Epilogue

I groaned, leaning back in my chair and bringing the hot teacup to my lips, my hand shaking a little as my muscles struggled to flex. Even weeks later…

"You'll recover soon enough," Atos comforted me as he snacked on a biscuit, his grey hair waving in the wind.

"I know. A few more sessions with Marie will do," I grumbled, slurping the tea.

I sighed, letting my hand drop onto my husband's thigh. Sam was passed out next to me, snoring lightly. I tenderly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, brushing back his wild hair.

"I had that dream again last night," I whispered to Atos, who froze. "It definitely has something to do with your past, and it's becoming more vivid by the day."

Atos' lips tightened.

"You promised." I squinted at him. "I shouldn't have to beg you for answers, Atos. You and I are a long way from fine."

He sighed.

"Doesn't make the memories any less painful," he groaned, rubbing his face. "But I understand, and I appreciate this second chance, Zoe…"

He looked me in the eyes. I nodded.

"I think… what you're seeing is from the time Elek rose to destroy the human empires."

"Like Endelos, Aether…"

"Bahal and the others, yes." He cleared his throat. "At that time, I was in the service of the empire of Endelos."

"Is that when you slaughtered the Kingdom of Kori? Or was it Xal? Why is your name “Hollow”?"

Atos shook his head and sighed.

"Holr, my name, means Hollow. I led the human rebellion against mages, so the nickname stuck. And Kori and Xal are nothing alike. Xal was a kingdom of Gods, arcanists if you prefer that term, and it is both where I was born and where I fought Elek for the first time. We knew each other well… I wanted to change the world for the better. He wanted to destroy it."

He seemed bitter, wincing. Elek did call him ‘bestie’…

"Kori… that wasn't me. Things weren't going well in the war, and Kori captured someone important to Endelos. The man who slaughtered its people was exiled for it."

"The man? You mean one person took down an entire kingdom?"

Atos shrugged.

"Kori wasn't strong at all. It was a bunch of houses and castles atop mountains, with no real army, since the mountains protected them. And yes, a single man took them down... My son."

He looked away into the distance. I remembered what Elek had said about ripping the soul out of Atos' son's body, and my heart sank. I grabbed his hand, rubbing it silently.

I looked at the road under reconstruction, the wooden houses barely holding together. Rebuilding is going well.

Giggles in the street caught my attention. A group of children ran by, Yumii chasing after them, flailing her arms around like an octopus, laughing and smiling brighter than the sun. She waved at us enthusiastically. I smiled and waved back before she ran off again.

"Any way she can ever get her memories back?"

Atos stayed quiet.

"I doubt it… But I'll search."

I hope Ujal, Raja and the others made it out… Guilt squeezed my chest. Sam groaned, holding his head as he straightened up.

"Welcome back, hun." I rubbed his cheek.

Sam rubbed his blue eyes, faint hints of purple fading from them.

"How long have I slept?"

"A few hours, at most."

"Damn," he whispered. "You should've woken me up. I've got to find Kai and Bjorn. We're destroying Kori's, well, Elek's, artifacts."

"We're coming along. Can never be too careful." Atos pointed at himself and me.

Sam winced, looking away.

"It's not against you, hun." I rubbed his arm. "We just don't know how you could react."

"I know, I know." He raised his hands. "I understand… It's just annoying to feel like a baby at times… But well, considering what they did to Damien…"

The words hung in the air.

"Did we ever find out where he's gone off to? He's not dead, right?" Atos asked.

I stayed quiet, biting my lip, thinking about the massive armoured knight in Ithaocan's temple.

"I'm not sure… But I believe he’s alive. I might’ve seen him in Ithaocan."

Atos stared at me, an ‘Ah’ forming on his lips as he figured out what I was referring to. Sam stood up, sighing. 

"Well, maybe someday we'll come across him again."

I sure hope not!

"Let's get going?"

"Right."

We stood up and walked towards the Museum, where it had all started. I held onto my husband's arm, staring up at the bright sun above us.

It feels good to be back… Knowing Elek was banished back to his world sure feels comforting.

I glanced at Sam and Atos, a smile growing on my face, shadows lingering at my feet.

It’ll take time… but we'll be alright together.