Short Summary: Rafayel is a perfectionist artist obsessed with creating unique pigments (like Tyrian purple from 10,000 conches), clashing with his pragmatic manager Thomas. Their dynamic evolves from rivalry to reluctant and evolving mutual respect, centered on debates about artistic authenticity versus commercial success.

Timeline Notes:

His relationship with Thomas is still in development but Rafayel already has an exposition so I think this is after or very close to Addictive Pain. I believe this is before Main Story, because I feel that by then Thomas already respects his process and all that. There’s also this unique red color he’s looking for, that is talked about in Main Story - Chapter 2 - The First Mission, when MC goes to his exposition.

Key Lore Information:

• Art:
  • Artistic Integrity vs. Commercialism: Rafayel destroys work rather than compromise; Thomas prioritizes deadlines.
  • Uniqueness as Value: Natural pigments (conch dye, insect-based vermillion) symbolize irreproducible art.
  • Conch Shells: Represent painstaking effort for "true" art (10,000 shells = 1 gram of paint).
  • Fishbone Fortress: Rafayel’s distraction mirrors his creative block: meticulous but directionless.
  • Match Threat: Literal willingness to burn art rather than exhibit imperfections.
• Lemurian Lore
  • His perfectionism stems from his unique ability to see over 300 million colors, as revealed in Floral Promise.
• Relationships/Dynamics:
  • Jealousy to Respect: Thomas shifts from envying Rafayel’s talent to defending his vision.

Note: Rafayel’s artistic struggles (Unfinished Work) mirror his divine burdens (Forgotten Sea). Both timelines show him protecting something irreplaceable (art/Lemuria) from commodification. His art becomes a vessel for his divine memory.

Full Transcript:

01 | Unfinished Work

(Thomas's art exhibition begins in a week. Rafayel's art covers almost all of the walls except for one. Thomas announced that, on the opening day, Rafayel's magnum opus would be there. However, until then, no one can see it, not even his sponsors. Of course, only Thomas knows that Rafayel's magnum opus is still...)

(He finally finds Rafayel in the storage room after running around for a long time. Thomas stops to catch his breath. He wipes the sweat off his forehead with one hand and airs himself with his collar.)

Thomas: You're here. Not going to take a bath today?

Rafayel: (doesn't spare Thomas a glance, eyes focused on the "building" in front of him) I knew you'd bother me, so I locked the bathroom door from the inside. But then I forgot to go in. (weighs the small bone in his hand, thinks for a bit, then places it on the top left corner of the fortress)