As soon as Nicos step out of the special space into the cave, everything looks different to him, he could see some element in the atmosphere corroding the Spirit Essence now he understand what his mother and Uncle Alfonso mean when they said there is something in the atmosphere that is eating away the Spirit Essence, there seems to be a layer of thin film around his body that makes the corroding element not to make contact with his skin. He heard a rumbling sound behind him like something falling, when he look back at what it is, he saw the little Spirit Beasts he left behind the special space squeaking as they lost their footing when they stepped out of the special space. He look surprise and decided to let it be, truth be told, he wish to take the little Spirit Beast with him at the time, but stopped himself from doing that because he didn't know if the older Spirit Beast will get aggressive with him and also because the situation in the Forgotten Region will not allow them to survive properly. He decide to take care of the Spirit Beast as much as he can since they are here with him, but he was quite surprised when he discover that the corroding element did not have any effect on the Spirit Beast just like him and conclude it might be an effect from the Spirit Spring in the special space.
"It time to go home, everyone must be worried about me, I hope they haven't been looking for me for too long" he said not knowing he has spent seven days trying to enter the special space. He tidy himself and walked out of the cave with the four little spirit beast trailing closely behind him. He step out of the cave entrance and look around, the Forgotten Region look different to in for the first time, "what an awful place" he said "no wander no one is able to connect to the Spirit Realm from this region, not even a fly will be able to connect with the Spirit Realm with this level of corroding element in the atmosphere."
He continue walking towards the direction of the place they stay, following his usual path, on the way he discover that all the beast in the forest keep a safe distance from him and the little spirit beasts looking fearful and them. Though they are not aggressive unless provoked, they still keep a good distance away from the little Spirit Beasts.
He walked outside the perimeter of the forest after a while and look at the area he has been staying for the past three years in the details for the first time. The time he left the forest this time is in the morning and there were my people around doing their thing. When they saw he came out of the forest they were surprise, luckily, he pull down the hood of his cloak which cover his face and didn't allow anyone to notice any changes about him, they just look at the Spirit Beast with him curiously wondering where he got them from. The little Spirit Beasts also look around curiously as this place was the direct opposite of the special space they have stayed all this while. Some of the people who are close to Nicos came to him and ask about his whereabouts and where he found these Spirit Beast. He knew this might happen, so he has already prepare an excuse on his way since he won't be able to hide the little Spirit Beast. He told them that he encounter the little Spirit Beast in the forest laying with only little life in them and was able to successfully rescue them which was why they follow him, he said he tried to make them lost the trail of him, but the was still able to find him and he decide to let it be and have them around since they are not aggressive. After hearing his explanation, the look of surprise intensified on their face but decide not to think more into it and went to do their thing.
Nicos continue walking while taking in every detail of this surrounding – the ruins, glooming atmosphere, lack of vitality. As he continue walking, he look at the impoverish situation of the region, maybe because of his encounter in the special space and his rebirth, he fell inclined to do something but knows that as long as no one can gain entrance into the Spirit Realm, nothing will be change in this region. He finally got to where they stayed, a bungalow with patched roof, planks were used to cover the broken and damaged part of the building. Looking at it, he could not help but think about their living condition back in Silversky City, though he lived a recluses life then, it is still a hundred times better than this place. But still looking at the building, he still have the feeling of coming home, a haven. He took a deep breath which he immediately regretted because of the foulness of the air and open the door to enter with the little Spirit Beast trailing behind looking around and at everyone curiously. Stepping into the room, everything become extremely quiet so much that the sound of a needle will be heard if it drops. Everyone in the room seems to be in the middle of discussion when he entered.
"Nicos?" Tabitha was the first to break the silence.
Nicos dropped his hood when he entered out of reflex as he usually do and he could hear them gasp.
"Is that Nicos? It does not look at him at all" Nakita said while looking closely at Nicos, trying to identify who he is.
"It really him, though he looks different for some reason" Barnabas replied him.
"Even if he turns to ashes, I will still recognize him" Tabitha said "What the hell happen to you and where have you been all this while?" Tabitha asked him.
"Nicos, is that really you?" Alfonso asked
"Yes it's me." Nicos replied awkwardly.
"What in the name of heaven happened to you, and where have you been for the past seven days?" Nakita asked him looking astound at the changes that has happened to Nicos, wondering what he must have encountered.
"Where is mum?" Nicos asked after he looked around and didn't see his mother.
"Wait, I will go tell her you are back, mother is at the Pergola" Tabitha said dashing to the back of the house to call her mother. Not too long, Tabitha came back with Chloe.
"Mother" Nicos said walking to his mother like a little child happily running into his mother embrace.
"Nicos?" Chloe look at his son almost not recognizing him, "what happened you, where have you been all this while?" she asked. "Everyone would have gone to the forest looking for you if I haven't stopped them and assure them that you are alright and you will be home soon."
Nicos was shocked by his mother statement, "how did she knows that I am fine, did she know what I encounter?" he thought. "Don't think too much about it, as long as you didn't encounter any danger, the pendant on your neck won't break" Chloe said with a smile like he was able to know what Nicos is thinking. Nicos touch the pendant on this neck that is shaped in form of a star with a gemstone in the middle, he could remember his mother gave it to him before his Spirit Affirmation Ceremony and it has been on him since then.
"No wonder you are sure nothing will happen to him, it because of that pendant on him." Nakita came to a realization and look at Alfonso who doesn't look surprise and he conclude that he also knew about it which was why he wasn't too worried when Chloe said Nicos is fine and believed her.
"Answer quickly!" Tabitha nagged him, "you look different. What did you encounter?" she asked.
"And these little cubs with you, where did you find them?" Alfonso asked. It was then they realized that there are four little cubs with Nicos when he entered, they were too focused on him and missed the little cubs until Alfonso pointed it out.
"Wow, these little cubs are so cute!" Tabitha exclaimed with star shining in her eyes when she looks at the little Spirit Beast which made them shuddered and hide away from Tabitha. "I like this little white fox, it the cutest." She said running towards the Spirit Beast. The four little Spirit Beast scatter and run around the room turning the whole place upside down.
"Tabitha stop!" Chloe cautioned her, "you don't even know what these little cubs are or where they came from."
"But this little fox is so cute" she said begrudgingly, "in fact, all this little cub are cute" she added.
"Calm down and let Nicos tell us where he found them and recount his encounter." Chloe said.
"Be quick and tell us what happened, don't just stand there saying nothing" Tabitha glared at him
"If I don't know you were worried about him all these while, I would have concluded that you really hate him" Chloe said, rolling her eyes at her daughter.
Nicos sigh, he knew his sister's nature so he didn't take her antics to heart, he know she love and respect him as a brother, though she call him different names, before his misfortune, he enjoy pranking her together with Barnabas, but everything changed after his misfortune. He was no longer the elder brother they knew, hopefully he will be able to change that now.
Nicos found a place to sit and ready to recount his experience of the past seven days. At this time, the little Spirit Beast are already at Nicos side but they were looking at Tabitha warily, ready to give it a jump if she tries to get close to them.
"Even the little cubs are scared of you" Barnabas laughed while Nakita also join him.
"You all should be quiet and stop jeering her." She cautioned them and they both keep quie.
"Sit down Nicos." She said and find a place to sit as well.