Briarwood Family/Malachi

May the winds of fate find you to victory and glory.

– Malachi Briarwood

Malachi Briarwood, the scion of the noble Briarwood family, possessed a striking presence with his dark greyish-black hair, pale silver eyes, and lean, athletic build. From an early age, he exhibited the enigmatic nature characteristic of his family. As a baby, he was fussy and difficult, much like his older sister Lilyana, and later on, he displayed a similar temperament as his sister Gwendolyn.

Throughout his childhood, Malachi displayed a mix of ordinary and peculiar behaviours. He spent days playing pretend with the boys, using sticks as wooden swords, and riding horses with an unmatched passion. Yet, he was also known to wander alone into the woods, gazing into the depths with an unnatural focus that intrigued those around him.

Throughout his formative years, Malachi relied on the unwavering support of his sisters. His parents, often harsh and demanding, placed higher expectations on him compared to his siblings. However, Lilyana became his pillar of strength, helping him navigate the struggles of his training and childhood. Despite their parents' wishes, Malachi couldn't avoid the comparisons drawn between him and his sisters.

Malachi's interests were multifaceted, trying to bridge the gap between his sisters' preferences. He developed a love for singing and dancing, hoping to connect with Lilyana, who revelled in the arts. Simultaneously, he nurtured a strong desire to learn the art of combat, aligning himself with Gwendolyn's penchant for fighting and swordplay.

On his 14th birthday, he embarked on a fateful hunting trip with his cousins Petyr and Zephyr without their parent's approval. The outing turned into a tragedy when their close friend, Martin, a dedicated hunter in the service of the Briarwoods, lost his life. Malachi blamed himself for the incident, as the shadows of that day haunted him, and both Petyr and Zephyr shared a heavy burden of secrets, leaving their relationship with Malachi forever altered.

Despite his position as the only son, Malachi's education was minimal compared to his sisters. He learned finances, troop command, and the ways of high society by observing and listening to others' lessons, including Lilyana's. Never feeling a sense of entitlement to the family inheritance, he harboured complete faith and trust in Lilyana's capabilities, content with her being named the heir.

As Gwendolyn embarked on her journey to join the Ascendancy of Luria Nova in Dwilight and Lilyana assumed the mantle of Dame of Aix, Malachi found himself grappling with uncertainty about his own future. He sought refuge in the presence of Lilyana, assisting her in her escapades and avoiding his parents as he tried to delay their plans of sending him away, cherishing every moment he spent with Lilyana. Their bond was unbreakable, and she became the guiding light through the darkness that threatened to envelop him, though he knew it would not last forever.