0. Ignatz! I've been looking all over for you.
1. Oh! Uh, hello, Sylvain. Do you need something?
2. Yeah, I actually... Oh, were you painting? Sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt.
3. No, it's fine. What can I do for you?
4. Actually, I was hoping you could take a look at this [cdb]painting I brought back last time I was home.
5. Hmmm... This style is rarely seen in Faerghus. It might be the work of an Imperial painter.
6. Agreed. I don't think I've seen this style of brushwork [cdb]used much in the Kingdom.
7. My father's first wife was an Imperial noble, [cdb]so maybe it was hers?
8. I never knew that. Still, it's quite stunning.
9. I know, right? That lady's really something.
10. Er, I didn't mean the woman herself. Though of course she's lovely, too.
11. The features of her face suggest such kindness. She actually resembles Lady Rhea, in a way.
12. Thing is, I have no idea who she is or if she even exists [cdb]in real life.
13. Is that why you came to me? To see if I could uncover her identity?
14. 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.
15. I mean, everybody knows you're the go-to guy for [cdb]anything related to art.
16. 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.
17. Though I must admit, my curiosity has been piqued [cdb]as well.
18. Oh, really? Thanks. I wouldn't have the first clue [cdb]about how to go about this on my own.
19. 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?
20. And our art books are... Well, let's just say they're [cdb]lacking and leave it at that.
21. 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.
22. I do get the impression that this portrait may actually [cdb]be related to the Church of Seiros, though.
23. You think? I don't know, I haven't noticed any of the [cdb]usual elements of a Seiros composition.
24. As I'm sure you know, paintings of legendary and [cdb]sacred figures all share a certain pattern.
25. Which is to say they're frequently depicted with their [cdb]associated symbols.
26. Yeah, like Saint Seiros with swords and Saint Cethleann with fish. But...I don't see [cdb]anything even close to that here.
27. Look at the birds. Don't they seem strangely [cdb]prominent to you?
28. I guess, now that you mention it. OK, so who was [cdb]associated with birds... Saint Macuil, maybe?
29. No, Saint Macuil was a guy. This is nothing like how [cdb]he's usually depicted, either.
30. I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable, Sylvain! Er, no offense.
31. To be honest, I always thought the two of us lived in [cdb]entirely different worlds.
32. Come on, you should know me better than that. I'm the biggest art connoisseur in all of Faerghus!
33. Though I admit, at first I... I only studied it to [cdb]impress the ladies.
34. Sorry, I guess we still live in different worlds [cdb]after all.