Renaissance of Muses for the Maestro Chapter 6

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Chapter 6

Diner Owner: Here’s your roast lamb!

Snow and Mithra’s bickering was drowned out by the diner owner’s voice as they brought food to the customer next to us. 

Louder than that though, was that customer abruptly leaving his seat and heading for the door. We all turned our eyes on him.

Bereted Youngster: Apologies, but I just remembered a prior engagement. 

Nervous, he handed the coins he grasped out of his pocket and tried to stuff them into the diner owner’s hands, beret hung low over his eyes.

Diner Owner: What?! Can’t you at least eat a little?

Not staying behind to listen, the young man exited the diner with a quick pace. All that was left on the table were those coins and the untouched roast lamb.

Rutile: …He was in a hurry. Perhaps it was something important. 

Mithra: What a waste of this lamb. I’ll do you a favour and eat it for you.

Snow: No Mithra, you aren’t to eat other customer’s foo–and he’s already put his hands on it. 

Diner Owner: Ahahaha, I don’t mind. It’d be rude to the lamb to be left uneaten!

The owner shrugged and moved the plate to our table with a smile. For a second however, his eyes paused on that customer’s chair. 

Diner Owner: Oh dear, he forgot something…

A lone paintbrush was left sitting on the chair, looking polished and brand new. I wondered if he had recently bought it. 

Chloe: He must have dropped it in a rush.

Diner Owner: This is bad…I can’t very well leave the shop. I hope he notices and comes back soon…

Rustica: Ah, then how about we take it to him in your stead? If we go now I’m positive we can catch up.

Diner Owner: Oh I couldn’t…are you really sure? Thank you so much.

Rustica: My pleasure. Let us take care of it, as our thanks to this diner’s delicious dishes. 

As he did rush out of the diner, we couldn’t see any trace of where he went. He likely mixed in with the waves of townspeople. 

Snow: Oh Mithra, won’t you give me a shoulder ride! 

Mithra: No thanks. Go use your magic. 

Snow: But I don’t feel like it~ Besides, we’ll stand out were we to use magic!

Come on now. You better work for that roast lamb you ate!

Mithra: Quiet…

Chloe: Ahahaha…gosh, this sure is a pickle we’re in. Where could that man have gone?

Rustica: Fret not, leave it to me. 

Amorest Viesse.

Colourful lights begin to sparkle in the air when he says his spell, and the paintbrush within my hands floats up.

Rustica: I’m sure this paintbrush will tell us the way to its beloved master. 

Mithra: Hey, he just used magic. That’s okay?

Rutile: The tip of it appears to be searching for something…it’s like a little animal, how cute! I bet we can get away with it like this. 

After restlessly sniffing around, the floating paintbrush finally set its beak in one direction. 

We then followed behind our little guide. 

The enchanted paintbrush drifted along the roads, 

that were hour by hour being emptied of traffic in contrast to the bustling mid-day.

Eventually we reached our destination, and the place we were led to was most familiar. 

Heathcliff: Isn’t this…the art museum?

Contrary to earlier, the surroundings were deserted, as if we were in a different town from before.

The paintbrush flew up to the main entrance doors and hopped in the air, like it was telling us to open it up.

Akira: Could it be that the owner of this paintbrush is inside…?

Riquet: But…it’s…

He put his hand on the door handle, finding it to be locked.

Heathcliff: It looks like we’re past business hours. 

Mitile: Hellooo? Is anyone in?

Rutile: Excuse meee! We have something for you! 

Even if we called, anything beyond the door was still and quiet. In tune with everyone’s shouts, the paintbrush hopped in cheer. 

Chloe: …No good. No one’s answering.

Rustica: It’s only just after hours. I’m certain someone will come out eventually. 

Riquet: How long will we have to wait?

Rustica: I wonder. They have to prepare for the next day, so they’ll be cleaning the museum…I suppose 2, maybe 3 hours. Or it might even take until morning to finish…

Akira: That’s quite the estimate!?

It was when we were beginning to be at a loss–

Mithra: Arthim.

That Mithra hit the end of his patience and chanted his spell, our favourite space door appearing before us.

Mitile: Don’t tell me this door leads into the museum…

Mithra: Yes, it does. I’ve worked off that roast lamb now, haven't I?

Riquet: This is definitely against the rules…

Mithra: Can we please hurry up and finish this business. I want to go home and sleep already. Off you go.

Riquet: Huh?!

Akira: M-Mithra, gentle, be gentle…waugh!

He grabbed us by the scruff of our necks, and threw the rest of us inside the door without any moment to resist.

Akira: Owie…

Pitch black darkness. As anxiety creeped up my spine I could hear Snow say his spell.

Snow: Noscomnia! 

I strained my eyes to the sudden brightening of our surroundings. Snow had summoned a fireball to act as our torch.

Rustica: It appears we are inside the museum. 

Hearing that, I look around me, and notice the paintings we saw earlier in the day sleeping peacefully.

Mithra: Alright. What were we here for again? End the museum curator’s life, was it?

Akira: No, no. We’re here to find the owner of this paintbrush. Though we do have some business with the museum curator in a way…

I figure it would be best to hear what the curator has to say.

Remembering the harm it may cause him though, hesitation showed in my voice.

Mitile: So…is it really okay for us to be in here? Maybe we should leave…

Chloe: You have a point…but, the customer who dropped this brush isn’t the museum curator, right?

So why would he be here in this museum, where the curator alone is said to manage…

Rutile & Heathcliff: …Ah.

At Chloe’s words we all look to each other with shock.

Heathcliff: Assuming that the paintbrush’s owner is inside this museum the same as us…could he be…a thief?

Snow: We don’t know that for sure, but as of now he is most certainly involved with something. Proceed with caution.

Mithra: I don’t care about the details, just finish it up quickly. 

In the meantime I will be here resting. I worked hard enough, so it’s time for my after-dinner dip.

Over here, Master Sage. Lend me your hand now.

He said as he sat down on the floor, casually extending his hand to me.

Akira: Uhh, well. I actually wanna go and find the paintbrush’s owner too…

Rutile: Come on Mithra. How about I stay behind instead? 

Mithra: Hum…well I guess that’s fine. 

Akira: Thank you, Rutile. I know he’s in good hands. 

Mitile: …Ah. The paintbrush flew down that hall! Let’s catch up!

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