Malachi Linden

Malachi's base sprite

Malachi is a member of the Gifted Few with the ability to manipulate nature. He is forced to participate in the Game of the Gifted at Espera's Keep alongside his fellow students.

## Appearance

Malachi is a short boy with curly black hair and amber eyes. He wears a worn, green sweater, simple grey trousers and brown shoes. He has an old, brown scarf and bulky, over-ear headphones that he wears at all times. He can often be found carrying around three small stones around in his pocket, which he tends to fidget with when left alone.

## Personality

Malachi is a lively, excitable boy who often seems to live in his own little world. He has a deep love for plants, animals, and all things nature, and a desire to share this love with everyone he meets. He is very quick to form friendships with anyone who shares his interests, growing very attached very quickly. He sticks by his friends almost to the point of obsession, though he very rarely acts in an intentionally annoying way.

To an outsider, Malachi can appear completely detached from the world around him. He often seems emotionally disconnected, reacting in ways that might confuse others. It's unclear whether he is genuinely ignorant of social norms, or whether he is choosing to ignore them for his own amusement.

Most of all, Malachi enjoys making other people happy. He goes out of his way to please those closest to him, whether that be sharing his own interests or listening to others share theirs.

## History

### Early Life

Malachi spent his whole life in care, spending his life in various different foster homes. The identity of his true parents is unknown, though it is assumed they are dead, since no official record of them can be found. Having moved towns, schools, and even cities so frequently, he doesn't have what many people would call 'friends'. Instead, he forms quick and deep attachments to people for short periods of time, before drifting apart from them whenever he has to move.

He currently lives on a small farm with his current guardian, Galene. He spends his free time after school helping out on her farm, feeding her animals and watering the vegetable patches.

At the age of 7, a year after his gift manifested, Malachi was diagnosed with autism. He doesn't remember much about how his life was before his diagnosis, so in many ways, it defined many of his early childhood experiences. He faced some difficulty with other children, particularly with bullying, but these issues do not outwardly seem to affect him.

### The Prequels

Malachi is sitting by a stream near Galene's farm, thinking about seemingly mindless things as he passes the time. Eventually, Galene arrives with the summons letter, something that Malachi doesn't seem to react to. He acknowledges the importance of the letter, and of the Gifted Few, but dismisses it as something too big for him to properly understand. Instead, he decides to focus on simple things, like what to have for dinner.

### Game of the Gifted

#### Prologue

Malachi is first seen in the entrance hall with Lyssa Masterson and Ambrose Delaney. The three of them do not seem to be getting along, and none of them are doing any actual investigation. After the others leave, he follows the main group - Kahia Rothwell, Cora Valen, Garbiel Elwyn, and Wren StClaire - outside to see the wall for the first time. He seems relatively unaffected by what's going on around him, including the group's confrontational meeting with Silas Reid. Once Cora and Gabriel have left, he joins Kahia and Wren as they explore the Keep's rear grounds.

When they arrives, Malachi runs off to sit with Julian Amato, and the two strike up a conversation. Malachi decides to show Julian his collection of stones, which he carries with him at all times. Kahia, when she arrives back, seems less interested, but Julian seems to genuinely enjoy spending time with him. From this moment, Malachi becomes deeply attached to Julian, following him around whenever he can. Kahia leaves the two of them, along with Wren and newcomer Jana Kess.