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.

And it didn't.

Upon his return from the distant region of Clermont, the air hung heavy with apprehension as Malachi Briarwood stepped onto the familiar grounds of his ancestral home. What should have been a homecoming of joy turned into a nightmarish ordeal as he was set upon by his father's guards, who showed him no mercy. Their blows rained down upon him, senseless and brutal, until he was barely recognizable, his body a canvas of bruises and brokenness.

Soon after, his battered form was dragged aboard a ship bound for the distant continent of Beluaterra. The path was as treacherous as the uncertainty that awaited him, for he was destined to replace his exiled cousin Zayn as the Briarwood of Beluaterra. Zayn's fate had been sealed in the aftermath of a fateful duel with Gwendolyn, and now Malachi was to step into his shoes, a heavy burden atop the physical and emotional scars he carried.

Arriving in the realm of Nothoi, a land utterly foreign to him, Malachi found a semblance of respite in the tranquil city of Reeds. However, his journey took an unexpected turn as he ventured south, meeting the unexpected resistance of the peasants of Tindle. A dramatic encounter unfolded as these fervent souls proclaimed him their Lord and Senator, breaking away from the realm of Vordul Sanguinis to forge their own destiny under his banner.

Suddenly thrust into a role he neither sought nor fully comprehended, Malachi found himself entangled in a web of political intrigue. The title of Senator was bestowed upon him in a region he had not known before, within a realm whose intricacies eluded his understanding. He was surrounded by strangers, each with their own ambitions and allegiances, and he found himself navigating through the convoluted currents of a realm steeped in complexity.

As he assumed the mantle of lordship and leadership, Malachi faced a steep learning curve. The weight of his new responsibilities pressed upon him, but there was a resilience within him that matched the resilience of his family's legacy. Slowly, he began to adapt to the challenges of his role. Though the journey was fraught with uncertainty, he displayed a steady determination to make sense of his surroundings and to uphold the honor of the Briarwood name.

Despite the abruptness of his entanglement in the world of political machinations, Malachi proved himself adaptable and resolute. He forged ahead, guided by the love for his family, the lessons he had learned, and the strength that lay within him. As he navigated the intricate dance of lordship and diplomacy to try and carve out a place of significance in the uncharted lands of Beluaterra.