The Midnight Painter🔊

Once upon a time, in the sleep-inducing realm of Meridiana, there lived a man named Edgar who was anything but ordinary. Edgar was gifted with a unique ability to bring his paintings to life, adding color and vibrancy to the otherwise monotonous life of Meridiana. This astounding talent was known to no one but Edgar himself, as he chose to paint only when everyone in Meridiana was sound asleep. Hence, he came to be known as 'The Midnight Painter'.

Edgar was an orphan and lived in a solitary cottage outside the village. He found solace in the beauty of nature. Green-grassed meadows, towers of age-old trees, azure skies, and river streams formed the basis of Edgar’s canvas. He poured his feelings into his artwork, making each masterpiece more breathtaking than the last.

One night, as Edgar was lost in his painting, he spilled a dash of his 'Living Paint' on an unfinished sketch of a lovely maiden. Miraculously, the sketch sprang to life, transforming into a beautiful yet mystifying woman named Elara. Elara had mesmerizing aqua-blue eyes and a fascinating charm that took Edgar’s breath away. He was besotted by her beauty and vitality and, in her, Edgar found a friend, a confidante, and perhaps, the love of his life.

Edgar and Elara’s companionship flourished with each passing day. For the first time in his life, Edgar wouldn't wait for people to fall asleep to start painting, for he had someone to share his secret with, someone who watched him in reverent fascination, her eyes mirroring the moonlight. Night after night, Meridiana was lit up with radiant magic that their togetherness created. This secret twilight saga of the 'Midnight Painter' remained hidden under the silent veil of the night.

This happiness, however, was short-lived. One fateful night, Elara confessed that she wouldn't survive without her portrait. The magic of the 'Living Paint' that gave her life had started to wear off. Hearing this, Edgar was devastated. He couldn't bear to lose Elara. Thus, in a desperate attempt to keep her alive, he decided to paint her portrait.

Edgar laboriously built layers upon layers of 'Living Paint' onto the canvas, capturing Elara’s charm, her sparkling eyes, her dazzling beauty. Days turned into nights, and weeks turned into months, yet Edgar didn’t stop. His obsession drove him to the brink of exhaustion. Elara kept pleading him to stop, but the fear of losing her suppressed Edgar’s sanity.

In his frenzied state of creating, Edgar forgot the cardinal rule of using the 'Living Paint' — lose your control, and it loses its magic. As he put the final touch to Elara’s portrait, he collapsed, physically and emotionally drained. The 'Living Paint' didn't glow with their usual light. Something had gone terribly wrong.

As Edgar woke, he saw the painting he worked so feverishly on, sat there, lifeless. His heart sank. Slowly, he turned, fearing the worst. But there she was! Elara, radiating more vibrantly than the 'Living Paint' itself! Overwhelmed with relief, he rushed towards her, but his hand passed right through her. Elara, with tears in her eyes, dissolved into thin air, leaving Edgar forever.

The loss of Elara silenced the 'Midnight Painter'. No more did the villagers wake up to incredible creations blooming overnight. Edgar was left alone, with just his memories wrapped in their intimate moonlit nights. His heartache was profound, mirrored in the silent cries of his barren canvas and his deserted paintbrush.

Still, in his despair, Edgar found strength. He discovered the power of love and the depth of his own emotions. He found inspiration in his loss, in his love for Elara, and in her momentary existence. He picked up his brush again, to paint, to remember, and to heal. He resumed as 'The Midnight Painter', not to bring paintings to life anymore, but to keep Elara’s memory alive in the realm of Meridiana.

So was born the legend of 'The Midnight Painter', a tale tinged with the hues of love, companionship, obsession, and loss. A tale that served as a reminder of love that transcended the boundaries of reality and art, of the mortal and the magical.