2.6: Heard About It.

The exhibition hall is silent. The hologram projector casts a soft glow as if to reflect faint particles in the air.

MC: "Are you..."

MC: "You're Rafayel's himself? Where are you hiding?"

Rafayel: "I'm the embodiment of his inspiration and thoughts. More and less."

His voice is cold yet laced with a hint of nonchalance.

MC: (Ah, it's an AI...)

MC: "Will you answer any questions I ask about the paintings?"

Rafayel: "Yeah, sure. If I know the answer, that is."

MC: "Well, I'd appreciate it if you could show me around."

After turning a few corners. I find myself in a separate exhibition room. But there isn't anything on the wall.

According to the guidebook, the painting that's supposed to be here is the one Raymond purchased.

Rafayel: "The painting can't be properly displayed at the moment, so we're just gonna use some fancy hologram tech."

A beam of light shines from above onto the wall. Colors chaotically mix together on this makeshift "canvas".

Waves with white sea foam appear, the azure ocean rippling out and revealing a gradient of colors from the water's surface to its depths.

It feel similar to the painting I saw in Raymond's mansion, but not quite.

MC: "So, what's the story behind this painting?"

Rafayel: "A dream."

His voice is suddenly softer, carrying an indescribable sadness.

Rafayel: "When I was a kid, I had dreamed I turned into a fish."

Rafayel: "I swam and swam and swam from the deep sea, seeking a place beyond the water's surface. Only to end up in blood-red seawater."

The light shifts with his voice, casting a shimmering gleam. It's like looking that the glittering waves. The room seems to ebb and flow like the sea.

A pinkish hue gradually shifts inta a dark crimson.

MC: "Why did the sea turn red?"

He doesn't answer my question. Maybe he didn't detect any important keyworks, so he just kept talking.

Rafayel: "It was the first time I ever saw such a color. Who knows how many years I've spent trying to recreate it. But I never really could get that same shade of red."

Rafayel: "It was always a slightly different hue, you know..."

For some reason, I can almost hear the faint melody from Raymonds mansion again...

??: "Sorry, Miss MC."

MC: "!"

The lights in the exhibition hall return to normal, and the hologram vanishes. As if waking from a dream, I turn around to see a man standing behind me. He must've approached me when I wasn't looking.

Thomas: "I'm Rafayel's art gallery manager, Thomas"

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| Office

Thomas leans back in his uniquely designed chair. Crossing his legs. His leather dress shoes shine. He motions for me to sit down across from him.

I fill him in on what transpired at Raymond's mansion.

I even mention the Wanderer being possibly connected to the painting. Thomas's face turns pale, but he quickly regains his composure.

Thomas: "...So you're suggesting Rafayel might have messed with his own painting?"

MC: "It doesn't matter if he's responsible or not. Since the Wanderer could've been in the art, his studio, Rafayel himself, and even your gallery might be in danger."

MC: "Please tell me everything you know."

Thomas rubs his expensive cufflinks, hesitating. It takes a while before he finally speaks.

Thomas: "Mr. Raymond, a renowned art collector famous for his discerning taste. Grace Flux Arts with his presence last month."

Thomas: "Destipe the gallery being filled with better paintings, he was utterly smitten with that one. He needed to buy it."

Thomas: "Had to nag Rafayel before he finally agreed to sell it."

Thomas: "During the process of arranging, displaying, and selling the painting, more than a dozen people have been in contact with it. No one mentioned anything about a Wanderer."

MC: "But what if someone starts to hallucinate because of his art?"

Thomas pauses for a moment, then bursts into a fit of laughter.

Thomas: "What a nice compliment! Making people literally go crazy over artwork isn't something many artists can pull off these days."

MC: "Are you saying he's trying to cause drama to increase the value of his work?"

Thomas clears his throat and rubs his nose.

Thomas: "I wish. If Rafayel cared about that stuff, my job would be a piece of cake. Wait until you meet him... You'll see what I mean."

Thomas: "He did mention something a while back. Said he often heard strange noises in the studio late at night. I thought he was trying to trick me."

Thomas: "Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays—he's sick, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays—a Wanderer showed up..."

Thomas: "Could you do me a favor and check if there's actually a Wanderer at his studio? I'd love to see the tomfoolery he plans to do next."

A thread of light quivers in the air. The sudden Metaflux fluctuation draws my attention to a display case by the wall.

MC: "What are those over there?"

He look over his shoulder.

Thomas: "Oh, coral stones, Rafavel uses them for his paint. Are you interest in them?"

Walking up to the display case, I see stones are vibrant red, almost like blood. I pick one up.

MC: (This is the source.)

MC: "Can I take it with me when I see Rafayel?"

Thomas: "Sure."

Thomas walks over to the French window. Outside is beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see.

I look at where he's pointing, in the distance is a gorgeous ivory stucture extending toward the sea.

Thomas: "Visit the gaint white building over there on Whitesand Bay. That's where he lives."

Thomas: "His memory is nonexistent, so the door's open. You can just walk right in."

Thomas: "Could you tell him to hurry up on that painting he's working on? I already sold it to someone!"

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Thomas: Rafayel's friend and the owner of Flux Art. He works himself to the bone every day, planning Rafayel's exhibitions and scheduling appointments. In contrast to his friend's carefree spirit, he often sees himself as a "mature and professional businessman."