The portal dropped him onto the academy grounds and collapsed behind him in the same moment, the blue light breaking apart into drifting particles that faded before they reached the grass. Lucas stood still for a second, just looking at the place.
The training grounds. The stone walls. The academy towers catching the afternoon sun.
It was strange how normal it looked after everything the island had contained.
"We actually made it back," he said, mostly to himself.
"Apparently," Gideon said, coming to stand beside him, looking around with the quiet satisfaction of someone who had genuinely not been certain this moment would happen.
