"Oh, he's still here? I thought he gave up long ago?"
Lumiere turned to spare a glance at the people talking, tilting her head, trying to figure out who they were referring to, until someone across the comfortable room sat at an isolated spot. A withdrawn lad who doesn't seem like a devoted apprentice, given how little he packed. Sitting down with a sigh as he swung his head back defeatedly against the headrest of his quiet seat.
Oh, him. Is he really a student of this atelier? Why the lack of enthusiasm?
Complexion, paler than most. Silken flowing black hair. Eyes holding depth behind a sharp gaze. His eyes akin to a deep lake, once you sink yourself into them, you surely will fall in deep.
His eyes… seem unkind but… I don't know. He has pretty eyes, that's for sure.
She shakes her head and turns her attention elsewhere. It felt like she was drawn to some painting nobody dares to admire.
"Yeah, look behind you. Careful, though, he's not one to be messed with. He kinda has a bit of a temper when it comes to his items. Not so open nor social of a person." Someone not so quietly gossiped to another, causing Lumiere to overhear.
Oh, I see. But why would people be so— well, not my business, is it?
"Good day, everyone. I'm the atelier master, River Wrymlocke." The art teacher, her uncle River.
"I assume you lot brought materials. Introductions shall proceed as follows—" Turning her attention back to the front, as the master finally spoke and led the flow of things. This year's workshop has officially started.
~~~
By the time of sundown before the workshop is concluded, Lumi returned to the atelier after buying snacks from a stall and fetching fresh water from the river nearby. Upon entering, she was welcomed with yet another chaotic yet poetic state of the workshop. Handicrafts, mediums, parchment, powdered pigments, and canvases are all around.
She sees the lad being talked about earlier, he keeps on crumpling quick sketches and half-painted papers, just throwing them north afterwards. The frustration is palpable the moment he discarded his things, stored away his materials, got up, and left the room. Didn't even notice his fellow student who just entered.
Oh, failed to rekindle inspiration, huh? Perhaps this is what Celia was talking about him giving up..
Hopefully, he finds his spark soon.
Unwrapping the bag of dried banana chips, Lumiere munched on some as she made her way to her seat. The mess was kinda getting to her, but alas, it's art. Being a good apprentice and niece, she decided to help clean the room a bit while still being careful of misplacing actual art in progress and actual trash.
In the midst of cleaning, she stumbled upon far-scattered sketches.
Picking them up one by one as she stares at it, then to the doors leading outside. Tilting her head back as she sighs with disappointment.
These folks, I swear to the heavens. How could they just carelessly place things like these?
Poor pieces of art, simply discarded…
Her brows knitted as she gave a questioning look at the seats of students she suspected of being capable of simply discarding work.
I really wonder if my fellows are really devout art apprentices, because half of them may be blind to the beauty of their own.
What a shame, really.
Lumiere then dutifully tidies the beautiful scraps of art, compiling them inside a leather casing, and sets it aside on a table for safekeeping. However, some colored parchments slipped out as she closed the lid. Bundles of sketches have angels on the moon.
All signed by an unfamiliar artist named…
Zion.