Philip wasn't sure what to do with the portal now that he had no reason to return to the human realm. Though what Elizabeth had done to the priest had been but a mere illusion, he wanted nothing more than for the ones responsible for the deaths of his family to burn. His mother and sister were all that was left of his family. He barely even remembered his father's face, for he had died when he was young. Philip was the only one left from his family.
With no reason to continue writing in his journal, he made one final entry and donated it to the Bonesburough Library. It contained all of his writings, including his schematics of the portal and his studies on staffs and palismen. He did make copies for all of his studies, except for the portal schematics. He saw no need for that information anymore.
Over the ensuing months, Philip had become more and more isolated in his study. Elizabeth worried about him, but wasn't sure how to reach him. She was in her second trimester, and was showing visible signs of her pregnancy.
"Philip...I made food..."
Philip didn't look up. "I'm not hungry..." he said solemnly.
Elizabeth slowly closed the door in defeat. She broke down in tears by his door. The man she loved had changed from a good natured and happy young man to someone who was utterly broken, and she had no clue how to fix him. She could no longer bear it. But she couldn't leave him. She loved him dearly, and wanted to help him overcome this. Suddenly, she felt a kick. It was the baby.
She opened the door.
"The baby kicked..."
This got Philip's attention. He came over and put his hand over her stomach. Sure enough, he felt the baby kick. In this moment, he realized that he had a lot more to live for than he thought. For the first time in months, Philip smiled.
The remaining months of the pregnancy saw Philip helping out more. Once Elizabeth went into labor, he sat by her side, holding her hand and helping her through the pain as Edith helped deliver the baby. He was a healthy baby boy. Philip suggested the name Alexander, for that was the name of his grandfather. Elizabeth liked that name and decided to go with it. Elizabeth was able to hold baby Alexander, and she wept with joy.
Edith examined Alexander. He had a bile sac, but it remained to be seen whether the organ could function. Even if he couldn't do magic on his own, Philip was confident that he can help him. He discovered that if he drew the symbol he found on a piece of paper and touched the symbol, it performed the ice spell, much like the one he performed in the snow on top of the right knee. If he found more symbols, he could teach this knowledge of glyph magic to Alexander one day. He also was interested in making a staff of his own, so he didn't have to use Elizabeth's, and then perhaps giving Alexander his own someday. He just had to figure out what kind of palisman he wanted to use.
With the baby born, Elizabeth needed her rest, so Philip took care of the baby in the meantime. With the baby in his lap, he was doing more of his studies. He had discovered another symbol in the grass, and when he drew the symbol and touched it, a plant shot out. He started keeping a second journal for his research. His original journal had brought back some painful memories, which is why he donated it.
He looked over at the portal sitting in the room. He couldn't figure out what to do with it. Since he came back to this realm, it had been sitting in the corner, collecting dust.
His train of thought was interrupted by a crying newborn in need of some attention.
The days turned into weeks, then months, then years...before Philip knew it, he had spent a little more than a decade in this realm, and had gathered a ton of new knowledge. Young Alexander was about to celebrate his 14th birthday soon, and Philip was ready to bestow his knowledge on the young teen. It turned out that Alexander's bile sac didn't function, and was merely a vestige from his witch heritage. But Philip was more than prepared. He had discovered so much more about glyphs in his time on the Boiling Isles, including how to do different combinations of glyphs to perform different spells. He had also carved his own spider palisman, and was working on getting some palistrum wood for Alexander's palisman.
A small magic school called Glandus had recently been established, so he figured he could have Alexander attend and meet some kids his age. Though, it turned out being a powerless half-witch would result in him not making a lot of friends. Young Alexander excelled in making potions though, because that didn't require a bile sac.
Alexander came home from school. He seemed exhausted. He came into his father's study to help him and hopefully get his mind off of school for a bit.
"Alright, Alexander," Philip said, "I have something for you." He handed the palistrum wood over to him. "When you're ready, you can start carving a palisman."
Alexander took the wood and gave his father a smile.
"I may need a little time to decide what I want to make."
"Take all the time you need."
Alexander walked out to put the wood in his room. Later on, when Philip was done for the night, he went to go to sleep.
That voice again?
It seemed that most nights, he heard something calling to him, but he wasn't sure what it was, and whenever he went to search for the voice, he never found anything. He got up and went outside to take a walk. He wasn't sure what compelled him to take a walk, but he enjoyed the night air on his face as he walked around. He looked out towards the Titan's skull far in the distance. Suddenly, it appeared to Philip that the Titan's eyes were glowing. Could it be...the Titan itself calling to me?
Ever the curious one, Philip made his way over to the Titan's skull.
We finally meet, human...
Philip could hear the voice in his head.
"Are you the one that has been calling out to me?"
Yes...
Philip wasn't sure if he was dreaming or hallucinating. He came closer to the massive skull.
"Why me though? Why do you want to talk to me?"
You have a higher purpose to fulfill...you are the key...
"The key? Key to what?"
You will learn in due time...
