Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Chapter 16

She fixed her gaze on the spot where Ines was standing.

At that moment, Timothy stepped forward, bringing Sheila and Henry with him.

He wanted to see for himself what exactly this "talent and spark" Ines claimed to see in someone's eyes looked like.

Sheila had been into animation since grade school. All these years at Aetherion, she'd even worked on a major project with the renowned director Mr. Smith-so how could she possibly lack talent or spark?

Ines cast a long, searching look at the covered frame, then turned to face the crowd.

She spoke slowly, her voice calm and clear. "I hadn't originally planned to exhibit

this piece. But honestly, I couldn't find a single flaw in it. Today marks the first stop on my national tour, and this is one of the country's landmark animation conventions. After a lot of thought, I decided to bring it out for everyone to appreciate and learn from."

With that, Ines stepped aside and pulled the deep red cloth away from the large frame.

For a moment, it was as if someone had pressed mute on the entire gallery.

The silence was so profound, you could have heard a pin drop.

It was a painting of The Grand Canal, Venice.

somber palette,

their classic forms, yet everything had been reimagined with

to leap from the

was perfectly still, it felt astonishingly alive-each figure seemed ready to move at any

watching an animation

seconds, nobody moved or

finally understood what Ines meant by

hinted at motion, motion that felt

something about the piece felt oddly

Of course-paper cutwork.

intricate relief technique made

the silence shattered. Applause exploded like thunder through the

clapping began to fade, Ines raised both hands, signaling for

to explain the

Timothy's own impression-dynamic yet tranquil,

and how the relief-cut

not her own design. Instead, it had been a fortieth birthday gift from one of

out, "Which student, Ms. Ines? Will we get to see any more of her

Talents like hers don't come around often, but all of you who love

she smiled, a deep note of regret

eyes shining with