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The project wasn't that hard to accomplish, in fact Olivine's professor suggested that students doesn't have to go to a museum themselves to find their assigned art piece to write a synthesis paper about, they could just find the piece in the wide internet and take it from there. But Olivine has always been a stuck up for rules and how-it-should-be, a firm believer that hard work pays off, and if the professor said that seeing the art piece personally is more preferred than seeing it in an image, then Olivine would do just that.
So here he is, satchel around his shoulders, equipped with pen and paper for notes and a fully charged mp3 player and earphones for a successful museum visit!
Remembering the piece that was given to him in class, he is supposed to find the sculpture of... "War's Love for Harvest". Hm, such a very curious sculpture indeed. Olivine did his own research prior today, and, as someone who follows a different religious belief, the thought of a tribe worshipping multiple Gods and depicting their interaction similar to humans does spark some fire that Olivine tried to suppress all his life.
Since his childhood, his parents had drilled into his brain that there was only one God in which he should pray and be thankful for, and Olivine believes it to this day, don't get him wrong. But the knowledge of other religions opened up new paths of learning that he didn't know was even a choice from the start. Oh, if his parents found out what Olivine has been doing in university, they would be very upset. But that was moving out and getting a dorm was for.
It was still quite early when Olivine arrived so he easily managed to find his tracks towards the sculptures area. He decided to look at some paintings on his way too— "Battle of the Gods" was one of the few that caught his interest as well. Made by the same tribe, with a reoccurring War God and Harvest God present in the painting. Such a revolutionary tale of greed and sacrifice, Olivine almost wished he had chosen this instead but alas, his actual assigned sculpture is still waiting for him.
And "War's Love for Harvest" truly did not disappoint.
Olivine found himself staring in awe as he looks up at a sculpture that is almost thrice his size. It depicts two people— or Gods, in this matter— who seemed to be struggling to get away from each other but positioned similarly to a loving embrace. The larger, bulky God is grabbing the hair of the smaller, dainty God and yet he did it with no force in his fingertips. Like he wanted to merely comb his hair, like a lover would. In contrast, the smaller God with flowers beneath his feet— half blooming, half wilting— has a firm grip on the larger God's arms. His fingers dug deep into the flesh of his arm, so much so that if it was actual flesh, blood would have long since flew out of where his fingers lay.
Two contracting actions, both made by their right hands. And yet their left hands were lovingly wrapped around the other. The Harvest God's left arm around the War God's neck; the War God's left arm around the Harvest God's waist.
Fascinating. Utterly fascinating. Olivine didn't even realize he had finished filling up an entire page of his notebook. He even started mumbling to himself, “The War God depicts something similar of an obsessive and territorial lover, and his partner, the Harvest God, was suffocated to the bits— No, with how he was gripping to hold him close, it could be that the War God's obsession wasn't enough. And the flowers too... the wilting could mean... dissatisfaction? Hatred? Perhaps, jealousy?”
It was only when he heard a chuckle behind him that woke him up from his trance, “It's nice to see young people interested in old arts.”
Almost immediately, Olivine could feel his cheeks warm and cleared his throat, “I-I apologize. I'm getting in the view of the sculpture, right? I'll move!”
Olivine was about to take a step back and clear the way but the man behind him merely stepped forward so they could be standing side by side. Olivine is realizing now that he is a head smaller than this man. Wow. “No need. I've seen this one many times before.”
“Oh..." He fiddled with his thumbs. Such a wise and kind senior! Why is he suddenly so nervous? “And... what do you think of their story, Mister?”
“Mm.” The man hummed, “...I refuse to believe it was love.”
“Pardon?”
“The War God's feelings.”
Olivine blinked at him in both confusion and interest, looking up at this senior with pure curiosity, “How could you say so?”
“The Harvest God would not struggle like that if it was,” The man said somberly. He had said earlier that he has seen that piece multiple times before, but when Olivine glanced his way, those amber eyes regards the sculpture as if it was an old friend, “He yearns to break free from such a gentle touch... meaning there is more than meets the eye.”
“Is that so,” As hard as it was, Olivine managed to tear his gaze away from the man and placed his attention back to the sculpture. There was truth in what he said, in a way. The expression of the Harvest God does not seem like he was happy or satisfied with the given situation. His eyebrows were frowning, and his teeth are gritted, he looked similar to a guarded cat being pet for the first time. And yet... and yet, even though it was just a small amount, the flowers that symbolizes of Harvest God's emotions was still blooming underneath his feet.
Olivine added, “Perhaps it was not struggle but... frustration.”
“Oh?”
“I mean! Instead of trying to move away, the Harvest God's upper body is leaning towards the War God,” Olivine explained, stars practically appearing in his eyes as he marvels at every detail he could find in from where he was standing, “Though he tries to hurt the War God in a fit, he has a hand over His shoulder as if he wanted them to be closer. If he wanted to leave his embrace, isn't he supposed to move as far as possible?”
Ever so slightly, hidden beyond the naked eye, Olivine could see the yearning from the two Gods even if they were merely a sculpture. It was as if they were trapped in a dance, where they are forced to push and pull towards one another despite just wanting to stay as close as possible. Olivine had researched about this piece before and most critics did say that the War God's love was suffocating and painful, that the Harvest God wants to break free and run away, that the War God is nothing but a brute who forces himself and his love towards an innocent Harvest God who merely wanted to enjoy spring and bountiful harvest.
And Olivine was inclined to agree when he saw the photograph in the internet the first time, but there was a nudge in him to go and see the real thing.
With the art right in front of his eyes, Olivine could proudly say that they seemed to misunderstood the War God's intentions... and that the Harvest God wanted the other just as much.
The War's love for the Harvest was reciprocated, not hated nor suffocated. The Harvest blooms after every War, Olivine could feel it.
“...Interesting.” The man chimed in, breaking Olivine from his trance.
Realizing that he just started dumping nonsensical explanation and weird analogies, Olivine suddenly felt super self-conscious and start sputtering upon himself, “Oh, what am I saying! This was only my small understanding about it. Of course everyone can decipher it however they see fit!”
“It's alright. I like the way you think.” The man smiled at him, “There is more pieces depicting the War God and Harvest God. Would you like to see them?”
A fire suddenly ignited within from the offer, “Yes, please! ...Oh where are my manners, I'm Olivine. I'll be at your care!”
“Mm. Quincy.” The man— Quincy— held out his arm, “Shall we, Olivine?”
Olivine readily accepts with a big smile on his face, “If you'll have me, please!”
“You look very interested with art, are you a student?”
“I'm a freshman at the university up north! And Mr. Quincy seemed so knowledgeable about the museum, do you work here?”
“Mm. Not really, but I do heavy lifting for them from time to time.”
As they leave, the sculpture of the Two Gods remained frozen in time. Though, ever so slightly, invisible to every mortal in this realm and era, their burden has lessened for a little bit after seeing the two figure walking away happily.