- Heya, Ignatz. How goes the research?
- I've actually learned a fair number of things about
[cdb]your painting.
- Based on the canvas and pigments, I've managed
[cdb]to narrow down the era when it was made.
- I believe it to be from roughly 200 years ago,
[cdb]around the time the Officers Academy was founded
[cdb]at the monastery.
- Wow, I'm impressed you can nail it down that
[cdb]specifically. I knew you'd come through for me!
- Well, the vivid blue pigment of her clothes is
[cdb]very distinctive.
- It's a rare kind of Almyran paint made from crushed
[cdb]gemstones.
- And it only came to Fódlan two centuries ago,
[cdb]after Almyra invaded.
- Which means the painting can't be any older than
[cdb]that, yeah?
- Exactly! Oh, and the material used for the canvas is...
Well, if I went into every detail we'd be here all day.
- What about you, Sylvain? Did you learn anything?
I heard you were trying to track down some books
[cdb]in the capital.
- Yeah, I read up on the saints. Turns out birds are
[cdb]definitely one of Saint Macuil's things.
- But I also found a weird story about an archbishop
[cdb]from two centuries ago.
- I'm guessing her reign got cut short due to illness,
[cdb]because I didn't recognize the name at all.
- Anyway, on the day she died, white birds apparently
[cdb]flocked to the monastery and starting mourning.
- If that took place two centuries ago,
[cdb]she might be the person in this painting!
- Yeah, it all seems too connected to be a coincidence.
- Still, her clothes seem rather plain for an archbishop
[cdb]of the time.
- Yeah, I wonder why. They were usually into fancy
[cdb]robes and big hats and all that.
- Maybe it's more of a symbolic representation than
[cdb]an actual portrait.
- It could be designed to show how she was humble
[cdb]and supportive of the poor and downtrodden.
- Or perhaps she just wanted to be represented
[cdb]without all the trappings of her office.
- Of course, I'm just guessing here.
I have no actual proof of anything.
- Hey, I'm spitballing too. I mean, I don't even know
[cdb]for sure that she was an archbishop.
- Still, is it just me, or does she look a lot like
Lady Rhea?
- Well, yes, I suppose she does. But that has to be
[cdb]a coincidence, right?
- The position of archbishop isn't hereditary,
[cdb]and I doubt they could be related in any way.
- Yeah, you're right. Probably just the overall ambiance
[cdb]that makes them seem similar.
- Anyway, who knew I'd find something like this hiding
[cdb]in my house? Pretty crazy, huh?
- I'm really glad I showed you—not knowing would've
[cdb]probably bugged me for the rest of my life otherwise.
- No, thank you! I'm truly glad to have come across
[cdb]this piece.
- Both because I got to know a stunning work of art,
[cdb]and because I learned more about you in the process.
- You're much easier to talk to than I imagined,
[cdb]and quite a bit more interesting as well.
- Glad we could clear up that little misunderstanding,
[cdb]because I'm all about making new friends!
- I feel just the same.