Epilogue

What followed the battle was a plain mess.

Dante had to take care of all the paper work and spent hours talking to the council in order to explain what had happened in detail.

Zhalia helped out wherever she could, taking care of the mission report while Dante was busy with the council. The teens were still upstairs, sound asleep due to the exhaustion from the battle of the previous night.

They certainly needed it and Zhalia made sure to check on them every once in a while to ensure that they were alright and actually sleeping, especially Lok who's condition was gradually becoming better. He was no longer unconscious and instead in a deep slumber.

Zhalia had assured Sophie and the others to take care of Lok while they would sleep since he still needed to get a healing session in order for the injuries to heal. They weren't lethal anymore, but still not harmless and thus Zhalia had spent the rest of the night healing Lok up to the point where all that remained was a scar from where the sword had cut through his skin and a horribly sore teen.

In the end, neither she nor Dante managed to get any sleep at all.

There was guilt,

It was late noon when surprisingly Lok was the first one to wake up, confused and startled to find himself back in his rooms with only a scar on his abdomen where he expected to find a fairly fresh wound.

He was still feeling drowsy and a wave of dizziness overcame him as he tried to sit up and the blonde groaned at the headache that made it noticeable.

Lok turned his head to the right and whereas his vision was still slightly blurry, he suddenly found himself staring into a familiar pair of tired emerald eyes that were staring right back at him.

His heart made a jump as he saw Sophie's eyes widen in return, all sleep instantly leaving her system as she realized that Lok was indeed awake.

"Lok." Sophie breathed his name, feeling how the pain in her heart lessened as she felt relief flood her entire body upon seeing him awake.

Lok frowned as he looked at Sophie, still confused as to why they were already back. For a moment he actually considered the possibility that he had only dreamt all of it but unfortunately, the scar told him otherwise.

"Sophie," He started, his voice rough due to his dry throat as he winced at the pain that shot through his body upon talking again. "-what happened?" Lok eventually managed to croak out, eager to know just what exactly happened while he was out. Did they win or lose? Did anyone die? Where were the others and what happened to Victoria?

There were so many questions that he wanted answers to, needed answers to but fortunately Sophie was with him, seemingly uninjured and able to provide him with some answers.

Sophie shifted lightly, her eyes saddening as the corner of her lips turned downwards. "After Victoria injured you, Zhalia instantly rushed to heal you. Victoria came for me next because it turned out that she needed the two of us dead in order to unlock the Spiral Marks full powers because I am the heiress of the Casterwill family the direct descendant of Lord Casterwill himself while you are my Champion." Sophie started to explain and judging by the way his eyes considerably widened, he was just as surprised at hearing the news as she had been when Dante had told her afterwards.

"You 'kay?" Lok rasped, concern shining in his blue orbs as he once more scanned Sophie's body, the strawberry blonde girl nodding in return.

"I am. Dante and the rest formed a circle around me so that Victoria wouldn't be able to get to me. Unfortunately, she managed to hit William…" Sophie trailed of, his pained eyes filling her vision as she felt her chest tighten at the memory of the man's last moment.

Lok's expression turned grim whereas his eyes were filled with regret and sadness, instantly fearing what Sophie would say next.

"He died in a matter of seconds in my arms."

Lok felt as if someone had punched him right in the chest, knocking all air out of his lungs as he felt the remorse practically washing over him in waves. He hadn't get to know this man and yet it was still not nice to hear that their comrade, someone who protected Sophie and died in the process.

"He was Sara's uncle and a close friend of Dante." Sophie grimly added, causing Lok's eyes to wide. He didn't know that Will and Sara were related and this very fact made it all worse. "The rest of the team is alright, shaken but unharmed. You gave us quite a scare Lok."

Lok's eyes softened as he looked at Sophie, his expression apologetic as he lifted a shaky hand before he gently laid it on Sophie's head. "Sorry, for everything Sophie." Lok spoke, his voice low as he was finally able to somewhat speak properly again.

His throat was still scratching as Sophie gently laid a hand over his, shaking her head at the blonde. "No Lok, I am sorry for not being able to help. All I did was sit back and watch how Victoria almost killed you and actually killed Will as he and the others shielded me with their life so that she wouldn't get to me. I did nothing to help." Her voice trailed off, her throat closing up as a sharp pain in her heart caused Sophie to inhale sharply.

She hated to be useless. Someone had paid with his life to protect her while all she did was sit back and watch how they fought their enemy. She was the heiress of the Casterwill family for god's sake, how is she supposed to be a great heiress when she still needed others to protect her?

Lok sighed and with a swift motion, wrapped an arm around the petite girl and pulled her closer to him so that her head was resting in the crook of his neck. "Sophie, it's not your fault. You couldn't have done anything and needed to survive so that Victoria wouldn't win. You saved us by surviving and thanks to that, we won. Although I do wonder how you managed to defeat Victoria in the first place."

Sophie exhaled a deep breath, her cool forehead resting against Lok's cool neck as she closed her eyes. She knew that he was right, but it hurt to know that she had been unable to do anything to actually help nonetheless.

Thinking back to their battle, Sophie savored the feeling of Lok close to her and allowed herself to relax in his hold. For a moment she had actually believed him to be dead and no words could ever explain the hurt that she had felt in that moment.

In the end, Sophie explained what happened after Lok turned unconscious and together, the two of them spent the next hour merely lying there as they talked about the battle.

Pain,

Sara woke up with a gasp, covered in sweat as she was breathing heavily. She scanned her surroundings, confused to find herself in her room for a moment before the previous events came back to her with full force. The brunette felt her heart shatter as the face of her sister flashed in front of her eyes, the blood-red eyes that were filled with hatred and pure thirst for power as she mercilessly rammed the sword right through their uncle's chest.

Sara shut her blue eyes close and held her head, trying to get rid of the scenes but her mind refused to listen to her. Her very own sister had killed their uncle without as much as batting an eye just to get killed by her mentor in the end. Sara couldn't say that it didn't hurt to watch because even though she knew that Victoria ha probably taken many others lives as well, it has been her sister.

It has been the very same sister that had killed her last living relative without as much as a care, leaving Sara once more alone and without family.

A tear rolled down her cheek and Sara clenched her teeth, refusing to let the others fall that once she would cry, she would be unable to ever stop.

The soft sound of a knock on her door had ripped her out of her musings and for a moment, Sara held her breath. She didn't feel like seeing anyone at the moment and wanted nothing more than to lock herself away for eternity and completely isolate herself from everyone and yet, a small part of her was screaming at her to let whoever was willing to knock on her door in.

"Come in."

She spoke these words without thinking and for a moment, held her breath out of anticipation as she watched how the door opened.

Entering her room was none other than Den, dressed in a pair of sweats and a plain white shirt with messy hair. He looked tired, beyond exhausted and had dark rings under his eyes that suggested that he didn't get to sleep for too long.

Den's dark eyes fell on his teammate who was sitting on her bed, her back leaning against the headrest as she was holding a pillow. She looked just as bad as he did, dressed in a long white nightgown while the dark circles under her puffy eyes told him that she had probably spent most of the awake.

She was looking out of the window to her right, eyes fixed on the bright blue sky of Venice as he softly closed the door behind him.

Den moved towards the bed and sat down on its end, facing the bright window as well as a sigh escaped his lips.

For a moment all there was had been silence. It wasn't the uncomfortable one and instead, the one where you appreciated one another's company without having to talk at all.

After some moments have passed, Den eventually decided to break it. "I just checked on the others. Zhalia and Dante are still talking to the council and Lok and Sophie are in his room. Sophie just filled him in on what happened and now they are talking about everyone and everything." The brunette male knew that she hadn't asked, but he simply felt like telling her.

Silence followed his words and for a moment, Den wondered if she would speak up as well. He didn't expect her to do so after everything that had happened to her and yet, he wanted to hear her voice again.

"That's good news." Sara suddenly whispered, gaze softening as a part of her was relieved that her teammates were alright. She was glad that they were unharmed and that Lok was doing well after all that happened and yet, she couldn't help but admire them for being this strong.

It was their third time doing this and Sara barely managed to handle the pain of her first war.

"It is." Den softly agreed before he eventually turned his head to look at her. She was still gazing out of the window, eyes sad as her lips were drawn into a thin line and Den couldn't help but pity the girl.

He had been able to save Harrison and he never realized just how truly lucky he was that he had been able to do so because the girl next to him had just lost everything she had left within the split of a second.

"How are you feeling?" Den asked after some more time, genuinely concerned as he watched how she bit the inside of her cheek upon hearing his question.

"Fine." She breathed as she tightened her hold on the pillow and bit her lower lip. "I mean, my dead sister killed our uncle, my last living relative and the person I considered my father after she injured Lok and tried to kill us all just for her to die again but other than that I am fine." She trailed off and Den instantly noticed the tear that rolled down her cheek, his heart breaking at the sight.

"I'm fine." Sara once more repeated, her hold on the pillow tightening up to the point where her knuckles turned white as a sudden smile appeared on her lips, more tears falling.

Den felt his heart shatter and shifted on the bed so that his body was fully facing her and without hesitation, gently grabbed her wrist as he softly pulled the young girl forwards and right into his chest.

Sara didn't dare to object as she suddenly found herself leaning against her teammates chest, head buried in his neck as his arms were firmly wrapped around her. She didn't dare to move as the tears were falling freely by now, her smile long gone as she bit on her lower lip in order to pull herself together as good as she could.

"It's okay not to be fine, Sara." He softly mumbled against her hair and that was all that Sara needed to lose it.

She firmly grasped the front of his shirt and didn't do anything to hold back the tears as she held on him for dear life, burying her head into his neck as she cried.

"It hurts Den." The pained whisper passed her lips as she inhaled a shaky breath, the pain in her chest growing worse as she felt his grip on her tighten. "It hurts so bad."

Den pulled her closer, his grip on her tightening as he leaned his chin on the top of her head, his heart shattering at the sound of her voice, his heart aching for the girl in his arms that wept for her lost family.

"I know."

Regret,

It was night when Dante and Zhalia managed to end the meeting with the council. Dante turned off the TV and exhaled a deep breath, exhausted after everything that he and his team went through during the past twenty four hours.

Zhalia was seated in the armchair and had just finished to neatly staple the piles of papers as she put them back to their rightful place in the safe that was located beneath Dante's bookshelf. She had always found it to be cliché, but the safe was the place where Dante put all the important documents into and since she was the only one who knew of it, she helped him whenever she could.

She shut the door of the safe close and locked it once more with the spell that Dante had showed her months ago. She allowed her palm to rest a moment longer on the cool surface of the metallic door as she exhaled deeply, head throbbing due to staying awake for so long.

"I am going to check on the others." Zhalia spoke, turning to look at Dante who was already standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking at her with tired amber eyes.

"I'll join you."

Zhalia send him a small yet genuine smile as he offered her his hand, which she gladly accepted. Together, the two of them made their way upstairs to the room of the teens and Zhalia mildly noted that Dante didn't let go of her hand. She didn't mind and knew just how much he needed to know that she was right there with him, just as she did.

Zhalia gave his hand a gently squeeze, his hold on hers tightening in return as they reached the floor where the teens rooms were located at. They silently entered Lok's room first just to see him and Sophie sprawled on his bed, one of his arms lazily thrown over her while her head was resting on his chest.

Dante chuckled at the sight, his amber eyes displaying the warmth that he felt at the sight whereas Zhalia merely smiled.

They proceeded by checking Den's room and to their surprise, they found it empty. Dante frowned as concern and confusion filled his eyes whereas Zhalia couldn't help but smile knowingly, much to his confusion.

"Do you know something I don't?" Dante asked, lifting a curious brow at the female next to him who merely closed the door of Den's room.

She looked up to meet his gaze. "Perhaps." She merely returned and lead the way to the last room on their list, Sara's.

Zhalia silently opened the door, careful not to wake the sleeping teens and to say that she was surpised at the sight would have been a lie.

Sitting on Sara's bead with his back resting against the headboard was Den; sound asleep with Sara in his arms that also seemed to be in a deep slumber.

She heard Dante sigh behind her and could practically feel him smile at the sight that greeted them. Dante knew that after everything that happened, the team would need a lot of healing and maybe they would be able to seek comfort in each other's presence.

They needed it in order to heal both individually and as a team. They would have to heal their wounds once more and deal with what happened in the battle, with the loss and the pain until they would be able to fully recover and once more find the strength to go on and continue to walk on the path called life.

As for now, they would simply wait until they would be ready to do so.

Dante and Zhalia decided to let the teens sleep and went back into Dante's room that had over the time become their shared bedroom.

Zhalia gently closed the door behind her and turned around to see Dante sitting on the edge of the bed, face in his hands and Zhalia instantly knew what was going on in his mind.

Her chest tightened at the sight and she gently made her way to sit down next to him, laying a soft hand on his shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault Dante." Zhalia whispered as if she had read his mind, instantly knowing his thoughts. After all these years she knew Dante better than she knew herself. She knew when he was hurting, when he was mad or whenever he was blaming himself for something.

This time, it was a mixture of all three of the above.

"What kind of a team leader am I if I can't even protect it?" Dante spoke, the bitterness in his voice clearly audible as he lifted his head to look at her. "Sophie almost got killed if it weren't for you to return last second, Lok barely made it out alive; I let Will die and killed your student's sister."

Zhalia narrowed her eyes as she saw the anger burning in his eyes. It wasn't directed at her or anyone in particular, that she knew, but it was directed at him.

"Dante, you did all you could." Zhalia spoke, voice firm as she watched how he stood up from the bed and moved to stand in the middle of the room, hands on his hips as he exhaled deeply. "You couldn't have possibly saved everyone on the battlefield. People are bound to get killed, that's what makes it a war."

Her hazel eyes watched how he remained still, not saying a word. He knew that she was right and yet, as the leader of the team he felt obligated to protect his team. The mere fact that he was unable to do so during the battle was enough to make him feel both guilty and angered.

"I should have tried harder." He eventually spoke, voice hard as he shook his head. "I should have tried harder to protect them."

Zhalia's had enough and swiftly stood up from where she was seated; walking towards Dante as she gently grabbed his shoulder to turn him around so that he would face her.

As soon as he did, hazel eyes clashed with amber ones and Zhalia could practically feel her heart break at the sight. They were shining brightly, filled with nothing but guilt and raw anger as they gazed into her calm hazel ones.

"Dante." She called his name softly, eyes softening as she allowed her hand to rest on his shoulder. "There was nothing you could have done. You ensured your teams safety and thanks to you, they managed to survive in the end. If it weren't for you, Kiel would have killed Sophie and Victoria would have only needed to hit Lok." The bluenette gently reminded him, having seen them with Kiel from afar as they tried to get to the others after they had met up with Will.

She then slid her hand from his shoulder to his neck, her eyes never leaving his. "So please," She breathed, her eyes pleading. "Stop blaming yourself for something that you no one could have possibly prevented from happening."

Dante's gaze did not waver as he continued to look into her eyes, her words like ice to a burn as he felt himself growing weak. He knew that she was right, as she always was. Zhalia had been the first and only one in his life who always found the right words without making up a lie or empty promises. She understood him like no one else did, shared her fears and secrets with him as he did with her and together, they shared a bond that was inseparable.

He gently wrapped his arms above her waste and laid his forehead against hers, never breaking eye contact as he felt looked at the woman in his arms with nothing but gratitude.

"What would I do without you." He mumbled, lifting a hand to gently trace his thumb over the line of her jaw until he allowed it to rest on her gin, tilting it upwards so that their lips were only a breath away from touching.

Zhalia smiled brilliantly in return. "Live a sad and lonely fiancée-less life?" She offered, eyes sparkling in amusement as she watched how Dante's eyes widened the smallest of bits upon realizing just what she had said.

He didn't expect her to bring it up this soon and yet, he couldn't complain. He knew that they would have to wait some time to get married because things still needed to calm down at the HQ's all over the world and they had a lot of things to take care of first, but they had a life-time to spent together and that was more than he could ever want.

"You'll marry me?" He breathed against her lips, amber eyes never leaving hers as a smile spread on his lips.

Zhalia's eyes softened at the question. She didn't think that he would have actually considered her rejecting him to be an option but apparently he did.

"Of course I will."

As soon as the four words have passed her lips did she feel him close the distance between them and it was then that the two top Seekers of the Foundation sealed their promise.

And healing.

It has been two years ever since the third war.

During these two years a lot of things have happened to the Huntik team.

Within the first months they all have helped to bring the Foundation back to its former glory by helping to rebuild the HQ's all around the world. It took some time to heal all the wounds that they received, both mental and physical.

The teens were visiting the School that the Foundation had successfully opened by now and after the first year the team had also started to go on missions again.

The team however had made one special mission their priority, which was finding Eathon. They were closer than before to finding him and Lok was sure that it would only be a matter of time until they would finally find him.

Zhalia and Dante married three months ago, having taken their time for they wanted things to be back to normal first.

DeFoe and many other Spirals had been caught six months ago when they plotted an attack on the Foundation HQ in Germany but fortunately, they managed to prevent the attack from happening just in time.

Den and Sara ended up as a couple and have been going strong for six months now while Lok had finally gotten the courage to propose to Sophie after a total of four years of dating.

They decided to get married after they found Eathon and for now, were content with simply being engaged.

Of course, Lok had to ask for Lucas permission first and that turned out to be a task that was harder than he had expected. It took quite some time to convince Lucas to give them their blessings and even if reluctant, the Casterwill boy eventually yielded and decided to not stand in his sister's way of happiness for any longer.

Cherit had also decided to return to the team a year ago, having completely missed what happened and to say that the joy was huge upon seeing their little friend again would have been an understatement.

The Huntik team was once again back to its former glory and went back to living their normal life that didn't include a war, and they wouldn't want it any other way.

The End