A/N:

Only two short weeks until the end of my first year at Uni, whew!

Updates will continue to be slow, probably. Until I'm done, at least - I am buried in so much homework… I wrote this chapter over lunch LOL.

—-

As much as Phillip desired to stuff his face back into a pillow and fall back asleep, he feared that all it would amount to was another nightmare. Besides, the morning sun was already beginning to peek through the bedroom window, so he might as well just start his day.

"Caw." Currant greeted in a low pitch, meaning 'Good morning!" through their telepathic link.

To which, Phillip's face curled into a tiny smile. "Good morning." He replied, his palisman was just so adorable that he couldn't help it. Rolling out of bed, and walking over to his desk - pulling out a jar of nuts and giving his bird buddy a handful.

Despite him looking like a wreck, he decided to suck-it-up and head on down to the living room. He needed to touch base once again with Samuel, and…try to diffuse the situation with Hunter.

Speak of the devil, Hunter was patrolling the living room. Clearly looking like he was a minute away from falling asleep, since all night he kept watch of his big brother. Like a sentinel, just in case anyone tried to swoop in and attack. Maybe that wasn't exactly rational, but on the boiling isles all rationality goes out the window.

Currant's caw echoed throughout the manor's halls, looking for her close friend Ghost. Full of chipper energy but- unfortunately this massively backfired as she flew into the living room. Her voice was loud enough to awaken Samuel.

In a frantic fright, hopped to his feet and shrieked "What was that?!", his eyes darting between Emperor Belos stepping down the stairs and the as far as he knew ownerless Palisman. He took action, with one swift leap - grabbing Currant out of the air.

"What are you doing?!" Phillip gasped, unable to do much more than hold his arm out. He wasn't exactly the most athletic senior, so- there was no chance for him to catch up.

"Hey, hey! What's going on?" Called Hunter, vaulting over the couch. Not seeing Currant in that tired hase, instead assuming that Samuel was trying to run away and Belos was trying to attack.

Samuel didn't intend to hurt the Palisman, of course. He just assumed it was trapped, or otherwise accidentally stumbled into the Emperor's abode. Wanting to let it fly free, back to its 'real' owner. Soothingly whispering "I got you. I won't let him hurt you." while making a break for the front door - Darting from side to side in anticipation of an attack that didn't come.

But, of course, Currant didn't fly anywhere - once she was let free she turned her attention towards her seeming captor. Giving an indignant chorus of caws, and raining down a barrage of angry pecks.

"Currant!" Phillip beckoned, worry in his voice. To which, she made a bee-line for her owner. "Forgive them for they know not what they do-" His quote being cut off by Hunter spear-tackling his uncle into the muck.

Eh, Phillip already looked like shit - this didn't exactly make him look any worse.

Samuel shook his head, trying to get his bearings. "Wait, Is that- your palisman?!"

"Yeah." Phillip whimpered, as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Let me get this straight." Samuel scoffed, putting his hand on his hips and looking over at his brother. "Belos has a palisman? One that he's actually - you know, taking care of?! Last I knew, he ate one of those things' souls if he so much as tripped and scraped his knee!"

Hunter stayed silent, considering he was the palisman's carver.

Phillip cringed at his old self, but still tried to defend himself. "It was…an addiction, yes. But a vice I'm proud to say that I've kicked. Please, Samuel, I know this must be very confusing for you. But I can explain-"

"Let's start with…Why?" Samuel sharply interjected.

"Huh?" Phillip mumbled.

"Why did you bring me back to life? You were the one who petrified me in the first place."

Hunter cut in. "He said something about wanting me to have a 'blood companion' - what the hell does that mean?" Reaching into his pocket and pulling out his own Palisman, Waffle, and transforming him into a staff to menacingly point back at Phillip. "I'll give you one chance to tell the truth. If you even THINK of lying, we'll make you sorry."

"A way to put the things we learned during Golden Guard training to good use, huh?" Samuel smirked, to which the brothers fist-bumped.

Phillip didn't respond much to these threats, just awkwardly turning his head as to not make eye contact. "Growing up, I didn't have a proper family. But I wasn't alone. I had my older brother, Caleb. He was…my world. Extremely strong, but at the same time exceptionally gentle."

"Oh, yeah, I know Caleb - didn't you kill him?" Hunter dismissively scoffed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.

There was a heavy silence in the air as tears welled in Phillip's eyes. "I didn't want to kill him." A pathetic whimper fell out of his mouth.

"What?" Hunter mumbled, taken aback at the seeming… Vulnerability from Phillip.

Of course, Phillip tried to recover. Clearing his throat and wiping his face, "I'm sorry, it's- just, an…old wound. That's still open, as you can probably tell."

"No, no, go back." Hunter shook his head, before twisting the knife. "Now now, I was your right hand man for years. I learned to read your emotions, I mean, we don't want another one of your little… outbursts!"

The throne room. Hunter was desperately trying to beg for forgiveness - he'd failed his mission of finding Emperor Belos more Palismen, which he was consuming on the regular to keep his curse at bay.

"So you return with nothing? Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?"

"Course not!" Hunter pleaded. "I want to help! A-and if you told me, how wild magic did this to you, I might be able to find a-"

His voice was cut off by The Emperor's arm transforming into a sharp spike, coming towards him at lightning speed. He was just barely quick enough to dodge a direct hit, it only tearing off some of his hair.

"My apologies. I spoke out of turn. It won't happen again."

Of course, Hunter only knew to dodge from experience. There's an old human adage that's applicable to this situation. The Axe forgets, but the Tree remembers.

"These outbursts are painful…But so is watching you fail. I know you can do better, Hunter."

Hunter sharply shook his head, pushing that horrible memory out. Because… "But, uh… This… feels like the first time you've been emotionally honest with me in my entire life. If you want to earn my trust, you're going to have to do that a lotttttt more."

Cut in Samuel, Still not entirely sure what the hell was going on with this interaction. Perhaps this was just his brain flashing dreams before his eyes before he went to the great beyond? So, he just interjected with a sharp - "What the hell is going on?! I'd really like that explanation, please." Before turning back to Hunter, assuring that "I'm good at decoding Belos' code."

Phillip took a deep breath, wiping away another tear. "I don't think I've told anyone this story before, but… You deserve to hear. Everything. Come, let's sit back inside. It's dreadfully warm out here."