xuebingcode

Chapter 4

Mithra: If anybody, doesn’t it resemble Chloe more? His hair is rather red too.

Chloe: Y-You think so?! Thanks, Mithra!

Akira: (Mithra’s enjoying the art in his own way, it seems…)

Gallery Lady: It takes my breath away everytime I lay my eyes upon it…I must say, not everything the Great Calamity brings us is bad.

Gallery Man: Truly. The tragedies of the Great Calamity were large I hear, but it is thanks to it that Pict was brought back to us.

A peculiar effect indeed, and a miracle nonetheless!

Akira: (...Right. I was so mesmerized by the painting that I nearly forgot it was done by the resurrected Pict himself…)

Hearing the chatter of the gallery visitors I look at the painting once more.

A piece painted by an artist raised from the dead. I still held my doubts on whether that was true or not.

As I examined the painting Mitile timidly looked their way.  

Mitile: Uhm…please forgive me if I’m being rude, but is this painting really made by Pict…?

Mitile was thinking the same thing I was, his expression one of uncertainty. 

Gallery Man: I understand how you feel, young man. 

A man who was viewing the painting next to us spoke.

Gallery Man: I couldn’t believe it at first either.

Yet when I saw this painting…my suspicions were all but dispelled. There is only one who could paint like this, and that is Pict.  

Mitile: How are you so sure?

Gallery Man: This painting was actually destroyed in the wreckage the Calamity wrought. I remember seeing it before then, and I can tell you with confidence that this painting is the honest original.

Gallery Lady: I too have seen this painting before.

Another woman who was nearby entered the conversation, a satisfied look on her face. 

Gallery Lady: After the Great Calamity nearly crumbled the museum and destroyed Pict’s paintings in the process, I thought it would be of no surprise if the museum closed down.

I am a fan of Pict’s art, and would come here often just to view them, so I was distraught to hear of the news…

But Pict came back to life, inspiring a revival of the museum with him. That’s what everyone in town thinks.

Once we finished a round of the gallery, we started heading towards the exit. 

The museum wasn’t too big, yet with the large variety of paintings–including those of Pict’s–decorated about we spent longer than expected. 

Akira: Sorry, guys…at some point I forgot about our mission and just started enjoying the paintings instead…

Mitile: You too, Master Sage? I actually did too…

Riquet: Me too…

Heathcliff: And me as well…

Rustica: Please, don’t apologize.

Nothing makes me happier than to hear that you all enjoyed your time here as much as I did. 

I would love to hear of any favourites you have.

Mitile: Hmmm…I think all of the works here are brilliant and captivating in their own way, but it’s Pict’s paintings that left the strongest impression on me. 

Mithra: Pict?

Rutile: They’re the artist behind the painting with the same reds as your hair!

Mithra: Aah, that hard-to-figure piece of work. That one resembled Chloe you mean, not me.

Watching the wizards have fun chatting with each other about the museum, I whispered something to Snow. 

Akira: …Hey, Snow? Do you also think that Pict came back to life and painted those pieces?

Judging from every visitor to the gallery, nobody has doubts on Pict resurrecting and repainting the entirety of his work. 

Snow: Mmm…I definitely don’t sense anything malicious from this building nor the paintings themselves. 

If I must say, the chances of the artist behind these paintings being under the influence of the Calamity is fairly low.

Akira: So you’re saying that the restored paintings have nothing to do with the Great Calamity?

Snow: I believe so. However, as much as I would like to have a chat with the museum curator and hear it directly…

He gestured with his shoulder and sent a glance to the crowd of people standing before the displayed paintings. 

Gallery Visitors: Hey, are you the museum curator? Did you meet Pict?

What’s he like? Where does he paint his works? Will he be visiting today?

Curator: Aah, about that. He is quite busy so…

Gallery Visitors: Won’t you let us meet him? I want to buy his new works!

Curator: My sincerest apologies but the paintings on display are not for sale…

The one who was receiving these questions left and right was a slim and middle-aged man with exhaustion painting his expression. 

Akira: So he’s the museum’s curator…he seems busy.

Chloe: From what I heard in town, he’s the only person running this place, all by himself.

Rutile: Gosh, that sounds tough! He already seems worn out by all those questions. 

Snow: We might not even get a minute of conversation were we to speak to him now. 

Chloe: Then how about we step out for a bit? Once more people start going home we might be able to get a peep in!

Mithra: *rumble*

Riquet: Hm…? Mithra, was that your stomach just now?

Mithra: Haaaugh…I'm starving since you all took your sweet time strolling throughout this museum.

Snow: You say that, but I saw you oddly taking the time to observe the paintings too.

Our little Mithy has grown an eye for the arts, hasn't he?

Mithra: What else was I to do? That’s the only thing to do here. 

Rustica: I’m so happy to hear that you loved the gallery as well, Mithra. In return for your appreciation…

It would please me to show you around town. There is much more to it than just the museum, after all. 

Mithra: Tagging along with you here was enough, wasn’t it. Hurry up and take me to the yummy blazed or glazed place already. 

Rustica: Of course. Though I’m sure it was called the Baked’n Caked.

Exiting the museum, we decided to sightsee the town and followed after Rustica down the bustling streets.

Even out in town we would hear talk of the museum here and there.

Lady: We still have time before the museum closes, yeah?

Man: Yep, but I heard that the line for it is huge, so we’d better be quick.

Just thinking about being able to see Pict’s paintings again gets me on my toes!

Lady: I’m with you on that! It was so depressing to hear that they were destroyed in the Great Calamity’s quake. 

Akira: (...Everybody’s wild over the rumours of Pict and his restored paintings.)

As I listened to their conversation, someone suddenly stopped in our path. 

Waiter: Hey there fellas! Just come back from the museum now did ya?

You know, it’s custom ‘round here to grab a bite at our place after a visit to the gallery!

Rustica: My, is that so?

Waiter: You betcha! Our specialty menu is this town’s most famous local dish. You’ve probably heard of it, it’s the “Crispin’ Sizzle’”!