Time: 119 years ago
Location: Sun Elf Village
OST: I love youShe 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.
"Caralia's been so weird lately. She can be moody." The first girl had said as she was knelt down, rummaging through her bag.
The other girl had sighed, kneeling down to whisper,
"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 mental case 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-""This loser."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.
"I know you were referring to me."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.
"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."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,
"Where's your project?She asked.
"I finished it," 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,
"This doesn't look like the original design," 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.
"I changed my mind and decided to do this instead... I want you to have it."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,
"You did this for me."Malachi's expression softened and he leaned on the desk to gently take her face in her hands, telling her,
"You better believe I'd do anything for you."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,
"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."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,
"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."Caralia moved her hands over his and held them, shutting her eyes,
"I didn't think I could have this." She whispered.
"You do."