But now everyone understood why Dox said one couldn’t evaluate Kaier’s painting as good or bad but rather "special."
As Kaier was embarrassed, Angel walked up and picked up the parchment from the ground.
After studying it closely for a moment, he handed it back to Kaier: "Nicely done."
Angel’s casual compliment left Kaier stunned. This was the first time someone said his painting was nice.
Dox looked at Angel in surprise: "You understand it?"
Angel said nothing, just smiled faintly.
Understand? Who could understand it!
Even though he couldn’t understand it, Angel didn’t find the painting on parchment "ugly." Angel’s art appreciation crossed the aesthetics of two universes.
Solely judging from the painting on the parchment, it really wasn’t ugly. The formulas beside it were arranged very systematically, likely arranged by Kaier for his own understanding.
Just like Kaier enjoys cryptographic paintings, his painting is akin to a cipher unique to himself.
This kind of painting cannot be judged for its quality, but in terms of privacy security, it’s absolutely first-rate.
Although a painting doesn’t necessarily require privacy security, achieving excellence in this aspect at least indicates that the painting has its merits. Furthermore, the painting itself wasn’t ugly; Angel’s praise was sincere.
He had read many inspirational stories on the holographic tablet about unconventional painters being cursed in their era, yet in another, they were revered as gods. Although he knew these were merely inspirational tales, relating it to Kaier’s situation provided at least a palatable story; if Kaier’s painting were something like "infant scribbles, matchmen," that would be another story.
Praise was meant to give Kaier some confidence.
Whether it’s understandable is secondary.
As Kaier looked on with excited eyes, Angel shifted his gaze to the framed painting.
Admittedly, this painting was what truly qualified as art.
It could even be called a photograph, so realistic; from the mural’s details to the wall’s mottled texture, almost every aspect was considered.
Purely in terms of realism, Angel couldn’t compare to this painter.
However, beyond the painting’s technique, they were more interested in the content within. What did Kaier see in the mural to make him feel it was related to the Panic Realm?
The mural’s content was simple and reminded Angel of a fairy tale Jon had once told him as a child.
It was a tale of a prince cursed to become a beast, lonely in his castle waiting for "true love." Eventually, a kind-hearted princess arrives; during their dance, a kiss transforms the beast back into a handsome prince.
The mural’s content resembles the first half of this fairy tale.
If this painting were to be named, it might be called: "Walking with the Beast."
In the scene, a head-raised, bipedal lion-like beast carries on its shoulder a slender, carefree youth — while non-human traits are visible, let us tentatively refer to her as "human."
The girl’s head rests casually by the beast’s ear, seemingly whispering.
Despite being just an image, such a relaxed, ambiguous atmosphere was conveyed through the painting.
It’s as if bubbles of love floated around the girl and beast in the painting.
That’s why Angel thought of the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" upon seeing this artwork.
On first glance, this painting doesn’t appear special. Beauty and Beast pairings aren’t unique to Earth’s fairy tales; similar stories exist in this world. Human creation of love stories forms a cycle, fundamentally similar across worlds.
But upon deeper inspection, one finds this painting’s unique aspects.
First, the girl, who possesses a physiological structure like butterfly wings beneath her arms; akin to the webbing among certain amphibian toes, a thin membrane.
This thin membrane under her arms resembles wings yet lacks flight capabilities.
This humanoid species of intelligent life is typical of Panic Realm’s "Butterfly-winged people."
And the lion-like, bipedal beast beneath her initially appears as an ordinary magical creature; but ignoring the thick mane, one sees a swaying golden stalk atop the beast’s head.
Look at Earl Mi’s swaying blue lantern flower atop his head, and then at the swaying golden stalk — one can basically understand this lion-like beast, like Earl Mi, is also an awakened demon.
Once like the girl, a butterfly-winged person or perhaps another race of Panic Realm. But now, it has awakened and become what ordinary people of Panic Realm fear most — also what awakened demons least wish to confront... an awakened demon.
One might call it the new generation of demon too.
Awakened demons are craftier and greedier than demons. Panic Realm’s demons are willing to consume beasts, feeding on beasts and humans alike. Awakened demons, possibly due to former demon origins and regular beast consumption, have become sick of it; they prefer to devour humans.
Hence, awakened demons pose greater threats to Panic Realm’s Indigenous People than demons.
One could say awakened demons and Indigenous People are born foes.
But now, the mural depicts a completely different scene.
Awakened demons peacefully coexist with Indigenous People, perhaps in love?
How could this be possible?
"Are you sure this mural is real? Not imagined by you?" Dox asked.
Kaier affirmed seriously: "I assure you it’s authentic."
Dox eyed Kaier for several seconds before speaking in a low voice: "Could it be the mural’s artist drew haphazardly?"
This question stumped Kaier; he pondered then said: "The mural’s material is Star Color Stone, although it quickly loses color due to air exposure, investigation suggests the mural dates around the New Calendar 3800."
Dox: "Age of Meteorite Gold?"
Kaier nodded: "Probably a mural from the Age of Meteorite Gold. Murals, if autobiographical or biographical, could be falsified. But this mural is not biographical; it’s a record-style mural."
"The chances of falsification should be low, right?"
Dox: "So you mean..."
Kaier thought for a bit: "I can’t confirm my speculation, but might it be possible awakened demons have ways to live normally with ordinary people in Panic Realm?"
"Simply, Panic Realm’s remoteness from the Southern Domain limits our understanding, leading to misconceptions. Actually, Panic Realm in its entirety might be more complex?"