Story Reader / Palette Clash / Travel with Ayla / Story
Ayla raises her pen and aligns it with the girl in her vision.
Ayla is no beginner. She should not need to spend so much time on perspective and proportion.
Excuse me? How much longer will this take?
It won't take long. Hold on.
Ayla smiles and waves at the white-haired girl.
Her pen quickly dances on the canvas afterward.
You take this moment to inspect the girl again.
After Ayla gained another victory a few minutes ago, you immediately noticed the girl amidst the chaos.
You had no idea how long she had been standing there. Perhaps it was instinct, but you decided to interact with her.
I didn't join the fight because I don't really understand art...
You were surprised by her answer, and you took out your terminal to go over the list of personnel currently stationed in Constellia again.
She is a mechanoid, Commandant.
Ayla looks at the girl curiously, her paintbrushes still in her arms.
Hmm... She doesn't feel like Cervantes, but I suppose there are similarities in a technical sense.
...
Ah.
Meeting the girl's gaze, Ayla scratches her head apologetically.
Sorry for staring at you like that.
It's okay. I don't mind.
The girl remained expressionless and calm.
Hmm... Can I draw something for you as an apology, then?
Which brings you back to the present.
Done!
Ayla takes the drawing and flips it over, showing it to the girl.
Is that... human art?
Technically, yes.
Ayla seems dissatisfied with her work, despite what you said.
I would hate to look like I'm showing off, hehe...
...
Why would you draw something like that when you could capture it with a visual sensor and reproduce it...?
W-wait, hold on...
Mark hurriedly cuts off the girl, but she only looks at him with confusion as if genuinely seeking an answer.
Mark peeks behind him, surprised to find Ayla unoffended.
On the contrary, Ayla's eyes are sparkling with joy.
It's boring, isn't it?! I think so, too!
Ayla puts the picture aside, grabs another piece of paper, and starts drawing again.
It does not take her too long this time before she shows all of you a new drawing.
The girl is en pointe on top of the windmill, dancing before a parade of hot air balloons, drones, and small hoverbots above Constellia.
That's...?
I added a little bit of imagination. Do you like it?
...
I don't know. What you drew is nearly impossible.
Which was why I had to draw it!
No one says we can't draw from our imagination, right?
...
The girl considers what Ayla has said and comes up with a conclusion.
Is that what art is, then? Things that don't exist in our sensory records.
The girl's question catches Ayla off guard, but she just smiles and passes the girl her new drawing.
Not entirely. That's just part of what art can be.
Confronted by Ayla's relentless smiles, the girl repeats what she said before.
I don't really understand art...
...
Ayla quietly gives you a thumbs-up while the girl turns to look at you.
I suppose...
Yeah! Nice to meet you!
Ayla jumps up and hugs the girl before she can finish as if Ayla has anticipated her answer already.
My name is Ayla. This is my commandant. And this is Mark the Great.
Mark. It's just Mark. Mark's not great at all.
Mark corrects Ayla while putting away his canvas secretly.
And what's your name?
...
Dulci... Dulcinea.
That's what Cervantes named me.
Dulcinea, is it? I'll name this drawing "Dulcinea", then.
It's... kind of a long name to pronounce, though. Can I call you Dulcy?
Sure.
Nice to meet you, Dulcy!
