Ryan stopped walking and turned to face the direction an item would be, if there was one. Then, he expanded his sense of air, feeling the smooth vase resting on a pedestal. He knew it was likely wooden, as Tyler and Amy had already commented that most items resting on a stand had a wooden pedestal or table. As the stand was completely enclosed on all four sides and squarish on the narrow part, he knew it was a pedestal instead of a table.

That finished, he pulled back his sense of air. They were at a museum a week after Nadia attempted to kill Ryan and Amy, and Ryan had successfully kept his father from finding out about the attempt so far, as he realized only after the fact that his father would likely want to end his time there over the attempt, resulting in another reset.

Because they were in a crowded place, Ryan kept his elemental senses off. Tyler was not yet aware of his ability to sense the elements yet, and Ryan didn't want that to happen until he was preparing to reset. That meant continuing to not see others around, resulting in a few bumps and stumbles. Throughout the trip, Tyler kept a firm grip on Ryan's arm.

The young god would have preferred Amy to do that, but understood his servant's insistence on it. There was a strong chance they would become separated from whoever was not touching Ryan, and Tyler needed to ensure that he was present at all times for his master, in case of an issue.

Not wanting to inconvenience others, Ryan had not requested the museum to just their party. It was quite crowded, which prevented his guards from being able to keep track of him at all times. Even if his servant knew about Ryan's pair of mysterious teachers, he was not aware of Ryan's own combat capabilities. That meant it was his duty to ensure the two were not separated, in case something happened and Ryan needed defending.

So Ryan put up with it. It only bothered him because Amy was with them, and he knew that if it was just him and Tyler, he wouldn't have had any issue at all.

"This," Ryan said to his companions after checking the item with his senses. "Is by far the best one we have come across so far. Just look at those details, the amount of time which must have been put into creating it. A masterpiece."

"That vase," a man said, and by where his voice came from, Ryan judged him to be only a couple of feet on the other side of Tyler. "Was crafted around fifty years ago. Were it not for our need to fill out a vase quota for this room of local works, it would not be displayed at the moment. We are hoping for a quality piece to replace it to come in tonight, and in the meantime, we ask that patrons do not mock the lower-quality works."

At the moment, the trio were in a hall which displayed artwork created by locals. They were on their way to look at the painting Michael had displayed there, but Ryan was insistent that Tyler and Amy at least admire other things before seeing it.

Due to a low amount of local artists of talent, the chamber held many pieces of lower quality than would ordinarily be viewed by someone of Ryan's status. He knew that based on his stance, Tyler's stance, and the fact that guards were following them, when possible, the staff had already picked them out as wealthier people, and probably considered them snobbish.

While the employee might have felt justified in his comment, as they likely dealt with several wealthier people making rude or sarcastic marks about some of the lesser pieces, Ryan was slightly bothered by the assumption.

"Mocking?" Ryan asked. "I'm not mocking it. Just look at those curves to it, and the way the top flares. Even if made by someone of only mediocre talent, the time and effort put into this is quite obvious. Why, I bet even a blind man could see that!"

"If you don't-"

"Sir," Tyler interrupted the man. "He is blind, and hadn't made a comment that suggested he knew what it actually was until after you said it was a vase. Ryan, stop harassing the poor staff."

"Yes," Ryan said. "The poor staff. Specifically, the one who made an assumption about me. I was mocking his inability to see what I can see."

"Let's go look at Michael's painting," Tyler told Ryan, leading his master away before a full-fledged argument could break out.

The trio of teens continued examining items, Ryan occasionally using his sense of light to view the coloration of the works displayed. He wasn't too impressed with them, however. No, Ryan had discovered something even more beautiful than artificially-created works of art.

Such as eyes. The eyes of people were not a single color. He knew that eyes were classified as 'brown', 'blue', 'green', and 'gray' at their base, but when he used his ability to sense light on Amy's eyes during sex a few nights before, he'd discovered that they were not, in fact, a single color, but a multitude of them, patterned out.

Other 'natural beauties' which entranced him through their coloration included flowers as well, for the same reason of them not being an even color, but a variety of them which patterned to form the appearance others took for granted.

So when they reached Michael's painting, Ryan chose not to use his sense of light on it. He wanted it to remain a mystery, as he did not want to make a judgment about his pseudo-friend's art, due to the possibility of it not being to his tastes.

"It's rather good," Tyler commented. "The kind of art I would expect to see somewhere like a private gallery."

"I agree," Amy said. "And not just because you two are friends with him. You said he's self-taught?"

"Yeah," Tyler answered. "He says his father had offered to hire a tutor for him when they discovered his desire to learn to paint and draw, but Michael was stubborn and wanted to try to learn without first. Within a few months, they had discovered he had a natural talent for art. He prefers to do natural scenes like this one, but he does some with people in them, too. He hates doing buildings, though."

"Has he done any with either of you?" Amy asked.

"No," Ryan answered.

"Yes," Tyler answered.

"He did?" Ryan asked. "When?"

"While we were preparing to go skiing yesterday," Tyler explained. "We were talking, and Michael asked if he could paint me. You weren't expecting us back for a few hours, so we went to Michael's suite."

"Why did he want to paint you?" Ryan asked. "Did one of the ladies who keep flirting with you or attempting to impress me ask him for a painting of you?"

Servants weren't supposed to have such things done, so Ryan hadn't expected Tyler to ask for it, even if he wasn't acting as a servant at the time.

"No," Tyler cleared his throat. "I had mentioned to him while we were talking that I wished I could get a painting made of me. We were talking about you and him both having paintings made of you every year, being heirs, and I'd let that slip. He'd forgotten I was just a servant because of how casually you and I talk and how much freedom I have here. So he made that offer to me."

"If you want it and he's willing to give it to you," Ryan said. "I'll make sure you're allowed to."

As a servant, Tyler wasn't supposed to have much in the way of decorations for his room. It was supposed to be kept plain, and everything he 'owned' belonged to the Family and his master.

"That's… fine, sir," Tyler said. "I hadn't even thought of that, and had just assumed Michael was going to do something with it. Since I'm a servant, it can't exactly be displayed."

Ryan made a mental note to broach the subject again at a later time. It was clear by Tyler's voice that the servant was embarrassed over having the painting made, which meant that having it purchased and brought to their main estate without too much issue would require warming Tyler up to the idea.

His servant was likely terrified of what would happen if Ryan's father found out about the painting, because of the rules and such. When he brought it up again, Ryan would mention that Tyler was asked to model for a painting by a Family Heir, and his own master, another Family Heir, did not take issue with it. Those two details meant the painting itself was not a violation of his restrictions, even if the fact that he had prompted it might count.

But no one needed to know that detail.

"Was there anything else you wanted to look at here?" Ryan asked.

"A few things," Tyler answered. "Let's move on, shall we?"

The trio of teens continued touring the museum, then left. Ryan sat in the middle of the back seat of the car, with Tyler on his left and Amy on his right, a pair of guards in the front seats. After a few moments, Ryan frowned.

"Where are we going?" He asked. "This isn't the route back to the lodge."

"We're going out to dinner," Tyler informed him.

"Out?" Ryan asked. "Tyler, you know I don't eat at restaurants. Eating in the dining hall of the lodge pushes it."

"Especially with attempts that may be made on your life," Tyler answered. "I know. The restaurant is owned by a branch family of the Srentases, who would not be stupid enough to try something. It's the same as eating in the dining hall, except with less people."

"If it's a restaurant owned by one of the Families-"

"Michael had the reservations listed for now cleared," Tyler stated. "We'll have a four-hour period where it's us, the staff, and the pianist, plus your guards, who will stare intimidatingly at the chefs and servers."

"Okay," Ryan sighed. "Is Father aware of this trip?"

"Yes," Tyler answered. "He was the one who suggested I ask Michael if there was any way to reserve a table for it. I wouldn't have known it existed, otherwise."

"Did you tell him about-"

"No," Tyler interrupted. "I did not. You've put a ban on mentioning that to him, and I'm not going to violate that ban."

"Thank you," Ryan said. "So you asked Michael, and he cleared the restaurant?"

"Yes," Tyler answered. "I asked him while we were on the ski lift earlier, and he made the arrangements before we reached the top."

Ryan made a mental note to thank Michael when they returned for the help.

The rest of the ride was made in silence, though Ryan had his senses of water, fire, and earth stretched out to forty feet, observing everything he could as they quickly passed by them, his empathy reached out as well.

The guards were bored, while Tyler had some nervousness in him, coupled with a light happiness. Amy's mind held a touch of amusement, a touch of boredom, and a little frustration as she thought about something.

When Ryan placed a hand on her thigh, the frustration eased, replaced by lust as her amusement increased.

They reached the restaurant a few minutes later, and Ryan waited for the others to exit, then allowed Tyler to help him out of the car. The group entered the restaurant and were led to a table, speaking little during their meal.

After, they returned to the lodge, where Michael greeted them at the door.

"How was your experience at the restaurant?" Michael asked.

"The food was pleasant," Ryan answered as they began walking to the elevator. "Both aromatic and flavorful, with textures that matched and weren't unpleasant."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Michael told him. "Did you enjoy the music?"

"I did," Ryan answered. "Is it normally a pianist? Not a string band?"

"Yes," Michael answered as they entered the elevator, the attendant pressing the button for the third floor. "We may expand on that later, but for now, we're keeping it just to a piano, and our customers seem to enjoy it."

"We enjoyed the museum as well," Ryan said. "Tyler and Amy were both impressed with your painting. Personally, I thought the colors were a bit off, but otherwise, it was fine."

"You couldn't possibly say that in honesty," Michael chuckled. "Unless you could actually see the colors, Ryan."

"Quite right," Ryan nodded. "We were talking after looking at your painting, and Tyler mentioned you paint people?"

Ryan noticed Michael looking at Tyler, discomfort in both minds.

"I'm not upset about the painting," Ryan said. "It's within your rights to ask Tyler to model if you wish. From Heir to Heir, I've given permission. That said, I was actually hoping that, were Amy willing, you would do a nude painting of her? I don't know if you do nude or not, but thought I'd ask."

"I've only done a nude painting once," Michael answered as they exited the elevator, then began walking to the suite. His mind and Tyler's both relaxed, while Amy's tensed up, which amused Ryan. "But if Amy is willing, then I can try. I don't feel I'm all that talented with painting people, though. The painting with Tyler basically counted as practice for me."

"What do you say, Amy?" Ryan asked. "Want to give it a try?"

"I've had a few photos taken before," Amy answered. "But never a painting."

"Nude ones?" Ryan asked, surprised.

"Yes," she admitted. "My father wasn't all that happy about it, but I wanted it. If Michael is willing and comfortable with this, then I'll accept the proposal, on the condition that I get the painting."

"I can do that," Michael answered. "Though it will need to wait a week after I finish it."

"That is fine," she told him. "When and where?"

"We can do it in the suite across the hall from Ryan's," Michael said as they stopped in front of Ryan's suite, and the god noticed the artist indicate the other suite.

His mind immediately went to the day of the assassination attempt, when he'd noticed two guys having sex in the suite. He'd not asked his guards who they were, as his mind had become distracted by other things, but the fact that Michael was willing to use it suggested that it wasn't a normal suite.

"Michael," Ryan said. "Is someone staying in that suite?"

"No," Michael answered. "It was renovated a few months ago, and after that, I decided to use it to store some of my art supplies and do a few paintings in. It's a second studio for me. One of my cousins uses it from time to time, usually for some alone time, away from the pressure of the family."

That explained why Ryan had not sensed anyone in that suite any night since then – it was probably Michael's cousin using it.

"I see," Ryan said. "So it's mostly for you and your cousin to use."

"Yeah," Michael answered. "Amy, I have university tomorrow, but can do the painting after, at around, say, four? Just be here around then, and we can get started."

"That will give," Ryan said. "Time for Tyler and me to do our own thing, too. I'm quite tired, so I'll be turning in now. Tyler, you can stay and chat with them if you want, I can take care of myself tonight."

"Yes, sir," Tyler responded, and Ryan sensed him turning his head to face Michael. "I'll just make sure no furniture jumps out at him again, then meet you guys in the lounge."

"I haven't bumped into anything in a few days," Ryan muttered as he felt his cheeks heat up in his embarrassment over that.

He could mostly navigate the room without issue, but did need some more adjustment to it, both with and without his elemental senses.

"We'll see you there, then," Michael told Tyler, then led Amy away as Tyler and Ryan entered the suite to prepare for bed.