[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FC1Vfxq.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4fnxTW0.png[/img][/center]
[color=0072bc][b]Time: [/b][/color]Evening
[color=0072bc][b]Location: [/b][/color] River Port
[color=0072bc][b]Interactions:[/b][/color][@Helo][@Potter]
[color=0072bc][b]Outfit:[/b][/color][url=https://i.imgur.com/E6cI2pP.png]Outfit from the Ball[/url]
[color=0072bc][b]Inventory:[/b][/color][url=https://www.renderhub.com/dmitriykotliar/fantasy-sword/fantasy-sword-02.jpg]Sword that's sheathed[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/fF9uExa.png]Bow[/url] and quiver of arrows. Then: 2 hankerchiefs, liquid body cleanser, wayfinder, toothbrush, travel-size hair and teeth cleansers, small round of rope, small amount of disinfectant and bandaging: all in a fanny pack that's facing behind him, hidden behind his cape.
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/o4yoa5q.png[/img][/center]

The light of the port was visible from even afar as the trio had approached River Port. When they finally reached the dirt road, they entered the town on the south side. The road was filled with people moving back and forth over it and each building window still alit.  Malachi did not bother even glancing over things too much as he knew he could not waste time with his injured companions. He glanced to one side and he made haste grabbing the shoulder of someone moving nearby him to ask where the healing center was. 

A woman instructed them to round the bend left and find it on their right. He began to follow the instructions, only to suddenly become aware of heavy heaving. His face contorted and his gaze slid over toward Belladonna, as that was the origin. A dog was seated next to her heaving with excitement and staring up at her with a piece of paper on the top of his head.

He snatched it from the dog's head and read it: [i]Meeting Hall at 2pm.[/i] His eyebrows raised and he showed it to Belladonna and Valok before pocketing it for them. Right where they had entered, he had noticed a big meeting hall, so that made things convenient. Going with extra care to avoid the tongue and spit, Malachi moved his arm around awkwardly to pat its head.  He gave her a brief moment to interact with it before they moved on. Dogs were cute and certainly comforting to the younger folk, so he knew he had to allow both her and maybe even Valok if he so wished a moment to give it a pet.

Malachi stared up at the stars as he waited.

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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Abk832x.jpg[/img]
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[color=0072bc][b]Time: [/b][/color]119 years ago
[color=0072bc][b]Location: [/b][/color] Sun Elf Village
[color=0072bc]OST:[/color] [url=https://youtu.be/QTgS-OxqjLQ?t=2]The facade drops under the glittering sky[/url]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/o4yoa5q.png][/img][/center]

Miraculously enough, the sky had been clear that night as he led Caralia to a field of flowers, his hands over her eyes.  He moved his hands and smiled as she stared up at the stars in wonder. He had walked them some ways from the town, where the light pollution wouldn't tarnish their view. The sky was a blue velvet with stars strewn all across it like snowflakes caught in time. A small blue and pink moon were at each end of the sky, guiding the choir of stars in their song. The stars twinkled brilliantly as the two gazed upon them.

[color=7ea7d8] "Oh they're just begging to be talked to aren't they?"[/color]Caralia said dreamily, then ran forward, and began calling out to the sky, [color=7ea7d8]"Stars! Hi!! Give us a sign you can hear us! Hey!"[/color] She shouted. [color=7ea7d8] "Come on! Don't ignore me!"[/color] She looked over her shoulder at Malachi, who was giving her a look without meaning to, [color=7ea7d8]"Come on! Don't just look at me like I'm crazy! They can't hear us unless you help!"[/color]

Malachi glanced around. They were alone. His shoulders relaxed and he ran over to her, yelling, much more awkwardly, [color=0072bc]"Uhhh hey stars! Hello!! We have questions! Give us a sign!"[/color] Her expression lit up and she yelled with him until finally, a shooting star shot across the sky. 

[color=7ea7d8]"They heard us!" [/color]Caralia exclaimed then spun her body around in joy as she moved, her head laid back while she swung her arms, [color=7ea7d8]"It's real, Malachi! Lunathea has deemed us worthy of communication with the afterlife!"[/color]

He was pretty certain it had just been convenient timing, but he let her have it, watching her with a smile. 

[color=7ea7d8]"What are you going to ask it?" [/color]She asked him, her arms falling back to her side. 

She was standing there looking at him those eyes again. He felt his heart race and himself tense up. What if his answer was disappointing? Malachi took a moment to consider the question before finally asking, [color=0072bc]"Hmm. What would you ask them?"[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]"I want to know why we have only two moons. Why not three? Or more?" [/color]Caralia grinned as she mused, [color=7ea7d8]"Imagine lots of moons, all different colors! Oh then why is the blue one bigger than the pink!?"[/color]

Malachi laughed. It was like she had all these silly questions from when she was a child that just never got answered. [color=0072bc]"It would be nice, but imagine the gravity. The waves would be too big."[/color]

She gave him a pout as per usual, [color=7ea7d8]"Don't ruin my fun with logic. Besides, maybe we'd get to fly since we wouldn't be stuck on the ground just like the fairies do. Imagine if we got to fly together."[/color]

His heart skipped a beat as she moved up to him and took his hands, [color=7ea7d8]"Wouldn't you like to?"[/color]

Malachi glanced down at her. He thought he'd be more nervous as she got closer, but something about her made him feel comfortable, accepted. There was not a thing he could do that would make her judge him. His eyes searched hers and then smiled. [color=0072bc]"I'd love to,"[/color] Malachi told her and brushed a lock hair from her eyes. She had the prettiest eyes; like a pair of emeralds staring up at him. The moonlight lit them up, creating an intense contrast with everything else around them.

That night, they sat down together in the flowers and took turns coming up with questions to ask the universe, hoping to see a shooting star raced across the sky to give them confirmation again. Malachi let her do most of the talking, listening as she asked why the moons were different colors, why her ears were pointy and why elves lived so long. She never got answers to those questions but as far as he could tell, her enthusiasm never faltered.

That was until later that night, her gaze met his in a moment of silence and she smiled. But something was different this time. Her smile didn't reach her eyes the way it normally did. 

She started weeping as if everything she had ever loved had been taken from her.

Caralia did not stop for a long time, seemingly not even embarrassed to be crying in front of him so suddenly. She got up on her feet and cried out, [color=7ea7d8]"Why do you take people away!"[/color] Her voice was anguished, tears running down her cheeks as she glared at the sky like somehow it was at fault for her all her sadness. [color=7ea7d8]"Why do you get decide it's okay to take people's lives and keep them up there! Just to answer these stupid questions!?"[/color] 

She stared at it with darting irises as if she was searching for an answer to miraculously manifest. But it didn't. She collapsed to her knees, whispering brokenheartedly, [color=7ea7d8]"Why can't you at least talk to me?"[/color]

To see her so suddenly become this way, not only confused him but made his heart lurch as if he had felt the same way she had. Malachi became self-aware of himself sitting there, his hands fidgeting, unsure what to do or say. Finally, he moved over and knelt behind her. He put his arms around her and held her close and stayed with her as she sobbed. 

Caralia had turned upon feeling his presence and buried her head in his shirt [color=7ea7d8]"[i]Please don't die.[/i]"[/color] She whispered pleadingly. He was thrown off by her words, trying to process them. What could he say to that? She wrapped her arms around him to grip his shoulders, [color=7ea7d8]"I know I talk too much and I disturb you. I know I'm a burden. I know you never asked for me to barge in and bother you all the time, but please don't go."[/color]

It wasn't like he planned on dying in the upcoming weeks, or even years. Malachi didn't understand why she was asking such a thing, but he was willing to tell her anything to make her happy again.[color=0072bc]"... I won't leave you, Lia."[/color] He said softly and tightened his grip on her. 
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