As Malachi plummeted from the sky, his figure was a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the open air. The wind rushed past him, whipping his hair and clothes as he descended with startling speed.The distance between him and the ground closed rapidly, and the ground below seemed to rush up to meet him with a sense of impending impact. It was a heart-pounding moment as gravity took hold, and Malachi's mind raced to find a solution to his sudden predicament.Just when it seemed like his fall was destined to end in a bone-shattering collision, fate intervened in the form of a tree. His body collided with the upper branches of the tree, causing a cascade of leaves and twigs to scatter in all directions. The impact wasn't enough to halt his descent entirely. Instead, it served to slow him down and redirect his trajectory.With each successive branch, Malachi's fall turned into a chaotic dance of twists and turns. He bounced from one branch to another, his body contorted in unnatural a

Amidst the dense foliage of the enchanted forest, the air was thick with tension as the moon cast an eerie glow on the battleground. Malachi, his body weakened and dehydrated, stood at the ready. His young form belied the ancient malevolence that resided within him. Eight guards, four skilled swordsmen and four sharpshooters armed with bows, encircled him with cautious determination.As the guards closed in, Malachi's eyes gleamed with a cunning intensity. He knew he couldn't rely solely on brute force in his current state. His fingers twitched as he surveyed the surroundings, his mind calculating every possibility.The first swordsman lunged forward, his blade gleaming with intent. Malachi's shadow cloak engaged, enveloping him in darkness and rendering him invisible. He nimbly sidestepped, letting the swordsman's strike hit nothing but air.“Where is he?!”“Careful! He can hide using the shadows!”Meanwhile, the necrotic aura he emitted took its toll on the guards' focus, subtly wea

“So, what’s your name?” the young man asked.“Malachi,” he replied, his head still looking down.The young man noticed his nervousness and chuckled. “My name is Jett Welles. This here is Sansum. He is 6 years old. What about you? How old are you?”“I am 8 years old.”“Hoo, just a few years and you’ll be an adult like me.” Jett smiled and ruffled on Malachi’s head as if he was his little brother. “Do you like hunting?” Sansum asked.“Hunting?”“Hunting animals,” Sansum continued. “Jett is teaching me how to hunt animals so we can feed ourselves, but most importantly, so we can feed others. Everyone else already knows how to hunt except me.”“That’s because you’re the youngest,” Jett said. “You’ll learn sooner or later.”“Yeah, but everyone is making fun of me, especially because of my thin body.”“You’ll get over it. I am as thin as you. Besides, if you can hunt, you can eat more and get big. Oh, look, we have arrived.”Nestled deep within the heart of a dense and ancient forest, the

Malachi grabbed all the herbs and plants he could find in her room and then stuffed them inside his pocket.“You said those herbs are of no use to you,” Seraphina commented. “And when are you going to kill that old lady?”“These herbs will help me in that.”Malachi tidied the room, making it look like no one had touched anything. “You stay here and keep a lookout. I am going out for a few minutes.”He ran out of the house immediately which confused Seraphina. “I can’t really understand him,” She complained. Seraphina obeyed the order and stayed in the room. A few minutes later, old Lady Morwen entered the room. This time, she looked even younger with all of her wrinkles almost gone. It was as if time reversed by 30 years. Her skin became brighter and healthier. Even though one could still see that she was an old woman, many men wouldn’t mind marrying her in her current state.“Perhaps it’s true that this old lady absorbed the life force of the young people here,” Seraphina said out

The sky was bright and clear as Malachi traversed the forest. Rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the forest floor with patches of golden warmth.“From what I remember, the capital city should be in the north. But entering it will be difficult. The capital has strict inspections. A child entering the city by himself is very suspicious.”Seraphina comically looked up and tapped her finger on her lower lip as she thought. “I am sure we can do something about that.”As he walked, the sound of creaking wheels and the rhythmic clatter of hooves reached his ears. Through the dense foliage, he caught sight of a merchant’s wagon making its way along the forest path. Drawn by a pair of sturdy Glimmerhoofs, the wagon carried an assortment of goods, their colorful packages hinting at the wonders they held within.Malachi’s inquisitive gaze met the merchant's, a man with a sly smile and a gleam in his eyes. He brought the wagon to a halt, his practiced charm evident as he addre