A/N:
Idk what else to put here, I don't really have many notes since I released this chapter so close to the last one. But, A huge thank you to Nutmeg for being a major voice of reason in my writings.
—-
It took Inner-Hunter a minute to realize that Phillip had left, ending up finding him back in the damn forest. Seemingly, he'd just picked a direction and began walking; hoping to find the edge of the trees.
"Where are you going?" Inner-Hunter asked, suddenly materializing in front of his creator.
To which, Phillip shrieked like a little girl from the fright. Falling onto his backside, breathing heavily.
"Ugh, just…relax. If I wanted to hurt you I would've done it by now." Hunter grumbled, but thought at the same time - 'Huh, he's scared? The Belos I knew never showed fear. Maybe he has really changed… Or, he just didn't expect any of his plans would ever bite him in the ass like this.'
"Please, just- just let me leave." Phillip begged, scurrying onto his knees. Clasping his hands together in a prayer like motions.
'How pathetic is he?' Hunter had to stifle a laugh. 'This is the man who ruined the boiling isles?' Eventually though, he just shrugged. "Okay. You've seen everything I want you to see. Buh-byeeeeeeee!~" He said, finally cracking a smile.
A portal opened below Phillip, one that he slowly sunk into. Eventually he was spat back out in the real world.
–
Ending up flat on his face. Phillip was able to breathe a sigh of relief, finally, he- he was out of that horrid hell…He wanted to get up and run, but his body wouldn't listen. He felt a strange sense of…numbness. After a minute, he managed to flop over onto his back.
"Currant?" He mumbled, as he heard a familiar caw from the other room. Upon hearing her owner back in the real world - she dashed to the living room like a bat out of hell. Opening their mental link, and asking 'Where were you?! I was so worried!'
"It's…A long story, one that I don't want to tell right now." Phillip mumbled. Currant landed on his chest, to which he held her tightly. Running a hand through her feathers helped anchor him back to reality.
Cautiously, Willow walked back into the living room, to tend to her husband. Though, making sure to not step too close. Wary not of Phillip, but Currant. The two having dueled during the period where Phillip was in Hunter's mind.
Titan hath no fury like a palisman scorned.
Hunter also returned to consciousness, and was met with the sight of his creator just… laying there. Letting out a small smile as he saw that the palisman he'd carved had somehow been activated. Whistling, Currant turned her head around and flew over to the couch. Sensing something innately familiar about Hunter.
"What a fine piece of work you were." Hunter laughed, as he looked the bird over for scratches or injury. She looked perfectly healthy.
"What?" Phillip muttered, as he finally bothered to get to his feet. "Do you know- who might've carved her?"
"Yea, uh, I…I did." Hunter nervously stuttered. Of course, the inner-hunter spoke his mind without any filter, but the outer body didn't dare let loose like that. "I carved her."
Phillip was shocked, the amazing generosity of Hunter even after his uncle hurt him so. It made Phillip feel a strange glimmer in his heart. A glimmer of hope. Maybe, there was a chance - no matter how small, that he could fix up things with his nephew…After all, his nephew was all he had left.
"Hunter, I…" Phillip cleared his throat, barely able to speak. "I… I know, any apology I have is but a shovel of dirt against the mountain of things I've done to you, but truly… I'm sorry. For all the hell I've put my own flesh and blood through." He put his hand on his nephew's shoulder, if just to stablize himself.
"I…" Hunter said, with a small sigh. Swatting his creator's hand away. "Appreciate your apology." It was all too common to reply 'It's alright.' Or 'I accept your apology.' When for him - that couldn't be further from the truth. But…it still felt good to hear.
"Uncle, can I…ask you a question?" Hunter whimpered and looked up at his uncle with a set of puppy dog eyes, putting on an act for a moment. Before, grabbing Phillip's hand…and slapping a glyph on his palm. To which, he tore his wrist away - expecting it to be some sort of curse.
"Relax, it's just a truth glyph." Hunter groaned, rolling his eyes, Letting the inner-him slip for juuuuust a moment. "Belos. Tell me the truth. Was your apology genuine? Do you actually want to fix things, or are you just trying to get power again? And don't try to dodge the damn question!"
Phillip paused for a moment. Putting his finger on his chin, taking time to really think through his answer. "For…essentially the first time in my life, I feel like I have a clear head. One not blinded by…hate, or grief. I do not know what brought me back to life. But I was. I do not want to waste this second chance. Not with you, not with anyone." He paused, taking a deep breath.
"But that's not my decision, it's yours. If you wish, I'll…leave. I promise you'll never see me again." It was funny. The old Belos was a master liar, a master manipulator - one who always was in control of his face and emotions. But this new Phillip… wore his heart on his sleeve. Speaking of, he put his hand where his freshly regrown heart is - and finished with a small "I promise."
There was a silence in the room, as Hunter closed his eyes. Clearly deep in thought. "No." He finally answered, after a minute.
"What?" Phillip spluttered, completely taken aback.
"I…can't explain what I'm feeling but…I, I just don't, okay?" Hunter said, nervously grabbing his arm. "Look, I don't forgive you, and…I probably never will. But…"
Hunter cut himself off, changing the topic. "Do you remember what I said? That, I want to make sure you never hurt anybody ever again? Well, I intend to keep my promise! I swear, if you even THINK of hurting as much as a feather on Currant's head, I'll make what you did to me look like a joke."
Phillip gulped, he could just hear by Hunter's tone that his threat was serious. "Hunter, I want…" The words choked up in Phillip's throat. "To tell you something. And please know, I do not say this as Emperor Belos - Your Superior. But as Phillip - your uncle."
An awkward pause as Hunter listened cautiously.
But Phillip continued. "I am so proud of you. I'm so proud that you've carved your own path and became your own person. How you've escaped my shadow and took your fate into your own hands."
Just the memory of how he treated Hunter gnawed at his stomach. In that, well - he didn't really view him as a real person. Instead, he saw Hunter as a sort of walking shrine - a toy replica of Caleb. But Phillip vowed, he- he was going to change things.
At this, Hunter's eyes began to water. Even if he tried to hide it, he eventually just broke and pulled his uncle into a hug. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear that…"
"I should've told it to you long ago." Phillip replied. Tears began to flow from his ducts as well, as he held his nephew tightly.
–
They held the hug for a solid minute or two, until Hunter awkwardly broke away. They both wiped the tears from their ducts, and took deep breaths.
"Can I ask you one question?" Phillip stammered, clearing his throat.
"Sure." Hunter replied, a soft smile on his face.
"Why did you…take me into your own mind?" Phillip asked, basically knowing the answer at this point. But verbal confirmation would be nice.
"Because, if…If I ever do forgive you, I…I need you to know the depths to which you hurt me." Hunter's expression dropped. "Through my eyes, not yours."
Even if the present was nothing but heartache, maybe there was still a bright future. A glimmer of hope that they'll make tomorrow better.
After an awkward silence, Hunter continued. "Can I ask you one last question, too?"
"What is it?" Phillip replied.
"Did you- actually lose your memory, or was that another rouse?" Hunter quietly asked, bracing for the answer.
"It was the truth." Phillip said, his face turning sour. "Keyword, was…I'm afraid I've been slowly regaining them, and…Now I basically remember everything."
"Of course." Hunter grumbled. Now that his creator's memories were restored, he had a sinking feeling that all the progress that Phillip made was going to be thrown riiight into the shitter.
Thankfully, before they had time to test that theory - Willow cut in. "Hey, uh- I'm about to start on brunch soon, so maybe you should get going, uh…" Making the save for Hunter.
"Oh, yes, I should." Phillip said, clearing his throat. Turning around and beginning to walk towards the door, until Hunter spoke up.
"H…Hey, uh…Belos, do you wanna…Maybe come back next week and have brunch with us?" Hunter nervously asked, extending that olive branch.
"I would love to." Phillip replied. "But, please. My name is Phillip. I'm eager to leave my days as Belos behind….forever."
"That's gonna take some getting use to, but…I understand." Hunter shrugged. "See you soon."
"See you soon." Phillip replied, walking out the door. Palisman on his shoulder.
The journey home was a blur. Phillip felt like a zombie, like a black hole opened under him. Before he knew it, he was back at Blight Manor - and laying in his bed. Staring at the ceiling…For days on end.