Curve Lines

"So, the Womb is too demanding," Seth explained to his father.

Adam was one of those super Anti-tech but he had no choice but to accept the changing world. 

But being a sceptic, he dragged Seth and asked him all manner of questions and Seth was more than happy to oblige and tell him everything.

Adam got to admit it, he was amazed by what he heard but he stayed as sceptical as he was.

They were discussing more about the subject when Sarah came into the room. "Seth… some people are here to see you!"

The duo concluded their conversation and Seth met the Guest. There were three of them, one was the grandson of Jessica Holmes, the Class C old woman who asked Seth to paint the party. And the two that accompanied him were reporters.

They came to have some conversation, more like an interview with Seth for two reasons. He was now Manuella Sefu's student and also he got the attention of Jessica Holmes. The meeting lasted 1hr before they left. 

Seth sat there as he sighed with relief. This meeting has shown him something, Manuella Sefu is not a simple woman. Their value has considerable weight.

But why? Why are some artists so high in society?

"Seth!" He turned his attention to the newcomer. It was his Aunt, the younger sister of his mother. "Good afternoon, Aunt!" Seth greeted.

She sighed and sat beside him, "Lady Jessica has rejected you. She claimed that the painting isn't up to standard." She explained while she consoled him.

Strangely, Seth wasn't bothered by that. "Well, things are moving faster than I can adapt. Those high classes are too demanding, so I think it was for the better. At least I wouldn't be bound by her." Seth said with gladness.

"Can you advise mom to stop ushering people to me? Perhaps… until I stabilize myself!" He pleaded.

Aunt Sami assumed that Seth might not take the news heavily but it turned out to him, the whole thing was a burden.

Seeing her with a thoughtful expression Seth consoled her, "I'm bound to be the best disciple Lady Manuella ever has, so these people will then be clicking on me!" 

He then walked out and left for the workshop. 

He didn't say that because of his Art Talent, but because he held something that Manuella will be dying to have. With that, he can rope her and ride on her fame fully.

.

.

.

"The lesson for today was Curve Lines. And this is the most important lesson that you all must master by heart. As every drawing out there was made up of connected curved lines. Your ability to manipulate the curves with talent and experience will raise your value as Painter."

The lecture was long and the 9 students were either jotting down something or listening attentively. 

To Seth, every lesson was like an epiphany to him. He was already improving as he saw all his tiny mistakes that he didn't understand how to rectify until now.

"Everyone, invent 100 different curves that you can use in a painting!" 

Her words sound weird to some of them but Seth was already imagining things and on his canvas, he already made around 10 curves.

'This guy is talented!' Sally thought. She is sitting beside Seth and has been observing him, and apart from being very attentive, he was fast in catching on.

But she was not by any means slow. She quickly made some curves too. 

As Manuella walked around, observing them, she smiled. Most of them have interpreted her differently. However, others were lost, wondering how they could invent a curve.

"Start drawing, you have 1 hour!" She announced as she walked out of the room. 

Those that haven't started anything ran and glanced at others—that was when they got what she meant.

Inventing a new curve was easy, it's just making a curve, that's all that is needed. But they have to have an idea of what that curve can become if they decide to turn it into a drawing.

Seth has already had his 100 curves spread on the canvas, and with each curve, he already has something in mind. Then he began drawing!

Among the curves, he made a dove, a goose, another one was a person, then a rough stone, then a Rose leaf, then a Lily flower.

About 30 minutes later, he already has an unfinished garden on his canvas. If before, it was just a bunch of meaningless drawn curves, now there are plenty of birds in a flower-filled garden.

1 hour later, Manuella was back and she went around observing their drawings. When she came to Seth, she lingered with a smile before she walked away.

"No.1 Luis. No.2 Eve. No.3 Seth!" She announced. 

This was her way of declaring those that passed the little test. And their drawings will be kept on the shelf for all to see.

Beneath the canvas, Seth made his sign and wrote third. He was about to take it to the front Sally said, "Let me carry that for you!" Seth agreed.

She walked slowly as she read through everything before she put it on the display. She wasn't the only one with that idea. Others have collected the winners' paintings for in-depth observation.

The moment the three drawings were arranged, Seth found where his shortcomings were. His drawing was too common and easy.

"10 points for each of them. And zero for the rest. However..!" Manuella lingered as she observed their faces, "Observe the 3 paintings in 10 minutes and tell me why I rank them the way they are now!" Then she walked out again.

This time, Seth and the two others were by the side while the rest were busy ogling the drawings.

10 mins later she came back and everyone sat down. She pointed at Sally, she was the one sitting opposite Seth.

"One reason why Seth Drawing was 3rd!" She asked. Sally gulped down and she read a bit of her jotting.

"Well… it was too common. It's a lot of birds, while the rest have some creativity in them!" She explained.

"Take a canvas and turn around, you have 1 hour to repeat what he did if it was too common!" 

Manuella said and then she looked at the person who sat close to Eve and she asked him why Eve was ranked in that position.

His explanation was more elaborate until Manuella cut him off, she was still not satisfied. 

She asked all of them why this, why that, and in the end, she said they failed them all.

Sally, on the other hand, couldn't even finalize half of what was asked to do.

"You said, it was too common!" Manuella asked her again. Receiving no answer, she left her be.

"The major difference was, The 1st was fresh in our sight and the curves were easily identifiable and important. The 2nd was unusual but equally important. And the 3rd was more of repetition with distinct differences….!" 

Then a session of lecture began. She dismantled the whole drawings and explained them while also asking many questions to the owners. Everyone was able to understand the reason for the ranking and how they would do better.

'I would have won this if I knew she wanted uniqueness in it!' Seth laments. 

The first one was a bunch of people dancing around a campfire, but the way Luis drew them was uncanny with weird joints and body forms. Just like those cultural arts you don't see every day.

The 2nd one was a battlefield of beasts, 100 different animals are at each other's throats.

The 3rd one half of it was birds, different birds but they were similar one way or the other. That means his drawing was easier to replicate than the rest.

The lesson ended and everyone left. Seth sat there with a groan, he was dead tired. But he has to go back home. 

Standing, his usual weakness hit him. He fell down with a sigh, now he has to call someone to take him back.