Phantom Hollow and oh baby, when they made me, they broke the mold

dated before the mal thread & after the mahler thread

He still hasn't told his ward anything about what happened with Midar, though he's certain the child is smarter than he lets on. Surely @Phillip has noticed the new air of nervousness surrounding his guardian, perhaps even connected it to Midar's absence in some way. But there is no way for him to know that he is the cause, or that Midar had wanted him dead, and Alarian intends to keep it that way. There are some things children don't need to know, he thinks.
How are you feeling? He asks suddenly, halting as his gaze finds Phillip. It feels like he says those words more often than any others to his ward, but it's necessary, in his opinion. The last thing he wants is to let the child's health slip away right under his nose. He's gone through far too much to keep the boy alive, and he's admittedly a little fond of him and his stupid-looking owl. Fond enough to avoid eating the bird for fear of upsetting Phillip, at least.