Reiyouki Sentai Seitenger

5.7 Two Paintings

Unknown to the two people having an important discussion in that building, two others also have something important to talk about. But this time, it was to the building manager.

A sigh escaped Hideoki's lips as he laid eyes on the mysterious painting displayed in the middle of the hall. The very same painting that both Eichirou and Helen were looking at, only at different times.

"Iwasaki-san, how come I've never known that my wife would keep something like this here?"

The man in question shook his head after sighing. "Forgive me for not saying anything, Mizuhashi-san. But she made it clear to my father before that no one should know about this belonging to her until the given time. And when my father died, she made me promise the same thing when I took over the position of being this building's manager."

Out of all the words that the man said, there was one that caught the historian's attention. "Until the given time? Did she mention when that time would be?"

Iwasaki nodded and looked at the painting, as well. "Yes, she did. It would be after your son's 20th birthday. Though that time had long passed, Mariko-san's will didn't occur to me until Eichirou-kun looked at this painting a few days ago. And there was also a young woman who was looking at this as if she was trying to find some answers by doing so."

Before Hideoki could even ask about the identity of the young woman in question, it was interrupted when his companion Dr. Tsukimori Genma arrived and called his attention.

"I already have the permission to take this painting from here. But there's one other thing I'd like to show you."

Hideoki frowned at that, but chose not to say anything and waited for the scientist to continue what he intended to do. Confusing him, even more, was the appearance of two men carrying a rectangular item covered in gray linen. It was the same size as the Priestess painting (the one that was placed in the hall).

"What's this?"

"I found something that I learned to have also belonged to your wife and she decided to keep it here together with the painting of the priestess. But this painting represents something entirely different ― but perhaps, also related to the one we're dealing with."

Dr. Tsukimori's reply made Hideoki's heart beat fast, for some reason. How come he didn't know that there was another painting belonging to Mariko in this place? What was her reason for her to keep them here?

Before he could ask any more questions in his mind, one of the two helpers removed the cloth covering the frame.

"Is this ―?"

But Hideoki couldn't utter the continuation of the question he wanted to ask because of shock. The very same features of the priestess in the first painting were also painted in the other one. She was also wearing the same white gown. But her position in the second painting was different. She was facing the left side with a blooming lotus inside a ball of light floating in her hands. The one thing that made this entirely different from the other painting was the man in the painting facing the other way. The man who looked like an unbeatable warrior with armors and weapons and the priestess were standing back to back as if saying that they were meant to take different paths.

Of course, there could be a different interpretation for this. But there was one thing that made it clear for the two elders. This second painting was also related to the legend of the Vessels of the Heavenly Spirit Guardians' Powers. Their proof? The lotus symbol on each of their clothing articles. They were painted there as if making those who would look at them believe that it was a part of their clothes all this time. And the feeling that those two people looked as if they were real ― that they existed long ago...