from his loss he could practically hear Herakles taunt him from the beyond.
"Enough of this serious stuff it's getting to depressing. Now have you told her yet your feelings." Hecate asked her son.
"No not yet I was waiting for the right time" Naruto said looking at the floor he really hated how cowardly he was in these sort of things.
"Don't worry why don't you try this year when you visit the hunters. I know your mothers and I will help you and most likely Lady Aphrodite will as well." Hecate said soothing her sons worry.
"But what if she rejects my feelings? What if she still doesn't-" Naruto never finished his mini ramble as Hecate slapped him straight across the cheek making him fall to the ground.
"Enough of that what if you are my son I did not raise you to be a coward did I?" Hecate said slightly angry.
"No but-" Naruto started but was cut of.
"Stop you know it's like the mortals say these days it is better to have loved than never to have loved at all. Just share to her your feelings if she accepts them than all is well. If she rejects them than look elsewhere for happiness it is that simple. It is do or do not understand Naruto?" Hecate said as she kneeled down to his level before engulfing him in a comforting hug that he had not felt in a while.
"Thanks mom" Naruto said as he hang on to her like a life line.
"You're welcome my son. So you're teaching her magic huh which one?" Hecate asked as they both stood up.
"I plan on her becoming like Rin and Luvia" naruto answered simply.
"Ahh I see I hope she doesn't inherit their personality" Hecate said nodding in approval.
"Well that is my free time for now see you In a few days my baby boy" Hecate said before she kissed his forehead before vanishing once more.
"Yeah I will" Naruto said softly as he went back to see Annabeth's progress and to his shock she had already read through the two book she got her and she was now practicing the Gandr Shot.
"Put more energy into it" Annabeth heard a woman say from behind her only to see Bazett standing there behind her wearing a suit similar to her fathers.
"Thanks" Annabeth said as she did just that and she managed to pull off her first successful Gandr Shot.
"So Naruto are you ready for our re match?" Bazett asked as she faced Naruto who was now near the two women.
"Yeah we will have it in the clock tower to show them that magic is not just about spellcasting from afar but also in close range combat like ours." Naruto said as he collected the two books to return back on the shelves.
"Re match?" Annabeth asked suriously.
"Oh that's right you didn't know Bazett and I have spars occasionally to improve so far our score is her 12 to my 4" Naruto said sheepishly. Hey he was still a person with some pride and the fact he won only four matches out of sixteen was embarrassing to say the least.
"Heh I hope you improved or they may have to name me a Wizard Marshall" Bazett said tauntingly.
"Yeah I guess I should practice a bit before the match." Naruto said.
"Masters dinner is ready" a servant said as she entered the room.
"Well ladies shall we" Naruto said offering his arms to which Bazett and Annabeth took.
STORY END
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and just so you know there is a new poll up in my profile It will be open until my next chapter in 3-5 days.
This side arc is set before Sea of Monsters so Naruto will visit Ireland, the Clock tower, maybe Fuyuki City, and lastly the hunters camp. I hope you enjoy the side arc.
Thanks for reading until next time.