Brew 16

As the months passed, Blaise - began to settle into council life – and Seraphina settled into his life.

Their friendship became something of a quiet sensation within the council grounds. The eldest daughter of the prestigious Alderbranch family and a self-taught village wizard from Thistlewick, seen walking in the gardens together, sharing tea, whispering over spell books and wild herbs. Whispers followed them, but neither of them seemed to mind.

They had their rhythm: Seraphina taught Blaise the fundamentals of magic – simple spells and practical charms – while Blaise brewed her new teas in return, testing blends and flavors he’d gathered from memory and instinct.

The deeper Blaise fell into his new life, the more distant his old life began to feel; Thistlewick blurring like a dream. The forest, his cottage, Aria.. they all softened at the edges.

Until today.

Blaise and Seraphina sat outside beneath a silver birch tree, sun filtering though pale leaves and Blaise flipped through his worn sketchbook. He showed Seraphina his diagrams of herbs and magical flora, his notes of forest spirits and teas that soothes curses and aliments. Seraphina lent in, tracing the lines of his notes with her fingertip as Blaise described each image.

As Blaise turned the next page, he froze for a moment before quickly flipping it.

“What was that?” Seraphine teased; her eyebrows raised. “An old flame tucked between the leaves?”

Blaise coughed, becoming flustered as he tried to return focus to the next page. “No nothing like that.”

“Come on then,” Seraphina playfully shoved him. “Let me see.”

Her voice was playful- too playful for Blaise to ignore. For a moment, Blaise swore he heard Aria in her tone. He hesitated before reluctantly turning back to the page and slid it towards Seraphina.

Seraphina’s breath caught.

A sketch of a beautiful woman – no, not just any woman. A fae. Delicately pointed ears, eyes full of wonder and hair like drifting light. Every line of her was drawn with care. Every shadow revealing reverence. “She’s beautiful,” Seraphina whispered, unable to stop tracing the jawline of the sketch. “A fae?”

Blaise nodded, his voice quiet, barely above a whisper. “Her name is Aria. I…I haven’t told anyone about her.”

Seraphina looked up and gently placed her hand over his. “Tell me know.”

So he did.

Blaise told her everything. From the fairies who led him to the glade, the tea parties, the laughter and the feeling of being understood. The hope that she could be a part of hi world – and the heartbreak that following to bring her into it.

His voice shook, hands trembling as he continued to speak. Though it all, guilt poured from him like steam from a cracked kettle. “I wanted to give her joy,” he whispered. “But I only gave her fear.”

Seraphina squeezed his hand, her eyes never leaving his. “Blaise you didn’t do anything wrong,” she assured keeping her tone calm. Blaise looked down, feeling unconvinced. “Well… perhaps you were a little naive,” she added. “You could have spoken to the village first. Aria deserved to walk out of that forest as her – not in a disguise.”

Blaise let out a shaky laugh. “You’re right. I thought I was protecting her. But I was still hiding her, wasn’t i?”

“You were trying,” Seraphina assured. “You reached out for her and that’s what counts.”

“I just…” Blaise shut his eyes tightly, pain etched across his face. “I couldn’t stand the thought of her being alone.”

Seraphina smiled, pulling Blaise into a hug and without hesitation, Blaise let himself fold into her arms.

He sobbed quietly against Seraphina’s shoulder, letting the months of guilt and confusion spill freely. Seraphina stroked his back, her own heart pounding – not just with sympathy, but something else. Something more selfish.

She didn’t want to just comfort him; she wanted to the be one he turned to. The one she saw.

She wanted to be the only woman he sketched with that much tenderness.

“You know...” She spoke softly, pulling back to meet Blaise’s eyes. “I’d like to meet her someday. Maybe help you make things right.”

Blaise blinked rapidly. “No, I… I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask,” Seraphina chuckled with her light smile. “I want to help. I want to understand this part of your life – the part you left behind.”

Blaise looked away, feeling torn by such assuring words. “This is my mistake.”

“Then let me walk beside you,” Seraphina offered. “you don’t have to carry it alone.”

Blaise didn’t answer right away. But the way he looked at her-grateful, aching, unsure-spoke louder then words.