3 Mal's Inventory

Semi and I arrived at Arcea with him still holding onto my hand. It brought me comfort. So much so that I wasn't as scared to enter the small town. The moment we stepped foot in the town, it hit me. This place, there's magic everywhere! I can sense it radiating from these building, from these people. That's how I knew this was a safe place like Semi said. He brought me to a town he knew was safe...Semi really does mean no harm.

We walked through the town, Semi pointing out what every store was and waving to the beings around us. There was so much diversity here, it blew me away. I saw Elves and Aviators mingling with Humans and Dragonbornes as if there is no war! I couldn't help but smile, this is the place of dreams, no, fantasies! The streets were filled with children playing and beings going about their day. This is their normal and...I wish I had grown up here like Semi. It's no wonder he's so relaxed and kind, he lived in Arcea! I could stay here forever!

"This way." Semi said. His hand broke off from mine as he ran over to a store. The sign read 'Mal's Inventory'. I sprinted after Semi and we went into the store.

"Woah." I marveled at all of the items displayed on the walls and shelves around the building. An inventory shop this huge must get a lot of customers. There's everything from tools to food, what more could you need than this? "Semi, is this where we needed to go?"

Semi took me over to the checkout counter that was empty and shook his head. "No, well, yes but no. We have somewhere else to be." He told me as he rang the bell on the counter.

A man slightly taller than Semi came out of a door behind the counter. He wore a sleeveless leather vest with nothing under it and black baggy cargo pants. What stood out the most about him aside his darker skin was his big light grey wings growing out of his back. He's an Aviator, that's for certain. "How may I...oh, it's you." He grumbled.

"Mal!" Semi called as he jumped across the counter and hugged the Aviator. "I missed you!"

I read the name tag pinned onto his vest; Malachi. He looked bored of Semi and pushed him away. "Go home, kid." He ordered.

Semi refused and clung onto Malachi. "I'm leaving soon, you should come." He invited. I tilted my head, another being? Why? Hm...I don't mind, more company is always welcome. Plus, this guy has serious muscles.

"No. You know damn well I'm not leaving my sister behind to run this shop."

I felt a pang of relatability to his statement. I can understand how he feels and it hurts to think about too much. "Excuse me, Semi, I'm going to go look around." I muttered while turning to walk away.

"Wait!" Semi called, getting off of Malachi. "This is Aero, an Elf that saved me from being imprisoned. He's coming too since he's banished." He explained to Malachi but the big guy just crossed his arms, unimpressed by the boy in front of him. Malachi has got to be an adult, despite his height he's got this look about him that says it all.

Malachi glanced at me and nodded. "Hey kid, I'm Malachi Warden." He told me before leaning on the counter. "Don't let Semi pressure you into anything, alright? He can be a hot mess at times."

I agreed and left to look around. I could hear Semi and Malachi talking about travelling and it made me wonder how he knows a guy like Malachi. Clearly they live in Arcea together but how else would he know this shopkeeper? I shrugged it off as it was none of my business anyway. While looking at some daggers, I felt hands wrap around my waist. I spun around and saw a woman with dark skin like Malachi's grabbing onto me.

"Uh..." I backed away from the woman. She's got the same wings that come out of her shoulder blades as Malachi. This must be his sister. "Who are you?"

"I'm Kiara, Kiara Warden." She sauntered her way closer to me. It was really freaking me out. "And what's your name, handsome?"

I didn't know what to do, she grabbed my shoulder and pulled me close to her face. Her smile was nightmare inducing. It clearly was meant to be seductive but her assertiveness really put me off. Before she could do anything more, Malachi started yelling. "Kiara! He's a child!" The woman backed off and apologized to me.

"Sorry about that, you looked so much older!" Kiara giggled as she waved goodbye and walked away.

I was stunned, I don't know what just happened. Did that woman really try to get with me? Why? I didn't like that one bit! It was creepy and...she just grabbed me like that! A shiver went up my spine and I made my way back to Semi at the counter feeling more than uncomfortable. Semi and Malachi talked like old friends and I just zoned out, thinking about how much I hated that encounter with that woman, Kiara. It was wrong on so many levels.

"I'm sorry about my sister, she can be more than a little lustful." Malachi rolled his dark eyes.

When I didn't answer, Semi looked me over. He nudged my arm. "Aero, are you alright? Did she really scare you that bad?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm good. It's no big deal, I'm just a little..." my words broke off as I didn't know what else to say. I was speechless, it was just too weird.

"Shaken up?" Semi finished as he grabbed my hand just like he did earlier. He had that same light smile and my negative feelings faded away with every second that passed next to him. "It's okay, Mal won't be mad if you say so. Like I said, this is a safe place."

I gently squeezed Semi's hand a little before letting him go. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Malachi cleared his throat. "Ahem, I'm just...gonna go talk to Kiara." He said as he disappeared into the same door he came out of earlier.

Semi laughed a little. "Mal gets awkward when it comes to personal matters. He's a tough guy, you know?" He sighed as he rested his head in the palm of his hand. "I've known the man for years, ever since I started my protests. Came here for supplies when I started getting banished and he wanted me to stop. He said all we needed was more cities like Arcea where the people live in peace." Semi didn't look at me when he spoke. "The Dragonbornes, they burned his home in the west to the ground. Only him and his sister survived."

"Really?" I balled up a fist. "I know how that feels." Semi looked at me expectantly, he wants to know. "The war called for a military that us Elves didn't have so they drafted lots of citizens from many places. I was eleven when my parents got the draft. They left me, my sister, and our younger brother with our aunt and went to war." My voice was barely over a whisper but Semi was so close he could probably hear my heart beating. "They died within a year...soon after that, my younger brother Felix got sick. He had stopped eating and...he was weak."

Semi grabbed both of my hands and held them tight. "You don't have to tell me. It's okay."

"Felix was only ten years old when he passed." I continued anyway. "I miss him everyday. The war took my family and all I had left was my older sister, Quin. But...I don't have her anymore either..."

"Why'd you do it?" Semi asked. "Why'd you save me back there?"

I glanced to the side while pulling my hands away. "It was an impulsive decision, I saw that you were being harassed and I stepped in without thinking."

"You're such an idiot." Semi muttered, his lip quivered.

I smiled a little. "If doing the right thing makes me an idiot and it means I'm here with you, I'm perfectly okay with that."

The door Malachi entered swung open and Semi and I separated ourselves as if we had been caught doing something wrong. Malachi came storming out with a satchel in hand. His name tag was gone and he was making a bee line for the store supplies.

"Semi, Aero!" He yelled with stuffing his satchel. "I'm coming with you."