Brew 4

Blaise has never seen a fae before. Not like this.

He wanted to capture her beauty, not just in the way her delicate features glowed under the soft light but in the way her spirit radiated the area around her.

As the pencil moved across the page, the mischievous fairies flitted about, occasionally pulling faces behind Aria, as she tried her best to remain seated still, or pointing and giggling at Blaise’s intense concentration. Every now and then, Aria would shift uncomfortably, unused to being watched so closely.

At last, Blaise set the pencil down, exhaling in satisfaction. “Alright,” he said leaning back in his chair. “It’s all done.”

Aria arose quickly, her heartbeat thudding as she stepped forward.

She hesitated.

This was the first time she would see herself through the eyes of someone else.

She covered her own eyes, drawing from her memory and imagination, trying to envision what how Blaise may portray her before she looked. When she lowered her hands and took in the sketch, she froze. Her chest tightening as her eyes glazed over ever small detail.

Blaise, seeing her face pale, panicked. “I-I didn’t realize it was that bad!” he stammered, instinctively grasping tightly onto Aria’s shoulders, as if wanting to comfort her.

Aria turned to him, her golden eyes wide. “Blaise, this is beautiful,” she praised with a wide smile. Aria’s voice was soft as she gestured toward Blaise’s sketchbook. “This is honestly so beautiful. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t pressure such a talent.

Blaise laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not that good.”

Aria laughed in return, running her fingers along the lines of the sketch. She smiled, as she again examined each detail, seeing how Blaise captured the delicate curves of her features, the gentle gleam in her eyes and even the braids woven in her hair.

The mischievous fairies that once tormented Blaise, peeked over his shoulder, their tiny wings fluttering with excitement. They studied the sketch intently before pointing to themselves, their tiny voices chiming with excitement.

“It seems they want their portrait done next,” Aria chuckled.

Blaise huffed dramatically, tapping his chin as if deep in thought. “Only if the three of you promise to behave,” he said leaning forward to meet the fairies’ height. “Got it?”

The fairies nodded eagerly, dancing around the table with gleeful laughter.

Aria’s smile lingered, but Blaise caught the way her expression wavered, the glimmer of something melancholic.

“You are awfully kind,” she whispered. “For a human.”

Blaise straightened, watching area with a contemplative look. The sadness in her golden eyes tugging at something deep inside him. He smiled, a thought forming, something to help lift the weight in the air.

“Why don’t you come to the village with me?”

Aria gasped, her gaze snapping to meet Blaise’s. Confusion flickering across her face, her body tensing at the very idea.

Blaise, noticing Aria’s hesitation, softened his voice. “I can take you to the bakery,” he coaxed gently. “Perhaps I could even show you the beautiful fluffkin farms.” He took a careful step forward, placing his hands lightly on her forearms, offering comfort rather than pressure. “I just know the villagers would love you.”

Aria shook her head, staring to the ground as if the answer was too heavy to meet Blaise’s eyes.

“The humans,” she murmured. “They… They’ll see me as a monster.”

Blaise breath hitched t the quiet pain in her voice. He could see it now, - the dear that had settled deep within her, the hesitation not born from shyness but from experience.

The joy in Aria’s voice faded into something unreadable. Blaise watched as her normally cheerful expression softened, replaced with something uncertain.

Slowly, Aria stepped back, arms curling around herself.

Blaise didn’t allow her to retreat too far. Instead, he moved forward, leading Aria gently back to the table, guiding her to sit. He knelt before her, resting a hand under her chin, bringing her gaze back to him. “How can someone so beautiful,” he murmured, voice low and tender, “be seen as a monster?”

Aria’s breath hitched, but Blaise didn’t look away.

“Playful and mischievous? Yes,” Blaise chuckled. “A monster? Never.”

Aria’s lips parted slightly, but no words came. Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes as she was searching for signs of deception in Blaise’s words but finding none. “Not all humans are like you.” She whispered, her voice shaking. “They don’t understand us. And humans…. when they don’t understand something, they fear it.”

Blaise sighed soft his fingers brushing a stray piece of hair behind Aria’s ear.

“Not all humans are afraid of what they don’t understand,” he smiled gently. “I think you’ll find some might be willing to be your friend. Or at the very least, I would be able to enjoy some delicious sweets with you.”

Blaise could see it – the way Aria’s body tensed at the thought of going to the village. She wasn’t just reluctant.

She was afraid.

He smiled wider, offering his hand.

“What if I held your hand the whole time?” he teased, wiggling his fingers playfully.

Aria hesitated; her gaze flickered from Blaise’s calloused balm to his bright boyish grin.

For the first time, comfort spread through her. Slowly she reached out, placing her small hand into his.

Blaise squeeze her hand gently, not daring to break eye contact.

For the first time, in a very long time, Aria felt safe.