Those two hazel eyes kept staring at a painting that was behind the rope but with a look that was difficult to explain. Also visible were the wrinkles in that thick brow, indicating confusion.
"Is there something bothering you Miss Keira?"
Keira jumped a little, she was surprised to hear a voice coming from behind her. She immediately turned around and saw a middle-aged man with glasses standing behind her, who was the owner of the voice.
"Ah! I... I just saw this painting sir," said Keira awkwardly. She then paused. "But..."
"Yes, Miss Keira?"
"Why doesn't this painting have a face?" Keira asked haltingly.
Yeah, that's what made her so shocked and stunned a few seconds ago. Because the painting behind the rope has no face. The face of the figure in the painting looks like it's been scribbled on, like... it's been erased on purpose.
Until the painting looks headless.
The lecture looked at the painting. "Ah... when this painting was first found, it was already like that."
"Really? But isn't that very strange sir?" hearing the lecturer's words, of course, she felt that it was very strange.
The lecturer chuckled. "Well... it is strange. But that's the truth."
Keira looked back at the painting, she noticed each side of the painting with a gold frame. The paint used on the painting has small cracks indicating how old the painting is. Such a beautiful but strange painting.
"Who is the man in this painting, sir?" asked Keira, feeling curious to know more about this mysterious painting.
The middle-aged man was silent for a moment, he then folded his arms in front of his chest. "I don't know," he replied.
Kira furrowed her brows. "You don't know sir?"
For the umpteenth time, she was confused and that was because of this painting. What's more, her lecturer's answer was beyond her expectations.
"You see?" the middle-aged man pointed at an iron board that was under the painting. Keira nodded her head in response. "This painting doesn't even have a name."
And true, unlike the other paintings that are also in this castle, this painting is the only one that does not have a name. It was as if the figure in the painting was unrecognizable.
It's very mysterious, but it makes Keira even more interested.
"You... you're right sir," said Keira.
"This painting is known as the unknown painting."
The middle-aged man fixed the glasses he was wearing. "Rumors have it, that the man in this painting is the last son of King Xerxes."
Kira turned. "Last son?"
The middle-aged man nodded. "Yes, he is said to be the last prince of the Xerxes kingdom," he said, then walked away leaving Keira who was still standing staring at the painting.
...
Now they were no longer in the castle, they had been out of the castle twenty minutes ago and they were currently in an open field surrounded by bushes and trees which occasionally swayed in the wind.
The previously bright sky slowly became dark, and the sound of crickets began to be heard from the bushes.
"All right, everyone! Please set up your tents!" said the middle-aged man, their lecturer.
That's right, they will be camping in this field. Apart from visiting Xerxes castle, they will also camp around Xerxes castle they have brought various kinds of equipment as well as quite a lot of food.
Initially, camping was not on their list of activities but many of them suggested camping to make their visit to this castle more enjoyable.
Keira took her backpack, opened it, and took out the jacket she had brought. Keira immediately put it on because the air was starting to feel cold, also took a rope from inside her backpack.
"Della!" called Keira.
Della who was crouching immediately looked over. "Oh! You got the rope?"
Keira nodded then handed the rope to Della. The two of them immediately set up their tent which was big enough for both of them. After that they put their things into the tent, their other friends also seemed to have finished setting up their tents.
Keira and Della sat on a log that was deliberately placed near the bonfire. "Della..." called Keira.
"Hmm?" said Della who was wearing her gloves.
"Did you see the faceless painting in the castle?" asked Keira while looking at Della.
"Ah... yeah, I saw it," replied Della.
Keira was silent for a moment. "Don't you think that painting is very strange? Who do you think is the man in the painting?"
To be honest, ever since they came out of Xerxes castle she had been thinking about that faceless painting. She also doesn't know why she always thinks about that mysterious painting. The painting seemed to make something inside her agitated and she wanted to find out the truth about the painting.
Strange... very strange.
It can be said that Keira often goes to an art gallery and sees various kinds of paintings, that's because she likes art. However, never before had a painting made her feel this way. She couldn't even explain what she was feeling right now.
Della tucked her hair. "But not a vampire," said Della in a mocking tone.
THUD!
"Awww! Why did you hit me?!" complained Della rubbing her forehead which had just been hit by Keira.
"That's because you're so annoying!" said Keira with a frown.
Della chuckled. "And that's because you're so obsessed with that mosquito-like creature."
Keira furrowed her brows. "Mosquito?"
Della nodded. "Yeah, because they both suck blood," said Della, who chuckled while holding her stomach.
Keira, who heard Della's words became, even more, frowned that was because Della always teased her like this. Keira stood up. "Tsk, whatever!" she said then took the flashlight and walked away.
Della immediately stopped laughing."Hey! Where do you want to go?!" shouted Della because Keira just left her.
"Go look for a signal!" shouted Keira without looking back and walked away from where they were camping.
...
Her feet with black boots walked through the very lush trees, her right hand holding a flashlight that she used as lighting. She pointed the flashlight to her right and left, looking at every side of the very dark forest.
"Hufftt! It sucks! What's wrong with liking vampires?" muttered Keira still sullenly.
Yeah, of course sometimes she gets annoyed because she's always getting teased because she's so interested in vampires. Including her best friend, Della.
Come on, there's nothing wrong right?
Every human being on this earth must have a sense of interest in different things and that's also what happened to her
Well... indeed she is very interested in vampires. But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing right?
Keira kept walking while muttering, she then took her cell phone from inside her jacket pocket. She raised her cell phone as high as she could. "Shit! There is no signal!" annoyed Keira.
Keira tries to find a signal because she wants to give the news to her father. However, after 5 minutes he still had no signal.
Kira stopped in her tracks. "Tsk, come on! Is there no signal--" Keira's words were suddenly cut off. She suddenly became silent, also getting goosebumps at the same time.
THUD!
"Who is there?!" shouted Keira turning back.