Nico dragged Percy's body back to the improvised camp in the woods near a ravine. At the top of the hill leading to this camp , he stopped and mourned Percy in silence once more asking himself why this hadn't been him. Then he got up and steeled his nerves, then walked into the camp.

When Hazel saw Nico she almost wept with relief... until she saw Percy draped over his shoulder.

Annabeth looked over and saw.

She asked in a shaky voice, " Percy, is he...'' but she couldn't finish. She didn't need to, she knew the answer. Nico set Percy down and Annabeth and Hazel ran to him crying and thinking about how unfair it was. "Why him" Hazel whispered. That's when Jason came outside, he saw everyone and understood immediately. He ran over and shed his tears over Percy too. Then when they were done they went to their separate parts of the temporary camp. Annabeth went to her tent and did some research on bring the dead back, even though she knew what had to happen. Jason went to the clearing where Percy and Nico had the battle. He kept wondering why he let Nico and Percy go alone. Because now his best friend was gone. He wondered what Percy would choose, Elysium or rebirth.

Nico wandered to the woods near the camp and cried a little more. Then he remembered his dad. The thought hit him between the eyes. He couldn't voice it to anyone, but he called on Percy's spirit so he could tell Percy good-bye and tell him the truth about why he left camp. Nobody except Jason and Will Solace knew his secret and nobody knew he was dating Will.

So Nico called Percy's Spirit for a final good-bye.