The Apprentice [Na'Leigh]

[Halcyon]

Corvin followed Na’Leigh back to the shop, keeping the silence to let her mind wander as it so wished. He hoped that she had understood his message, but judging by the stormy pace she was trudging through the snow, she was irritated. He glanced back only briefly before turning the street corner. The boy, Reir, was playing with the glass elephant in the snow with the heavy coat wrapped tightly around his little body. Other children had gathered to see his new figurine and ask where he got it. The boy held tightly to his new belonging, but held it out for all to see and admire. His fragile smile lit up his dirtied face. Na’Leigh loved rock climbing, but glassblowing seemed to be her release. He pondered this for a brief moment as the two walked in silence. As they approached the door, he reached out before her to swing it open and usher her inside. Shutting it firmly behind him, he pulled a stool to the hearth and motioned for her to sit while he pulled a thick, cotton towel from the storage closet in the corner. He handed it to her so that she may dry off or wrap it around her body as she so pleased. He pulled a second stool up beside her and took his seat to warm up. ”So how did giving the boy the figurine make you feel? It always makes me feel exhilarated to present something of my labor and see their happiness. As I explained before we left, it feels good to know that I worked hard and put my everything into creating something that makes other people happy. It’s how I make a difference in Wind Reach. I’m making a difference with my passion. That little boy will treasure that elephant, his one possession, because of you. He will show it off and tell everyone who asks that the glassblower’s apprentice made it just for him, and that you made a special visit out just to present it to him. It’s a shining ray of light in his life now, and instead of sitting next to that wall in the freezing snow, he’s up running around and playing with the other children. Your act of kindness probably saved him from his inner demons. Or at least, for the time being. And you may say that you didn’t do it, that I did it, and used you to carry the deed out. Well, no, you could have refused. I still would have given it to him and told him that you made it. Either way, the boy would have been grateful.” Corvin stood and moved across the room. He pulled a small jar of tea leaves out and retrieved a kettle from the storage closet. ”Tea, Na’Leigh? It’s perfect weather for some hot tea, I think.”

[Na'Leigh]

Drying herself with the towel, Na'Leigh reveled in the warm firelight. Hearing him repeat himself she tuned him out, focused on warming up. Turning to gaze at her mentor she didn't respond to his offer, "You're right, it did make me feel happy, but inner demons cannot be bought off with little treasures. I showed him kindness and I'm sure that that may make him happier, but it doesn't make a difference he is who he is and is in that situation because he isn't smart enough to be in any other." Twisting the water out of her hair she stood, gently taking the tea leaves from him and moving about to make the tea, "Go sit down, that little jacket could hardly have kept you warm." Boiling water, she continued, "It may make you feel better, feel like you have a purpose in Wind Reach, but making someone happy changes nothing...it doesn't make a difference...when you die...people may study you for the difference you made in glass blowing, how you furthered the trade of Wind Reach, but your creations didn't stop people from stealing and murdering. We gave that little boy a beautiful gift, but we also inspired jealousy in every single boy he was playing with....That is not how I want to make a difference..." Corvin obviously wanted her to be honest, and she hoped her honesty wouldn't hurt him. Handing him the tea she leaned down and softly kissed the Avora's cheek, "Your motives are sweet and genuine." Moving away from him towards the fire she continued, "I'm not passionate about glassblowing because I don't know if it's something I can use to make a difference in Wind Reach the way I want to...but that doesn't mean I'm a waste of time. I need glassblowing, which is far more important than having passion for something..." Na'Leigh finished. Raising the glass to her lips she took a small sip watching her mentors reaction to her blatant honesty.

[Halcyon]

Corvin listened intently to the young woman’s plight, but red struck his cheeks when she planted the little peck on his cheek. He did not draw back and he said nothing. In the end, he shrugged his shoulders and said simply, ”To each his own. See it how you want to see it, Na’Leigh. What we do in this shop does make a difference. I never said it made everything perfect.” He winked his charming wink as he shrugged off the cold in front of the hearth. The silence droned on as he sipped on his cup of tea. Chimes passed before he spoke again. ”I’m glad you can be honest with me though. I know what it’s like to enjoy something and not be passionate about it. I’m passionate about glassblowing, so it’s just in me to want others to feel the way I do about it. People are different. But that’s enough of this chitchat. It is what it is.” He stood and placed his empty cup by the kettle, refilling it. ”We’ve still got some work to do, and today I’m going to ask you to do some things a little differently.” From the work table he took a stack of parchment and an ink quill. He beckoned her over and pulled the stool out for her. ”Today you’re going to sketch the blueprint out. There’s an Endal that lives in the Aeries, and her sconces broke. There were two matching ones blown in reds and greens, but she wants something new. I want you to sketch the blueprint and then show me. She wants something classy, but simple, in pastels. She’s redone her Aerie, and wants something that will match. Pastel blues and greens and lilac.” Corvin moved to refill her cup of tea as well, and set it by the work station. ”When you’re finished, show me. If I like what I see, I’ll have you start on making the sconces.” He moved to cross the room again, but instead turned and added, ”And also, you will be learning philtering soon. I hope you’re excited.”

[Na'Leigh]

Flushing when he winked, Na'Leigh felt pleasantly uncomfortable being the focus of his attention. Uncomfortable silence followed, Na'Leigh awkwardly shifting her weight from foot to foot. ”We’ve still got some work to do, and today I’m going to ask you to do some things a little differently." He stated, changing topics. Following his beckon she slipped onto the stool he pulled out for her. ”Today you’re going to sketch the blueprint out. There’s an Endal that lives in the Aeries, and her sconces broke. There were two matching ones blown in reds and greens, but she wants something new. I want you to sketch the blueprint and then show me. She wants something classy, but simple, in pastels. She’s redone her Aerie, and wants something that will match. Pastel blues and greens and lilac.” He explained. Nodding slowly Na'Leigh began roaming her mind for designs, thrilled to be allowed to design the creations. Turning her head to follow his path across the shop, she beamed when he announced what he would teach her next,"Course! I'm excited!" She replied before hastily turning back to her design. Roving through a couple designs she added swirls and birds before shaking her head, nibbling on the end of her quill she didn't touch tip to paper until the idea was solidly formed her mind. Picking up her sketch book she explored their contents. Stumbling upon a sketch of branch she had done, she grinned and placed quill to parchment drawing the twig, she added a snaking ribbon through the branches to give the design elegance and flow. softly adding a couple chickadee's and other small birds to the base, she smiled down at the design. Drawing out some of the colouring tools they used she added blue to the birds, and a faint violet to the ribbon. Chewing her lip she left the branch white, sketching a hollow tube throughout the design she placed stands for candles on the ends and small hovels within the glass, so the design would glow from within, when candles were inserted from the back of the sconce and lit. Turning to see her mentor hard at work she took the opportunity to watch him for a few moments marveling over his focus, something she had learnt to mimic only recently. Rising she brought the sketch to her mentor, waiting patiently for him to turn and notice her presence. Though she was thrilled with the idea she had come up with her sketch was awkward and out of proportion, giving the detail she had placed in the sketch to denote a hollow center and the birds an awkward gimped appearance.