Hey, it' s the author again. So, can yalls tell me if this chapter is kinda going too quick for you? Just for some clarification, this takes place around a week or so after Nico has ended his 3 days in the infirmary. Anything that happens in the book after that...doesn't?...here, since I haven't read the book in forever. Will and Nico are friends, at
Will
As Nico took his arm, Will could've sworn his heart skipped like, 5 beats. Seriously. That couldn't be healthy. Not to mention that he looked dam (sorry, I had to) good, with Will's old shirt that he'd given him once he'd realized that Nico didn't have that many clothes to wear after the war. He was also wearing ripped black jeans, and his hair flopped into his face in a naturally messy sort of way that Will found adorable. Nico had even smiled. It was a little, but a little was a lot when it came to the son of Hades. Right now -and pretty much every other day- Nico looked like a figure from one of his favorite songs, Angel With a Shotgun. Or the Criminal from, well, Criminal, by Britney Spears. But better.
So they walked into the Big House, Nico still doing that smile, and Will beaming. He really hoped he wasn't glowing. Flower gleam and glow, man, but more embarrassing. Will looked around at the small room, where a ping pong table rested between the middle and the corner of the room, and cheese puffs were scattered around the table. Ew. Will led Nico over to a seat that looked a little more sturdy than the others, and pulled out the seat. Nico took it, looking up at Will with those black eyes that seemed to be filled with such hidden emotion that Will could've drowned in them. Will took a seat next to him, hoping he wouldn't scooch away. Will looked at him from the corner of his eye. Nico was fidgeting with the edge of the shirt, and looked tired. Not just deprived-of-sleep, but as though he was just done with everything. It was impulsive, Will knew, and he might get pushed away, but he took Nico's hand. It was cold, as though he had become one of the dead he controlled, but fit perfectly in his. Nico looked up, but didn't say anything. No expression, nothing. Well, he hoped that was a good sign.
After a minute or so of sitting there, in an uncomfortable comfortable silence, Chiron wheeled in. "Sorry that I kept you waiting.", the centaur said. Surprisingly, Nico responded. "It was no problem. So, if there is a quest, what is it?" He stumbled over the second sentence, as though trying to stay polite yet impatient as well. Chiron cleared his throat, and said with a cough, "Yes...normally, I would hate to give you such a big quest, after all you've gone through. But the Seven are already busy, and you are one of the only demigods currently capable of completing this quest. We don't know that many variables of thi quest, but Lady Hecate sent it, so…"
He coughed again, as though in embarrassment. Will felt a slight dagger of irritation at Chiron, and at Hecate. Didn't they see that Nico was still recovering from the war and all the things he had gone through during and before it started? Obviously, physically he was perfectly okay, but the emotional scars were what Will worried about. He knew Nico still had nightmares, and they could get really bad, even though Nico hadn't technically said anything about them to Will. It wasn't just that, but also that Will wanted Nico to feel like he could stay at the camp without people doing what they did, and drive him out without even knowing it.
"You said that he was one of the only people who could do the quest. Why can't you send one of those other people? He's already done so much for the camp, why can't you give him a break?" Will interrupted, eyebrows drawn together in irritation. Nico sighed, then responded, instead of Chiron, who looked even more uncomfortable. "I'm okay. Seriously, it'll be fun to go somewhere else. Maybe. One time, on a quest, I went to China. Uh- on accident- but...well, yeah." Will laughed, concern remaining, but decided to dismiss it. "Okay, so back to the point…" Chiron said. "Lady Hecate sent this quest, it's to her, she called it a "pet world". You'll be going to kill an evil wizard- yes, wizard, Nico- called Voldemort. Also, Will shall be coming with you to assist with protecting a target of Voldemorts, Harry Potter. She...wants you to be ready to go by 5. So, you have about 2 hours to pack and such, say goodbye. You'll be going to the School of Hogwarts, which is also where you'll be staying. You'll technically only be there for as long as it takes you to kill Voldemort, but otherwise it's for the school year, and then you come back to camp in the summer. After you're both finished packing, Lady Hecate wished to speak with you before you go, something about giving you the needed knowledge of the wizarding world. Any questions?" Will glanced at Nico, but he seemed to understand everything. "Nope." Will said, popping the "p".
"Okay, then. You may go, pack, or...whatever." Chiron said. He hesitated, before adding, "I'm sorry, Nico. I don't want to send, nor Will on this quest, but I don't quite have a choice…" Nico smiled, again, and commented, "It's fine. I'm used to work. Kill Moldy Shorts? Easy." He gave an evil laugh, which Will knew he didn't mean to send chills down his spine, but did anyway. On that note, Nico waltzed out of the Big House towards his cabin, leaving Will looking astonished.
So, he guessed he was going to go to some school of magic with Nico, to kill some evil dude. That sounded fun, and not dangerous in any way whatsoever.