County Kerry, Ireland

Lok was sitting in his room, starting at the wall with empty expression. He hasn't really left it ever since they came back home with his mom; after the battle she'd decided to take him back to Ireland, that is until the funeral...He hung his head, as the memories of the battle played out once again before his eyes...

He drew his sword, stabbing the Betrayer with it. The vile creature cried out, convulsing violently before bursting into a bright light. The Spiral Mark glowed one more time before dying and at the same time the white light swept everything freeing Lucas and his mother from their Curselocks. Everyone in their little group shared a look, before it finally sunk in: They've won! They have won! Blood Spiral was no more! They burst into cheers, laughter and hugs which lasted for quite a while, until a group of people showed on the horizon. Their friends and allies have come to join them! Den let out a happy cry as he and his brother finally embraced warmly. He himself smiled at it, knowing how much it meant to Den. Soon everyone was there, and the hugs renewed as Metz, hugged Dante and Montehue, patted the russet-haired man on the back congratulating him on coming back to life. He watched them, before looking around for the familiar figure of Sophie, but she was nowhere to be found; it was strange but he dismissed the worry, telling himself that she will come soon; maybe from another side. But as the minutes passed, he started to get worried. Finally, he came up to Viviane.

"Hey, have you seen Sophie?" he asked

"I don't know, shouldn't she be here?" questioned the girl

He shook his head

"She went to lead Shauna away" he explained "I thought that maybe one of you had seen her along the way"

Now it was time for Viviane to shake her head. He thanked her and went to asks someone else, but got same answer. Nobody has seen Sophie.

"Maybe she got injured?" wondered Zhalia worriedly

Everyone shared a look. That could be the case. They therefore dispatched into groups and went looking for Sophie. He took Cherit, Den and Harrison with him. It didn't take long for Cherit to fly by and inform them in agitated tones that he has found Sophie. They followed him and indeed she was there, lying on the ground by the boulder of the cliff. He broke into the run as the first one, but stopped in midway, there was something wrong...but he shook it off and slowly forcing his body to move walked up to her and knelt down.

"Sophie?" he asked in a trembling voice "Sophie?"

She did not answer; overcome by fear he shook her a few times, yelling her name. It didn't work. Her body was limp in his arms; he felt tears welling up in his eyes as he shook her again, and again shouting at her and begging her to wake up and stop playing around. At some point the others came by, or at least Lady S did, for she shoved him away and checked Sophie's pulse. He watched this holding his breath. Maybe he'd been doing it wrong, but his hopes died soon after when the nurse let go of Sophie's writs and shook her head. It was in that moment when he let out a scream of agony...

"NO!" shouted Lok, grabbing the small bedside lamp and throwing it at the wall before him. He panted heavily, tears streaming from his eyes "NO! NO! NO!"

He fell to his knees, hiding his face in his hands, weeping. Once more, the memories of his time together with Sophie flashed before his eyes, her words echoing in his mind

How she confessed her love to him in Atlantis

"You're the one who keeps me going!"

He she encouraged him to confess his own feelings for her...

"Lok I will listen to anything that you have to say"

Her words of encouragement in Dracula's Castle

"You really took charge back there, it made me feel safe knowing you've got everything under control"

"Lok, your decisions saved us more than once, thank you"

Their talk on the balcony, when she put their relationship on hold. They'd planned to start anew after the war, but now...all of this had been destroyed. He'd never see her again, her sweet smile or her sparkling eyes, he'd never hear her voice or silvery laugh again. He'd never smell her expensive perfume, or feel the softness of her skin and hair. She'd never put her hand on her hip and give him that small mocking smirk of hers. She'd never roll her eyes at him, or throw a jab. She'd never give him a lecture on anything. How much he'd give to hear her scoffing and telling him off now! Telling him he should be studying to the History test. She'd never do any of it, and it's all his fault...

Lost in his grief, he hasn't noticed when the door opened and his mother came in, until she dropped by him and wrapped her arms around him. He instinctively leaned against her.

"I feel so...guilty" he confessed "it's all my fault. I am the Champion, I should have been able to protect her. This is my purpose and duty, and I failed her mom! I failed her!"

"You didn't fail her" whispered his mother gently "you were taking care of the Betrayer. You were saving the world like hero should, and Sophie knew this. That's why she lead Shauna away and took her on by herself. She knew you cannot spare your time on that. She did it to give you a chance. You didn't fail her. You did exactly what she wished. And you had succeeded. I'm sure she's proud of you, wherever she is"

These words only made his heart clench harder, and hurt more. He broke into even harder sobs, clutching to his mother, and letting all the grief out. She understood his needs, and hugged him tighter, caressing his hair and, rocking back and forth, whispering the words of motherly comfort into his ear.

So here, our first hurt/comfort chapter. I guess. and we get to Lok. Poor, poor dear. But is it my fault he looks like Jaune Arc? and yeah the title of the chapter...I know it sounds strange but it sounds better than "boyfriend" in my mind...a little bit more fitting for a tragedy fic and fits with the mood.