Yeah, I actually... Oh, were you painting? Sorry!
I didn't mean to interrupt.
No, it's fine. What can I do for you?
Actually, I was hoping you could take a look at this
[cdb]painting I brought back last time I was home.
Hmmm... This style is rarely seen in Faerghus.
It might be the work of an Imperial painter.
Agreed. I don't think I've seen this style of brushwork
[cdb]used much in the Kingdom.
My father's first wife was an Imperial noble,
[cdb]so maybe it was hers?
I never knew that. Still, it's quite stunning.
I know, right? That lady's really something.
Er, I didn't mean the woman herself.
Though of course she's lovely, too.
The features of her face suggest such kindness.
She actually resembles Lady Rhea, in a way.
Thing is, I have no idea who she is or if she even exists
[cdb]in real life.
Is that why you came to me?
To see if I could uncover her identity?
Pretty much. I really love this thing, so it's been
[cdb]bugging me for years. I thought maybe you could
[cdb]finally scratch the itch for me.
I mean, everybody knows you're the go-to guy for
[cdb]anything related to art.
Well, I'll do what I can, but please try not to get your
[cdb]hopes up. There's still a great deal I don't know.
Though I must admit, my curiosity has been piqued
[cdb]as well.
Oh, really? Thanks. I wouldn't have the first clue
[cdb]about how to go about this on my own.
I mean, I'd at least have something to go on if it
[cdb]was a religious painting, but us Kingdom folk pretty
[cdb]much only care about fighting, you know?
And our art books are... Well, let's just say they're
[cdb]lacking and leave it at that.
Yes, I'm well aware. Sadly, while religious art has
[cdb]continued to thrive and grow, the same can't be said
[cdb]for its secular counterparts.
I do get the impression that this portrait may actually
[cdb]be related to the Church of Seiros, though.
You think? I don't know, I haven't noticed any of the
[cdb]usual elements of a Seiros composition.
As I'm sure you know, paintings of legendary and
[cdb]sacred figures all share a certain pattern.
Which is to say they're frequently depicted with their
[cdb]associated symbols.
Yeah, like Saint Seiros with swords and
Saint Cethleann with fish. But...I don't see
[cdb]anything even close to that here.
Look at the birds. Don't they seem strangely
[cdb]prominent to you?
I guess, now that you mention it. OK, so who was
[cdb]associated with birds... Saint Macuil, maybe?
No, Saint Macuil was a guy. This is nothing like how
[cdb]he's usually depicted, either.
I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, Sylvain!
Er, no offense.
To be honest, I always thought the two of us lived in
[cdb]entirely different worlds.
Come on, you should know me better than that.
I'm the biggest art connoisseur in all of Faerghus!
Though I admit, at first I... I only studied it to
[cdb]impress the ladies.
Sorry, I guess we still live in different worlds
[cdb]after all.