The four walked up to the teleportation matrix. As soon as they neared a specific distance from the grand structure, a couple of guards instantly strode forward, barring their path.
"Halt! State your purpose for using this matrix." the guard's voice boomed imposingly.
Beverly, who was at the front of their party, remained utterly nonplussed. She calmly took out a medallion with a carving of a Hawk crafted on it from the pockets of her robe.
"That answer enough for you," The ginger-haired woman nodded toward the item she had just retrieved, a subtle smirk threatening to break her dignified air.
Nico and Cynthia resisted the urge to roll their eyes.
Upon sighting the hawk on the medallion, the formerly forceful guard stiffened, before he bowed, "My apologies, esteemed guest. Please, this way."
Nico quirked an eyebrow at the guards change in tune before he shrugged and followed the sentry.
Half a minute later, he found himself at the base of the steps which led to the central platform where the portal was located. The guard clad in plate armour turned around and addressed Beverly, "Where to?"
"Airedale," she replied succinctly.
The sentry nodded, "Since you have the token of the Nurorsk Family, the fee is on the house. Please make your way up the steps, we will power up the machine shortly."
Nico and Leon shared a silent glance with each other, excitement and nerves mixing at the thought of the new experience they were about to face.
They quickly ascended the steps, stepping foot on the stone platform.
Nico surveyed the writhing portal up close, feeling a shiver instinctively crawl down his spine. Now that he was in a much closer proximity to the tear in space, a hint of fear couldn't help but invade his mind.
"Relax, kids," Beverly said, noting the hesitation of the little rascal and his half-blood friend. "It will not kill you. Unless, well… something drastically bad happens. But, with the help of the dwarves the Nurorsk Family created these matrixes. They are as sturdy as can be," she waved away the boys' concerns.
'That first part wasn't very reassuring,' Nico's lips twitched.
He took a deep breath and wrestled control of his nerves.
"Now, it is imperative that you prepare yourself before stepping into the portal. As this is your first time, the fluctuating space will have a severe effect on your co-ordination and balance. Feeling a little sick after is completely normal…" the priestess continued, warning the two teens of the side effects of using such a shortcut to travel.
"A little is a mighty understatement," Cynthia piped up, her lips twitching.
"Toma--to, tom-–ato" Beverly shot back, dismissing her best friend's words. Nico stared at his aunt with narrowed eyes. Just before he could open his mouth and give a retort of his own, the portal in front of them whirled to life with a deafening hum.
The brown-haired boy suddenly felt a suction force try to suck him into the iridescent tear. He dug his feet into the ground, resisting the drawing force with moderate ease.
"The portal is now active. Have a safe and pleasant journey," one of the technicians called from the command center.
Facing the gaping maw of the portal, Nico steeled his mind as he watched it writhe even more chaotically after the white-robed technicians had powered it up.
The red-robed priestess strolled toward the mouth of the tear leisurely. "Whatever you do, don't move once you have entered the portal." Her relaxed voice streamed into Nico and Leon's ears.
They nervously nodded, observing her step into the teleporation matrix, before the iridescence swallowed her figure.
Cynthia was up next. She sent a reassuring glance back toward her son and the half-blood, before she mouthed 'Good luck.'.
The portal swallowed her as well.
Now it was just the two of them alone.
Nico glanced towards Leon, who signalled that he wanted to go first. The brown-haired boy had no issues with that. Rather, it gave him a bit more time to build up the courage for what was to come.
A few seconds and some hesitation later, the half-blood stepped into the tear in space timidly. His figure abruptly vanished from view.
'Looks like there's no more delaying,' Nico sighed, forcing his legs to move. As he neared the mouth of the portal, the suction force grew greater and greater.
Pausing, the brown-haired boy took a deep breath…
'Three. Two. One. Move.'
…and stepped into the teleportation matrix with mock calmness.
***
Nico didn't have any time to breathe before he felt the world around him spin. His mind reeled and his body threatened to stagger back from the intense disorientation.
Luckily, he had some presence of mind left to heed his aunt's words.
All around him, the world morphed and rushed past in a dizzying display of colour. Nico almost emptied his guts from the sheer sensory overload. He just barely kept the contents of his stomach within.
Idly, he wondered where the vomit would have gone in this strange space… the thought slightly distracting him from his immediate discombobulation.
Just when he felt like his current predicament would stretch forever, his surroundings abruptly stilled. Nico groaned as his eyes blinked taking stock of his immediate vicinity.
A stone platform. Three different figures. The outline of a forest far into the distance.
That was all he could make out before the urge to empty his stomach exploded to life. Nico's back bent, a torrent of sickly liquid escaping his mouth.
"Oh, dear," a warm voice streamed into his ears. He sensed a hand pat his back gingerly, "Let it all out, honey."
'Mom..'
Nico heeded his mother's words and surrendered to the urges of his stomach. He continued to gag, heave, and retch.
Finally finished, the brown-haired boy gasped for air and raised his head, wincing as the remaining bile burned his throat. He saw Leon with a green face, barely holding himself together.
Beverly stood beside him, composed as always… which irked Nico more than he liked to admit.
He stared at her with some resentment. 'A little sick, my rear!'
"Let's get this mess cleaned up, shall we," Cynthia smiled reassuringly at her son. Nico sighed and nodded, looking around for some method to get rid of the pile of vomit, before he stiffened.
A chilly gale swept past him. Looking over his shoulders, he found his mother's hands suddenly glowing with an icy blue hue. The sick splattered all over the stone platform quickly froze.
'Neat!' the brown-haired boy exclaimed inwardly.
Just then, Beverly entered the fray and swiped her hands. The mess swiftly disappeared.
Nico's jaw hung open. The ginger-haired priestess merely winked and raised her nose up in the air, enacting some sort of stylish pose.
Nico's eyebrows twitched at the sight. Cynthia facepalmed.
As he gazed at his mother and aunt, his lips curled up by themselves. Whenever he was with them, he knew he was safe.
Another bittersweet grin coloured Nico's face.
***
Half an hour later, Nico and his travelling party paused at the entrance to his home. After disembarking from the teleportation matrix, they had ventured through the City of Airedale, before leaving its circular expanse and entering the wilderness outside.
From there, they had progressed through the woodland for roughly a quarter of an hour - Nico had no real way to tell how much time had passed - and then came across the Descender Village where he and his family lived.
The rural community they were a part of was mostly comprised of Cynthia's and Beverly's former acquaintances who had served on the front-lines alongside them. Well, those of them who were alive, anyway.
It was more of a tight-knit group than anything. They swiftly dealt with any disagreements.
A few of the villagers who spotted Cynthia and Beverly's arrival waved in greeting. The Descender duo waved back, small amiable smiles gracing their faces.
Staring at the wooden door to his abode, Nico took a shaky breath before he gently placed his palm on the egress and pushed. Behind him, the half-blood squirmed, evidently still hesitant to impose.
As he stepped foot onto the plush rug that covered the entrance to his home, Nico spied a little form rushing up to him with rapid steps. A big smile unconsciously bloomed on his face.
"Brother!" Charlotte exclaimed, launching herself at her older sibling.
Nico chuckled heartily and accepted the embrace, "It's so good to see you, Lottie!"
Her presence was like a balm to his soul.
The silver-haired little girl giggled at the nickname, tightening her hug around her brother's neck. "Brother, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Nico's heart melted at her words. He gently placed her down, bending down to ruffle her silver hair, his wide grin unwavering.
Charlotte pouted a little at her brother's action, but let him do as he pleased. He had just come back after a long month away from home, after all.
Nico slowly stood up from his crouching position, and straightened to his full height. The sound of something striking wood streamed in to his ears. A second later, he found the sickly form of his father hobbling towards him, leaning heavily on his cane.
"Father!" the brown-haired boy rushed forward to prevent Ross from straining himself any further.
Ross, who was glad to see his son in one piece show a pained smile, before he swept his child in for a crushing hug. Well, as crushing as a hug his weak constitution would allow, anyway.
Nico reciprocated his father's embrace. Even though his father's form was so, so frail... in that frailty he found a sense of security and solace.
Once they parted, Ross placed a paternal hand on his son's shoulder, "How are you holding up?"
Nico sighed silently, his smile dimming. The older man's eyes rippled with a mixture of pain and empathy.
"Don't worry, you don't have to tell me. Whenever you're ready, I'll be here waiting," he waved the hand not on his cane, dismissing the topic to give his son some space. "And who might this young man standing at the door be?"
Ross's eyes twinkled curiously, taking in the half-blood's features.
"Ah!" Nico hurriedly turned around and sent an apologetic glance towards Leon. He had momentarily forgotten about his friend's presence during the brief reunion with his father and sister.
Leon showed a nervous smile. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a feminine voice drowned his own timid one out.
"His name is Leon, and he is Nico's friend," Cynthia replied for the stocky boy, striding into the house behind the half-blood with Beverly right at her heels.
"Leon…" Charlotte mulled over her name, hiding behind Nico's leg. Ross smiled at her adorableness.
Sighting the warmth on his wife's face, he acknowledged the burly guest with a smile. "Welcome, a friend of my son is also a friend of mine,"
Leon nodded hesitantly, standing awkwardly, unsure of what to do or how to behave.
Ross turned around and headed for the living room, "Let's go get everyone seated."
Nico sighed, taking a step forward.
He did it.
He was back home.
Transcendents knew how tough the last month had been, but it was to time set his sights on the future.
Right now, though, Nico would do his damndest to enjoy the present with his family.
After all, there really was no place like home…