Brew 5

Blaise knelt on the cold wooden floor; his hands buried deep in an old storage chest. Dust clung to his fingertips as he rummaged though layers of forgotten fabrics and trinkets, searching for something – anything- that could help.

This his fingers brushed against something soft yet firm. A thick bundle of fabric, smooth to the touch, with fine embroidery woven into it. Blaise’s heart leapt as he pulled it free, shaking loose the dust that had settle on it over the years.

A deep rose-reed clock unfurled before him, embroidered with delicate, intertwining vines and tiny leaves stitched along the hem. The craftsmanship was exquisite the kind that spoke of careful hands and a patient heart.

With newfound excitement, Blaise grabbed his satchel, slipped on his booths and hurried toward the forest path that let to Aria’s glade. The cloak draped over his arm, shifting with the wind as he ran.

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Blaise stepped into the glad, breathless from the hurried trek through the forest. His boots crunched against the soft moss as he clutched the deep ed clock to his chest, barely able to contain his excitement.

“Aria,” he called turning in every direction, searching for her. “I brought you something.” Blaise panted and still looking for her.

A soft giggle drifted through the air. Blaise frowned, eyes narrowing as he scanned the branches above. There she was, perched high up in the study arms of an ancient oak, her legs dangling lazily as she watched in a quiet amusement. “You look like you’re about to collapse,” Aria teased, her golden eyes twinkling. “What has gotten you so worked up?”

Blaise huffed, placing his hands on his hips. “I ran all the way here-“ he held up the clock triumphantly, “-is your ticket to finally seeing the village.”

Aria’s playful expression faltered slightly, hesitation flickering across her face. She shifted in the tree, her fingers absently running over the rough bark. “Blaise…” She sighed. “We have spoken about this.”

“Just try it on,” Blaise tried to coax Aria down, holding the cloak up higher. “Trust me.”

Aria tilted her head, watching him for a long moment before finally hopping down from the tree, landing gracefully on the forest floor. Taking slow steps forward, she reached out for the cloak. The fabric unexpectedly softly against her fingers, warn in a way that felt almost unnatural.

Blaise wasted no time, stepping behind her and draping the cloak over her shoulders. “It’s made using cotton from fluffkin fur,” he explained as he adjusted the folds, smoothing the fabric until it sat just right. With careful hands, he lifted the hood just enough to frame Aria’s delicate face. “It suits you.”

Aria clutched the the edges of the cloak, pulling it closer around herself. The warmth, the weight- it was grounding, reassuring. She hadn’t run into many fluffkins previously, only having the pleasure of petting one on a rare occasion but to think the village was able to use their fur for such garments almost seemed a lie. Though, even with these thoughts, doubt still clouded her expression. “What if someone recognizes me?” She whispered.

Blaise smirked; his eyes filled with a prideful gaze. “Oh, I already thought of that.”

Before she could ask what he meant, Blaise lifted his hands and closed his eyes, murmuring a soft incantation. A golden glow pulsed from his palms, washing over the cloak in shimmering waves. Aria inhaled sharply as the magic tingled against her skin, threading through the fabric as though it was weaving itself into the fibers.

The air around them stilled. The cloak shimmered then dulled, the magic settling like an unseen veil.

Aria’s breath hitched. The spell was subtle, yet she could feel it. The way it shifted, almost like a living thing, keeping her hidden in its embrace.

“There,” Blaise said opening his eyes. “I’ve enchanted it. No gust of wind, no curious glance will betray you. As long as you wear it, you’ll blend into the like any other villager.”

Aria stared at him; her golden eyes wide. “B-Blaise,” her hands tightened around the fabric, pressing it to her chest. “You didn’t have to do all this. Not for me.”

“Of course I did,” Blaise laughed with a lopsided grin.

For a moment, Aria was silent, her fingers tracing over the embroidery, now infused with his magic. Then, with the faintest smile, she whispered; “Thank you.”

Blaise extended his hand. “So what do you say?”

Aria hesitated, her world had always been the forest- safe and familiar, free of judgement and fear of the humans. Yet, before her stood a humble wizard, offering her a new adventure. Something that terrified her but was also….thrilling.

Slowly, she reached her hand up, sliding her fingers into his palm.

With his goofy smile, Blaise closed his hand over Aria’s pulling her along as he led the way out of the forest.

As they stepped out the trees, the village of Thistlewick lay before them, alive with bustling markets and the scent of fresh bread wafting through the air. In the background a distinct sound of a lute being played.

Blaise glanced down at Aria, feeling her grip tighten on his hand. Her hood pulled low, but he was still ab le see the nervous tension in her posture. “You’re doing great,” he praised giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Aria exhaled slowly, but as they passed the last of the trees that gave way to the land, her stomach started to twist. The forest was her sanctuary, a dense canopy shielding her from the word beyond the forest but now, there was nothing but clear opening between her and the village. No trees to hide behind and no shadows to melt into.

As they crossed the outskirts, a few villages turned their heads. An elderly woman who sat knitting on her porch, greeting the pair with a small wave. A baker who was stacking loaves outside of his shop, grinned at Blaise as he passed.

A group of barefoot children, ran across the dusty road pausing for a moment to look at the cloaked figure beside Blaise with a mild curiosity before returning to their game.

Aria’s pulse quickened, her fingers curling into Blaise’s hand, gripping it tighter then before. She could still turn back – disappear into the trees before anyone could truly notice her.

Feeling her body tense, Blaise looked down to Aria with a reassuring smile. “See?” He spoke softly. “Nothing to be afraid of.”

Aria swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. From what she had seen thus far, the village wasn’t hostile. It wasn’t cruel. It was just… normal.

Taking one last glance at the tree line, she inhaled deeply and stepped forward.

Together, her and Blaise entered Thistlewick.