A/N:

Gonna be honest, not a super big fan of the way I wrote this chapter - but I'd rather move on and work on the next one. Suppose that's my philosophy lol. - I'd rather just finish a bad chapter and write the next one which would likely be better, instead of ripping my hair out on one i'm not a big fan of anyway.

As well, updates might slow - college and all that. Sorry.

—-

As Samuel returned to the land of the living, he fell to his hands and knees. It felt like his chest was on fire, he could barely breathe.

What was going on?! Last thing he remembered, he- he was in a fight with Father Belos, and he ended up petrified. He was petrified! That- that was a death sentence, how was he even alive?! Was- this some sort of post-death hallucination?

"Please, take a deep breath. Samuel…It's good to see you." Phillip said, cautiously crouching down and offering his hand.

Samuel slapped it away. Even as he got his bearings, just the day before in his mind they were enemies at war! Now Belos was trying to offer kindness? More likely than not a trick. It was all he was good for.

Clutching his staff, Samuel finally levered himself to his feet. Slow and steady. His whole body still felt strangely numb, so he ended up leaning on his s

Phillip backed up, to give the Guard space. "You were out for a very long time." He said. "Please, I can explain everything."

Samuel didn't buy it. Thankfully, his staff was still full of magic - and he lunged at his uncle. Though, it was defeated by Phillip sidestepping.

"I don't want you to see this." Phillip sighed, as he stepped forward and slapped a glyph combination on Samuel. A sleep spell.

"Damn it…" he muttered, before once again collapsing. Phillip hoisted the boy's limp body over his shoulder, and began making his way home.

–

About an hour later, Philip arrived home to Blight Manor. To which, he was alerted with the siren-like screaming of Abomination Guards. The living room was nuzzing, with Luz, Amity, Darius, Alador, and Hunter all standing at alert. Seemingly ready for battle.

"Oh, uh…" Phillip awkwardly mumbled. "Hello… Look, I'm deeply sorry that I didn't tell anyone where I was going, but please- Believe me, I had a good reason."

"Give me that." Amity grumbled, summoning a pile of abomination goop to grab the unknown guard. The noise had woken Samuel up, who once again stirred. He was placed on his feet, but needed the aid of his staff to stand up.

Hunter was the one who stepped up. Swallowing all his fear, and just laying all his feelings out. "Don't think I haven't been keeping an eye on you. You've been whining and crying 'Woe is me! Nobody trusts me!' Belos, you wanna know why we can't trust a god-damn word you say? Because every time anybody puts as much as an inkling of faith in you - You take it, and stomp it until it's dirt under your fucking heel!"

"What? Hunter- Please! Just let me explain!" Phillip begged, his voice clearly shaky.

"How stupid do you think we are, to trust someone who, might I remind you, TRIED TO KILL US ALL? Now you're here, parading around the corpse of someone you killed and- for what? To try and take over again? Or are you genuinely going to pretend you cared about him?"

"I-I did this for you, Hunter, please!" Phillip begged.

"Fine." Luz stepped forward. "You have the floor. Explain what you were doing."

Phillip stammered, trying to explain himself. "Hunter, I… I just, you… I wanted you to meet your brother…"

Luz tried to prod. "Is this why you've been so hell-bent on curing petrification?"

Phillip didn't say anything, but nodded.

Luz tapped her chin, "So the reason you wanted to revive this fella was so Hunter would have a sibling?"

"Hunter, I know, I know you'll never forgive me. I know you've found a family of your own, but, I…I just want you to have a blood companion. Like I had with Caleb." Tears soaked Phillip's face, he couldn't hold them back anymore. The entire room wasn't quite sure what to do…and, Phillip just turned around and left. Lest he make the scene worse.

"Phillip, wait!" Luz called. Giving close chase, but he seemed to disappear into the cloak of night... Well, except for the pathetic sound of sobbing in the distance.. Curled up into a small ball underneath a tree, Phillip lay. Openly weeping into his knees.

–

Samuel grumbled. "Today has been…I've had a lot of strange days, but this one tops them all. Do you have like a…a cot I could sleep on, just for the night?"

"We have a couch." Alador shrugged.

"I don't entirely know what that is, but as long as it isn't the floor it'll suffice." Samuel replied, as with

He had short, boy-ish light brown hair. Seemingly cut recently, but by someone with little experience. Pale skin, full lips, and a massive tooth gap. He looked…Maybe 25-ish? Slightly older than Hunter, but not by much.

He just flopped onto the couch and fell asleep for the night, silently hoping this horrid situation was a dream.

–

"Heyyyyyyy…uh, big fella." Luz tried to get Phillip's attention, walking up and tapping his shoulder.

"Leave me be." Phillip begged. He wanted to be alone right now. He wanted to sink into the ground and disappear.

"No can do, my man." Luz sighed, as she took a seat next to him. "Talk to me. I can tell you're holding in a lot of pain."

Phillip slowly sat up, although he still had a tremendously pained expression. Just…Bearing what was on his mind right now. "I…I tremendously regret creating so many Grimwalkers, but… but… It's done, now."

"Did…" Luz didn't want to make it worse, but there was a question burning in her mind. "Did you actually care for them before now?"

"I…I did. In a way. But never correctly. They all turned against me, and it felt like killing Caleb, over and over and over. By the time I got to Hunter, i'd…become numb to it." Phillip replied, trying to calm himself down.

"I'm sorry, Phillip, but…I'm really curious. What happened between you and Caleb?" Luz just went for broke.

Phillip just spat it out. Since he was already airing all his dirty laundry. "We were witch hunters. He, the village's witch hunter general. He- chased a witch that'd been terrorizing our village into the woods, and just…disappeared, into another realm…"

"The Boiling Isles?"

"Yes. Eventually, I found my way here, too…and I found that Caleb just…moved on without me. He'd found a wife, and they had a son. I was- I was so mad, I wouldn't let this witch be a part of my family…I- I…I tried to kill her, but Caleb jumped in the way…I didn't want to kill him…" As he kept speaking, his voice got lower and lower until it was nothing but a whimper.

Luz took a deep breath, and tried to comfort him. "I think Caleb would be proud of you right now."

"Why?"

"Because you're finally confronting it! Phillip, tell me the truth. Before me, who have you told this story to?"

"Nobody…"

"See? You got to confront it head-on if you ever want to move forward." Luz said, with a confident smile. "Look..I know that it's hard, that - the little voice in your mind telling you that he'd hate you. But who's to say? Nobody, so like- don't even worry about it. You could go in circles and circles for hours wondering…"

Phillip sadly sighed, and stood up. "Is this my legacy? I tried to destroy the land I forcibly conquered, and spent all my life chasing after one person?"

Luz thought, tapping her chin. "Wait, You said he had a son? Maybe one of her descendants are still with us! We could find them, maybe introduce their great-great-great-great uncle Phillip?"

"I wish. I knew very little of Evelyn, even at the time." It at least distracted Phillip for a second.

"Well, how about a last name?" Luz shrugged her shoulders.

"By the time I found them, they were married. She'd taken the name of Wittebane, I think they were a family of Palisman carvers? At least, that was Evelyn's speciality. She carved Flapjack."

Why did that strike a chord of familiarity with Luz? She made a mental note to look up if there was such a woman named Evelyn…Clawthorne.

"I think I need some sleep." Phillip muttered.

"Wait, I…one last thing. Who is the dude you brought back?" Luz asked, just to clarify.

"Oh…" Phillip slapped his head, feeling like he'd entirely lost the plot. "His name is Samuel, he was my second Guard. I didn't revive him for me, I just didn't want Hunter to be alone anymore." He put it matter-of-factly.

"Family is something important to you, huh?" Luz asked, to which - Phillip just nodded.