Malachi's Point of View:

She didn't remember me, and why should she? The years had molded me into a specter lurking in the shadows of her forgotten past. Elara, an ephemeral light flickering in the corridors of my mind, a beacon in the darkness that enveloped my existence.

A decade ago, at the tender age of 12, I was a puppet dancing in the theater of a mercenary group. The Emberlyn estate, a canvas for deceit, became the stage for my vile performance. Like wraiths, Lord Emberlyn's progeny moved through the manor's grandeur, mere pawns in a game of power.

She, an overlooked gem amidst the lord's endless brood, captured my attention. In her quiet obscurity, she became a paradox—a radiant spot amidst the looming dread. A connection, inscrutable yet undeniable, tethered me to her innocence, a stark contrast to the darkness that clung to my soul.

As I donned the mask of an apprentice to some warriors passing by, infiltrating the estate's secrets, her figure stood out like a lone candle in a sea of black. Lord Emberlyn's myriad offspring remained oblivious to the machinations around them, but she, she was a puzzle waiting to be unraveled.

A relentless gloom hung over me, a history marred by my unsavory deeds. But with her, I glimpsed a different world—a world where the weight of my past seemed to lift. Under the gnarled branches of the tree she favored, I saw the glow of childhood, a luminosity I thought forever extinguished within me.

I had grown accustomed to the somber symphony of shadows but I found a sanctuary in her presence. In the quietude beneath that ancient tree, I dared to shed the mantle of my brooding existence. My calculated demeanor crumbled, revealing a vulnerability that only she could evoke.

She was an anomaly, the bright spot in my otherwise ominous existence. And so, beneath the umbrage of that tree, where darkness met light, I spoke to her, defying the very essence of my mission. In her radiance, I found an unexpected solace—a reprieve from the desolation that defined me, a glimpse of redemption in the dance of shadows.

Beneath the ancient tree, time unfurled like the pages of a forbidden book. She spoke of her hopes and dreams, the flicker of excitement dancing in her eyes. Her aspirations wove a tapestry that beckoned my desire to help them materialize.

I found solace in the cadence of her dreams. My words, once reserved for the strategic calculations of my next move, flowed effortlessly in her presence. With her, the demeanor I wore like armor melted away, revealing a side of myself I had long kept hidden.

Her innocence was a balm to my hardened soul, and as I narrated tales of distant lands and mysterious adventures, her delight was palpable. The world I described, a realm of both wonder and peril, mirrored the dichotomy of our existence—the darkness that enveloped me, and the light she carried within.

In those stolen moments, I became an unlikely storyteller, weaving narratives that transcended the boundaries of espionage. When I encouraged her to pursue her dreams, a glimmer of realization sparkled in her eyes. It dawned on me that perhaps I was the first to offer such encouragement.

Our time together, though brief, was a respite from the evil that clung to my past. Yet, as the tendrils of responsibility tightened their grip, I knew I had overstayed my welcome at the estate. The weight of unfulfilled duties pressed upon me, urging me to leave the haven I had found beneath the tree.

I departed, leaving behind the whispers of our shared moments, but she, with her dreams and innocence, lingered in the recesses of my mind. The estate became a haunting reminder of a connection forged in the twilight between duty and desire. Even as I ventured into the abyss of my destiny, she remained a luminescent specter, an indelible imprint on cold heart.

Eight years had passed, and the currents of fate led me back to Stelara, a realm haunted by the echoes of the Emberlyn estate. My plans for the vast continent of Aetheria loomed on the horizon, but an undeniable force tugged at my resolve—I yearned to see her, to ensure she had weathered the passing years unscathed.

The Emberlyn estate unknowingly welcomed me once again. This time, I moved stealthily with practiced ease, an unseen phantom in the manor. I sought her, the ethereal figure beneath the beloved tree, a sanctuary that time had failed to erase.

There she was, no longer the innocent girl I had once known, but a woman of striking beauty. The passing years had transformed her, yet the same glow of longing lingered in her eyes. In the dim light, she resembled a captive songbird, confined by the bars of her past and yearning to spread her wings.

My gaze lingered, captivated by the allure of her presence. Despite the chaos that defined my world, the danger that danced on the periphery of my existence, I felt an undeniable pull. She deserved significance, a life unrestrained by the shackles of her family, and I yearned to be the one to offer her that liberation.

As adults, our worlds had diverged, yet a common thread of longing bound us. She, a captive beauty, yearning for freedom, and I, a brooding figure with the power to unlock the cages that bound her. Our existence mirrored the chaos of Aetheria, yet within it, I saw the potential for something extraordinary.

I knew the risks, the dangers that lurked in my past and future, but the allure of her essence eclipsed the prudent whispers of reason. In the midst of my chaotic world, I found clarity—I wanted her, not just for myself but to stand by my side as we faced the tempest together. I yearned to give her the world she desired, to be the catalyst for the significance she craved. The shadows that enveloped us seemed to retreat, if only for a moment, as the desire to see her soar by my side eclipsed the dangers that lurked in the dark corners of my reality.

With a heart heavy with the weight of unspoken promises, I departed from the Emberlyn estate once again, without so much as approaching her. The tendrils of destiny pulled me away, yet this time, I couldn't abandon her as I had eight years before. In the intervening years, I had amassed power and garnered a legion of loyal followers at my command.

One among them, a faceless operative, infiltrated the Emberlyn estate under my discreet orders. A silent guardian, he kept a vigilant watch over Elara, ensuring her safety became an unspoken mission. His reports, distant but intimate, painted a vivid picture of her life—a life still marred by the chains of her family's expectations.

The revelation that Elara faced limited marriage prospects brought a paradoxical sense of relief. It meant time, a precious commodity, a respite from the relentless march of familial obligations. As I fortified my position in the chaotic expanse of Aetheria, I knew that her safety, her freedom, rested on my shoulders.

Her continued mistreatment at the hands of her family carved a gnawing ache within me, but I clung to the vision of a future where she would no longer be shackled by the constraints her family has placed on her. My little bird, though ensnared, would one day spread her wings and soar beyond the confines of her cage.

She was more than a fleeting desire; she was my dream woman. A vision of a future that extended beyond the darkness. In the solitude of my ambitions, I hoped to convince her that our destinies were intertwined, that together, we could forge a future untouched by the evil that defined our pasts.

As I navigated the tumultuous currents of power and ambition, my thoughts remained tethered to her—the woman who ignited a flame within my frozen heart. The promise of our reunion became a beacon that whispered of a future where she and I could build something enduring, something beyond the reach of the oppressive forces that sought to keep us captive.

Time, once a seemingly endless river, had slipped through my fingers like grains of sand. I had waited as the intricate threads of my conquest plan slowly wove their way across the continent of Aetheria. Yet, as the whispers of a prince's interest in Elara reached my ears, impatience and jealousy ignited a fire within me that could no longer be contained.

The notion that another claimed her time, that their connection deepened while I lingered in the shadows, was an intolerable reality. Dreams of a future with her, dreams that fueled my every move, were threatened by the intrusion of this prince.

Fueled by a jealous rage, I revised my plans, accelerating the timetable for the conquest of Stelara. As a strategic planner, all the pieces lay in wait, ready to be set into motion at my command. The prospect of a bloody attack loomed on the horizon, and I regretted the necessity of it, knowing it would stain Elara's innocent eyes.

The moment had arrived, the call echoing across the abyss, I unleashed the forces that would reshape the destiny of Stelara. The chaos unfolded, a maelstrom of violence and upheaval, and I couldn't escape the weight of the decisions I had made. The path I had chosen led to a confrontation that Elara, unwittingly caught in the crossfire, would bear witness to.

As the clash of warriors painted the landscape in hues of crimson, I wished she didn't have to see the brutality that unfolded. The necessity of the assault offered a bitter pill, a sacrifice for the greater ambition that fueled my desires.

In the conquest, I sought to claim not only territory but the future I envisioned with Elara. The struggle, the sacrifice, was a grim testament to the lengths I would go to ensure she remained untarnished by the machinations of others. Little did she know, the storm that enveloped Stelara was a tempest I had orchestrated to reclaim the stolen moments I had allowed to slip away, a desperate gambit to secure a future where she and I stood side by side, untethered by the constraints of external forces.

A/N: Here's some clarity on why Malachi is so obsessed with Elara. Also, I will be on vacation all this week so I probably won't have time to post or update but I will be back soon! Happy holidays to all that celebrate!