[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] Odds & Ends ---> Healing Center
[color=0072bc][b]Interactions:[/b][/color][@Helo][@Potter]
[color=0072bc][b]Outfit:[/b][/color][url=i.imgur.com/E6cI2pP.png]Outfit from the Ball[/url] ---> [url=i.imgur.com/XAu9M4V.png]New Outfit[/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]

Malachi had watched the group depart and got distracted for a mere moment when he noticed Myra speaking to a fairy. He watched curiously as she then followed another female after the group. Mathis was nowhere to be seen. He pondered for a moment before deciding they seemed fine. He could imagine what the group was going to discuss on the beach and knew they'd be in the general area. It was better to get back to Valok and Belle. However, he wouldn't return empty-handed.

He moved into the Odds and Ends store to buy some clothing. There was a feline demihuman who introduced herself as Hanai, whom Malachi thought was a bit too peppy for his current mood. He ended up selling his ball outfit, besides the cape, which amounted to 60 amas. He purchased [url=i.imgur.com/XAu9M4V.png]one of the casual outfits[/url] for himself. She showed him to a dressing room in which he could change and proceeded to transfer his belt and equipment onto his new outfit once he had finished dressing. He wrapped his blue cape back around himself. 

For Valok, he purchased him [url=i.imgur.com/QgruTkH.png]one of the casual outfits[/url] as well. Belladonna surely needed to change out of her overly fancy ball dress, so he decided to buy her a [url=i.imgur.com/UNaAYeN.png]plain blue dress[/url]. The total came out to 110 amas for all three outfits, but since he had traded in his own clothing for 60, he was charged 50 amas. 

Malachi took one more pit stop at the desserts shop where he had stopped in his tracks, seeing a dessert labeled as a blas bun. He smiled sadly to himself and decided to purchase two of them for Valok and Belladonna.

It took him a few minutes to return to the healing center, but he did. He moved into the room and moved his gaze between them, assessing their condition. [color=0072bc]"Clothes."[/color]He announced finally. Malachi moved and dropped each of their outfits on their beds. [color=0072bc]"Buns."[/color]He placed a bag with a blas bun on each of their side tables. He wasn't showing it, but he was excited to see them try the desserts. Malachi was sure at least Belladonna had never had one before.

[color=0072bc]"Get dressed and then try the buns. Don't get anything sticky. There's cloths to clean yourselves up with. We'll get an actual meal afterward. These are simply treats, not something to eat often and get large on."[/color] Malachi moved over to the fairies and quietly paid the 50 ama bill for them.

[hider=Caralia continued]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Abk832x.jpg[/img]
[/center]
[color=0072bc][b]Time: [/b][/color]119 years ago
[color=0072bc][b]Location: [/b][/color] Sun Elf Village
[color=0072bc]OST:[/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFItj4K_yMQ&ab_channel=gondomar02]I love you[/url]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/o4yoa5q.png][/img][/center]

She didn't barge into the classroom while he was working for days after that. Malachi wasn't sure if she even attended school. He understood none of it but decided to give her some time all the same. He could tell she had been through a great deal of pain and perhaps loss. His life had been fairly simple in comparison so he wasn't sure if he could empathize, but he wanted to. 

As he was moving between classes, he overheard a pair of elven girls speaking in rather hushed voices. He stopped and knelt down as if he was tying the laces on his boots as he listened to the two.

[color=8882be]"Caralia's been so weird lately. She can be moody."[/color] The first girl had said as she was knelt down, rummaging through her bag.

The other girl had sighed, kneeling down to whisper,[color=6ecff6]"She may seem like she's perfect and all, but she's always been off. Only sixteen and she lives on her own already. Her parents died in battle like a year ago and she had no other family. She's been a complete [i]mental case[/i] ever since. People stick around her because she's cute and fun, but no one really ever hangs out with her. Didn't expect her to keep hanging around that lose-"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"This loser."[/color]Malachi interrupted and straightened up to face the two of them. He always minded his business and stayed out of others' discussions. It was the polite thing to do and he knew even if the conversation was about him, it wasn't his place to join in. But when it came to Caralia, he just couldn't.

Their faces flushed, having not noticed him. The girl immediately began waving her hands as she nervously went to backtrack but he spoke again before she could.

[color=0072bc]"I know you were referring to me."[/color]Malachi felt his fists tremble as he stared at her girl. How could she talk about her like that? She was so kind to everyone yet they spoke so cruelly of her, without an ounce of empathy towards her loss. He felt angry, which was an emotion so foreign to him, but for her he'd embrace it. [color=0072bc]"The only mental case I see around here right now is you. Speak of her like that again and I'll tell everyone how heartless you really are."[/color]

He continued on his way and didn't stop to continue the altercation any further. What they had to say was of no importance. Strangely enough, that day Caralia peaked her head in the classroom and smiled at him, returning as if things had always been the way they were. Wearing a simple dress and her hair in braids, she moved over and sat in the seat facing him. Malachi had kept it in its usual spot, in case she had decided to come back. 

Her gaze studied him as she noted he had been simply reading a book when she entered,[color=7ea7d8]"Where's your project?[/color]She asked.

[color=0072bc]"I finished it,"[/color] Malachi said and unzippered his backpack. He took out a wooden half-sphere with holes. The holes were in the shapes of tiny little stars and there was a bulb on the inside.

She picked it up gently in her hands, examining it, [color=7ea7d8]"This doesn't look like the original design,"[/color] Then, she pressed a switch on the side and the room was suddenly lit up with stars. The machine rotated slowly as the lights danced about the room. Her expression was not her usual one as she watched it.

[color=0072bc]"I changed my mind and decided to do this instead... I want you to have it."[/color]
Malachi explained to her as her head rapidly turned. She stared at him, her lips parting slightly; she looked genuinely caught off guard for once.  

He wasn't sure if she was struggling to register what was happening, but he let her take time deciding what she wanted to say, silently sitting with her. 

Caralia's gaze fell to the floor for some moments before she looked at him again and stated, [color=7ea7d8]"You did this for me."[/color]

Malachi's expression softened and he leaned on the desk to gently take her face in her hands, telling her, [color=0072bc]"You better believe I'd do anything for you."[/color]

Caralia's eyes slowly widened with realization.

Tears streamed from her eyes over his hands but he didn't let go, rubbing her cheeks gently as he continued, [color=0072bc]"Caralia, you aren't a burden... But you did bother me. Just once. When you said to me you could be an angel, you told me you were kinda pretty and I couldn't believe you'd lie after you told me you wouldn't tolerate lying. You're a hypocrite, Lia. I don't know how anyone could talk or look the way you are without realizing how beautiful you are."[/color]

He could feel her smile under his hands as his words registered. Now he was the one talking too much, and he didn't think he could stop himself from saying more, [color=0072bc]"Please never think you've ever disturbed me. You've... You've made me realize that I was missing part of myself my whole life. You're more than I could have ever hoped for."[/color]

Caralia moved her hands over his and held them, shutting her eyes, [color=7ea7d8]"I didn't think I could have this."[/color] She whispered. 

[color=0072bc]"You do."[/color][/hider]