Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Will I see you again?” Arianna asked.

“Of course you will!” Luke laughed, leaning out of the car window. “We’ll only be twenty minutes down the road.”

“Twenty minutes if the traffic’s good,” Brenda added from the front of the car.

“And I’ll be working in the same department as Hershel,” Clark said. He grinned at Professor Layton. “It’ll be just like old times, eh?”

“Hopefully,” the professor chuckled. “Although, there should be less galivanting!”

Arianna couldn’t imagine the professor— the diligent, level-headed Professor Layton— gallivanting around anywhere. 

“What does ‘galivanting’ mean?” Tony whispered in Arianna’s ear.

“It means… going on fun adventures,” she answered. She looked at the professor, hoping her definition was correct. He nodded to her.  

“The professor said we’d have loads more adventures,” Luke reminded them. “We can all go with him!”

The professor glanced from Arianna to Luke. He chuckled, “It does depend on the destination…”

“Well, let us know if you happen to visit a volcano,” Brenda giggled, ignoring Clark’s splutters. Brenda smiled warmly at Arianna and Tony. “The professor will look after you, but give us a call if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” Arianna and Tony chorused.

“See you soon!” Luke said. He reached out to Arianna through the window.

Arianna stepped towards him. She had been planning… something… but it seemed silly now, knowing Luke would be just down the road from her. And how embarrassed would she be if the professor saw her doing that?

So, she simply took Luke’s hand and squeezed it. “See you soon.”

Luke waved to them until the car turned off the professor’s road.

“Awww,” Tony sighed. “You didn’t say goodbye to him properly.”

“Shush!” Arianna nudged Tony in the ribs. She peeked at the professor. Thankfully, he had turned away from them to open his car’s trunk.

Tony trotted to his side, holding out his arms.

“Oh, that’s alright,” the professor said. “I can manage with the bags.”

Arianna blushed— they had brought so much luggage and she hadn’t even thought to help! “Are you sure?” Arianna checked.

The professor heaved Arianna’s suitcase out of the car. “Yes, thank—”

“Ouch!” the case protested as it landed on the pavement.

“What on Earth…?” The professor sent Arianna and Tony a questioning glance. When all they supplied were startled stares, the professor steered them both behind him and slowly opened the suitcase.

Clothes, music books, bedsheets and the Black Ravens’ leader popped out.

“Crow?” Tony exclaimed. “What are you doing—?”   

“In my case?” Arianna barked. She glared at Crow as he sat up and dusted himself off. (Surely he didn’t have fleas…?)

“What?” Crow stood up. “I thought this was the queen’s case…”

“Crow,” the professor repeated, the perfect balance of critical and concerned. “What propelled you to stow away in the trunk of my car? You could have been hurt…”

Crow fixed his navy blue cap. “Keep your hat on, Prof! It’ll take more than that to shake me—”

“Explanation, now,” Arianna demanded.    

“Fine, fine…” Suddenly, Crow gazed up at the professor with puppy dog eyes. “The truth is… I’m an orphan too.”

“Really?” Arianna drawled. What would he know about crushing loneliness?

“Really, really! My mum and dad didn’t survive the… the accident at the factory.” Crow’s whole body shuddered like a sparrow caught in the snow. “That’s why I started up the Black Market—”

“Shouldn’t you be back at the market now?” Tony gasped. “What would the Black Ravens do without their leader?”

“I’ve left Roddy in charge— though, Marylin is more likely to keep everyone organised.” Crow smiled fondly for a moment. Then he stuck out his bottom lip and resumed his woeful ‘orphan’ charade. “The rest of the gang all have at least one parent in the picture… but I don’t.”  

Arianna said, “Surely you have grandparents, aunts or uncles living somewhere…” (Anywhere but here!)

“My grandparents died in the war, I never knew my aunts, and I think my uncle joined a cult—”

“Listen, Crow,” the professor interrupted gently. “Why don’t we call the police in Misthallery? They should be able to—”

“N-no! Not them!” Crow wailed, dropping to his knees. “They’ll f-find out about the Black Market! Third Eye Jakes said they’d arrest us!”

“Jakes was arrested himself,” Arianna grumbled.

Crow waddled forward on his knees and threw his arms around the professor’s legs. “P-p-please can I just stay here with you?”

“Hm…” The professor frowned over Crow’s head at Arianna and Tony.

Arianna bit her lip. She had known it was too good to be true. No matter where she and Tony went, trouble always seemed to follow them.

Their mother had walked out. Papa had fallen off a cliff. Loosha had died for Arianna…

But then, Professor Layton had swooped in to their lives and the curse seemed to be broken. The townspeople had accepted Arianna and Tony. Arianna’s health had greatly improved with regular trips to the Golden Garden. After several months, the doctors had announced that she was cured.

When he heard the news, the professor had asked if Arianna and Tony would like to stay with him in London when the Tritons moved.

The professor would regret that decision now.

Was there even any point in taking their luggage out of the car?

Arianna wiped away a tear as the professor patted Crow on the back. “There, there…” he said awkwardly, though not unkindly. “I won’t call the police. Why don’t we try Luke’s family instead?” He moved back from Crow and offered him a hand off the floor.

“L-Luke’s dad was the mayor,” Crow moaned. “He’ll have me locked up—!”

“No, he won’t,” the professor said. “That’s enough now. Why don’t we get you some tea…?”

Still holding Crow’s hand, the professor fished his keys out of his coat. “Apologies, Arianna and Tony. I’ll bring your bags in soon…”

He wasn’t sending them back to Misthallery? Arianna’s eyes widened. (She shouldn’t get her hopes up…)

“That’s okay, Professor,” Tony said. “I can manage…”

“If you like, but please don’t strain yourselves!” the professor called as he led Crow through the gate and to the front door. “Your rooms— er, room— is the one nearest the bathroom.”

Their room— he really was letting them stay!

“Thank you!” Arianna gasped.

She didn’t care that she had to tidy everything back into her case, or that Crow was the first one inside the professor’s house— their house!

Tony gaped at Arianna as she hauled the case through the gate all by herself. It suddenly felt lighter than a feather.

Arianna stumbled through the door to their new home. She smiled.

It was a third of the size of Barde Manor. There wasn’t a cobweb in sight, but it was still… untidy. No, busy— that was a better word. The professor’s papers, artefacts and books were overflowing from a green desk onto the wooden floor. Who even kept a desk by their front door…?

“Please excuse the clutter,” the professor hollered from somewhere inside. “I forgot to inform my housekeeper that you would be arriving today.”

Professor Layton forgot? Arianna couldn’t help chuckling.

Crow had thrown himself into an olive-coloured armchair next to the desk. “No worries, Prof!” Crow called.

Arianna’s chuckle became a huff. “Feeling better already?”

“A little… Yourself?”  

“I’m fine.” Arianna lowered her voice when she heard the professor pottering about, presumably in the kitchen. “You do know this isn’t going to work, don’t you?”

Crow covered his heart as if she had wounded him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sis.”

“Don’t call me that.” She would never, in any universe, be related to this rat of a boy. “As soon as the professor finds out where your family is, you’ll be shipped back to Misthallery.”

Smirking, Crow said, “We’re in the same boat.” (He couldn’t possibly be talking about her mother…)

Arianna hissed, “You don’t know—”

“Here we are!” Professor Layton returned, clutching a tray with four teacups and a teapot. He placed the tray on the desk. “Help yourselves—”

His eyes widened when they heard a pained grunt from the doorway. “Tony… I said I would take care of those bags!” He hurried outside.

Crow poured himself some tea. He continued to smirk at Arianna over his red-rimmed teacup. “I know how to hustle.”

There weren’t enough tickets for all of them to attend the opera. Janice Quatlane had only sent two— one for Professor Layton and another in case he wished to bring a guest.

Tony knew how much Arianna wanted to see the opera, so he arranged to visit his friend, Sean in Misthallery that same day.

Crow was not so considerate. At first, he claimed to be a fan of classical music, though Arianna doubted he could afford to see any shows. Apparently, he had settled for listening to an old gramophone at the market.

The Black Market had been searched, but there were no clues found with regards to Crow’s true family. The other Ravens’ beaks were sealed.

For now, Crow was here to stay with the professor, Arianna and Tony. And he was determined to attend the opera.

The professor was at a loss of what to do— he would never pick a side— until his Amazing-Number-One-Assistant Emmy asked if Crow wanted to help her with an investigation to find a missing girl in London.

Crow immediately agreed, but he and Emmy still had to drive them to the opera house.

Luke had to sit between Arianna and Crow in the back of the car.

“Faster, Em!” Crow cried.

“Please, slow down, Emmy!” Arianna begged. “I think I’m going to be sick…”

Crow pressed himself against the car door. “Keep away from me.”

“Why don’t you just jump out of the car, then?” Arianna stretched over Luke’s lap to poke Crow in the shoulder. 

“Stay back, Sickie!”

“Professor…” Luke groaned. He was probably wishing Clark hadn’t bought him his own ticket.

“Emmy, how is your research going?” the professor said loudly.

“Well… It appears it’s not only this girl who was talking about eternal life. London is full of rumours and stories. They say with enough money and the right connections, you can buy the gift of eternal life.”

“People shouldn’t believe everything they hear in rumours,” Arianna muttered.

“Imagine if we found eternal life,” Crow sighed wistfully. “We could stay young forever!”

“It’s called eternal life,” Arianna corrected him. “Not eternal youth.” 

“Maybe not for you. You’re already an ugly old witch!”

“Shut up…!”

It was him again— the masked man. The same one who had captured Brenda and Doland, torn Misthallery apart, and beaten Loosha to death. 

He had introduced himself as ‘Jean Descole’— a humble scientists and their host— before turning his attention to Arianna. She had clung tightly to Luke’s hand, but Descole’s men had separated them.

Where were Luke and Janice now? Where was the professor?

How could he just leave them?

Arianna almost tripped over a step. Descole’s henchmen lifted her up like a rag doll. They shoved her into a room with a long red carpet, leading to a tiered metal stage.

Standing on the stage were Mr. Whistler and Descole, flanked by two of the wolves that had chased the contestants earlier.

Behind them was Mr. Whistler’s Detragon. The professor had said it was ‘beautiful’ during the opera, but now... Arianna found it grotesque. It was an amalgamation of too many instruments, jutting out at odd angles. 

An orchestra was supposed to be a blend of different musicians, all working together to create a unique sound. That was what made it beautiful. 

But giving one musician that much power...  

Mr. Whistler strolled to the edge of the stage. He smiled at Arianna. “Congratulations, Arianna! You’ve won the competition.”

“Why me?” Arianna asked, trying to keep the shrillness out of her voice. She needed to stall for time. (Luke had said the professor would come back. He would.)

Whistler explained, “You’ve proved yourself worthy by solving every puzzle—“ 

“Professor Layton solved most of the puzzles. I was just following him.” 

“Well, er...” Whistler floundered. “You were incredibly brave during the game, especially with your condition...” He glanced nervously at Descole. 

“She’s in perfect health, just as I said,” Descole huffed. He faced the control panel behind him— For the Detragon?— and pulled out a key from under his cape. He inserted the key, turned a couple of dials and the Detragon whirred to life. 

“Come, come, my dear,” Mr. Whistler said, offering Arianna a hand up on to the stage.

Arianna wanted to move back, but the henchmen pushed her forward. 

Mr Whistler took her by the wrist. “It’s time to claim your prize. No need to be humble.”

Descole scoffed and muttered something about “Layton”. 

“What prize?” Arianna grunted. She fought to free her wrist from Whistler’s grasp. 

“Eternal life, of course!” Mr. Whistler raved. He looked at the Detragon and gasped. “Quickly, now...” 

Arianna’s struggles increased as he dragged her towards a black chair. “I don’t... need eternal life.” 

“Take it, and you’ll never have to worry about getting ill again!”

“I don’t want it!” She had the Golden Garden. She had Tony, Luke and the professor. 

Even Crow would tell her this was a dodgy deal.

Mr. Whistler pushed her into the chair and turned to pick up a blue helmet. Arianna leapt up from the chair, but Descole’s henchmen surrounded her again. It was just like when Jakes and his officers had arrested her in Misthallery. 

“You can’t do this!” she shouted as they grabbed her arms. Mr. Whistler forced the helmet onto her head. He reached for a leaver. Descole laughed. 

She didn’t want eternal life or eternal youth or whatever this was. She didn’t want to watch everyone she loved die. 

She wanted to learn from the professor. She wanted to celebrate birthdays with Tony. She wanted to tease Crow about his height. She wanted to grow old with Luke. 

She wanted to live. 

Arianna squeezed her eyes shut.

“Get the hell away from her!” 

“Crow?” She opened her eyes with a gasp. 

Crow, Emmy and Luke stormed on to the stage. Emmy knocked the henchmen out. Arianna ripped the helmet off her head. She saw Crow kicking Mr. Whistler in the shin.

Luke caught her hand and whisked her off the stage. “Are you okay?” 

Arianna nodded, but she sniffled when they reached the professor’s side.

“It’s alright, dear,” the professor assured her quietly. “We’ll be home soon.” He patted her on the shoulder. 

She very nearly hugged him, but then he strode towards the stage. 

“You have a PIANO?” 

Lucille Layton chuckled at Tony’s exclamation. “We’ve had it since Hershel was ten.” 

The brown upright piano definitely looked a few decades old; its wooden surface had lost its shine and some of the keys seemed to be loose.

Arianna couldn’t help comparing it to the polished grand piano Papa had bought her...

The one that had found a new home at the Black Market after she and Tony moved away. 

They would find out if it had been sold when Crow returned from his visit to Misthallery. (Apparently, he had gone to sort out some secret Black Ravens’ business.) 

Tony reached for the piano keys, but then he remembered his manners. “Can I...?” he pleaded to Lucille. 

Lucille clapped her hands together. “Of course!” 

With a grin, Tony pressed a white piano key. He glanced at Arianna. “Which note is that?”

“‘G’, I think.” 

Tony kept prodding the keys until he was playing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’. Arianna sang along with him. 

The professor and Roland must have heard them from the kitchen. They came into the living room and applauded with Lucille at the end of the song.  

“That was lovely,” Roland said. He turned to the professor. “Have you been teaching them, Hershel?” 

“No, actually...” The professor cleared his throat.

“Our Papa taught us,” Tony explained. “Well, he taught Arianna more than me...” Arianna became very invested in a faint stain on the piano’s lid. 

“I see...” Roland hummed. “Well, he did a fine job!” 

On their drive back to the professor’s house that evening, when Tony had fallen asleep, Arianna said, “You never told us you could play the piano...”

The professor looked at her in the Laytonmobile’s rear view mirror. “I thought... Didn’t you hear when I was playing on Ambrosia?” 

“When?” 

“When the ruins of the city arose?” he intoned. “On the Detragon...”

“Oh.” Arianna swallowed. She hadn’t realised it was the professor playing at that point. She had been too frightened for him and Luke aboard the giant robot. 

“I didn’t want to bring it up,” the professor said apologetically. 

“No, I’m— it’s alright. I’m glad it was you playing.” She glanced out the window. “Can you... play for us the next time we visit your parents?” 

She could hear the smile in his voice. “I may be a tad rusty, but I’ll certainly give it a go.” 

“Don’t you think you’re taking this a little bit overboard, Professor?” Emmy said.

“Not at all,” the professor answered. “After witnessing the Masked Gentleman’s ‘miracles’ first-hand, we can’t be too careful— especially with the children.”

Luke, Arianna, Tony and Crow grappled with the orange safety harnesses connecting them all to the professor. 

“‘Children?’” Crow squawked, flapping around like a flightless bird. “These things are for toddlers! I’m thirteen!” 

“Are you sure?” Arianna drawled. The harness hung rather loose around her chest, but she wasn’t trying to escape. “You don’t act like it.” 

Crow jabbed a finger at her. “This is your fault for getting caught on Ambrosia!” 

“Luke got caught too. Tell him, Luke!” 

Luke protested, “I tried to fight them off—“

“But me and Emmy still had to save you,” Crow said. “And then we all had to save Her Highness from being crowned the winner!” 

Tony shuddered. “Can we not talk about that, please?” 

“Tony’s right,” Professor Layton said, gently tugging on their harnesses. “Come along, now. Let’s head to the marquee.” 

They all went to investigate the giant clown balloon that had deflated during the chaos with the Masked Gentleman. The balloon had almost crushed Luke! This was what had spurred the professor to buy the safety harnesses from a nearby shop. 

So, really, it was Luke’s fault. Arianna pointed this out to Crow, which caused another round of bickering.

“Shhh, you two!” Emmy said. “Can you hear that? It’s almost like... Is someone crying?”

Behind the clown balloon, they found a weeping girl— younger than Tony— wearing a big green hat. 

“Ohhh, Maaaaamy!” she sobbed as they approached her.

“Geordie accent,” Crow noted. “She’s not from round here.” 

Emmy checked the girl wasn’t injured before asking for her name. The girl just kept bawling.

“She probably doesn’t want to give her name to strangers,” Tony whispered.

“Yes, but we should try to help her nonetheless,” the professor replied as Emmy continued trying to coax the girl. 

“We don’t have time for this,” Crow sighed loudly. “Let’s just call her... Cookie. Hear that, girl? Your name’s Cookie now.” 

“H-huh?” The girl stopped crying and peered up at Crow. She complained, “N-no... Me name’s Bonnie!” 

“Bonnie... Cookie... Same thing! Look, we’re meant to be meeting someone, so d’you want to tell us what’s wrong?” 

Bonnie rubbed her eyes under her hat. “I... I lost me mam!” 

“Your mum…” Crow echoed. He hummed, fiddling with his yellow scarf, and gazed around the marquee. “Is she round here somewhere—?”

“Do you think she was turned to stone during the parade?” Tony spluttered. “Or was she trampled in the stampede?” 

Bonnie burst into a fresh flood of tears. 

“Smooth,” Crow snorted as the professor attempted to console Bonnie. 

“There, there... I’m sure your mother is completely fine. We’ll help you find her...” 

Bonnie smiled gratefully and joined the trail behind the professor.

“Should I get the adoption forms ready, Professor?” Emmy snickered.

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, Emmy,” Professor Layton said as the kids followed him like of brood of ducklings. 

“Everything changed in Stansbury after Randall... fell. The whole town felt so empty when the search parties headed out. Henry was dismissed from the Ascot household, and I never saw Angela again after I returned from the ruins. I couldn’t talk to either of them. I avoided people where I could. I knew they all blamed me—“ 

“That’s not fair,” Arianna exclaimed.

Tony pouted at her across the spacious hotel bed they were all sitting on. “You interrupted the story!” he whined. Crow and Luke exchanged a frown. Emmy glanced at her watch. The professor blinked at Arianna. 

Arianna insisted, “Well, it’s isn’t.”

The professor sighed. “Rumours spiralled; I was the last person to see Randall alive—“ 

“You were seventeen,” Arianna pointed out sharply. 

She pictured a teenage Professor Layton (Lucille had shown them a school photo once) with messy hair and a timid smile. Studious, sheltered and easily swayed...

Not quite a true gentleman yet, but definitely a true friend. 

“Randall was your best friend,” Arianna raged on. “It was his idea to explore the ruins, wasn’t it?”

The professor started, “I—“ 

“She’s right,” Crow agreed. “You were just a kid.” 

A kid shouldn’t be shunned by an entire town. 

“So was Randall,” the professor mumbled. That sad look was back in his eyes. It never quite went away, but Arianna had noticed it more than ever since they had arrived in Monte d’Or. 

The next day, Arianna was far less cordial towards Mr. and Mrs. Ledore. 

Even through the darkness of the Reunion Inn, Arianna recognised her. 

She was a few years younger than the professor— thirty at the very least, but you wouldn’t have guessed it. 

She had straight chestnut-coloured hair; half of it was clipped back while the rest reached her shoulders. 

Her cheeks contained a healthy pink glow (though, that might have been from whatever she was drinking) and her smile was beaming in the blackout. 

She was giggling and twirling her green dress around the guest room. Then she met Arianna’s gaze. 

Those doe-eyes (Tony’s eyes) narrowed. Was she squinting or scowling? Arianna wasn’t sure which she would prefer. 

“Who’s that?” Luke wondered. Arianna jumped— she had almost forgotten he was right beside her.

She looked at him and murmured, “I think...” Arianna looked back towards the woman, but she was gone. “...It doesn’t matter.” 

The inn’s lights finally flicked back on. Hurriedly, Arianna said, “Let’s catch up with the others.” 

“TONY!”

The Masked Gentleman had left him hanging between the balconies above the Grand Hall. A single hook and a thin web of ropes were the only things keeping Tony up. 

“A-Arianna!” Tony craned his head towards her voice. The movement nearly made him fall. He flailed his arms around, yelping, “Help!” 

“Don’t move!” Professor Layton shouted, gripping the baluster of their balcony. 

“Nine, ten, eleven, twelve...” the Masked Gentleman sang as he floated down to the ground floor. He tossed away his winged-cape. “Just how deep do you want to delve?” 

The cape drifted to the floor like a ghostly white sheet. Arianna imagined a body beneath that sheet— tiny, broken and horribly still...

Her hands covered her ears as the Masked Gentleman continued to taunt them.

“I hope you’ve enjoyed this look into my world, Layton. I’ve left you one final puzzle so that you may save your little friend. It looks as if he’s in quite a predicament. And so high up...” 

“Stop,” Arianna sobbed. She was shaking. Luke caught her by the shoulder. 

“Is it true, Layton?” the Masked Gentleman called. “I’ve heard you have a history of letting your friends down—“ 

“Shut up!” Crow snarled at him. 

“What are you doing?” the professor gasped as Crow yanked his scarf off. 

Crow folded the scarf into a loop and lifted himself up onto the baluster. “I’m going zip-lining— what’s it look like?” 

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Emmy hauled him away from the edge of the balcony.

“I’ll go,” Luke said, releasing Arianna’s shoulder. “I’m the lightest—“

“You are not,” Crow snorted from Emmy’s arms. 

“I am,” Arianna breathed. Would she be strong enough to rescue Tony? 

Hesitantly, she turned to the professor. He had jogged away from the balcony to grab a candelabrum off a set of drawers. 

“No!” Luke was still arguing. “I saved Melina from falling back on Ambrosia—“

“After Em and I saved you, remember?” Crow snapped. 

“Stay here, all of you!” The professor leapt over the baluster. 

“Professor!” Luke, Emmy and Crow cried together.

They watched as the professor slid down one of the ropes, angling towards Tony. 

Emmy seethed, “I think sometimes that man forgets that he’s thirty-five-years-old!”

“He’ll make it,” Arianna murmured. The professor would never let them down. 

The thought of flying in an airship was not very appealing to Tony. Arianna didn’t blame him, after what he had been through at the Reunion Inn. So, she agreed to remain with him in London while the professor, Emmy, Luke and Crow went away. 

If Arianna was honest, she was glad to take a break from their adventures. She trusted the professor with all her heart, but he did have a habit for getting into dangerous situations.

Arianna and Tony would be staying with the professor’s parents. 

Lucille and Roland brought them to the London Aerodrome to see everyone off. 

“Good luck finding the living mummy,” Arianna said.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Luke asked for the tenth time. 

Smiling, Arianna shook her head. She already had her own... ‘mummy’ she needed to deal with. 

A letter had arrived for her the other day— with an invitation. This was another reason why she couldn’t join the adventure. (She hadn’t told Tony or the professor...)

Tony was hugging the professor tightly. “Promise you’ll be careful?” Tony snivelled. 

“Don’t worry,” Emmy said from the airship’s metal stairs. “I’ll protect them!”

“I’ll hold you to that, Emmy,” the professor chuckled. He edged back and placed his hands on Tony’s shoulders. “I promise— and we’ll make sure we bring you back some gifts.” 

“You always keep your promises,” Tony reminded him, beaming. 

The professor turned to Arianna. She stayed right where she was, as did he. He tipped his hat. “Goodbye, dear.” 

“Bye, P—“

“Will you lot HURRY UP?” Crow stuck his head out of the airship’s orange door. 

“Alright,” Emmy called dryly. 

“If you’re not onboard in ten seconds, I WILL eat all these sweets you brought for the flight...” 

“You WILL NOT!” Emmy shot onto the ship.

Before Luke could follow, Arianna asked if she could talk to him. 

“I’d best check on Emmy and Crow,” the professor declared. He bid goodbye to them again and boarded the airship. 

Arianna sent Tony a sideways glance. “And I should... go see Grandma and Grandpa,” Tony said. He shuffled off to Lucille and Rolands’ car. 

Luke scratched his cheek. “What do you want to talk about?” 

“I, um...” (Why had he suddenly gone red?) Arianna breathed, “I received a letter from... from a Miss Catherine Yulan.”

“Oh... Who’s that?” 

Of course— she had never told him... His family life had seemed so perfect that she didn’t think he would understand. 

“My mother.” 

“Oh,” Luke repeated. “W-what does she want?” 

“Just to meet me, or so she says.”

“Where?” 

“At this cafe—“ 

“LUKE!” Crow bellowed. “THE PILOT SAID WE’RE LEAVING WITHOUT YOU...!” 

Luke ignored him. “Does the professor know?” he whispered. 

“Not yet. I don’t want him to worry. Please don’t tell him…”

“If anything happens, I will,” Luke vowed. “You’re not going to... to meet her alone, are you?”

“I was going to ask Lucille...” Arianna glanced back at Lucille and Rolands’ car. “But she might tell the professor...”

After a moment’s thought, Luke suggested, “Ask my mum.”

“Would she—“

“TIME’S UP.” Crow thundered down the airship’s stairs. He grabbed Luke’s arm. “We’re GOING.” 

Arianna caught Luke’s other arm. She growled at Crow, “Just let us say goodbye—“ 

“I’ll do it for you.” Crow kissed Luke on the cheek. 

With a gasp, Arianna let go of Luke’s arm. Luke was flushed and gaping like a fish. 

Crow carted Luke up to the airship. He called down to Arianna, “And before you start fretting— no, I’m not going to steal your boyfriend on this trip. I’m already spoken for.” 

“Since WHEN?” Arianna spluttered. 

“None of your business!” 

The cafe was not as fancy as Arianna had anticipated. This was a relief— Arianna wouldn’t have to worry about causing a scene— but Brenda’s ‘disguise’ was going to stick out like a sore thumb. Brenda— with her cat-eye sunglasses, a big yellow hair bow and a pink polka dot dress— was positioned a few tables away from Arianna. 

They had gotten here thirty minutes ago, at the arranged time. 

Ariana had just finished her chai latte and she wanted to order another drink. She scanned around for a waiter. 

Someone appeared next to her table, clutching a tray. “Arianna...?” The voice was familiar, but it sounded throaty. 

Arianna moulded her face into a cold mask. She stared up at her mother.

Catherine wasn’t quite as glamorous as she had seemed in Monte d’Or. She had on a white blouse and a burgundy pencil skirt, with her chestnut hair tied up in a loose bun. There were even some wrinkles around her eyes. 

“Hello,” Arianna said formally. 

“Sorry I’m late,” Catherine gushed. She lifted the tray, which held a teapot, a jug of milk and two mugs. “I was just getting us some tea...” (Queueing half an hour for tea— really?) 

Catherine set the tray on the table. “Do you still like it with lots of milk?” she checked. 

“Yes, please.” 

As Catherine poured the tea, Arianna glanced away. She saw Brenda from the corner of her eye. Brenda was observing them over the top of her menu. 

“Thank you,” Arianna said when Catherine passed her cup over the table. 

Catherine took the seat opposite Arianna. Her hands trembled slightly around her own teacup. (There weren’t any rings on her fingers...) 

Catherine began, “How are you?” 

They were past the point of pleasantries. She was referring to Arianna’s health, her new life, her future...

“Fine,” Arianna answered curtly. Either her genteel upbringing or the professor’s morals prompted her to add, “And you?” 

“Not too bad...” Catherine surveyed the cafe and the other customers. “Don’t tell me you came all by yourself?” (Brenda shifted in her seat.) 

“No, I didn’t.”

Catherine coughed. “Is Professor Layton here with you?”

Obviously, she had read the papers; about how Professor Layton had uncovered the Golden Garden, and how the garden had helped cure a young girl. Those papers had come out a year ago. 

Arianna took a sip of tea before responding, “No, he’s away.” 

“Away...?” Catherine’s dark eyes widened. “Is Tony with him?” Now she remembered Tony...

“No,” Arianna said again. “Tony’s with the professor’s family.”

Catherine touched the side of her head. “I... I heard about what happened to him in Monte d’Or. Is he alright now?”

It’s not like you were there, Arianna thought sarcastically. She managed to keep her mouth shut and simply nodded. 

Aside from gaining a fear of heights, Tony hadn’t been hurt during the incident. Catherine wouldn’t be interested otherwise.

“What’s wrong?” Catherine asked. 

“Nothing,” Arianna gritted out. 

“You look like you’re sucking on a lemon...”

Her mother always used to give her sherbet lemons from Aunt Taffy’s stall.

Then Arianna had gotten ill, and her mother had left. 

“Why do you care?” Arianna gasped. “Why now?” 

The people around them were watching and whispering, but once the words were out, Arianna couldn’t take them back. 

Catherine coughed, “I’m—“ 

“Why did you follow us to Monte d’Or?”

Arianna could feel Brenda’s gaze on her— so concerned, gentle and loving. Why couldn’t Arianna’s mother be like that? 

“I didn’t,” Catherine insisted. “I swear, I didn’t know you and Tony would be there.” Catherine’s hands were quivering more than ever. She clasped them together on the table, as if she was pleading to Arianna. “Please, please, believe me. I was in Monte d’Or for... for an interview.” 

Arianna sniffed. “For what?”

“A senior manager’s job, with a car company.” 

“And?” 

“I got the job,” Catherine breathed, like she still couldn’t quite believe it.

“In Monte d’Or?” 

“In America.” She smiled uncertainly at Arianna. “I finally feel like I’m in the right position—“ 

“Good for you,” Arianna hissed. Good to know we aren’t holding you back!

“—To take care of you and Tony.” 

”Arianna, Tony— this is Aurora.”

The million-year-old ‘living mummy’ looked like a young girl. 

She blinked her pale blue eyes at them as Tony shook her hand. 

“What... what does this gesture mean?” Aurora inquired, releasing Tony’s hand. 

“Shaking hands?” Tony grinned. “It’s a polite way of saying ‘Hello!’”

“That’s right,” Professor Layton said. 

“Hello...” Aurora echoed. She offered her hand to Arianna hesitantly. Arianna accepted her hand; it was as cold as ice. Aurora’s handshake was more like a hand-swing. 

Arianna often worried she would miss social cues, having been confined to Barde Manor for six months after her father’s death. 

But Aurora had been trapped in a block of ice and she was from an entirely different civilisation! 

Arianna smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Aurora.“

“Look, this one’s sweet! Isn’t it...? What do you think, Arianna?” 

“Erm...”

Arianna glanced from Emmy, who was wielding a stripy pink dress, to Aurora, with a frilly orange and blue dress. Both dresses had ribbons, but the pink one wasn’t so... bold. 

If it was up to Arianna, she would choose the latter. 

Did the pink one look more old-fashioned, though? (That policeman at the museum had compared Aurora to his grandmother...)

Arianna suggested, “The orange one—?”

“No,” Tony intervened. He marched up to the mirror and motioned to the orange dress Aurora was holding. “Trust me, you’ll never blend in with this.” 

“I thought it looked cute,” Emmy whined. 

“Maybe for a showgirl...!” 

As Emmy and Tony squabbled, Arianna side-stepped her way over to Luke and the professor. 

“I’m not the best judge of fashion,” Arianna admitted in a whisper. 

“Me neither,” Luke said slowly. “Mum usually helps me choose...” Hint, hint. 

He was dying to know how the meeting with Arianna’s mother— Catherine— had gone, but Arianna couldn’t discuss it in front of the professor. 

The ‘pocket money’ Catherine had given Arianna felt heavy in her purse. 

Was it an incentive for Arianna and Tony to move away with Catherine? Or an assurance that she had the means to look after them? 

Surely Catherine knew they would inherit Papa’s fortune one day... 

“Is there anything you need, Arianna?” 

The professor’s voice stilled the doubts rippling through her mind. Arianna looked at him in surprise. 

The professor cleared his throat. “Would you and Tony like any new clothes, while we’re here?” 

Tony overheard him and hollered, “Yes, please!” 

“Nothing too expensive, Tony,” Arianna warned. 

“It’s alright,” the professor chuckled. 

The money in Arianna’s purse weighed even more now. 

She and Tony emerged from the boutique fifteen minutes later. Tony had helped her choose a turquoise dress with a belt. The colour was rather bright, but Luke seemed to like it. 

“Wow,” Luke gasped when he saw her. “You look...” He trailed off, turning red. 

“Lovely,” the professor supplied. 

“Thanks!” Tony said. For himself, Tony had picked out a white shirt, a red waistcoat and beige trousers. (He may have been inspired by a photo of the professor from his student days...) 

Then, it was Aurora’s turn. With input from both Tony and Emmy, Aurora had gone for a blue and white skirt, a long-sleeved yellow top with a white ribbon, and a sunhat sporting a blue flower. 

She looked ready for a stroll by the seaside or the lakeshore... 

“Well?” Emmy asked, clapping a hand on Aurora’s shoulder. 

The professor said, “It suits you!”

Aurora glanced at Arianna and Luke. 

“I like the hat,” Arianna added. It resembled a hat Arianna had worn when she was younger. (Tony’s idea, no doubt...) 

Luke nodded. “Blue’s a good colour for you!” 

“Really?” Aurora smiled shyly, and her transformation into a modern teenage girl was complete. 

Arianna hoped she would see more of Aurora after their expedition around the world. 

“Who are you two and what have you done with my adoptive siblings?” 

They caught up with Crow at Scotland Yard. He was scrutinising Arianna and Tonys’ new outfits from a green chair in the waiting area. 

“We’re not siblings,” Arianna reminded him with a scoff. “We’ve just been shopping... What have you been up to?” 

“Nothing—!”

“Attempting to hold an auction without an auctioneer licence,” a police constable called from behind Crow. 

“Is this true, Crow?” Professor Layton said. 

Crow argued, “It was a charity auction!” 

“Charity auctions are supposed to be not-for-profit,” the constable pointed out. “Your friend in the plague doctor costume made off with over two-hundred pounds!” (Did that mean the rest of the Black Ravens were in town?) 

“I‘m not from London! I didn’t know about your stupid rules!” Crow spat. He turned to the professor, pouting. “Back me up, Prof...” 

“Are you the boy’s father, Sir?” the constable asked Professor Layton. 

The professor adjusted his hat. “No, but I am... responsible for Crow.” He sighed. Crow grimaced. 

Arianna tutted at Crow. Honestly— they only had only left him for a few hours! 

“This is the best fossil in the whole wide world!” Luke gestured to the giant T-Rex skeleton in the centre of the museum. 

“‘Course you’d say that,” Crow snorted. “Your dad’s name is on it...”

“Dr. Schrader’s is as well,” said Arianna, trying to ease Luke’s embarrassment. (Dr. Schrader was Clark’s mentor— and Professor Layton’s.)

“This plesiosaur skeleton is much cooler,” Tony pointed out. He led Aurora over to the other exhibit, much to Luke’s indignation. 

“Ple... Plesiosaur?” Aurora stammered. 

Tony patted the Plesiosaur’s bony flipper. “Some people call her the Loch Ness Monster!” 

Aurora squinted at the skeleton. “How can you tell it is a ‘her’?” 

Crow started, “Well, you see—“ 

“We had a friend who looked like that Plesiosaur,” Arianna interrupted. “Her name was Loosha.” 

“You were friends with a... dinosaur, was it?” Aurora said. 

“She wasn’t a dinosaur, but she was the last of her kind,” Tony sighed, gazing up at the skeleton. Then he gasped and turned to Aurora. “You‘re from the Azran civilisation... and so was the Golden Garden!” 

“She’s meant to be under cover,” Crow said through clenched teeth. 

“Sorry!” Tony lowered his voice, though he sounded no less excited. He asked Aurora, “Did you ever see any creatures like Loosha—“ He pointed to the Plesiosaur. “—like this a million years ago?” 

“I... I might have.” Closing her eyes, Aurora crossed her hands over her heart. She shook her head after a few minutes and looked at Tony hopelessly. “I’m sorry... My memories are still beyond my reach. Perhaps... when we have found the aura stones, I will be able to confirm... What was your ‘Loosha’ like?”

Tony chuckled sadly. “She loved to swim— and she loved eating pears!” 

“She saved our hometown from a giant robot,” Luke said. 

Arianna sighed wistfully. “But she was always so gentle around people—“ 

“Till she flooded the whole town,” Crow snickered. Arianna aimed a frown at him. Crow added, “I helped her!” 

“And did you meet her in the... Golden Garden?” Aurora wondered. 

Tony shook his head. “Arianna and I met her near the lake outside our house. She was tiny back then...” 

Arianna teared up at the memory. That was a couple of months after their mother had moved out. Loosha had made a bigger impact in their lives than Catherine Barde ever had. 

“Come along, you fo... five!” Professor Layton called from the crime scene room. 

The following week, a postcard reached Roland and Lucilles’ house. 

It featured a photo of a white-sand beach with palm trees and sailboats. The sea looked so blue...

There was a message on the back of the postcard. Roland read it aloud; aside from the scratchiness in his voice, he sounded just like the professor.

“Dear all, 

I hope everything is content in London. We’ve landed on a tiny tropical island, where the weather is divine and the food is even more so. After partaking in a treasure hunt, we were able to explore the local market— Crow is a shrewd haggler— and we visited the beautiful beach. (Pictured.) Luke had a fine time teaching Aurora how to swim. Emmy has taken lots of photos, which we will show you when we return. 

Love and happiness to you all!”

“Sounds like they’re having an amazing time,” Tony sighed. 

“Yes...” Arianna mumbled. She almost wished she had gone with them, but she could read between the lines of the professor’s writing. 

Obviously, he was still being tracked by Targent and he was worried the agency would pose a threat to Arianna, Tony and his parents. (Inspector Grosky had been attacked in an alley near Kensington...) 

But the Targent mole at Scotland Yard had been arrested— surely they would be safe now in London? 

Tony didn’t take to Catherine at all. 

The three of them had gone to the cinema to see Mary Poppins. 

It had seemed like a safe bet at first— they weren’t really meant to talk in the cinema— but Catherine kept trying to chat with Tony, and the film’s subject matter... struck a chord, to say the least. 

“An overworking parent summons an extraordinary English nanny to look after their two children.” 

Arianna groaned silently. Why couldn’t Tony have chosen The Sword in the Stone instead?

Thankfully, Tony seemed to enjoy the film overall and he was still singing Step In Time when they exited the cinema. 

Arianna couldn’t say the same for Catherine... 

Catherine was fumbling through her coat pockets. She turned to Arianna and Tony and winced. “Sorry, I... You don’t mind if I smoke, do you? I’ll just be over here for a minute...” 

Arianna nodded, as did Tony. To Catherine’s credit, she moved far enough away so that Arianna couldn’t smell any smoke. Catherine kept them within her sight, but she couldn’t hear them whispering. 

“What do you think?” Arianna asked. 

“I don’t know...” Tony shrugged unhelpfully. “When is she driving us back to the Tritons’ house?” (Roland and Lucille were attending a party that evening.)

“Not long...” Arianna peered over at Catherine, who was still puffing on a cigarette. 

Tony breathed, “Is she... going to take us away from the professor?” 

“Shhh!” Arianna frowned at Tony, but then she realised the two of them were being watched. 

Across the road, in the bushes, there was a man— black glasses, dark suit. He was holding a video camera, pointed right at them. 

Arianna’s eyes widened and flicked towards Catherine. She hadn’t seen him yet... 

Arianna inched closer to Tony. No sudden movements— the spy might have had a gun. She and Tony weren’t anywhere near as athletic as Grosky. And Emmy wasn’t here to protect them...  

Now she really wished they had gone away with the professor. 

Arianna grasped Tony’s hand. “Tony,” she breathed. 

The spy must have noticed her reaction. He lowered the camera, leering at them. 

“Tony,” Arianna gasped. Tony glanced at her. “Get inside the cinema— get help. I’ll be right behind you.” 

The spy crept out of the bushes and onto the pavement. 

“Arianna?” Tony squeaked. 

Arianna would only slow him down. She needed to warn Catherine— 

There was rustling behind the spy. A tall black-robed figure burst out of the bushes, waving a stick about. 

“EXCUSE ME, GOOD SIR...!” 

With a shout of surprise, the spy spun around. Thwack! The camera was knocked out of his hands by the stick. 

“FORGIVE ME,” the black-robed figure boomed as the camera fell to the ground. He leapt from bushes and stomped on the camera. (It was definitely broken now, if it hadn’t been already.) “CAN I INTEREST YOU IN A NEW CAMERA—?” 

The spy swore and sped off down the road. 

“Arianna, Tony— what’s going on?” Catherine called, finally returning to their sides. (She reeked of cigarette smoke...)

“It’s the Black Ravens!” Tony cheered. “They saved us!” 

The Raven glided across the road to greet them. “You’re more than welcome, young one!” He bowed awkwardly. “Might we— um— I receive a reward for my efforts? Oh, er...” The white mask slipped off to reveal a boy with spiky brown hair and a carrot-like nose. 

“Hi, Badger!” Tony chirped. 

“Oi!” The bottom half of the black robes were ripped open. Roddy glared out at them. “I’m here too!” 

“Who is this?” Catherine demanded. 

“Our friends,” Arianna sighed. 

Catherine reluctantly agreed to drive Badger and Roddy to the Tritons’ house with them. Roddy and Badger had been sleeping at a hostel, funded by the earnings from Crow’s illegal auction. When Brenda heard about their less-than-stellar accommodation, she invited them to stay with her and Clark.

Despite his complaints about the hostel during their car journey, Roddy refused Brenda’s kind offer. “We’re not looking for charity, thank you very much!” 

“Not unless it’s for your ‘charity auction’,” Arianna said under her breath. 

Badger might have heard her. He shifted his feet uncomfortably and cringed when Clark spoke. 

“It wouldn’t be for charity,” Clark argued. “You saved Arianna and Tony! That... stalker and others like him might still be out there. The least we can do is provide you with shelter for the night.” 

Badger mumbled, “He’s got a point, Rod’...” 

Roddy crossed his arms, scowling.

“And we’ve got some leftover lamb casserole in the kitchen,” Brenda chimed. “It would be a shame for all that food to go to waste—“

Roddy’s stomach grumbled louder than he ever could. “Just for one night,” Roddy conceded. 

Eight nights later, Roddy and Badger were still roosting at the Tritons’ house. 

The Ravens had spent the past week wandering around construction sites (probably searching for a new ‘base’) and trying to get their hands on an auctioneer licence. 

Arianna and Tony had reported their stalker incident to the police, and they had been warned to stay inside since then. Catherine had called to see if they wanted to go to the beach, but Arianna had declined. She had snapped when Catherine got huffy. “In case you didn’t realize, we were being stalked the other night!”  

All Arianna wanted was to speak to the professor. But there wasn’t a telephone on the Bostonius, as far as they were aware, and no one knew the professor’s current location. The last time Lucille had heard from him, he’d been in a town called Kodh…  

He had seemingly been in too much of a rush to talk to Arianna and Tony.

What on Earth could he, Luke and the others be doing? Had they found all of the Azran eggs? Were they fighting Targent?  

Their answer came one day later.  

Lucille phoned, frantically telling them to switch on the TV.

It was on the first channel they turned to. It was on every channel. A live news broadcast from Froenborg— the first town Professor Layton had travelled to.  

“Following the tremors from Froenborg’s mountain, an immense… fortress has ascended from its peak. The local townspeople have been evacuated to safety— none of them were able to tell us what this fortress is or how it arrived here…”

Arianna, Tony, the Ravens and the Tritons huddled around the TV as the camera focussed on the golden ‘fortress’ hovering above the mountains. It looked like an ancient floating battleship with waterfalls spewing from its sides.   

“It’s so high up…” Tony breathed.

That had to be Azran engineering. The Golden Garden, Ambrosia, the Akbadain Ruins… Each of them emanated a similar sense of power.

The professor had been present when all of them were unearthed.   

Arianna needed air. She rushed out to the Tritons’ garden, but the news reporter’s panicked words pursued her:     

“We’re trying to get a closer look, but the… the authorities have ordered us to keep away from the perimeter— What’s that? Something… Some things have emerged from the fortress! Whatever they are, they’re shooting at the town. We need to get back…!”

Leaning against the back door, Arianna smothered a sob.

Why hadn’t she hugged the professor goodbye? Why hadn’t she kissed Luke? Why hadn’t she been kinder to Crow...?

“You alright?” a quiet voice asked behind her.

She sniffled and turned to discover Badger had followed her out.

“Do… do ya think Crow and the others are… there?” he stuttered.

Arianna gave him a jerky nod. She didn’t know how, but she had this horrible sinking feeling in her stomach.   

She let out a breath and lifted her head up. Despite the chaos unfolding in Froenborg, the afternoon sky was clear above them. Badger looked up too.  

“Crow will come back,” Badger said, without a hint of hesitancy in his voice. “He always does.” 

Hopefully, he would bring everyone else back with him. 

“…The five of us had to sacrifice ourselves to stop the Azran legacy. Bronev didn’t even try to help— that bastard!”

“Crow, please.” 

“Sorry, Prof… Luckily, Aurora used her Azran magic to bring us back to life. Then she offered us all the treasures in the Azran sanctuary. I accepted, obviously, and now I own the place. We escaped from the sanctuary and Bronev got arrested.”

Arianna and Tony were left gaping after Crow’s story.

“Where… where is Aurora now?” Arianna managed to ask.

“She’s still at the sanctuary with Desc— Desmond Sycamore,” Luke muttered.

Tony wondered, “And Emmy?”   

The professor touched the brim of his hat. “Emmy will be taking some time to herself for a little while.”

That was hardly surprising, after Emmy had held a knife to Luke’s throat. Arianna didn’t know if she could trust Emmy ever again. 

Emmy had sworn to protect them, but that whole time, she had been a spy for Targent. Had she known Targent would threaten Arianna and Tony, along with the professor’s parents? 

Both Emmy and Professor Sycamore (Descole!) had betrayed them, but they had still offered up their lives to save the world... 

Luke definitely seemed shaken by the whole ordeal; Sycamore’s deception, Emmy’s treachery, the true nature of the Azran... Usually, Luke couldn’t stop talking about their adventures. Now, though, he looked drained and he was frowning slightly.

While the professor and Crow could conceal their feelings, Luke had always worn his heart on his sleeve. It was one of the many things Arianna loved about him. She wanted to tell him... She wanted to kiss him... but now wasn’t the right time.

There would be time for that. Arianna wasn’t going anywhere. So, she gave Luke a big hug before she left his house. 

She thought it would be a tight squeeze in the Laytonmobile with the professor, Tony, Crow, Badger and Roddy. But then, Crow announced that he and his friends had some business they needed to attend to in town. The professor warned them to be careful.

“Don’t be back too late,” Arianna teased.

Crow scoffed, poked her in the shoulder, and strode off with Bader and Roddy. (Was Crow holding Badger’s hand…?) 

During the drive home, Tony was still bursting with questions for the professor, but he eventually dozed off. Arianna gazed out the car window, deep in thought.  

What sort of treasures were entombed in the Azran sanctuary? A miracle cure? The elixir of eternal life? Technological marvels?

How would the Azran legacy change the world…?

The professor carried Tony out of the car and into the house. Arianna trailed after him. She grabbed herself a glass of water from the kitchen and left the hall light on for Crow. (He better not disturb her when he got in…)

As she trudged upstairs, she bumped into the professor.

“Goodnight, dear—”

She caught him in a hug. “Thank you, Professor.”

No matter what Catherine said, she and Tony weren’t going to leave him.

Arianna had hoped they could have a relaxed morning the next day. But her lie-in was interrupted by the doorbell.

She groaned and rolled over in bed. She knew she should get the front door, after everything Professor Layton had been through, but her bed was so comfy... 

“Tony,” she hollered, her voice hoarse with sleep. “Door...” The only response she received was a snore from Tony’s bed.

Arianna huffed. She dragged herself out of bed and padded across the room. She poked her head out of their bedroom door.  

Someone was already rushing downstairs and opening the front door. “Hello?” It was the professor— of course. (He had probably been awake since six AM.)

“Morning,” a woman’s voice replied. “You must be the famous Professor Layton!”  

“Thank you,” the professor said, “but I believe ‘famous’ would be an overstatement... How can I help?” 

“I’m just looking for my son...”

Arianna rolled her eyes. The professor had only been home for one day, but already someone was asking him to find a missing person... 

“Your son?” the professor repeated. 

“Thomas,” the woman said. 

Crow’s bedroom door opened across the upstairs landing. Arianna saw Crow... and Badger, peeking out. Badger was blushing, but Crow looked troubled.

The professor exclaimed, “I’m sorry?” 

“He also goes by ‘Crow’,” the woman snorted.

“Crow?” Arianna mouthed. She met Crow’s gaze across the landing. 

“You’re... Crow’s mother,” the professor deduced. “Mrs...?”

“Maureen’s fine!” Crow’s mother laughed. “It’s just as Tom said— you really are a true gentleman.” 

“Crow...” The professor amended, “Tom has been in contact with you?” 

“Yes, of course— he’s always writing to me about his apprenticeship!” 

“What?” Arianna breathed. Her eyes narrowed at Crow— Thomas— whatever his name was.

Crow tried to retreat back into his room, but Badger pushed him out. Badger snickered, “Go and see your mum, Tom.” 

“Would you like to come in?” the professor asked Maureen. “I believe we have a lot to discuss.” 

Chapter Text

After their abrupt awakening, Arianna dived into the bathroom first and locked the door. Crow (Thomas?) dashed out of his room, cursed and rattled the door handle— though, not too loudly in case his mother overheard. 

When Arianna emerged, fifteen minutes later, Crow made a mouth-zipping motion to her.

Arianna mimed unzipping her own mouth and smirked at him. “Your little hustle is history,” she taunted. “Do you hear me, Thomas?”   

So much for Crow being an orphan… Really, Arianna shouldn’t have been surprised. She had never completely believed Crow’s act— This was the same boy who ran around dressed as the Black Raven!— but she was a tad… disappointed that he had never trusted them with the truth.

“Let me do the talking around my mum,” Crow hissed. “Or I’ll tell the professor about your mum.” (How did he even know about Catherine?!)

“Don’t you dare—”

“What’s ‘appenin’?” Tony yawned as he stumbled out of his and Arianna’s bedroom.  

Arianna stomped into their room and slammed the door. Outside, she heard Tony and Crow bickering over who would use the bathroom next… until the bathroom door shut again, and Tony protested, “Badger!” 

Crow instantly shushed him.

What did Crow have to hide? Judging by Crow’s mother’s conversation on the doorstep, she clearly cared about him. She had come all the way from Misthallery (presumably) to check on Crow, but she still seemed content about the news of his ‘apprenticeship’ with Professor Layton.  

Arianna decided to wear her turquoise-coloured dress. It was a little bit wrinkled, but that was fine. She tied half of her hair back with a band instead of a ribbon. The last thing she wanted was to look too fancy in front of Crow’s mother.

By the time Arianna padded downstairs, the professor and Crow’s mum were drinking tea at the table in the front room.

“Morning, Arianna,” the professor said. He gestured across the table. “This is Maureen Carr… Crow— apologies— Thomas’ mother.”

Arianna had expected her to resemble Crow to a tea, like how Tony was a dead ringer for their father, or how Luke was definitely a mixture of his parents. 

But the only similarities Maureen shared with Crow, if you squinted, were her drooping eyelids, her pug nose, and her round face. Her hair was black— much darker than Crow’s— and held back with a light blue bandanna. (Maybe Arianna could have worn her ribbon after all…)

“Honestly, there’s no need to be so formal!” Maureen chuckled. The blue bangles on her arm clicked as waved Arianna over to the table. Arianna edged forward slowly, unsure whether to sit next to Maureen or the professor.

Maureen asked, “How are you doing, Arianna?” It could have been a cheerful greeting— merely a pleasantry— but there was a genuine warmth in her words. She must have known about Arianna’s past illness and the Golden Garden if she lived in Misthallery. It was likely that she had suffered due to Arianna’s father’s steep prices and the spectre attacks. Maybe Crow had warned her about how weak and whiny and ‘witchy’ Arianna could be.

If any of that was true, Maureen didn’t let it show.

Taking a seat next to Maureen, Arianna answered, “I’m doing well, thank you— especially now that we’re all home…” She smiled at the professor as he passed her a cup of tea. (The cup with the dark blue rim— her favourite.)   

“Tom sent me a couple of postcards,” Maureen exclaimed. “He couldn’t stop raving about that one town… ‘Minnisonia’, was it?”  

“Mosinnia?” the professor amended.

“That’s it! Looked like you all had a fab time.”

Arianna sipped her tea in silence. She exchanged an uneasy glance with the professor. The professor coughed, “Well—”

“Oh… Hello, Mum,” said a posh-accented voice. The kind that was often used to mock Arianna and Tony.

Crow sauntered into the room. Arianna almost spat out her tea.

Crow had donned a… a white shirt… and one of Tony’s red waistcoats, with all of the buttons done up. His yellow scarf was tucked into the shirt like some sort of cravat. His trousers were a pair he usually wore, but they had been ironed and pressed. (Had Rosa done that for him?) Most startling of all— Crow had removed his tatty blue cap and he had brushed his hair. 

“Hello...” Maureen snorted at her son, who she probably hadn’t seen in months. “Your Majesty... Hi, Badger!” 

Badger trailed in after Crow— thankfully, looking like his usual scruffy self. 

The professor said, “Ah… I’ll just get some more chairs—“

“No need, Professor,” Crow dismissed, snapping his fingers. 

Badger rushed to the professor’s desk by the window to retrieve the olive-coloured armchair. He pushed the armchair over to the table, with an apologetic glance, between Maureen and Arianna. 

Crow claimed the armchair as if it was his throne. Badger slipped into the spare wooden seat beside the professor. 

“Thank you, Badger,” Maureen said deliberately. (She had taken the words right out of Arianna’s mouth!)

Tony drifted into the room next, still wearing his pyjamas with the little yellow ducks on.

“Aww, hi!” Maureen called. 

“H-hi...” Bewildered, Tony gazed around the table. “Where should I sit—?” 

“You can prepare us some breakfast,” Crow commanded.

“I’ll make breakfast,” the professor stated, standing up. “Tony, you can take my seat...”

Fortunately, Rosa must have had the foresight to fill the fridge with food before they all got home. The professor made them some toast with butter and jam, and more tea, of course.

The six of them— Arianna, Tony, Crow, Badger, Maureen, and the professor, perched on a stool— were squashed around the table, munching on toast, when Crow began to tell his mum about their worldwide ‘expedition’.

Arianna had received her own account just yesterday. She hadn’t been a part of the ‘expedition’ herself so she couldn’t refute any of Crow’s points. She was quite certain, however, that Crow hadn’t met any ‘foreign dignitaries’, and he hadn’t been ‘recognised as a saint in the town of Hoogland’, and he alone wasn’t entrusted with the Azran eggs... 

“—And that’s how I became the legal owner of the Azran sanctuary,” Crow concluded. 

“Right...” Maureen said casually. She drank her tea, reacting as if Crow had just described a new secret base he had found for the Black Ravens. 

“It’s true!” Crow leapt up in his armchair. “Tell her, Professor!”

“Most of it is true, I’m afraid,” the professor admitted, lowering the brim of his hat. “I didn’t... anticipate how dangerous this trip would be. I’m so sorry for putting Crow— Thomas— at risk...” 

“Don’t start calling me Thomas,” Crow groaned. “And don’t treat me like a little kid!” 

Maureen clicked her tongue. She sighed, “Thank you, Professor, for looking after my son. He’d be in twice as much trouble if it weren’t for you.” 

“No, I wouldn’t...!” 

Tony laughed. “We left him alone for, like, three hours and he got himself arrested!”

Arianna couldn’t help wheezing. She felt a bit bad for Badger, who looked like he wanted to sink under the table, but it was worth it for the mortified expression on Crow’s face. 

Maureen nearly choked on her toast. “He never! What for?” 

“For holding a fake charity auction,” Tony chimed. “Luckily, the professor was there to bail him— oww!” From the sound of it, Crow had kicked Tony under the table. 

Arianna scowled at Crow, trying to summon that same wrath as when she was the ‘Calamity Witch’. Tell the professor about Catherine, she dared him, narrowing her eyes. See if he believes you! 

“Crow,” the professor said sternly. 

Maureen laughed. “You tell ‘im, Professor!” Her laughter was infectious, and soon the whole table was in on it... except for Crow. 

Crow let out a long sigh. “You know, it’s such a shame that Arianna and Tonys’ mother couldn’t join us too...”

Their laughter lapsed into silence. All Arianna could hear was the clock ticking above the professor’s cabinet. Ticking away the time she and Tony had left with the professor...

A moment ago, Arianna had felt so cheerful and confident. Her family had been safely reunited and they were home.

Arianna had never said it— Why hadn’t she said it?— but she loved the professor, Luke and even Crow. It was too late now. 

“What?” the professor breathed. 

Crow, Badger and Maureen had gone out, leaving the professor at home with Arianna and Tony.

Arianna had hoped Crow’s absence would make this easier, but it was like he had taken the morning’s levity away with him. (Sometimes, Arianna wished she really could curse him…)

The professor was stood folding his arms, while Arianna and Tony were still sat at the table. Was this how the professor’s students felt whenever he assessed their work?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” the professor sighed. It wasn’t an irritated sigh— he didn’t sound like Clark or even Papa— just one of concern, confusion and perhaps, sadness. 

Tony glanced at Arianna. For once, he was willing to let her take responsibility.  

“She only wrote to me a few days before you went away,” Arianna revealed slowly. “You were so busy— I didn’t want to burden you...” 

“You have never been...” The professor started again. “Were you aware that your mother was... alive before then?” 

Arianna stared down at the table. The professor turned to Tony. “When we uncovered the Golden Garden,” the professor recalled, “you said that, like Loosha, you needed friends after your parents died.”

“N-no...” Tony shook his head. “We were just on our own for so long. After Papa died, we thought... our mother might come back—“ 

“But she didn’t,” Arianna spat. She clenched her fists on the table as those memories of grief, abandonment, guilt, hopelessness and hatred all came flooding back in full force. 

After Arianna’s diagnosis, after their mother had dropped off the face of the Earth, Papa had been there to pick up the pieces. He hadn’t made the best decisions for Misthallery— Arianna knew that now— but he always did what he thought was for best for Arianna and Tony. 

The professor reached for her worriedly. “Arianna...” 

He stopped when she snapped, “We waited alone in that house for a year.” (Tony shied away from Arianna.) “We tried writing to her and her relatives. We spoke to the police— they promised they would contact social services and search for her, but nothing ever came of it!”

“Of course...” the professor mumbled, his voice faraway for a moment.

Tony swallowed before he admitted, “I... I wondered if she had died too.”

If they had heard Catherine was dead, would that have hurt more or less? Arianna wouldn’t blame her as much as she did. Knowing that Catherine had chosen to live without them, while they were suffering, felt like such a betrayal. Either way, she and Tony still would have ended up alone... until the professor arrived. 

The professor blinked and focussed on them again. 

He hummed. “You are aware that former Chief Jakes altered your father’s will. It’s likely that he had any traces of your mother’s name removed, if she was mentioned at all. I doubt there was much effort made on his part to contact her, and he would have censored any notable press coverage of the case...” The professor adjusted his hat with a frown. “So, it is plausible that your mother learned of your father’s passing only recently.” 

“Recently?” Arianna repeated. Papa had been dead for three years. Chief Jakes was arrested two years ago. Since then, the press had been free to publish reports on Misthallery and, after Arianna’s recovery, on the Golden Garden. 

“I’m not making excuses on her behalf,” the professor mollified, lifting his hand. “I’ve never even met her... But this could explain—“ 

“No,” Arianna interrupted, “the only reason she wrote to me is because she knows I’m well now, and apparently, she has her life in perfect order.” If Arianna’s health regressed, threatening that perfect life... Would Catherine reject her again? 

“She’s been offered a really good job,” Tony added, “in America.” Arianna had been planning to leave that part out. She nudged Tony with her foot under the table. 

“I see...” the professor said in a quiet, resigned voice. He trailed off for a few moments, thinking. Then he nodded and proclaimed, “I believe it would be best if I spoke to your mother in person. Please can I have her contact details— and her name? I’ll arrange to meet with her immediately.” 

“You don’t need to do that!” Arianna gasped. She remembered a scene from Mary Poppins, in which Mr. Banks had threatened to fire his children’s magical nanny. What would Catherine say to Professor Layton? 

“I’m afraid that I must,” the professor insisted. “She is still your mother, and she has taken the first steps to reconnect with you. That’s more of an effort than some parents make. Do you believe she deserves a second chance?”

Arianna answered him with scowl. Much to her surprise, Tony gave a small nod. 

Of course Tony would be willing to offer Catherine a second chance. He was five when she left— barely old enough to form any solid memories of Catherine. Arianna was eight. 

“I’m not going to agree to any proposals she may make then and there,” the professor assured them gently. (In other words, he wouldn’t let Catherine drag them out his house.) “This is going to be a lengthy process, and this time, it’s going to involve social services.”

If the professor found time to meet with Catherine in the next few weeks, he didn’t mention it. 

Secretly, Arianna hoped he had put their meeting on the back burner; he was so busy catching up at Gressenheller, especially now that Emmy was resigning as his assistant. 

Arianna avoided Emmy as best she could, but that meant avoiding the university and days out with Luke. 

Luke was so convinced that Emmy hadn’t done anything wrong. She had just been pretending when she betrayed the professor and threatened Luke’s life. 

The only one to blame was Leon Bronev, former leader of Targent... and Emmy’s uncle. 

According to Luke— according to what Emmy had told him— Bronev had looked after Emmy since she was little.

Apparently, Bronev was much nicer when he was younger, but then the evil Azran civilisation had consumed his life. This had caused him to turn on his family, to take control of a criminal organisation, and to unleash a cataclysmic army of golems at the Azran sanctuary. (How on Earth could this man be biologically related to Professor Layton?) 

Instead of taking his issues out on the rest of the world, couldn’t Bronev have just locked himself away in his office? Well, he would have plenty of time to think about his actions now that he was behind bars. 

Arianna didn’t wish Emmy was in prison. At the very least, she could sympathise with Emmy. Had Emmy lost her parents as well? 

If Emmy was raised by Bronev— brainwashed by him— then she would forgive his faults. Even if he was hurting people... or forcing them to work... or taking anything that he felt ‘belonged’ to him... All she would see was what little goodness remained in his heart. 

Arianna understood that better than anyone. But she would never harm another person— not for her papa and not for the professor— especially not if that person was her best friend. 

Arianna knew how upset Luke was about Emmy’s fast-approaching departure, so she kept her thoughts to herself. Arianna wasn’t planning on saying goodbye to Emmy...

But then, Emmy turned up on the professor’s doorstep one afternoon.

Arianna had gotten home from school about half an hour ago. Tony was at his after-school crafts club, and the professor was still teaching as Gressenheller. Thankfully, Arianna wasn’t home alone— Rosa was hoovering upstairs, but she hadn’t heard the knock at the front door. 

Arianna wasn’t afraid to answer the door, but she peeked through the front room’s window, just to be safe. It could be Catherine, or a former member of Targent. 

Arianna’s eyes widened. She ducked behind the curtains. 

Emmy was outside. What was she doing here? It looked like she was carrying something...

“Hello?” Emmy hollered through the letterbox. “Anyone there?” Her voice was mostly drowned out by Rosa’s hoovering. Good. Arianna could act like she hadn’t heard her, and Emmy could go away...

Or not— Emmy kept banging and calling them. “Rosa? Arianna...?”

Arianna gritted her teeth. Would Emmy break down the door if no one responded? 

“I’ve got some things here for the professor,” Emmy explained loudly. “I’ll just leave them on the doorstep...” 

After waiting a few minutes, Arianna glanced out of the window again. Emmy had vanished. 

Arianna tiptoed to the front door and peered through the letterbox flap. Her eyes darted left and right— still no sign of Emmy. Looking down, Arianna saw the cardboard box left on the doorstep, just as Emmy had said. 

As quietly as she could, Arianna opened the door. She stared down at the box. 

Why had Emmy brought it to the house? Couldn’t she have delivered it to the professor’s university office—?

“I was hoping you would be here.”

Arianna gasped. Emmy had popped up from behind the white wall surrounding the professor’s house. Had she been lying in wait for Arianna...? 

“Hang on...!” Emmy cried, but Arianna had already retreated inside and slammed the door. She locked it before Emmy could get in. 

“I’m sorry if I scared you!” Emmy shouted, pounding on the door again. “I’m sorry for everything! Please, Arianna— I just want to talk...”

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Arianna growled. “Go away!” She didn’t care if she was behaving like a spoiled child again. Emmy was one of the first people she had opened her heart to... 

Emmy had made a photo album to capture the professor’s adventures, but they had also added memories of the simple, fun times they had spent together. The first photo was one of Arianna, Tony, Luke and the professor with Loosha. 

Emmy had helped them organise the professor’s office. They had sung along to the radio in the Laytonmobile, despite Crow’s protests. At Halloween, they had all dressed up and gone out trick-or-treating. They had played board games when the professor was working late. 

In Tingly Town, they had ridden on the carousel and the pumpkin spinners. Emmy had won prizes for everyone on the hook-a-duck game. They had shared a room at the Camel’s Hump Hotel; Arianna had slept soundly knowing Emmy was nearby. 

Emmy had taken the lead when they went shopping with Aurora, but she had immediately gone on the offensive when they heard Targent was in the area. 

Emmy had protected them on several occasions— from the flood in Misthallery, from the Detragon on Ambrosia, and from the Masked Gentleman’s miracles in Monte d’Or. 

What had been the point of it all, if she was just going to betray them in the end? 

Sniffling, Arianna pressed her back against the front door. 

Emmy finally gave up on knocking. “It’s alright... You don’t have to come out,” Emmy said. “Listen, Arianna... I’m sorry. I’ll be leaving tomorrow and you’ll never see me again. Please, just... look after the professor— all of you. I promise I’ll take care of Crow—“ 

“What?” Arianna gasped. She opened the letterbox and glared out at Emmy. “Crow’s going with you?” 

Why? Was this because of what had happened when Maureen was here? Arianna had been irritated at Crow, but she didn’t want him to leave... 

“Didn’t he tell you?” Emmy exclaimed, sounding genuinely shocked. 

Arianna shook her head. “Where are you two going?” 

“Crow wants to re-visit some of the locations we went to on our... our last trip,” Emmy explained. “It’s probably best if you talk to him about it—“

“I will,” Arianna said shortly. She shut the letterbox with a snap. “Goodbye, now.” 

“Bye...” Emmy sighed. She stayed a moment longer to add, “You’ve grown so much... you’ll get past this.” 

Get past what? The fact that Crow was going away with Emmy? Or had Crow told Emmy about Catherine too? 

Arianna didn’t answer Emmy. Finally, she heard Emmy walking away. 

Once more, Arianna opened the door and scanned the outside of the house. Emmy was well and truly gone now. 

It started spitting with rain. Arianna dragged Emmy’s box into the house. She left the door ajar in case Emmy came creeping back. 

Opening the box, Arianna discovered it contained several artefacts that must have belonged to the professor... 

Except for the brown ocarina at the very bottom of the box. The ‘spectre’s flute’ Arianna had returned to the Black Ravens before she left Misthallery. 

Without Loosha, Arianna hadn’t thought she would have any need for the ocarina. It had reminded her too much of what she had lost.

Had Emmy stolen the it? No... there was a receipt from the Black Market tucked into one of the ocarina’s finger holes. Emmy had purchased it and brought it back to Arianna. 

Arianna lifted the ocarina out of the box. She wiped the instrument’s mouthpiece with her sleeve. (Even though she was healthy now, she could never be too careful...) 

She took a deep breath and began to play Loosha’s song. Hopefully, no matter how far Emmy had gone, she would hear it. 

“When were you going to tell us that you’re leaving with Emmy?” Arianna demanded. 

Brenda and Luke had bumped into Crow at the post office in Kensington. Crow had been exchanging his British pound notes for some foreign currency. 

Luke had dragged Crow back to the professor’s office. Now Crow was being interrogated. 

Crow rolled his eyes and shifted the shabby blue rucksack on his shoulders. “I’m not leaving forever... I’ll only be gone a few weeks— maybe.”

Tony pointed out, “But you’re only fourteen!” 

“I’ve been running the Black Market since I was nine...”

“Is your mother aware of your holiday plans, To— Crow?” the professor inquired, in a calmer tone than Arianna and Tony. 

“Yep— she gave me her blessings. She knows I’m a traveller at heart.” Crow held his hand over his heart as he said this. 

Arianna hummed dubiously. “Does she know you’re travelling to the Azran locations— where you were stalked by Targent last time?” (Where they had nearly lost their lives?)

“Targent have broken up,” Crow dismissed, as if the agency was nothing more than a boy band. “And besides, I’ll have Em watching my back.”

“Just make sure you don’t turn your back on her,” Arianna muttered. Luke shot her a pained look. 

“I’ll have a word with Emmy,” the professor swiftly intervened. 

Arianna huffed. “Next you’ll say that you’re going to visit Descole...”

“Dunno...” Crow shrugged. “I might see him at the Arzan sanctuary—“ 

“WHAT?” 

Crow cleaned his ear out with his finger, as if her shriek has gotten caught in there. “I own everything inside the sanctuary, remember?” he drawled. “If Des tries anything— which he won’t— I’ll just have the golems shoot lasers at him—“ 

“I hope you do!” Arianna snorted. 

Luke winced. “He.. he’s there looking after Aurora,” Luke reminded Arianna. 

Arianna turned to Luke. Why was he, of all people, defending Descole? “And how do we know he won’t try to kidnap her?” 

“Aurora is physically unable to leave the sanctuary,” the professor explained. “Des— Professor Sycamore is trying to deduce why this is, and hopefully, to remedy Aurora’s situation. I have full confidence in his abilities.” 

Arianna blinked at Professor Layton. She could, at the very least, understand why he still trusted Descole— his long lost brother— but that same brother had threatened him on multiple occasions. There was Descole’s rock-throwing robot in Misthallery, the Detragon on Ambrosia, his orders for Randall to flood Monte d’Or with sand, and lest they forget, his numerous sword fights... 

Descole had endangered not only the professor’s life, but Arianna’s, Tony’s, and Luke’s. And now, the professor felt comfortable leaving Aurora with this same man? 

“You can’t honestly...” Arianna shook her head at the professor in disbelief. Her gaze hovered to Luke and Crow. “All of you? After everything he’s done? He kidnapped Brenda and Doland and Angela! He tried to make me a host for Melina! He KILLED Loosha!” 

The professor, Luke and Crow stared at her. Tony looked stricken. 

Of course, Crow was the one to break the silence. “Loosha was just...” 

Arianna glared at him, willing him to finish. Loosha may have just been a pet, an animal, and a monster in some people’s eyes. But for the longest time, she was the only friend Arianna and Tony had. 

Crow chewed on his lip and started again. “Loosha... put herself in harm’s way to save you.” 

“So it’s my fault that she died?” 

“No,” Crow groaned. “What I mean is that, in spite of Descole, she wanted to unlock the Golden Garden for you. Did you see how she threw herself at those floodgates?” 

Arianna argued, “That still doesn’t excuse Descole—“

“I know! I know... But imagine if, instead, Targent had shown up in Misthallery, guns blazing...” 

“Loosha would have fought them off too,” Tony finished forlornly. Luke nodded. 

Had Targent been the root cause of everything? And now that they had dissolved, would Arianna’s family finally be safe? 

Arianna sighed. She stepped towards Crow and jabbed him in the shoulder. “Just... come back in one piece, won’t you?” 

Crow smirked. “Always do.”

Maureen may have been happy to let her child shoot off on another adventure, but Catherine was not. 

“The professor doesn’t have any more cases he needs to solve... does he?” Catherine kept fussing while they were at the fancy dress shop on Chancer Lane. Tony needed a costume for his friend’s birthday party. 

“No,” Arianna responded, for the third time. She rifled through the hangers on the rack, until a stripy red and black pirate costume caught her eye. She pulled it off the rack. “How about this, Tony?” 

Tony studied it with a hum. “Maybe...” He added the pirate costume to his ever-increasing selection. By this point, the selection was taller than him. 

Catherine, noticing Tony needed help, took half of the pile from him. She hugged the clothes against her chest. “I really hope not,” she went on. (Why couldn’t she just let this go?) “You two have been through enough already...” 

“Things were already awful in Misthallery before the professor came along,“ Arianna said pointedly. (Catherine couldn’t complain— she wasn’t there!) “If it wasn’t for him, it only would have gotten worse.” 

Luke and his family would have suffered even more at Descole’s hands. The Golden Garden might never have been unearthed, and Arianna might not be here today. Tony would have been left alone in the world... 

Or would he still have Loosha?

“I’m wasn’t... talking about Misthallery,” Catherine coughed. “I meant what happened with that opera-ship, and in Monte d’Or... How many times has the professor put you in danger?” 

“He didn’t put us in danger,” Arianna corrected her. “He protected us.” 

“Yeah!” Tony agreed. “I’ve only been kidnapped once, but the professor saved me—“

Arianna handed him a zombie costume with an ugly rubber mask. (Something Tony wouldn’t wear in a million years.) “Go and try these on, Tony.” 

He stumbled into a changing cubical. Catherine’s criticism of the professor continued. 

“I read that the professor was embroiled in a criminal organisation,” she said, obviously quoting the most recent headline she had seen in The Daily Mail. Catherine shuddered dramatically and glanced out of the shop’s window. “What about that man who was stalking you outside the cinema— was he a part of that organisation?” 

Arianna wanted to remind Catherine that they had been stalked under her watch.

Instead, Arianna sighed and reassured her, “Targent— the ‘organisation’— won’t be coming after us anymore. The professor ensured their leader was arrested. You can check with Scotland Yard if you want a second opinion on that.” 

Catherine vowed, “I will—“

“I’m ready!” Tony called. 

Arianna and Catherine turned as he strutted out of the cubical. He was dressed as the Mad Hatter from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 

Tony tipped his giant green top hat to them. “How do I look?” 

“Oooh...” Catherine forced a smile. “Very dashing, darling... but isn’t the hat just a... bit much? It might cover your face!” 

“Well, I like it, Tony,” Arianna said. 

Tony beamed at her and adjusted the sleeves of his dark green suit jacket. The jacket was quite long at the back, a lot like the style Papa used to wear... 

“Do you want to show us your other choices?” Catherine prompted. 

Tony nodded and skipped back into the cubical. 

Arianna was startled when Catherine sighed, “He looks so much like your father...” 

“Y-yes...” 

Did Catherine think any less of Tony because of this? Arianna hoped not. She didn’t really give a toss about how Catherine saw her, but Tony didn’t deserve Catherine’s disdain. 

“He doesn’t behave like Papa, though,” Arianna stated in a low voice. “Tony thinks of others... and he wants to see the best in them...” That, he had learned from the professor. 

Catherine looked from the cubical to Arianna. “Does...” Catherine clenched her hands at her sides as they started shake. “Does he blame me?” 

Arianna remembered what Tony had said to the professor— how he had wondered if their mother was dead, and how he believed she deserved a second chance. 

“I don’t think so,” Arianna said carefully. 

Catherine didn’t bother asking whether Arianna blamed her. Catherine released a breath and unclenched her hands. 

“It’s up to you whether you want to stay with the professor,” Catherine said, shocking Arianna even more. “I can’t force you to come with me.” She sniffed. “But if I leave you again... I just need to know that you two will be safe—“

“What do you think?” Tony had exited the cubical once more. Now, he was wearing a blue dragon costume with a hood for the dragon’s head. 

“Aaaargh!” Catherine pretended to scream. Then she grinned. “You look terrifyingly brilliant!” 

Tony laughed. “Thanks, Mum!” 

“An inheritance dispute?” Arianna said. She leaned over the professor’s shoulder and squinted at the letter Rosa had delivered. “That sounds... boring.” 

Boring and safe. Catherine might not mind them accompanying the professor on this case... if she heard about it at all. 

“Does it involve an altered will?” Tony wondered, peering over the professor’s other shoulder. 

The professor gripped his hat. “Not from what I can see...”

“Wait— it mentions something about a Golden Apple,” Arianna pointed out. “What is that?” 

The professor hummed. “I have heard of it somewhere before... but I’ll need Em— erm, I’ll need to do some research.” He stood up— Arianna and Tony stepped back— and he went straight to his bookshelf. 

Arianna gasped, “Do you think— could the Golden Apple be linked to the Golden Garden?” She felt a strange mixture of concern and excitement inside her. 

Could this be another troubling Azran artefact? Or could it be a true benefit, like the Golden Garden?

“We will have to find out,” the professor said, though he didn’t sound very certain. 

For once, Arianna wanted to sit in the front of the Laytonmobile, next to the professor. 

She had ensured her and Tonys’ bags were packed the night before. Their bags were conveniently light, while still containing the essentials. (They shouldn’t have any problems outrunning giant robots or tidal waves!)

The professor had told them this case shouldn’t take more than a day or two, but they couldn’t be too careful.

Arianna rose early— even earlier than the professor— and dressed in record time. (It helped that Crow wasn’t there hogging the bathroom.)  

She left breakfast on the table for the professor and Tony.

She checked the professor’s trunk— keys, wallet, journal, puzzle index, Lady Dahlia’s letter... No, he hadn’t forgotten anything!  

By the time Tony bumbled downstairs, Arianna was already putting their bags into the Laytonmobile.

When the three of them were ready to go, she asked the professor if she could sit in the front of the car. 

It wasn’t as if she needed his permission, but before then, Emmy would usually be up front with him. 

Emmy had been his assistant— clever, capable, and trustworthy... or so they had thought. Could Arianna hope to surpass the standard set by Emmy? Could she prove to be so useful— so indispensable— that the professor wouldn’t dream of sending her and Tony away? 

The professor looked surprised, but he smiled and said yes. Tony, still half-asleep, barely even noticed. 

They drove to Gressenheller, where they were meeting the Tritons.  

Luke had brought a lot of luggage— including his brown teddy bear, balanced on his head. 

Arianna chuckled as he stowed his bear safely in the Laytonmobile’s trunk. Luke definitely seemed a lot brighter. His excitement of going on a new adventure must have the outshined the gloomy memories of their last trip. 

As Luke hugged his parents goodbye, the professor went to grab a puzzle he had left in his university office. (For such a brilliant puzzle solver and an unofficial detective, he could be so absent-minded sometimes...) 

Arianna followed him inside to make sure he didn’t forget anything else. 

When the two of them emerged, Brenda and Clark were waiting to see them off, and Luke was already in the Laytonmobile... in the front passenger seat. 

“Oh...” was all Arianna could say. She must have been pouting slightly, because Brenda asked her what was wrong. “N-nothing!” Arianna replied. 

She couldn’t throw a temper tantrum in front of the Tritons, especially not over something so trivial. Luke hadn’t done anything wrong. He looked so happy, chatting to Tony behind him... 

The professor wouldn’t think any less of Arianna just because she wasn’t sitting next to him. Arianna would look far more mature and calm if she didn’t complain. 

She said goodbye to Luke’s parents and got into the back of the car. 

“Hi!” Tony chirped, grinning. 

“Hi...” She folded her arms and turned her head towards the window. 

No matter what Tony said, she was not sulking. 

“And who might you be?”

The girl blinked at the four of them behind her red glasses. “Well, I’d… rather not say,” she replied falteringly.

Curious, Arianna thought. She could understand not wanting to talk to strangers, but the other villagers had all been so eager to chat with them, or at least, to give them puzzles—

“Why not?” Luke suddenly demanded. “What are you hiding?”

The girl gasped, as did Arianna. “Luke,” Arianna scolded. “There’s no need to be—“

“She’s keeping information from us,” Luke hissed.

Tony asked in a stage-whisper, “How can you be sure?” 

“Why else would she be wearing a disguise?” Luke glared at the girl suspiciously.

Arianna glanced at the professor. Why hadn’t he reprimanded Luke? That was no way to speak to a lady!

“…We seek access to the tower,” the professor said, changing the subject. (Wow, thanks, Professor.)

“It’s kind of like the amusement park in Monte d’Or,” Tony mused as they passed a big abandoned tent. 

Luke hummed in agreement. “Yeah, with the circus...” Luke poked his head through the tent’s yellow entrance flaps. When he re-emerged, he was frowning. (Had he hoped there would be someone inside?)

Arianna let out a small ‘T’. “Not really,” she remarked, trying to suppress those memories of Monte d’Or. “This place looks like it’s been deserted for years.” It reminded her more of Barde Manor before it was cleaned out.

“How strange...” the professor said. “Why would a travelling carnival be left to rot in St. Mystere—?” 

“Do you think there are still games here?” Tony exclaimed. He rushed over to a faded wooden stall, standing on his tiptoes to peer inside. 

Arianna doubted there was anything like the ring toss, the hook-a-duck, or the milk bottle game they had played in Monte d’Or. Who would set everything up? The park keeper, Sylvain? He’d said he hadn’t opened the park in ages...

“Yes! I found a hidden puzzle!” Tony crowed. 

It was something about spotting the difference between four boxes. Tony easily solved it and the professor rewarded him with 40 picarats. Tony pouted. “Are there any other prizes? We got teddies last time—“

“That’s enough, Tony,” Arianna chided. “Come on, we need to check out the Ferris wheel.” 

The top of the Ferris wheel loomed above the trees, but it seemed even taller up close. Its whole structure looked rotten and rickety— nothing like the bright Ferris wheel in Tingly Town.  

Tony cowered behind Professor Layton. “W-we don’t have to ride it, do we?” 

Luke mumbled, “Emmy would, if she was here...” 

Arianna made herself busy by investigating the unmanned ticket booth. (The mysterious girl had left them a ticket, after all...)

But there was nothing in the booth, and nothing extraordinary about the rest of the Ferris wheel.

Fruitless, they walked back to the fork in the road where they had found the poster of little Flora earlier. 

They tried taking the left path with a decrepit shack and they saw Sylvain again. He chatted for a bit, gave them a puzzle and warned them to stay away from anything in the park that looked old and broken. 

As they followed the shack path, they picked up several pages of paper— more entries from the diary of the Baron’s employee. These most recent entires alluded to the ‘village’s secret’ and a lonely ‘Young Miss’...

Baron Reinhold had asked his employee to build the amusement park, just for Flora. Perhaps Flora had been spoiled... but then, Arianna’s papa had taken similar measures to help her. 

Flora had also been left alone in the world after her father’s death. Though Flora didn’t have any siblings— as far as Arianna was aware— this employee had vowed to take care of her. Wherever Flora was now, Arianna hoped she was safe and happy. 

At the end of the path, there was a lake and a little shed... but it was locked. 

Luke glared at the padlock and chain on the door. He grumbled, “How would Emmy get this off...?” 

Arianna huffed. Luke turned his glare towards her. “What?” he said. 

“Emmy isn’t here,” Arianna reminded him. “We need to work it out on our own.”

“And we will,” the professor said, stepping between them. “Come now— let’s move on and explore more of the park.” 

Arianna wasn’t the one who needed to move on. She had done that already— leaving Misthallery for London, accepting the professor as her father, putting up with Catherine... 

Luke would never let go of Emmy. He didn’t think they could manage without her. It didn’t matter that Targent were gone, that the Azran were no longer a threat, or that Emmy couldn’t hurt Luke now... All Luke cared about was Emmy. 

Arianna didn’t look at Luke as they went to do one last sweep of the Ferris wheel. 

“So in the end, that ticket we picked up turned out to be useless?” Luke sighed.

The professor folded his arms. “So it seems...”

“We still found those diary entries,” Arianna pointed out. “They said that there’s a secret in the village!”

“Any idea what that secret is?” Luke said dryly. 

“I don’t know yet!” Arianna’s temper flared again. “Why don’t you ask Emmy?” She regretted it as soon as she said it. Maybe if Luke had appeared shocked or saddened, she would have immediately apologised...

But Luke was fuming. “Why are you acting like she was never our friend?”

“Why are you acting like she didn’t threaten your life?” Arianna snapped. 

“You weren’t even there...!”

The professor tried to intervene. “Please, you two—“ 

There was a grinding creak from above. Tony let out a cry. The Ferris wheel came rolling towards them. 

Something had been off about Inspector Chelmey from the start. 

When Simon’s body was discovered at the manor, Chelmey had appeared out of thin air and he had immediately branded Professor Layton a suspect. 

Chelmey had kept every detail of the case ‘classified’, going as far as to remove Simon’s body from the village shortly after arriving. Third Eye Jakes would have approved, but Inspector Grosky would have torn out his chest hair.  

Chelmey had insisted that the professor should focus solely on finding the Golden Apple and leave the investigation to him. (It wasn’t as if the professor was revered for his detective skills...)

When the Reinholds’ butler, Matthew, had offered him a plate of cakes, Chelmey had flown into a rage. 

“So rude...!” Arianna had hissed when they were out of Chelmey’s earshot. Arianna and her family had never treated the staff at Barde Manor like that. 

“And he reeks of smoke,” Luke added. Arianna didn’t answer him, but she wrinkled her nose. Chelmey smelled even worse than Catherine. How much did he smoke in a day? 

Tony hummed. “Do you think he’s allergic to cakes? I saw him scratching his chin...”

Funnily enough, the professor found a newspaper confirming that Chelmey adored his wife, Amelie’s, homemade cakes.

Before he could be confronted with this fact, Chelmey had gathered everyone together and accused the professor of killing Simon. 

“The professor hasn’t done anything wrong!” Arianna snarled, throwing her skinny arms out as if she could shield the professor. (As if she was Emmy...) 

How was it that Professor Layton could be accused of murder, while the likes of Jean Descole walked freely?

A steady hand rested on her shoulder. “Arianna...” 

She looked back at the professor. On the day they met, he had assured her that she wasn’t a witch— that she wasn’t cursed. He had then cleared her name to the whole of Misthallery. 

She didn’t care that the Reinhold family were gaping at her, or that Inspector Chelmey was glaring. She would defend Professor Layton until her dying breath. 

“It’s clear that your little band of brats are in on the crime,” Chelmey declared, rubbing his chin. 

Tony gasped. He whispered something to Luke. 

“Please, let’s not involve the children in this,” the professor said as Tony and Luke shuffled over to Chelmey. 

Lady Dahlia nodded. “I agree... We should send them—“ 

“Admit it, Layton!” Chelmey spat. “You lot wanted to keep the Golden Apple so badly that you conspired to murder... What—?” 

Luke and Tony leapt at Chelmey’s face. 

“GEROFF...!” Chelmey tried to growl as the pair tugged at his cheeks and his chin. 

“Control your children, Professor!” Lady Dahlia barked shrilly. 

Chelmey attempted to shake them off. Luke and Tony clung to his arms like limpets. 

“Almost there...” Tony grunted. He started to peel away at Chelmey’s skin, which was all stretchy. Tony emitted a triumphant cry. “I knew it! It’s a mask—!” 

Chelmey’s ‘mask’ finally flew off. Enraged, he hurled Luke and and Tony across the parlour. The professor caught Luke. Tony landed on the settee next to the horrified Lady Dahlia. Arianna rushed to Tony’s side. 

“I’ve always despised you Layton,” the imposter growled. Everything about him was pointy; his dark brown hair, his moustache, and his nose... How had his face even fit under that mask? 

Tony gasped and repeated something he must have heard from Crow. “Who the hell are you?” 

Luke shoved her forward just as the rubble hit the stairs.

Both Luke and Flora screamed behind her. 

Arianna stumbled and spun around. Where there had been stairs was now splintered wood and a gaping hole between she and the professor.

The professor might have compared it to a broken jag-saw puzzle, if he hadn’t been hanging on to Flora, who had nearly plummeted over the edge. 

Where was Luke—? 

“A-Arianna!” came the strained cry at her feet. 

Gasping, Arianna dropped to her knees and she saw Luke. He was holding on to the edge by his fingertips, like a cat dangling from a tree branch. 

Arianna grabbed his left wrist with both of her hands. Gritting her teeth, she tried to pull him up. Her arms shook from the weight of him. 

She and Luke yelped when she almost slipped herself. 

“Hang on, both of you!” the professor shouted, pulling Flora safely up on his side. 

Even with years of fencing behind him, the professor hadn’t been able to save Randall at Akbadain. There wasn’t an underground river below waiting carry Luke away. If Luke fell from this height, he would die. (Just like Papa...) 

Luke gazed up at her, silently begging her not to let go. 

In that moment, Arianna understood. The professor’s decision to trust his brother... Luke’s determination to stay friends with Emmy... Tony’s desire to keep Catherine in their lives... They were all holding on, despite everything that had happened in the past. 

Crying out from the effort, Arianna lifted Luke up. Her arms felt like they were being torn from their sockets, but she managed to bring him as far as his elbows. Luke planted his elbows into the stairs and hauled himself the rest of the way up. 

Arianna sat back, while Luke collapsed on his hands and knees beside her. The two of them gaped at each other, panting. 

“Th-thanks,” Luke breathed. “I’m sorry...”

Arianna sighed. “Me too—“

Another knock shook the tower. Flora whimpered. 

“Are you two alright?” the professor shouted to them. He didn’t wait for them to answer. “Go ahead without us! I have an idea!” 

Arianna and Luke yelled together, “But—“

“We’re fine! Go on!” 

Arianna caught Luke’s hand and they hurtled down the rest of the stairs. 

Tony was waiting for them right outside the tower. 

Chapter Text

During their investigation of St. Mystere, there hadn’t been any indication that the Golden Apple was secretly connected to the Golden Garden. They had read Baron Reinhold’s diary, which hinted at a ‘secret place’... but this had just turned out to be the tower. 

The Golden Apple was not a lost Azran artefact, but the Baron’s beloved daughter, Flora. 

With Flora’s help, they had unlocked the hidden passage at Reinhold Manor. Arianna had hoped this would lead to a healing garden and her wild theories would be proven correct... 

In actual fact, they had discovered a room containing the Reinhold family fortune— far greater than Arianna and Tonys’ inheritance. 

But the true gift was a recorded message Flora’s father had left her— expressing his regret, wishing her happiness, and giving her the choice to stay with the person who had found her. 

It must have felt so wonderful for Flora to hear her papa’s voice again... 

At that point, Arianna had crept back in to the passage. She wouldn’t let her envy or her grief ruin the moment for Flora. 

Arianna leant against the passage wall with a sigh. 

Of course the Golden Apple wasn’t some kind of healing fruit. Flora’s mother and father would still be alive, otherwise. It should have been obvious... 

Why had Arianna been so fixated on finding a link with the Golden Garden? Had she hoped there would be another person like her who had needed to be healed? 

An example— an assurance— that she could become stronger with age? 

Someone who had felt so helpless and inconsolable... Someone shut off from the rest of the world... Someone with the potential to grow, if they were only offered a helping hand... Someone like... 

Arianna rubbed her eyes as the answer dawned on her. 

Flora.

When Flora arrived at the professor’s house, they needed to make some rearrangements to the bedrooms. 

Tony was excited to move in to Crow’s old room. Luke could share with Tony whenever he stayed over. (Crow would just have to deal with it if/when he returned.)

Meanwhile, Flora would be moving in to Arianna’s room. Arianna didn’t mind at all.

Back at Barde Manor, Arianna had had an enormous room to herself, with a four-poster bed, a wardrobe with three doors, a grandfather clock, a fireplace, a piano, and a breath-taking view of the lake. 

She had enjoyed having all of this space when Tony, Papa and (going further back) Catherine lived with her. 

During those cheerful, busy times, they had often hosted parties at the manor and they had needed lots of servants for everything to run smoothly. 

But after Papa’s death, the servants had all been dismissed. Silence had reigned throughout the manor. The only guests they had received were the spiders in their cobwebs. 

The manor was far too big for two children to manage on their own. Tony had tried his best, clearing where he could and stocking up on food from the market, but Arianna hadn’t felt strong enough to help him with such strenuous tasks. 

Most of her hours were spent shut up in her spacious room, staring out the window. 

She would occasionally go to see Loosha at the lake, but only if it was dry out and not too cold.

Any visitors would be turned away by Tony, disguised as Seamus, the gardener. 

All Arianna and Tony had wanted was to be left alone... 

But not anymore.

Arianna was determined to make Flora feel welcomed. 

She cleared out half of her— their— wardrobe, so Flora could hang up her clothes— pastel-coloured dresses, lacy blouses, capes lined with fur, frilly skirts, patterned scarves, and elegant sashes. If Arianna was an ‘ice queen’ (Crow’s words), then Flora was a princess with all of her bright, flowery apparel. 

The only piece of clothing that didn’t fit this description was Flora’s light blue apron. 

Flora dreamed of being a chef. She had several cook books, along with her sewing guides and a collection of murder mystery novels. There was plenty of space for them on the shelf next to Arianna’s music books. 

Arianna had read a lot more when she was ill, but since she had moved to London, she would much rather be out and about than hunched over a book. 

On her bedside table, Flora placed two framed photos of her family; the first was of a younger Flora with her mother and father, while the second had been taken by Bruno before Flora left St. Mystere. It was a shot of all the villagers waving to her outside the drawbridge. 

Flora’s sewing basket went at the end of her bed. She explained that she had made her own ‘disguises’ for when she was sneaking around St. Mystere. 

Flora seemed to be just as creative as Tony. Both of them enjoying cooking and crafting new outfits. 

A week in to Flora’s stay, Tony suggested that they should paint their bedroom walls. Flora was thrilled with the idea. 

She and Tony flicked through the colour catalogue Professor Layton had brought them from the DIY shop. 

“I like this shade of orange,” Tony mused.  

“Me too!” Flora said. “What do you think, Arianna?” 

Flora showed Arianna the catalogue and pointed at the colour. Arianna squinted. It was a bit too pink for Arianna’s tastes, but she nodded to Flora. 

“That’s nice...”

Honestly, Arianna would have preferred the sky blue Tony selected. Blue was Arianna’s favourite— the colour of Loosha, Luke’s cap, and Papa’s eyes. 

Flora’s favourite, however, appeared to be coral pink. Arianna didn’t want to disappoint Flora, so she agreed. (Anyway, Arianna might have to leave the professor’s house one day, if Catherine wasn’t satisfied...) 

The professor made another trip to the DIY shop. He returned with multiple tins of paint. 

They grabbed some paintbrushes and old newspapers from the cupboard under the stairs. 

When everything was covered in newspaper, the professor helped Tony paint his room, while Arianna and Flora started in their room. 

Arianna blinked as Flora opened a tin of light purple paint. 

“Oh...” Arianna said blankly. “Did the professor pick up the wrong paint?” (Knowing him, he had probably forgotten which shade Flora had requested!) 

“Nope— this is the one I asked him to get. It’s called ‘iris’, like the flower! Isn’t it pretty?”

It was, but... “I thought you wanted it to be pink?” 

Flora bowed her head as she dipped her brush into the purple paint. “I did, but then I noticed how much you liked Tony’s shade of blue,” Flora mumbled. “So, I... I chose something between pink and blue. What do you think?” She peered up at Arianna sheepishly. 

Arianna smiled and raised her own paintbrush. “Thank you— it’s perfect.”

Maureen called to let them know when Crow finally returned from his travels. 

If Crow’s plane had landed at a London airport, the least he could have done was dropped in at the professor’s house... but no, he had gone straight to Misthallery.

The professor reasoned that perhaps Crow was desperate to see his mum. While that might have been true, Arianna knew Crow would be right back to working at the Black Market, probably selling any Azran artefacts he had nicked.

Surely he could spare a few minutes for his former ‘adoptive’ family? 

As amusing as it would be to invade Crow’s house, the professor, Arianna, Tony, Flora and Luke had arranged to stay at the North Ely Hotel. 

The hotel, like a lot of Misthallery, had been reconstructed after the spectre attacks. Now, there seemed to be less of a contrast in the housing quality between the northern and southern ends of town. The class divide was still present— even Arianna could see that— but it wasn’t quite so distinct. 

For Arianna, it evoked childhood memories of living in Misthallery. 

Before she had fallen ill, she had been allowed to go swimming in the lake and to explore the forest with the other kids. 

Before her mother had left, her family had been more involved in Misthallery’s community as a whole. 

Before Papa had scrapped people’s jobs and raised the land rent, the wealth gap hadn’t been so severe... 

Even with the recent restoration work, the market hadn’t changed very much; maybe it was part of the area’s ‘ragtag charm’, as Crow would have called it. 

Still, Arianna clutched her bag against her shoulder as they passed through the market. As much as Misthallery was thriving now, that wouldn’t deter some thieves.  

Flora goggled at every stall, tent and salesperson they passed. “Wow! The market was never this busy in St. Mys— um...“ Flora cut herself off. 

Tony chuckled. “Don’t worry, Flora. The Black Ravens aren’t interested in selling robo—“ 

“Shhh!” Arianna and Luke hissed at him. 

“Sorry...” Tony winced. He said under his breath, “Besides, they already have the Spectre Bot here.” 

Flora instantly perked up. “What’s that?”

The ‘Spectre Bot’— previously Descole’s excavating machine— had been used to rebuild the town, and after that, the Ravens had claimed it as their own. It had been helpful for transporting the heavier items from Barde Manor to the Black Market. 

The machine resided in the tunnels beneath the market now. Flora paused to inspect it on their way through the tunnels. 

They were greeted by some of the Ravens working in the underground market— Gus, Louis and Badger. 

They found Crow in the bazaar, posing onstage with a tall figure wearing the Black Raven costume. 

“Hey, Crow!” Luke called. 

Crow did a double take. His face went pale as he stared at the five of them. 

“W-what are you lot doing here? Who’s this...?” Crow pointed at Flora. 

“M-my name’s Flora,” she babbled. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, Crow! I’ve heard so much about you—“

“Have you now?” Crow huffed, regaining some of his bravado. He strode to the edge of the stage, smirking down at them. “I didn’t know you all missed me so much...” 

“Oh, yes,” Arianna replied sarcastically. “We missed you so much that Tony has taken over your room.”

Crow pursed his lips at Arianna. “I suppose Her Highness has a room to herself now?” 

“Actually,” the professor clarified, “Flora is sharing with Arianna.” 

Crow turned to Flora. “Not another orphan?” he exclaimed without any tact.

“Crow!” Arianna protested, so loudly that her voice echoed through the bazaar. 

The Black Raven figure beside Crow made a strange whirring noise. It opened its arms and glided towards Arianna, like an owl preying on a mouse. 

Arianna edged back, spluttering, “W-who is that?” She darted behind Luke. Tony latched on to the professor’s arm. Flora stared at the Raven with fascination. 

“Easy, Gale!” Crow said, stepping in front of the Raven before it could leap off the stage. “Arianna’s a friend— though she might not sound like it. We’re all friends here.” 

The Raven dropped its arms. 

Crow turned to them with a nervous grin. “Sorry about that— Gale’s very protective of me...”

“Who is Gale?” the professor inquired in a low voice. “Does he—“

“They,” Crow corrected. 

“Apologies— do they come from the Azran sanctuary, by any chance?” 

“What?” Crow snorted. “Nooo...”

Luke marched on to the stage. He reached for Gale’s long white bird mask and requested, “Can I...?” 

Gale didn’t move. Luke took that as a yes and removed the mask. Arianna, Tony and Flora gasped. 

The person beneath the Raven costume wasn’t human. They were some sort of robot made of a smooth brown substance that looked like clay. Beady white eyes peered out of an oval-shaped ‘face’ that reminded Arianna a little of Descole’s mask. The creature didn’t appear to have a mouth, but there was a red triangle beneath their face. 

“You’re an Azran golem,” Luke breathed, “like Aurora.” 

One of the golems that had nearly destroyed the world? Arianna’s jaw dropped as she gaped at Gale. 

Gale— the golem— made a chirping noise and nodded their head at Luke. 

“Amazing...” Flora rushed on to the stage to examine Gale. (Arianna wished she wouldn’t— Gale was far less friendly than the villagers of St. Mystere!) 

“Did Gale follow you home from the sanctuary?” the professor asked Crow. 

“No— they gave me a lift back here.” 

“A... a lift?” Tony repeated. “You mean you flew? Across the sea?”

Crow shrugged. “I was perfectly safe. Gale’s like my personal bodyguard—“ 

“Is that what they wanted?” Luke wondered, eyeing Crow suspiciously. 

“Yes! Gale offered to fly me back! Aurora translated for them.” 

“How’s Aurora doing?” Arianna said. Flora sent Arianna a puzzled look. Arianna informed her, “Aurora’s our friend.” 

“She’s... alright. Look...” Crow unfolded something from his pocket. It was a photo of Aurora, Desmond Sycamore and the other golems standing in an entrance made of blue stone. This must have been the Azran sanctuary up-close. 

“She still can’t leave the sanctuary,” Crow sighed, “but Des and the rest of the golems are there for her. They’ll have even more company soon, when the tourists start flooding in—“

“Tourists?” the professor echoed. “Crow, you can’t just invite members of the public inside. Imagine if someone tried to steal a dangerous artefact, or if they angered the golems...” 

“Des said exactly the same thing!” Crow snickered at the professor’s shocked expression. “Relax, Prof! Aurora will be a tour guide of sorts, and the golems will be the security guards. It’ll give them all something to do.” 

Arianna studied Crow’s photo again. (Emmy had probably taken it...) Aurora may have been trapped in the sanctuary, but at least she was smiling.

“Just make sure you give the golems a choice,” Luke warned Crow. 

Crow rolled his eyes. “I told them they’re free to go if they like, but they won’t leave without Aurora.” 

“Can we visit the sanctuary one day?” Flora begged. “I’d love to meet the other golems!” 

Gale let out another robotic chirp. 

Crow winked at her. “Of course— I’ll give you a family discount.” 

“Th-thank you!” Flora beamed at him. The apple birthmark on her neck surely would have been visible if it wasn’t covered by her dress collar.

Tony had gone to catch up with Sean. The professor was having tea with Maureen— probably discussing Crow. Luke, Flora and the Black Ravens were raiding Aunt Taffy’s sweet stall. 

Arianna had slipped away from them to visit the Golden Garden. 

On her way there, the townspeople waved to her or stopped to chat. It still felt... surreal. While she did appreciate their hospitality, she didn’t talk to anyone for very long. 

Much to her relief, the route to the garden had barely changed. She had feared Loosha’s statue might have been defaced, but it was still there above the dam’s entrance— not a single scratch on the light grey stone. It almost looked like Loosha was smiling at the world. 

Arianna smiled sadly as she walked through the entrance. 

A golden pathway had been erected above the empty lakebed— Misthallery’s very own yellow brick road— and there were now wooden steps leading down to the garden. If anything, the garden was even more accessible than before. 

This should have been reassuring to Arianna, but she shivered as she crept down the steps. 

Desc— Professor Sycamore— had told Professor Layton that Targent had taken control of the garden. It must have been a secret take-over, without any hostility, because no one in Misthallery had complained or sought help from outside of town... 

That was nothing new, though. Brenda had almost unmasked Desc— Sycamore!— when he was posing as Doland, but he had imprisoned her in the cellar. If Luke hadn’t written to the professor, Misthallery could still be trapped under Descole’s thumb. Or maybe Targent would have taken out Descole. 

Descole... Sycamore... Targent... Sometimes it was hard to tell the difference between them, as much as Arianna tried. She really was trying to be open-minded for the professor and Luke. 

With a sigh, she came to the end of the crystal tunnel and finally reached the Golden Garden. 

Arianna closed her eyes and just breathed in... and out... in... and out... 

Since she had recovered, she hadn’t needed to constantly visit the garden. She was perfectly fine living in London, as long as she had her family. But it was still refreshing to return after all this time. 

The ground was soft and loamy beneath her feet as she strode towards the bank of the river. The water was flowing steadily and it looked clear enough to drink, but Arianna wouldn’t risk it. 

This was where Loosha had drifted away... 

Sitting on the edge of the bank, Arianna dipped her feet into the stream. The river was shallow here beside the waterfalls, but it got deeper further along and fed into a lake— Loosha’s final resting place. 

Had it been easier, returning to the place where she was born? Had she felt comforted having Arianna and Tony in her last moments? Loosha had thanked them both, according to Luke... 

But just before that, Arianna had screamed about not wanting to be her friend anymore, and she had thrown rocks at Loosha, as the spectre had done. 

Arianna had reacted similarly to Luke— shouting and spurning him when he had tried to console her. 

“I’m sorry,” Arianna whispered, not for the first time. She wiped away a tear before taking her ocarina out of her bag. 

Just as she had done after Loosha’s death, Arianna began to play. The melody echoed through the garden, carried by a warm breeze. 

If Loosha and Luke had forgiven her, then maybe Arianna could find some forgiveness in her heart for Emmy, Descole, and Catherine— 

A rock shifted in the tunnel behind her. Arianna broke off from her ocarina with a gasp. She spun her head around.

Flora was standing in the mouth of the tunnel... or, more specifically, she was trying to hide herself against the tunnel wall. 

“S-sorry!” Flora called, emerging from the tunnel. “I didn’t mean to disturb you...” 

Arianna stood up, shaking the water off her shoes. “What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral— not accusing. 

“I saw you leaving the market, and I got worried...” Flora reached her side. “Are you okay?” 

Arianna nodded. “I just... wanted to visit Loosha...” She turned her gaze towards the lake again. 

“Oh! R-right!” Flora exclaimed. Arianna and Tony had told her a little bit about Loosha. “I’m sorry— I’ll go, if you’d rather be alone...”

Arianna still liked to be alone, sometimes, but she didn’t want Flora wandering around Misthallery on her own. 

“No, it’s... I don’t mind,” Arianna blurted out as Flora took a step back towards the tunnel. “The Golden Garden is for everyone.”

Flora paused for a moment. Then she smiled and joined Arianna at the edge of the stream. “It’s beautiful here,” Flora breathed, gazing around at the water, the lush plant life and the shining crystals. “I’ve never seen a garden this big before...” 

“The professor said it was created millions of years ago by an ancient civilisation,” Arianna informed her. Despite constructing a golem army that could have wiped out humanity, the Azran had done some good. 

The golems seemed content under Crow’s leadership— at least for now, since Aurora couldn’t step foot outside the sanctuary. Aurora herself was curious, soft-spoken and gentle. She deserved to be free. 

If the Ambrosian queen was anything like Melina Whistler, then she must have been a brave and selfless ruler. 

The elevated ruins of Akbadain had saved Monte d’Or from being flooded with sand. 

The Golden Garden had helped cure Arianna... and Loosha was born here. 

Had Loosha’s ancestors thrived in the Golden Garden, or had they been found all across the world?  

Flora’s voice lifted Arianna out of her musings. “Um, what was that song you were playing?”

“It doesn’t really have a name...” Arianna fumbled with the ocarina. “It was a song for Loosha— to help calm her down...” 

“Well, it calmed me down too!” Flora smiled. “I was worried about you, but then I heard the song and felt the breeze... Something about this whole place just makes me feel safe.” 

“I know what you mean,” Arianna mumbled. She looked down at the ocarina and back up at Flora. Arianna blushed. “This is going to sound silly... but when we first heard about the Golden Apple, I thought... that it— you— might have had something to do with the Golden Garden.” Arianna coughed out a laugh. 

Flora laughed with her, but not unkindly. “It’s not silly! I’ve heard of stranger things— like a village filled with robots!” 

“Good point,” Arianna chuckled.

A butterfly with bright blue wings fluttered past them. Flora watched it go. 

She sighed wistfully. “I’m sure my papa would have searched for the Golden Garden if he knew about it. My mama died when I was very young and then, so did he...” 

Arianna frowned. She had been hoping to make Flora laugh, but instead, she had upset her! “I’m sorry,” Arianna said, once again. 

“It’s not your fault,” Flora assured her, putting on a smile. “I’m glad you told me. You never know— there still could be some secret connection between the garden and St. Mystere!” (Well, there were the Azran golems, and St. Mystere had its robot villagers...)

Flora hummed. “We’ll research it at the library when we get home!” 

“There’s a little library in Misthallery,” Arianna suggested. “We could start there—?” 

“Yes!” Flora dragged Arianna out of the garden. 

Cooking was not Flora’s forte. She had attempted to bake some caramel slices for when the Tritons came to visit, but even with Tony’s supervision, the kitchen looked like a bomb site. 

Arianna held her hand to her mouth as she surveyed the mess; flour on the floor, shredded coconut on the countertop, chocolate splattered on the walls... 

“What happened?” Arianna mouthed to Tony. (How had he gotten golden syrup in his hair?) 

Tony pointed at Flora, who was adding pound coins to the light brown mixture in the baking tin. Arianna had never cooked a meal in her life, but even she knew that couldn’t be right! 

“Um, Flora?” Arianna skirted around a pool of melted butter as she entered the kitchen. “Are coins included in the recipe?” 

The baking book Grandma Lucille had lent them was lying in the (thankfully empty) sink. Arianna rescued the book as Flora explained, “No, but it’s my own special touch. We’re making millionaire's shortbread, after all!” 

“That’s what they call it in some places,” Tony muttered. 

“But people could choke on the coins!” Arianna exclaimed. She had a vision of Clark choking, Brenda administering the Heimlich manoeuvre on him, and Luke shrieking in the background. 

“Don’t worry,” Flora chimed, as if it was the most common ingredient in the world. “The coins are just used as a garnish, like when they put leaves in some restaurant dishes.” 

“But isn’t it... unhygienic?” Arianna tried. Who knew where those coins had been?

“I made sure to wash everything first!” Flora nodded to herself, picked up the baking tin and asked Tony if he could open the fridge. Tony nearly slipped on another pool of liquid butter as he did so. Carefully, Flora placed her concoction in the fridge and shut the door. 

Flora dusted off her hands. “There we go...” She smiled at Arianna and Tony. “We need to let it set, but it should be done by the time Luke, his parents and the professor get back. No eating it before then, okay?” 

Arianna and Tony exchanged a glance. “Okay!” they agreed. 

Flora started, “I’ll just clean—“

“No— let me!” Tony volunteered as tribute. “Y-you did most of the baking...”

“I’ll help him,” Arianna added. 

“You two are so sweet... thank you!” 

Flora patted Tony’s head, making her hand sticky with syrup. Arianna retreated to the sink before Flora could touch her hair too. 

They waited until Flora had gone upstairs. Then Tony hissed, “We are not eating that.” 

Arianna stowed Lucille’s baking book safely in a cupboard. “And we can’t let the Tritons eat it,” she said, shuddering. “But we can’t just throw it away...” That would break Flora’s heart!

“Maybe we can fix it somehow?” Tony suggested. 

He removed the baking tin from the fridge as if it was radioactive. He put the tin on the countertop and stared at it with Arianna. The pound coins were embedded in the chocolate topping, which was already starting to set. 

Arianna wrinkled her nose. “It smells... cheesy.” 

“That would be the cheese she put in the base,” Tony said with a sniff. 

Arianna groaned. “I don’t think we can fix this...”

“Could we call Grandma Lucille for help?” Tony wondered. 

Lucille and Roland lived in the suburbs of London. “She would never get here in time with all the traffic...” 

“Rosa?” 

Arianna shook her head. “She would never stop talking about it!” Flora would feel so ashamed if she overheard Rosa... 

“How about Mu— Catherine?” Tony said meekly. “She made us that chicken pie...”

Arianna scoffed. Catherine had made them dinner the last time they visited her flat, but her cooking was hardly anything to write home about, especially compared to Grandma Lucille’s Sunday roasts. (Even Emmy would have beaten Catherine with her baking...) 

Tony hummed, holding his chin in the his hand. He glanced out the window and after a moment, he grinned at Arianna. “I’ve got it!”

All it took was a phone call to Misthallery and half an hour later, Gale the golem was hovering outside the kitchen window. In Gale’s hands was a paper bag brimming with caramel slices. 

Crow had complained about them using Gale as a ‘delivery drone’, but Wren and Socket were happy to send some treats from their mother’s cake shop... as long as they received the money in return. 

Tony opened the window. Gale passed him the bag of caramel slices. 

“Thank you, Gale,” Tony said. 

Gale made a whirring noise. Gale extended their hand through the window and flexed their fingers. Arianna was reminded of Crow asking for more money. 

“Alright— here’s your payment,” Tony puffed. He shoved Flora’s baking tin onto the windowsill. 

Gale examined the tin before glancing at Tony and Arianna again. The golem’s expression didn’t change, but Arianna thought Gale was giving them a flat look.  

“The money is in there,” Tony insisted, tapping the side of the tin. “You can keep the change—“

Gale drew back from the window. They opened their arms and made another whirring sound. Arianna recognised that as an attack. 

“Move,” she yelped to Tony, yanking him towards the kitchen doorway. 

A ball of purple light glowed around Gale’s middle and a small laser shot out. (Just as Crow had said!) 

The same light appeared beneath the baking tin. It rose into the air above the windowsill. The baking tin— Flora’s caramel slices— exploded. A dozen or so pound coins were all that remained. 

Gale caught the coins as they fell. With a satisfied chirp, Gale flew off. 

“Remind me never to make an Azran golem angry,” Arianna panted. She hoped Crow wouldn’t do anything to annoy the golems, and Professor Sycamore wouldn’t provoke them. 

“R-right,” Tony agreed. “Let’s finish cleaning before Flora gets back...”

By the time Flora returned, with a new green dress and a pink ribbon in her hair, the kitchen was spotless... almost. Try as they might, Arianna and Tony couldn’t scrub all of the scorch marks off the windowsill. 

Flora gasped. “What happened?” She rushed over to the windowsill. 

Behind Flora’s back, Arianna and Tony looked at each other.

“It was Tony’s idea,” Arianna began. Tony scowled. 

“I told you we had to wait for the others before we ate these!” Flora turned around, clutching the plate of substitute caramel slices.

“Oh...!” Tony pouted, pretending to be contrite. “I’m sorry! They just looked so good...”  

Flora inspected the caramel slices proudly. “They do look good, don’t they? And I’m sure they taste even better!” She put the plate in the fridge. “I promise we can have them as soon as everyone’s here.”

When Luke, his parents and the professor arrived, they all funnelled into the front room to sit around the table. Flora conjured up the caramel slices with a “Ta-daaa!” She smiled as Clark and Luke immediately tucked in. 

Arianna sighed with relief when the two of them didn’t bite into any pound coins. Flora appeared confused by the lack of coins, but she was then distracted by Brenda asking for the recipe.

“You know what this means...” Tony whispered to Arianna behind his hand. “We’ll have to help her every time she cooks from now on.” 

Before Arianna could reply, Luke pulled out the yellow photo album that Emmy had left behind. 

Luke turned to the photo of the three of them with Professor Layton and Loosha.

Tony rubbed his thumb along Loosha’s nose. “I can’t believe it’s been three years since then...” Tony sighed. 

Arianna nodded. It still hurt to remember— maybe it always would— but it was getting easier to live with that hurt, as they kept making new memories. 

Was this how the professor felt, after everything he had been through in the past? 

Arianna turned to see the professor chuckling with Clark, and Flora writing down her recipe for Brenda. 

“She looks so cute there,” Luke cooed. 

Arianna’s eyes widened and she glanced back at him. He was pointing at Loosha in the photo— not Arianna’s flustered younger self. 

“Oh... yes,” Arianna agreed, flushing. Tony raised his eyebrows at her. 

Arianna huffed and announced, “Honestly, Tony... You’ve still got some syrup in your hair!” 

Arianna awoke to a smothered whimper. 

Tony? was her first thought. But then her eyes drifted to the twin bed on the other side of the room. She could make out the shape of a body under the pink duvet— too tall to be Tony. 

“...Flora?” Arianna breathed, her thoughts becoming more coherent. There was no response. Arianna raised her voice slightly. “Flora?” 

The duvet shifted and Flora sat up in bed. Flora sniffled, “Sorry... Did I wake you?” 

“No...” Arianna lied, switching on her bedside lamp. She caught a glimpse of Flora’s shiny eyes and her runny nose, before Flora covered her face with her hands.

“What’s the matter?” Arianna whispered. “Did you have a nightmare?”

Flora shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe...?”

“Okay...” Arianna wasn’t sure what to make of that. 

She scampered out of the room to grab Flora a tissue. Arianna considered making her a drink too, but that would mean going downstairs, and possibly disturbing the professor. 

The professor had discovered the body of his old mentor, Dr. Andrew Schrader, the other day. The doctor had been lying dead on the floor in his flat. Whoever the culprit was, they had escaped with an artefact Dr. Schrader had been studying. 

Arianna hadn’t been with the professor at the time— something she was quite thankful for— but she could see how affected he was by the loss of his mentor. He and Luke were going on a train journey tomorrow to find the thief and recover the stolen artefact. So, the professor needed plenty of rest tonight. 

Arianna passed Flora the tissue. 

Flora wiped her nose. “Thank you...” She sniffed again. 

Arianna hovered at the side of Flora’s bed. “Do you... want to talk?” Arianna offered. She was so used to having other people comfort her. But rarely had she provided comfort for others... 

Flora pulled her knees up to her chest. “It’s silly,” she mumbled. 

“It can’t be that silly if it’s keeping you up... “ Arianna hummed. “You said it might have been a nightmare?” 

Flora sighed. “Or I might just be worried, and imagining things.”

The answer was obvious, but Arianna asked, “What are you worried about?” 

“The professor... and Luke...” Flora admitted, looking towards the door. Arianna followed her gaze. 

The professor and Luke wanted to pursue a potential murderer. Arianna would have gone with them— for her own peace of mind, more than anything— but tomorrow, she and Tony had arranged to meet their mother. Catherine had complained that they weren’t spending enough time with her...

Arianna felt a prickle of irritation and anxiety, but she pushed it aside. “They’ll be alright,” she assured Flora. “The professor has lots of experience with these types of investigations.”  

Flora squeaked, “With murders?” 

Ariana hesitated. As far as she was aware, Professor Layton had never been asked to investigate a murder before. There were the Masked Gentleman’s ‘dark miracles’, but none of his victims had actually died. Targent had been responsible for several deaths, hadn’t they? The professor hadn’t looked into any of them, though. (Not even his brother’s family...) 

Simon Reinhold wasn’t murdered— he just malfunctioned— and Flora had said he was fine afterwards.

The professor had uncovered the truth behind Arianna’s father’s demise. Initially, Papa’s fall had been deemed a ‘suicide’, but this was changed to ‘accidental death’ after Third Eye Jakes’ confession. Arianna wasn’t completely satisfied with this, despite Clark maintaining that he hadn’t seen anyone push Papa off the cliff...

Arianna shook her head. “Not exactly... but he does have a habit of going on dangerous adventures.” 

Was that a fair depiction of Professor Layton? At the end of the day, he just wanted to help others. It wasn’t his fault that trouble always happened to follow him. 

“Has... has Don Paolo come after him before?” Flora squeezed her eyes shut and gripped her duvet, bracing herself for something. Arianna realised what— or who— was the cause of her worries. 

“I don’t think so,” Arianna said. (That wasn’t very reassuring...) “The professor said he had heard of Don Paolo, but he doesn’t remember crossing paths with him.” Was Don Paolo secretly the professor’s long lost cousin? What motive could he have for despising the professor so much?

Arianna sighed, but then she smiled at Flora. “Don Paolo won’t attack the professor— not on a busy train.” He seemed more like the type to strike from the shadows... until he was outwitted. Par for the course with the professor’s foes.

“But what if—“ Flora’s breath hitched. “What if he comes here?” 

“Oh...” Arianna faltered. Of course— Flora would be staying at home with Rosa tomorrow while the rest of them were out. Rosa was good company, but she barely knew Flora... and Rosa couldn’t fight off Don Paolo with a feather duster. 

If only Emmy was still here, a little voice in Arianna’s head whispered. 

Reluctantly, Arianna suggested, “You could... come with me and Tony...”

“And your mother?” Flora finished. Arianna nodded stiffly. Catherine hadn’t appreciated the Black Ravens, but surely she would like Flora, who was descended from a noble family. 

For a moment, Flora looked tempted. Then she frowned. “Thank you, but I wouldn’t want to get in the way.”

Was that part of the reason why Flora had moved from Reinhold Manor to her tower? So she wouldn’t ‘get in the way’?

Arianna said, “You wouldn’t—“ 

“I would just be worrying about the professor all day.”

Catherine would not like that. Arianna nibbled on her lip. She was running out of comforting things to say.

“I’ll be fine here,” Flora sighed. She looked towards the end of her bed. Arianna followed her gaze to her sewing basket. Glancing back at Flora, Arianna could almost see the cogs whirring in her brain. 

Before Flora could do something drastic, Arianna announced, “I have a better idea.” 

She had expected Maureen to pick up. Crow was probably already setting up the Black Market for the day... 

Someone hesitantly answered the phone. “H-hello?”

“Oh, Badger!” Arianna exclaimed. “Is Crow there?”

There was silence for a moment. Maybe Arianna should have asked how he was doing first— that would have been more polite…

“Already at the market,” Badger said eventually. “Want me to get him for you?” 

“If you cou—“

The line went dead. Arianna stared at the professor’s phone and sighed. Who knew how long it would take to get Crow’s help? The Molentary Express would be departing soon... 

Much to her shock, the phone rang within ten minutes. (How fast could Badger run to the market?) 

Arianna picked it up immediately. “Hello? C—“

“Hi, it’s me!” Catherine trilled on the other end. Arianna gripped the phone, wishing she was strong enough to crush it.  

Catherine said, quite breathlessly, “Sorry, I might be a bit late—“

“Please be quick,” Arianna snapped. 

“Why?” Suspicion crept in to Catherine’s tone. “Do you have other plans?” 

“Yes— I mean, no...” Arianna exhaled through her nose. “It was meant to be a surprise... but I got us… tickets for a train ride.”

“Really?” Catherine hummed. Sounding pleasantly surprised, she wondered, “Where to—?”

“It’s a surprise! Bye!” Arianna hung up. She prayed Catherine wouldn’t call back.

The next time the phone rang, five minutes later, it was Crow. Arianna had never been so happy to hear his voice. 

“Well, well, well... If it isn’t my estranged sister—“

“Crow!” Arianna burst out, not even bothering to correct him. “We need your help!”

Crow dropped the arrogant façade. “What’s up? Anyone dying?”

“No, but the professor and Luke could be waltzing into danger!”

“Where are they going?”

“On a train, from Paddington—“

Crow snorted. “I’ve been through Paddington, several times. I’d hardly call it ‘dangerous’… Except for the pickpockets—”

“Listen to me,” Arianna enunciated. “The Molentary Express leaves the station this morning. Can you get us four tickets?” 

“Four?” Crow squawked, so loudly that Arianna moved the phone away from her ear. “Who’s going with you?” 

“Tony, Flora and... my mother,” Arianna listed through gritted teeth. 

Crow hummed down the phone. “Does the professor know about this?” 

“No, he doesn’t, and I’d rather keep it that way. Can you help us or not?” 

“It’s pretty short notice but I’ll see what I do with my connections.” Crow clicked his tongue. “Those tickets won’t come cheap—“

“Money isn’t an issue,” Arianna dismissed.

Crow laughed. “That is the most snobbish thing you’ve ever said.” 

Chapter Text

For once, Catherine’s tardiness worked to their advantage.

She didn’t reach their house until after Gale had delivered four green tickets to Arianna.

Additionally, Gale had been carrying a note from Crow, instructing Arianna to take Gale with them for protection. But Arianna had shaken her head and shooed Gale away. Catherine would faint if she saw the flying-laser-robot! 

Catherine was in such a rush that she didn’t question the tickets and she didn’t fuss about Flora accompanying them to the station. As far as Catherine knew, Flora would be meeting some friends on the train. (Technically, this wasn’t a lie...) 

The Molentary Express was just about to leave the platform when they arrived, but on the plus side, they didn’t run into the professor and Luke.

Catherine and Tony bumbled into their room in the sixth carriage. The pair of them collapsed onto the springy beige sofa with a sigh. Arianna closed the sliding door so she could speak with Flora for a moment. 

“If you want to find the professor, I’ll catch up with you,” Arianna whispered. 

Flora nodded and adjusted her yellow headscarf. There was no need for her to wear it in front of the professor, but it would disguise her from Don Paolo at the very least. 

“See you later,” Flora murmured. She set off through the carriage, stumbling a bit as the train started to move. 

Inside the room, Catherine was reading a menu off the table between the settees. Tony was slouched next to her with his arms folded. 

Frowning slightly at Arianna, Tony grumbled, “Is Flora okay?” 

He hadn’t agreed with Arianna’s last-minute decision to board the train, but, after multiple warnings for Arianna, he hadn’t told Catherine the truth. 

Arianna nodded shortly and sat on the settee opposite them. 

Catherine glanced up from her menu. “So, did Professor Layton adopt Flora...?” Her unsaid ‘as well’ hung in the air. 

Arianna locked eyes with Tony, reminding him almost telepathically not to mention the robot village, the runaway Ferris wheel, or the ruined tower. 

To Catherine, Arianna said vaguely, “Not yet...” 

Catherine hummed. “How old is Flora?”

Arianna shrugged. Catherine turned to Tony, who also shrugged one shoulder. 

“Very funny,” Catherine huffed. She stood up, smoothing out the creases in her burgundy skirt. “I’m going to order some tea—“ 

“No, wait!” Arianna jumped up. “I’ll get it!” She rushed to the door before Catherine could argue. 

Thankfully, neither Catherine or Tony followed her out into the hall. 

Arianna sighed and glimpsed out the window; with fewer buildings, it appeared they were already on the outskirts of London. Soon, they would be in the countryside... 

If they didn’t have to worry about a potential murderer, or Catherine meeting the professor, this trip could have been pleasant. 

Arianna had only taken a train once, years ago when her family had visited France. Papa had booked a deluxe cabin for the four of them to stay in— even fancier than those on the Molentary Express. 

Arianna remembered very little about the trip, except how happy they had all been... or seemed. 

Had her parents still loved each other back then? Had Catherine loved Arianna and Tony? She had definitely acted like it— playing games with them, applauding at their scribbled drawings, wiping croissant crumbs off their faces, wrapping Tony in a blanket on her lap, brushing Arianna’s hair... 

But Papa had decided trains were ‘impractical’ when Arianna became ill. There would be too many people who would be carrying germs... And what would they do if Arianna required urgent medical care? 

Arianna was so glad she didn’t have to worry about that anymore. She crept through the carriage, sticking close to the rolling doors in case she had to duck inside a room. 

Judging by the smells of cooked food, the carriage next to theirs was the dining car. This would be the first place Luke would want to visit.

Arianna poked her head into the dining car. It was packed— even if Luke and the professor were in here, they probably wouldn’t notice her. 

She spotted a waiter in the middle of the car with a tray of glasses on his arm. As she shuffled past the first table, she heard the professor’s refined laughter from somewhere behind her.

Arianna didn’t even turn her head. She dived under the nearest table. 

She peered out from under the white table cloth. Luke’s black shoes rushed past her, followed by the professor’s green ones. 

Somehow, they hadn’t seen Arianna, but they were bound to see Catherine and Tony in the sixth carriage...

Arianna crawled out from her hiding place. She winced when she saw the shocked expression of the man sitting at the table. 

“Please excuse me,” Arianna squeaked. “I dropped my purse.”

The man’s moustache twitched and he shook his head. “N-no problem! I’m always losing my badge...”

Arianna nodded, turned and approached the waiter. She ordered three cups of tea. The waiter said they would be brought to her room as soon as possible. 

Arianna dragged her feet back to the sixth carriage. She expected to find Catherine berating the professor, but the door to their room was locked. Surprised, Arianna knocked. Tony opened the door for her. 

“W-we didn’t mean to lock you out,” Catherine said apologetically as Arianna came inside. “We just didn’t want any strangers popping in...” 

“It’s fine,” Arianna dismissed, locking the door behind her. (Her plan was still afoot!)

Fifteen minutes later, there was another knock at the door— the trolley lady with their tea. Catherine also bought some sandwiches from her and asked where their first stop would be. The lady drawled that they would be stopping in the dinky village of Dropstone. 

“I’m sure it’ll be more exciting than she made it out to be,” Catherine chatted as they munched on their sandwiches. 

Arianna chewed slowly, wondering how they could best avoid the professor and Luke when they got off the train. Had Flora found the professor yet...? 

When they had finished their food, Tony announced that he wanted to stretch his legs. Catherine offered to go with him. 

“B-but we can’t all leave the room at once,” Arianna protested. “What if someone steals it?” 

“You can stay here if you like,” Tony told her.

Arianna matched his defiant look. “No— I’m coming with you.” 

If Catherine did encounter the professor, then Arianna at least wanted to be there to smooth things over. 

Tony fancied visiting the observation deck at the end of the train. On their way there, through the seventh carriage, they bumped into Flora. 

“Where did you get that dog?” Arianna asked, studying the little poodle wriggling in Flora’s arms. 

“Um... he belongs to my friend?” Flora said. Arianna raised an eyebrow at her. 

That dog definitely didn’t belong to the professor... It was more likely that Luke had adopted a lost dog on the spot. Had Luke given him to Flora? 

Whatever the case, it added more weight to the story that Flora had met her ‘friends’ on the train. 

Stroking the poodle’s head, Catherine cooed, “I always wanted a little dog like this, but Ev...” Catherine cleared her throat. “Well, we won’t keep you, Flora.” She and Tony continued out onto the observation deck.

“Why...?” Arianna mouthed, motioning to the poodle. 

Flora cuddled him, looking a bit like Lady Dahlia with her cat. “He was wandering around the train,” Flora explained in a quick, hushed voice. “I thought— he could protect me...”

The poodle let out a yap. He wasn’t much of a guard dog, but then, who was Arianna to judge a person by their size? 

“The professor will look after you,” Arianna assured her. “Have you spoken to him yet?”

Flora hid her face behind the poodle. 

“Flora,” Arianna huffed. “You should—“

“Arianna?” Catherine called from the observation deck. 

Arianna hollered, “I’ll be there in a minute—“ She shut her mouth as soon as she remembered that the professor might hear her. 

She turned back to Flora, but Flora was already scurrying away from her. 

Arianna groaned. Great! Now both of her siblings were upset with her— if Flora even considered herself a sibling... 

Arianna stomped out onto the observation deck.

Catherine and Tony were clutching the green railing, watching the trees, fields and telephone poles roll by. Arianna had expected Tony to be nervous standing at the edge of the train, but he seemed content. 

So did Catherine. Her eyes were closed and the ends of her chestnut hair— left down completely today— were swaying in the breeze. 

Catherine looked at Tony when he wondered, “Can you get a train to America?” 

Catherine glanced back at Arianna before she answered, “No, unfortunately... It’s only by ship or by plane.” 

“How will you get there?” 

“By ship...”

“That’s good,” Tony sighed. He let go of the railing. 

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Catherine said. “But if... if you ever did want to visit, I’d travel over on the ship and we could go back together.” 

What were the chances that Catherine would be late for her ship, or lose Tony in a crowd of passengers?

Arianna pretended to sneeze. “We should... get back inside,” she said with a heavy sniff. 

Tony didn’t even glance at her, but Catherine agreed. 

On their way back to their quarters, they were stopped by a man shouting, “Oi, you three!”

Arianna’s eyes widened. She knew that gravelly voice, that slumped posture, and that green suit. He looked like Inspector Chelmey of Scotland Yard, but appearances could be deceiving. 

Arianna shot Tony a glance as the man strode towards them. Tony was squinting at him. 

“Have you seen a lost boy anywhere on this train?” Chelmey(?) demanded. 

“I’m afraid not,” Catherine said, frowning. She caught Arianna and Tony by the shoulders. “Can you describe him to us?” 

Chelmey(?) scratched his head. “A little lad, missing a shoe... Answers to the name of ‘Tom’—“

“Tom?” Arianna repeated. “As in ‘Thomas’?” 

Had Crow snuck aboard the Molentary Express as well? Gale could have given him a lift to London, and Crow could have acquired his own ticket. 

Honestly, Arianna would be glad if Crow was here. He could watch over Flora and distract the professor— deception was his strong point, after all! 

“Possibly...” Chelmey leered at Arianna. “Have you met the boy?” 

“I’m not sure— it’s just... I have a friend called Thomas...” (Crow was rather short for his age, but Arianna wouldn’t say he was ‘little’!)

Chelmey huffed. “Well, if he is the same Tom, I believe he might have fallen off the train.” (And Arianna had thought she was tactless…)

Catherine gasped. “We were just out on the observation deck, but we didn’t see anyone on the tracks!” 

“Really?” Chelmey(?) hummed, staring at them. Tony stared right back. Chelmey(?) blew air out his lips and ordered, “Just be on the lookout!” With that, he stomped off. 

As Catherine herded them into their room, Arianna muttered to Tony, “Was that...?” 

Tony shook his head. “No, I don’t think he was wearing a mask. And he didn’t seem to recognise us...” 

So, that must have been the real Inspector Chelmey. At least he was doing his job, rather than harassing the professor.

This gave Arianna hope that Don Paolo wasn’t on the train at all— otherwise, Tony would have unmasked him. 

What would she do without Tony? 

Catherine locked the door behind them. It seemed that the news about the missing boy had unnerved her. Maybe the boy was just hiding on the train, as Arianna had done earlier. Surely he was fine. Crow couldn’t be the one Chelmey was searching for... 

“We should stay in here until the train stops,” Catherine decided.

“If you say so...” Arianna settled on the settee.

The three of them sat in silence for a while; Arianna listened for footsteps outside their room, Tony gazed through the window, and Catherine fiddled with her handbag. 

Suddenly, there was a shriek from the room next door. 

Arianna leapt out of her seat and unlocked their door, ignoring Catherine’s protests. 

The shriek sounded like it had belonged to an adult woman— not a teenage girl or a little boy— but Arianna couldn’t sit around while someone else was murdered. 

She would catch Don Paolo in the act and then...then... 

“Don’t you walk away from me!” the woman was screeching. “I want a word with you about your atrocious manners—“

Arianna skidded to a halt outside their neighbour’s doorway. Inspector Chelmey marched past her, followed by a shorter policeman— the man Arianna had disturbed in the dining car. 

He saluted to her and mumbled, “I wouldn’t go in there, Miss...”

“Arianna!” Catherine and Tony appeared behind her. 

“Arianna?” 

Flora, Luke and the professor emerged from the room. 

Each group gawked at the other. Their awkward silence was filled by the woman fawning over ‘Tommykins’... the little poodle Flora had found earlier. 

Flora, who had taken off her scarf and sunglasses, looked quite guilty. Luke was glancing from Arianna to Catherine. 

The professor spoke first. “Miss Yulan...” 

“Professor Layton,” Catherine uttered. Arianna could feel Catherine’s gaze boring into her back.

Arianna swallowed. What did Crow do when his mum met the professor? He had acted like that was part of his plan all along. 

Arianna lifted her hands and exclaimed,“Surprise!” 

“You knew the professor was going to be onboard?” Catherine said. 

Arianna exhaled heavily against the window. She wrote ‘yes’ with her finger in the fogged-up glass. 

“Arianna, will you just answer—“

“Yes,” Arianna said aloud. 

The professor, Luke and Flora had gone out to see why the train had suddenly stopped. Meanwhile, Arianna and Tony were stuck in their room with Catherine. 

“You should have told me,” Catherine chided. 

They had had a similar conversation with the professor when he learned about their not-deceased mother. The professor hadn’t been anywhere near as offended as Catherine was now.

“We’re sorry,” Tony piped up next to Arianna. (He didn’t need to apologise on her behalf!) “It’s just— we were worried about Flora...”

“Why would you be—?” Catherine finally figured it out. She gasped, “The professor is here on an investigation, isn’t he?” 

Arianna glared at Tony. He gave a tiny nod. (Traitor!) Catherine leaned forward in her seat. 

“Y-yes,” Tony confessed with a wince. “He’s searching for a stolen artefact....” 

Catherine’s face softened with relief. 

“...from his... late mentor,” Tony finished reluctantly. 

“Late mentor?” Catherine flared up again. “I hope he died of natural causes?”

“That’s a bit insensitive,” Arianna said under her breath. 

Catherine waited for her to elaborate, but Arianna kept quiet and so did Tony. Their silence was enough evidence for Catherine. 

Catherine sighed as if she was the one who had suffered a loss. “I just wanted to spend one day with you both before I left,” she whined. “Is that too much to ask?”

You had five years to come and see us... 

It was so, so tempting to say that, but instead, Arianna simply turned back to the window. She drew a sad face on the glass. 

“I’ve never been to a festival before,” Flora gushed. “Isn’t it wonderful?” 

“Hmm,” Arianna said. 

There were several festivals celebrated annually in Misthallery:

In Autumn, they had the Harvest Festival, when they would donate food to the less fortunate, and Halloween— a time to exchange ghost stories and sweets. 

At Christmas, a pine tree with lights and baubles would be set up in the plaza, and Santa’s grotto would appear in a house in the forest. (Santa bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Greppe.)

Those who were brave enough— the Black Ravens, mainly— would go skating on the frozen rivers, lakes and maybe even the canals. Homemade decorations, Christmas cards and hot chocolate would be on sale at the market. 

Another peak time for market visitors was in the summer, when Marilyn and her family would hold the ‘Fruit Festival’. Socket and Wrens’ mother had coined the ‘Cake Festival’ following that. 

The Music Festival, the Fishing Contest and Aunt Taffy’s Easter Egg Hunt were held in the Spring. 

Arianna and Tonys’ birthdays had felt like festivals when their mother lived with them. (Before Papa had limited the number of people who could come into contact with Arianna...) Catherine had organised feasts and firework displays for everyone to attend at Barde Manor. 

The festivities had dwindled each year as Papa increased the costs of living in Misthallery. Things had only gotten worse with the spectre attacks. Who would want to celebrate if they had just lost their home? 

After Descole’s defeat, Misthallery was reinvigorated with a sense of unity and jubilation. A new holiday was established to commemorate Loosha and the town’s freedom— ‘Spectre Day’. 

Arianna had yet to attend ‘Spectre Day’ in Misthallery... 

She tried to mirror Flora’s enthusiasm as they a passed under a ‘Dropstone 50th Anniversary!’ banner, but Arianna was all too aware of the rift between their two parties. 

Catherine had stormed on ahead through the village with Tony in tow. The professor and Luke were trailing behind, talking about the Elysian Box. 

Arianna wasn’t sure whether she should help them with the investigation, or if she should try to appease Catherine. 

It was going to take at least three hours for the train to be repaired...

“Oooh, look!” 

Flora tugged on Arianna’s arm and gestured to a booth. This one was selling ‘homemade’ jewellery, hair accessories, chiffon scarves (the kind Catherine liked to wear), bright belts, charms and other fashionable products. 

“...Nice,” said Arianna distractedly as Flora combed through the jewellery. 

Arianna glanced up the hill. How far away had Tony and Catherine gotten—?

“I love these earrings! I wish I had my ears pierced... and these bows are adorable!” 

Something landed on the side of Arianna’s head. Arianna shuddered, thinking it was a bug, and she yanked whatever-it-was out of her hair. She blinked at a shiny silver hair clip with a dark blue bow. “Oh...” 

“Did you think it was a butterfly?” Flora giggled. “It suits you... and these scarves would look good on Tony.” She craned her head up the hill, cupped her hands around her mouth and called, “Hey, Tony? TONYYYY—!”

“What are you shouting for?” Luke wondered. He and the professor had joined them besides the booth. 

Wryly, Arianna explained, “We’re shopping...” (Again.)

“That’s pretty,” Luke said, pointing at the bow Arianna was still holding. Arianna smiled and clipped the bow into her hair again. 

Tony came charging back down the hill. “Are you okay, Flora?” he gasped. Catherine followed him with a sour expression. 

Flora picked up a beige-coloured scarf and tied it around Tony’s neck. Catherine’s frown eased slightly. 

“I hope you’re going to pay for all of that...” A saleswoman wearing a pink bandanna had popped up behind the booth. She took a lick of the strawberry ice cream cone she was holding. Her shrewd gaze never left them. 

“I’ll pay—“ Catherine offered at the same time as Professor Layton. The pair of them stared at each other. Arianna braced herself. 

“Please, let me,” the professor said, pulling out his black wallet. “It’s the least that I can do...”

“...Alright,” Catherine conceded. She turned away from the booth. “But I’m getting everyone an ice cream.” 

By the time all six of them had finished their ice creams, they had wandered up to the village hall plaza and to a field where a livestock competition was being set up.

Occasionally, the professor would ask people about the Elysian Box, and Catherine would pretend not to hear him. 

A friendly postman told them about Mr. Anderson, the wealthy head of the community. Mr. Anderson treated everyone in Dropstone with respect— more than Arianna’s father had done, from the sound of it— but he was concerned about his daughter. She was planning to take a secret trip alone, according to a maid who worked for the Anderson family. 

“Why would she go behind her father’s back like that?” Arianna hummed. Though Arianna had kept secrets from the professor and from Catherine, she would never consider running away from home! (She would never survive on her own, anyway...) 

“Because,” the maid stated defensively, “the young lady mistress wants to fulfil the wishes of her late grandmother.”

“May I enquire what those wishes might have been?” the professor asked.

Pacified by his polite tone, the maid admitted, “Well... I myself have only heard scraps of the story from other people, so I can’t say much...” 

Catherine had been browsing the cow merchandise in the shop, but she paused to look at the maid. 

“Whatever the request,” the maid went on, “it’s one that the young mistress seems to feel is extremely important.” 

“It must be...” Catherine agreed. She glanced at Arianna, before returning her attention to the shop shelves. 

Arianna rolled her eyes. Of course Catherine wouldn’t see a problem with Mr. Anderson’s daughter abandoning her family. 

Catherine didn’t even want to visit the Andersons’ mansion. “We really shouldn’t pry into the family’s private matters...” 

“But Inspector Chelmey and his assistant have already gone up there!” Luke pointed out, as if it was a race. 

“Exactly,” said Catherine, folding her arms. She turned to the professor. “Can we please just leave this investigation to the police?” 

The professor brushed the brim of his hat. “I wish that I could, but—“

“‘A gentleman leaves no puzzle unsolved’— I know,” Catherine sighed. (She hadn’t been impressed by the slew of puzzles they had encountered along the way.)

Once again, she put her arms around Tony and Ariannas’ shoulders. “Why don’t we go back to the cow competition while you question Mr. Anderson?” 

“If that would be preferable...” the professor said neutrally, though his gaze was fixed on Arianna and Tony. Sensing the friction between them, Flora dragged Luke away to observe a field of cows.

Arianna shrugged off Catherine’s arm and placed herself next to the professor. “We’ll visit Mr. Anderson,” Arianna told Catherine, “and catch up with you at the competition later.” 

Arianna looked at Tony. Tony took their mother’s trembling hand. “Can I get a balloon?” Tony mumbled. 

“Yes— of course, darling,” Catherine spluttered, squeezing his hand in return. She tossed Arianna a glance and said, “Stay with the professor.” Tony led Catherine back towards the plaza. 

Arianna and the professor followed Luke and Flora towards the farm entrance. For the first time that day, Arianna found herself alone with the professor. 

The professor murmured, “I was under the impression that you were happy to meet with her today... in London.”

“Plans changed,” Arianna said curtly. Catherine had to learn that the world didn’t revolve around her. The professor frowned and Arianna confessed, “Flora...” (No, she couldn’t pin this all on Flora.) “—We were worried about you after what happened to Dr. Schrader.” 

“Hm...” The professor glanced ahead at Flora and Luke, who were speaking to a man with a backpack. 

Suddenly, as if his feet had gotten heavier, the professor’s gait slowed. His gaze drifted to the wall surrounding the cow field, then to the path leading to the Andersons’ mansion. He sighed and stopped next to Arianna. 

“I’m.... sorry to have worried you,” he said sincerely, “and for leaving home on such short notice.” Finally, he turned to her. “I should have talked to all of you about this...” 

“Me too,” Arianna whispered. They both had room for improvement when it came to talking. Shutting yourself off or running away never solved anything...

“Professor!” Luke called at the top of his voice. “This man said there’s an phantom town somewhere on the Molentary Express line!”

The professor chuckled quietly. “We could all strive to be as overt as Luke.” 

“Houses built on the waterfront are refreshingly cool,” the professor mused as they passed a pond en route to the Andersons’ mansion. 

“Right,” Luke agreed. “Misthallery was freezing in the winter...” 

Arianna nodded. That was one thing she didn’t miss about Misthallery; it had always been colder there, even at the height of summer. By comparison, London was usually much warmer. 

“Brrr,” Flora said, rubbing her arms. “Now that you mention it... Oh, thank you!” The professor had given her his coat. 

Arianna glanced at Luke. Luke looked down at his sweater and back up at Arianna.

“Um...”

“I’m fine!” Arianna snorted. The weather had been a real problem for her before— Papa and Tony wouldn’t let her step foot outside if there was a hint of wind or rain or chill, and even if not, she would still be bundled up in layers— but now, she was perfectly safe. 

“Good,” Luke laughed, his cheeks glowing, “‘cause you’re not having my jumper.” He glanced at the professor, expecting a reminder that ‘a gentleman must always consider a lady’s comfort’. The professor, however, had turned his head towards the mansion on the hill.

Flora wrapped the professor’s coat around her shoulders. “Do you ever change your shorts, Luke?” she pointed out playfully. 

“I like shorts!” Luke retorted. “They’re comfy and easy to wear!” 

Arianna shook her head fondly. Knowing Luke, he had probably worn his shorts to the snowbound town of Froenborg. 

Luke was just a warm person in general. Whenever Arianna was with him, any icy, bitter feelings she might have had melted away. But without him... 

Arianna’s smile wavered as Luke tried to swipe the coat from Flora. She didn’t want to imagine life without Luke again. 

“Sophia built this place from scratch into a village full of warmth and camaraderie,” Mr. Anderson explained. “Dropstone must never be allowed to wither and die like so many other villages...”

As they admired the picturesque hills, the busy stalls, and the people enjoying themselves in the sun, the professor nodded solemnly. His eyes had that regretful look again.

Arianna frowned. Was he thinking about his childhood home? He had been shunned after Randall’s ‘death’ and then Stansbury had become a ghost town... 

Would Misthallery have met a similar fate if the professor hadn’t stepped in? 

When Mr. Anderson had finished reminiscing and bid them good day, Catherine sighed wistfully. “I’m going to miss this...”

By that point, Tony had sucked all of the helium out of his balloon. “You mean Dropstone?” he said in a squeaky voice. Flora snickered into the professor’s coat sleeve. 

“Just... places like this,” Catherine said, gazing around. “It’s so quintessentially British... I doubt there’ll be anything like it in America.” 

“America...?” Luke echoed. 

Catherine glanced from Luke to Arianna, who felt as if she had just been sucked into a sinkhole. Catherine wasn’t about to pull her out of it. 

With a cough, Catherine explained, “I’m moving to Florida in a few months... to start my new job?” She made it sound like a question— hadn’t Arianna told him yet? 

How Arianna wished a stampede of cows would break out to carry Catherine away. But that would still leave her with Luke, looking at her like he was about to cry. 

(Like when she had told him she hated him…)

Finally catching on to their distress, Catherine announced, “I’m going to... grab a drink...” and shot off to one of the stalls, fumbling through her handbag. 

Tony reached out for her, but the professor put a hand on his shoulder. 

“Let’s sit for a moment,” the professor murmured, gesturing to the benches in front of the stage. He pulled Tony and Flora aside, granting Arianna some privacy with Luke. 

But how private could they get with the competition-goers dispersing around them? Arianna swallowed and tried to focus solely on Luke. She couldn’t shut him out and she couldn’t run away. 

Before Arianna could speak, Luke asked, “Are you and Tony going with her?”

Arianna gasped, “No...!” but then she faltered. After their surprise rendezvous today, had Catherine changed her mind about letting them stay with the professor? There hadn’t been any danger on the Molentary Express, but Catherine was still upset, and Tony wanted to spend more time with her...

Luke took Arianna’s hesitation as a bad sign. “W-why didn’t you say anything?” Luke mumbled. A tear shone in the corner of his eye. 

Why hadn’t she said anything to him? 

It was no excuse, but they had all been so busy since the Azran expedition. 

The professor had found out about Catherine and he had been dealing with her. Emmy and Crow had left… Then they had gone to St. Mystere and met Flora. Flora had moved in to the professor’s house. They had reunited with Crow in Misthallery… and now, they were investigating Dr. Schrader’s death and the Elysian Box. 

In all that time, Arianna couldn’t spare a moment to warn Luke that she might have to move to America if things didn’t work out with Catherine.

Maybe Arianna had assumed Crow would spill the beans to Luke, as Crow had done to the professor and, seemingly, Emmy. (Why couldn’t Crow act up when Arianna actually needed him to?) 

Arianna might not be having this conversation at all if Catherine trusted the professor. Catherine had been open to the idea of Professor Layton adopting Arianna and Tony… until today. 

“I didn’t...” Arianna stretched her hand out to Luke. She wanted to wipe his tears away, pull him close, promise that no matter what happened, she would never leave him. “I didn’t think…” 

She didn’t think before dragging Flora, Tony and Catherine onto the Molentary Express. She had ruined everything with her childish scheme. 

“I… I don’t want to leave…” Verging on tears of her own, Arianna covered her mouth. 

“Then don’t!” Luke burst out, attracting some glances from the other festival-goers. “She can’t make you…!” 

Arianna’s next words came out muffled. “No, but she could make things very… difficult for the professor.” 

The professor would fight for Arianna and Tony, but how could Arianna put him through that? What would happen to his reputation? Would Flora be taken away from him as well?

Arianna shook her head. She lowered her palm from her face and looked Luke in the eye.

“Whatever happens…” She took Luke’s hand, squeezing it. “I’ll always be with you.” 

“Luke? Luuuuuuuke?” Flora hollered around the village hall plaza. When Luke failed to appear, Flora sighed and glanced at Arianna. “Where could he have gotten to?” 

Arianna winced. They had lost Luke in a crowd as they left the competition field… or more likely, Luke had slipped away from them. 

If Arianna had hoped to comfort Luke, quoting Melina Whistler’s parting words probably hadn’t been the wisest choice. 

It had seemed fitting in the moment— Melina had been very ill and her parent had refused to let her go, like Arianna. 

Arianna had found solace in Melina’s farewell—Papa and Loosha would always be with her— but Luke might have felt differently. Although he had urged Janice to remember Melina, Luke had never watched a loved one die. 

He had said goodbye to Melina and Loosha— both of whom he had known for a day— and to Emmy… but Emmy was still alive. (Just the other week, she had written to the professor informing him that she had started working for the World Times.) 

The phrase ‘I will always be with you!’  held such a ring of finality. Even if Arianna was on the other side of the world, she would always be with Luke in spirit. They could exchange letters and phone calls and visits when time allowed… but would they still be close? 

Luke must have feared that wouldn’t be the case. 

Tony and Catherine had gone to search for him back at the village shop, while the professor was alerting the staff on the Molentary Express. They definitely wouldn’t be leaving without Luke. 

He had to be around here somewhere…

Arianna tried to retrace their steps since they had gotten off the train in Dropstone— from the station, to the festival stalls, to the path where that old lady had given them the tea set, to the plaza, to the fountain— 

“Oh… Hi, you two!” a voice called behind them.

“Luke!” Arianna spun around, gasping with relief when she saw him. She latched on to his arm before she could lose him again. “I’m sorry— I didn’t mean to upset you!” (She really was awful at comforting people.) 

“S-sorry for running off…” Luke offered her a weak smile. 

“Where were you?” Flora asked him. 

“I went inside the village hall,” Luke explained hastily. “Where’s the professor?” 

Arianna began, “He went to the train—“

“Let’s get back to him. There’s something I need to tell him about the Elysian Box!” 

Luke strode down the hill that led to the station, pulling Arianna with him. 

“Wait…” Arianna said as they waded through the sea of customers around the stalls. “We’re missing Flora—“

“I’m here!” Flora puffed behind her, catching Arianna’s shoulder. 

The three of them must have looked like a band of monkeys, all huddled together, but they made it to the station plaza. 

“What’s happening there?” Arianna wondered when she noticed an assembly of people on the station platform. She recognised some of them from the village… Were they all waiting to board the Molentary Express? Or had the professor recruited them to help find Luke? 

“Oh— that must be Mr. Anderson’s daughter!” Flora pointed to a girl with purple hair at the head of the party. “Katia, was it…?”

Arianna frowned slightly. How could the servants happily send Katia off, knowing Mr. Anderson was sick with worry?

(Had any of the staff at Barde Manor been aware that Catherine was going to leave five years ago—?)

Arianna’s thoughts were cut off by the train’s shrill whistle, followed by the conductor declaring, “ALL ABOARD— PASSENGERS FOR THE MOLENTARY EXPRESS!” 

“Come on!” Luke dashed towards the train, with Arianna and Flora still in tow, and he hopped into the third carriage. Arianna released his hand before he could drag her onboard.

“What about Tony?” Arianna said, glancing back at the station plaza. She added, as a mumble, “And Catherine?”

Luke huffed. “They’ll catch up…” 

“They went looking for you,” Flora informed him. 

“Well, I’m going to look for the professor,” Luke said. He marched off down the train. 

Flora tutted. “He and the professor really are joined at the hip…” 

Arianna and Flora watched as Katia carried her bag onto the train. The servants continued to wave to her through the window. 

The conductor made another announcement on his microphone. “FIVE MINUTES TILL WE HIT THE ROAD, FOLKS!” 

Finally, Tony and Catherine came rushing onto the platform. They stumbled to a stop in front of Arianna and Flora. 

“We couldn’t find Luke anywhere,” Tony wailed, gripping the ends of his hair. 

Catherine was almost bent over double, out of breath. She panted, “Maybe we should call— his parents?”

“It’s ok,” Flora said. “We bumped into Luke in the plaza! He’s on the train with the professor now.”

“Oh…” Catherine sighed with a mixture of relief and irritation. She slowly straightened up. “I still have half a mind to call his parents. We could wait for them here, and then get the next train back to London—“

“What do you mean ‘we’?” Arianna interrupted. 

“I mean you, Tony, Luke and I,” Catherine clarified. “…And Flora, if she wishes.” 

Flora shuffled onto the carriage. “I’ll, um, go get Luke and the professor!” She sped off through the train, leaving Arianna and Tony alone with their mother. 

“We are staying with the professor,” Arianna seethed. Tony looked down at his feet. 

“Where is he going now?” Catherine demanded. 

To the reputed ‘phantom town’ somewhere along the train line… 

“To Luxenbelle,” Arianna said quickly, recalling the next official station. 

“And what does he intend to do there?”

“To… to meet with a trusted colleague,” Arianna tried. She glanced at Tony, hoping he would back her up. 

Catherine stared at her, sharp-eyed. “I can tell when you’re lying, Arianna—“

“You don’t know a single thing about me!” Arianna snarled, tears pricking her eyes and distorting Catherine’s form before her. She imagined her mother as a hornet invading their family hive. 

A hand gently touched her arm. Arianna blinked at Tony. 

“You can go with the professor,” Tony whispered. “I’ll stay here with her.” 

“Tony…” Arianna sniffled. This wasn’t Catherine tearing them apart— as much as it felt like it. Tony was making a mature compromise for all of them. 

“What is going on here?” Professor Layton had appeared in the carriage entranceway. He glanced from Arianna, to Tony, to Catherine. 

Tony moved back from the train. Arianna took a step into the carriage. Surging forward, Catherine caught Arianna’s wrist. 

“I… I know you blame me,” Catherine said thickly, “and you’re trying to get back at me—“ 

“Not everything is about you,” Arianna growled. She wrenched her arm away. “Just stay here with Tony. Don’t you dare leave him—“

“BETTER TAKE YOUR SEATS!” the conductor boomed. “DOORS ARE CLOSIN’ IN TEN, NINE…” 

Arianna slipped past the professor in the carriage entrance. The professor didn’t obstruct the entrance, but Catherine would have to shove him aside if she wanted to pursue Arianna. 

“…SIX, FIVE…”

Thankfully, Catherine stepped down from the carriage. The professor told her firmly, “We will discuss this when we are all back in London.” 

“Look after my daughter, Professor.” It could have been a plea or a warning. 

“…TWO… ONE!”

The carriage doors closed. A horn blared and the train pulled away from the platform. 

Arianna peered out the window as Tony and Catherine faded into the distance with the village of Dropstone. 

As she joined the professor, Luke and Flora in their room, Arianna wondered if she had made the right decision. Tony would be better off in Dropstone, wouldn’t he? Even if Catherine happened to desert him— or if Tony ditched her— the villagers were approachable and Mr. Anderson was a responsible parent. 

Plus, Tony was capable of looking after himself for a few hours if need be. He had snuck around Misthallery on his own at the age of eight, and that was during the spectre robot attacks. Dropstone seemed much safer than Misthallery… and wherever this ‘phantom town’ was. 

Still, without Tony, Arianna couldn’t shake the fear that a vital part of her was missing.

“I don’t think Inspector Chelmey would have liked my papa,” Flora whispered.

They watched from the antique shop’s threshold as Chelmey stormed after Barton. Katia, freed from Chelmey’s interrogation, sighed with relief and took off down the promenade. 

“What makes you say that?” Arianna wondered dryly. 

Back in Dropstone, Chelmey had scornfully called Mr. Anderson ‘his baronship’ and he had deemed the livestock competition a ‘frivolous distraction for the rich’. At least Mr. Anderson had given something back to his community! 

Baron Reinhold had built an entire village just for Flora. Arianna’s father had built his own fortune on the backs of Misthallery’s residents. 

If Chelmey disliked Mr. Anderson, he would have loathed Evan Barde. 

Professor Layton hummed. “The inspector must ensure there is no inequity when it comes to people of interest. He is somewhat justified, given the recent… corruption uncovered at Scotland Yard.”

“C-corruption?” Flora squeaked as they started walking to museum. 

The professor began, “I’ll explain later—“

“A member of an criminal organisation infiltrated Scotland Yard,” Arianna told the flabbergasted Flora. (They couldn’t leave Flora out of the loop!) 

“Oh, well…” The professor coughed. “Go on then, Arianna…”

“Keh heh heh! Now there’s a couple of mugs I’ve—“

“Stachen!” Flora exclaimed, clasping her hands on the moustached man’s shoulders. “What are you doing out here?” 

Arianna hissed to the professor, “Did he follow us all the way from St. Mystere?” 

Could the robots even survive outside the village? Arianna narrowed her eyes at ‘Stachen’. Was it Don Paolo attempting to fool them with another disguise? He and Stachen definitely had a similar-sounding laugh…

Flora didn’t seem suspicious. She gave Stachen a small shake. “You need to go home, Mister.” 

Stachen spluttered, “C-can I just get a cup of tea first? You’ve got that swanky tea set, right?” 

“How long had he been stalking us?” Arianna demanded. 

“Alright…” Flora agreed. She pulled the tea set out of the professor’s trunk. “One cup of tea and then you’ll leave.” 

“I had no idea robots enjoyed tea so much,” the professor mused quietly as Flora brewed Stachen a cup of Citrus Classic. 

“I have no idea if he’s actually a robot,” Arianna muttered. 

Stachen and the rest of St. Mystere’s residents all seemed so… human. They were just like Aurora in that regard. 

Aurora could be unworldly and reserved, but Arianna never would have guessed she was an Azran golem. (Gale was more similar to the typical ‘golem’ archetype.) 

Frowning, Arianna fiddled with the belt around her turquoise dress. 

Poor Aurora…

How were she and the other golems finding life at the sanctuary? Did they mind acting as ‘guides’ in Crow’s tourist attraction? Had Professor Sycamore discovered a way to free Aurora yet? (Wasn’t he supposed to be an expert on the Azran?) 

Arianna would have to write a letter to Aurora and ask Gale to deliver it… 

(If they ever made it out of Folsense.)

“There we are! As requested, I have provided you with a hat.” 

“Huh?”

The bouncer peered down at the paper hat Professor Layton had just handed him. He gave the professor a flat look, as did Flora and Arianna. 

“Please, Professor,” Flora groaned. “I really want to try this restaurant!”

“Apologies, Flora, but I’m not taking off my hat.”

Arianna snorted, “He didn’t even take it off when we went to watch an opera!” (…Much to the annoyance of the audience members sitting behind him.)

The professor clutched the brim of his hat. “It takes a very special occasion for this hat to come off. That’s all I have to say on the matter.” 

He thanked the bouncer and continued down the cobbled street. With one last wistful glimpse at the restaurant, Arianna and Flora trailed after him. (Hopefully Luke had found some food at the hotel!) 

Flora whispered in Arianna’s ear, “Why is that hat so important to him?” 

“I’m not sure,” Arianna murmured. Arianna had never really questioned it before. The hat just seemed to be a part of who the professor was, like Luke’s cap, Crow’s scarf, or Flora’s ribbon. 

In the three years Arianna had known him, Professor Layton had always worn his top hat. But surely he didn’t wear it when he was sleeping or when he was in the shower?

Arianna had seen photos of the professor during his pre-top hat years. As a teenager, his hair had resembled a bird’s nest, but he had cut it sometime after high school (after Randall’s fall). During university, he had donned a red cap— a gift from Brenda— before he had taken up the top hat. 

Had he started losing his hair in his late twenties? It was unlikely— the professor looked fairly young for his age— 

Arianna’s brain slammed to a halt right there, as if she had just invaded the professor’s privacy. The professor didn’t have to share absolutely everything with them. 

“It doesn’t matter,” Arianna dismissed. Flora pouted, but Arianna refused to pursue the topic any further. 

Flora would just have to ask Grandma or Grandpa about the professor’s hat, or maybe Luke’s parents… 

Arianna clenched her fists as she recalled Catherine’s plan to contact Clark and Brenda. They wouldn’t be angry at the professor too, would they? 

Yes, Luke had been upset earlier in Dropstone (Thanks, Catherine!) and he was feeling under the weather right now, but that wasn’t the professor’s fault. Luke would be safer at the hotel then they were out here. He would be back to his usual self after a bit of rest!

“Why would Inspector Chelmey go through the garbage?” Flora pondered as the professor clambered up the mountain of rubbish. (He had volunteered to save Flora and Arianna from getting dirty.) 

Arianna shrugged. Maybe Chelmey wanted to find some junk to spiff up and sell on the Black Market? 

Arianna smirked. Crow would have loved Folsense with its tales of treasures and ghosts. He would even take on the vampire who (allegedly) lived in the castle if it meant getting hold of the Herzen family fortune…

“Here— we go!” With a grunt, the professor climbed back down, clutching the photo scrap. 

Using their newly-repaired camera, Arianna snapped a photo of the rubbish pile. She planned to send the photo to Crow with a message: ‘You would feel right at home here!’ 

The teacup that the professor had passed Arianna trembled in her hands. 

‘Luke’ let out a laugh— maniacal, mocking and so unlike Luke. It chilled Arianna to the bone.  

How could they not realise…? ‘Luke’ had been blunt and distant since they had left Dropstone. Even if he’d been feeling unwell, the real Luke still would have wanted to explore Folsense with them. And how would Luke have known what the Elysian Box truly looked like? 

If only Tony was here, or if he had caught sight of ‘Luke’ at Dropstone station… They could have discovered the imposter sooner and gone to find Luke. 

Had Luke been imprisoned somewhere in Dropstone? Was he hurt? 

As Don Paolo (Because of course it was Don Paolo!) discarded his Luke-disguise, Arianna’s dread was submerged by her rage. 

“YOU!” she yelled, her voice resonating around the hotel lobby. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LUKE?” 

At first, Don Paolo didn’t even acknowledge Arianna. “Curse you, Layton!” he growled. “Curse you and that foppish hat of yours—!”

Arianna hurled the teacup at him. Don Paolo dodged the cup and it smashed against the staircase (much to the dismay of the hotel clerk). 

Turning to Arianna, Don Paolo pursed his lips. “Nice try, little missy!”

“WHERE’S LUKE?” 

“Oh, your boyfriend?” Don Paolo jabbed a vague thumb over his shoulder. “He’s back in Dropstone, probably chatting to some cows in that barn I left him in.” 

Arianna exhaled with relief. Luke was alright— apparently. Could they believe Don Paolo, after he had murdered Dr. Schrader? 

Then, however, Don Paolo claimed that Dr. Schrader had simply been sleeping on the floor of his flat. Rather than calling an ambulance, Don Paolo had stolen the Elysian Box. 

Murderer or not, that confession was reason enough for Inspector Chelmey to arrest Don Paolo. Well, Chelmey tried to arrest him, but Don Paolo managed to slip away. (Inspector Grosky would have kept hold of him!) 

In his struggle to escape, Don Paolo dropped an embellished golden box. 

“Well, look at that!” the professor exclaimed as Flora went to scoop up the box. Arianna was about to stop her— The Elysian Box may have killed Dr. Schrader!— but then she remembered that Don Paolo had been carrying the box and he seemed fine. (Still a wanted criminal, but otherwise fine.)

As long as they didn’t open the box, then they wouldn’t suffer the same fate as Dr. Schrader… right? 

Arianna frowned as the professor examined the box, his fingers tracing the gilded lid with the ominous goat emblem. The goat’s jewelled green eyes and its blood red horns gave the impression of a demon. 

Arianna didn’t believe in mythical monsters, but she knew the Azran had left behind all sorts of deadly creations— ruins, sword-wielding mummies, the golems… Although these creations weren’t necessarily ‘evil’, they still had to be treated with care. 

“Don’t,” Arianna hissed to the professor. She couldn’t bear to lose him as he had lost Dr. Schrader.

If anything happened to the professor, Arianna and Tony would definitely be placed in Catherine’s care. None of them would be content with that outcome. As stringent as she could be, Catherine wouldn’t want Professor Layton to die. 

“Please, don’t!” Flora gasped in agreement, grabbing the professor’s arm. 

The professor looked from the box to the pair of them. “Fear not,” he whispered reassuringly. “I have a theory—“

At that moment, Mr. Beluga waddled towards them. He demanded for them to hand the Elysian Box over to him, as it belonged to his family— the Herzens— and he was a son of the late duke. 

Arianna nodded. Whether Mr. Beluga’s story was true or not, she was more than willing to part with the box and get back to Dropstone. To find Luke and Tony. 

The only way out of Folsense was via the Molentary Express, owned by Mr. Beluga. They didn’t want to anger him… 

The professor was just about to give Beluga the box, when the hotel clerk poked his nose in to disagree. If anyone had a rightful claim to the box, it was the current duke of Folsense himself. Apparently, Mr. Beluga had turned his back on Folsense and his family, forfeiting his right to the Herzen fortune. 

While Mr. Beluga was sneering and swinging his cane around, Katia Anderson stepped forward to ask if she could have the Elysian Box. 

Had all of these people abandoned their families in search of the box? (Even the professor had, to some extent…)

Arianna sighed. 

When Arianna turned five, her mother had given her a stuffed doll with brown yarn hair and a pink dress. Arianna had lovingly named the doll ‘Winnie’.

She had taken Winnie wherever she went; to bed, to mealtimes, to the lake, to school, to parties, to London, on holiday… But then, one day, Winnie went missing. 

Arianna was sure she had lent Winnie to Tony. He might have dropped Winnie while he was having a tantrum! 

Her parents had searched high and low, retraced their steps, and spoken to the police, but Winnie was gone forever.

Arianna was heartbroken. She begged her parents to hire a ‘detective’ to help find Winnie, but Papa just said they would buy her a brand new toy. 

Arianna didn’t want a new toy. She wanted Winnie! 

She holed herself up in her bedroom, refusing to come out, until her mother caught her hiding behind the curtains.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t find Winnie, darling…” her mother whispered. She was holding her hands behind her back. “But, I did manage to find Winnie’s friend.”

She showed Arianna what she was holding— a doll with short brown hair and a blue outfit. 

Arianna blinked. The doll wasn’t Winnie, but it looked very much like her. They could have been twins! 

Slowly, Arianna accepted the doll from her mother. It felt just as soft as Winnie too…

Her mothered hummed. “I wonder what his name is…?” 

“W-William…” Arianna mumbled. “No, Wilbur!”

“Wilbur— that’s brilliant!” Her mother laughed warmly. (Arianna couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed like that.) 

Arianna crawled out from behind the curtains. She stood up, hugging Wilbur against her chest. “Wilbur said, ‘Thank you, Mummy’.”

“Do you and Wilbur want to come down for dinner?” Her mother held out her hand. 

Arianna took it. “Okay…”

Wilbur had remained in Arianna’s room for years, even after Catherine moved out. It was only when Arianna left Misthallery that she had passed the doll on to the Black Ravens. 

Eerily, there was a doll at the Herzen Museum that resembled Wilbur and Winnie. 

Arianna peered at the doll through the glass casing. The wispy brown hair, the dotted black eyes, and the stitched-on smile did seem familiar, but the pink dress was too faded. Ancient, like everything else in the museum. 

Maybe this doll had belonged to a child in the Herzen family. It couldn’t have been either of the ones Arianna had lost. The dolls weren’t haunting her, like something out of those sensational stories Flora enjoyed reading. 

Still, seeing the doll confined within the glass made Arianna quiver. 

Had Luke managed to escape from that barn in Dropstone (if Don Paolo was to be believed)? Had he met up with Tony and Catherine? Or was Luke still trapped— alone and possibly injured? 

He had been so upset the last time Arianna had talked to him… and then, Arianna had left him behind, after promising she would always be with him. 

She had been so preoccupied with Catherine— with herself — that she hadn’t noticed her closest friend was acting out of character. 

The professor had tried to assure her that it wasn’t her fault, and Luke would be alright. Luke was no stranger to doors fitted with puzzle locks. Plus, he had the cows to assist him! 

Either way, no one could return to Dropstone until Mr. Beluga allowed the Molentary Express to move. He was in too much of a mood after losing the Elysian Box and his conductor…

Arianna frowned when they saw a photo of the Herzen family on the museum’s first floor. 

“Looks like Mr. Beluga has always been short,” Flora tittered. 

“Was he always so short-tempered?” Arianna grumbled. 

As if sensing her distaste, the museum curator, Grinko, shuffled over to enlighten them. 

Grinko lamented about how Beluga had cut all ties with his father, the late Duke Herzen, before leaving town fifty years ago. Beluga— formerly Fredrich Herzen— had changed his name, but returned to Folsense to found the museum in honour of his family. Fredrich didn’t see eye to eye with his father, but apparently, he and his older brother, Anton were always quite close. 

Again, Arianna looked at the family photo. The young Fredrich was tugging at his green suit jacket as if he had been forced to wear it. Anton— a regal figure with long blonde hair and light blue eyes— had placed his hand on Fredrich’s head. Both of them were smiling. 

Despite the feud with their father, the brothers still had each other. 

A smile crept across Arianna’s face. She remembered trying to get Tony to pose for a photo years ago. He had been much shorter than her back then, so Papa had placed him on a stool. Tony could barely sit still. 

That photo was hanging in the professor’s hallway now. 

Arianna glanced at the professor. He had a wistful smile of his own. 

If he and his brother could team up to take on Leon Bronev, after years of strife, then there was no reason why Arianna and Tony couldn’t handle Catherine. 

The grocer was elated when they exited his shop, ten pounds shorter and garbed in garlic. 

Arianna grimaced at the clove garland Flora had thrown over her neck. 

“Is this… really necessary, Flora?” 

Flora nodded firmly. “Van Helsing swears by it!” She tightened the string of garlic pieces around her waist. She was also wearing garlic bracelets and she had stuffed some cloves into her boots. “We need all the protection we can get from that vampire.”

They wouldn’t even be allowed inside the castle smelling as bad as they did…

Arianna raised an eyebrow at the professor. There was a ring of garlic cloves surrounding the red trim of his hat. 

Shielding his mouth and his nose with his handkerchief, he coughed, “Let’s… let’s be off, then.” 

No one came within five steps of them as they proceeded to Herzen Castle. If garlic didn’t drive the so-called vampire away, the stench definitely would. 

Folsense’s mine was much more impressive than Misthallery’s meagre excavation site. 

The dig team searching for the Golden Garden had been hopeless, but here in Folsense, the miners had constructed mechanical doors, mine cart tracks, a lift, a giant vault and all sorts of machinery. 

Everything seemed so professional and efficient. The gold deposit had brought prosperity to Folsense. The late Duke Herzen was lauded for his achievements…

What had happened to this thriving town? 

In the vault was a journal left by a miner. The miner described how they had unearthed an unknown ore and the townspeople had become deathly ill. 

Folsense had been cursed to fall in to ruin. 

“But…” Arianna swallowed as she contemplated the miner’s last words. “But the town isn’t— wasn’t really cursed, was it?” Had the miners accidentally unleashed some sort of ancient evil, like the Azran Legacy?

Flora gasped. She clutched her garlic bracelet and uttered a prayer to ward off the curse.  

“A figure of speech, I believe,” the professor muttered. He studied the journal again. “This last entry is dated from about fifty years ago. Any traces of such a disease should have vanished by now… Still, we shouldn’t dawdle here.” He closed the journal and deferentially returned it to the vault. 

Arianna felt the overwhelming urge to wash her hands on their way out of the mine. Where was some disinfectant when you needed it? 

“Professor!” Flora exclaimed, her breath curling in the cold air. “What happened to your garlic garland? And yours, Arianna!” 

Arianna and the professor looked at each other guiltily. 

“Oh…!” the professor gasped. He adjusted his bare hat. “It must have fallen off while we were crossing that frozen lake.” 

“And mine,” Arianna sighed. “I slipped somewhere back there…” (In actual fact, she had flung her garlic necklace as far away as she could.)

Flora tutted. “It’s too late to turn back now. We’ll just have to hope I have enough garlic for the three of us.” She marched on ahead to the looming gothic castle. 

At least they could rest assured that Flora wouldn’t be kidnapped like Luke. Any ruffians who dared approach Flora would be knocked out by the reek of garlic.

 “You ARE NOT a vampire!” Arianna snarled, straining against the ropes binding her arms behind her back. 

Anton Herzen was as much a vampire as she was a witch. There had to be some other explanation for why he hadn’t aged— maybe he was using cosmetics, or he was a robot... 

If only Tony or Flora were here... or Luke. 

As Anton smirked down at her, Arianna feared that she might never see the three of them again. Anton couldn’t be a vampire, but he could still hurt Arianna and the professor. 

Arianna recoiled when Anton reached for her chin. 

“Stop—!” the professor shouted, struggling on the other side of the storage room. 

“Why should I?” Anton taunted, turning to the professor. “You brought your daughters here, knowing the risks...”

“I’m sorry...” The professor looked past Anton— at Arianna. “I didn’t consider their safety, or the... the disturbance we would cause when we entered your house. Please, just leave Arianna out of this— she’s not well...” 

Trying not to shiver, Arianna stared back at the professor. Even if Anton believed that— That she was too feeble to eat?— she wouldn’t abandon the professor.

Anton hummed. Thankfully, he drew his hand back from Arianna and straightened up. 

“I lost my father to the disease that struck this town…” Anton murmured. 

What about your brother? Arianna was about to remind him, but then she thought better of it. Explaining how she and the professor had met Mr. Beluga— Fredrich Herzen— would require answering a barrage of questions on both ends.

How could Mr. Beluga be so old, while Anton still appeared to be in his late twenties? Who was that young woman Anton had been dancing with at the ball? Why had she resembled Katia Anderson so much? What had happened to make Anton like… this?

Nothing made sense here. Arianna held her tongue, though. She didn’t want to incite Anton’s wrath any more than they already had. 

Anton clenched his fists. “I will allow you some time to grieve, but I cannot forgive those who wish to pillage what remains of Folsense.” 

He strode out of the room and locked the door behind him. 

The professor waited for a moment, before he whispered, “I truly am sorry, Arianna. I should have listened to your mother…” 

The brim of his top hat was obscuring his eyes, but he glanced up when Arianna sighed, “Don’t say that. We wouldn’t let you go alone—“

The pair of them froze when they heard the door unlock. They turned as the door swung open, both dreading Anton’s return. (That was barely any time at all!) 

Flora peeked her head inside the storage room. “A-are you okay?” she squeaked. 

“Flora,” Arianna gasped, relief washing over her. 

“Shhhh!” Flora put her finger to her lips and she scampered over to Arianna. “The duke didn’t seem to hear me, but he could be back any minute…”

“How were you able to evade him?” the professor asked in a low voice. 

As she untied Arianna, Flora explained sheepishly, “So, I couldn’t sleep with… with all that garlic on me. I went looking for a bathroom to wash it off, but when I got back to the guest room, y-you two were gone.” 

Arianna snorted. She was very glad Flora had disposed of her garlic adornments. There wouldn’t be any escape from the stink in this small room. 

Arianna rubbed her arms when her ropes fell away. (Hopefully the red marks would fade before Catherine saw them…) 

“Thank you, dear,” the professor breathed as Flora untied him as well. “We’re extremely fortunate to have you with us.” 

Chapter Text

No sooner had the professor drawn a sword, Anton struck. The clash of their blades carried through the great hall.

“I didn’t think you had it in you, Mr. Layton,” Anton sneered as he pressed against the professor’s sword.

Arianna watched from behind the staircase banister with Flora and Katia.

She wasn’t sure if the professor did have it in him…

The professor had been fencing since he was a teenager. He had fought Descole several times, but for all they knew, his brother may have been going easy on him.

Anton Herzen appeared to be an immortal vampire-man. (Despite Katia’s denials…) He had restrained the professor and Arianna in a storage room less than an hour ago.

Hershel Layton was a thirty-seven-year-old archaeology professor who lived off puzzles and tea.

The professor clenched his teeth. His wrist shook as he tried to parry Anton’s attack.  Finally, the pair of them broke apart.

Arianna allowed herself to breathe, until Anton flew at the professor again, and again, and again. (“How is he so fast?” Flora gasped.) The professor managed to deflect each blow, forcing Anton down the grand staircase.

They circled each other at a breakneck speed, trading more blows. The floor was freshly polished beneath them— just as slippery as the frozen lakes outside.

“Professor!” Arianna and Flora cried out when he lost his footing.

“Stay back, all of—  augh!”

Arianna didn’t know what had happened, until Anton shifted, and she saw a slash in the professor’s top hat. Her eyes widened. That had nearly been the professor’s head. 

“Stop!” Katia yelled. She attempted to run to the professor’s aid, but Flora was clinging to her arm with fright.

Arianna glanced from Katia, to Anton, to the professor. He was holding his hat to conceal it from their view.

Arianna caught the professor’s gaze. He looked deliberately towards the front doors. He wanted the three of them to escape.

Not without him.

Arianna rushed to Anton’s sword-display. All of the swords, aside from the professor’s, were fake. That didn’t matter— Arianna knew she couldn’t actually fight…

There was a sword with a red sheaf on the left. Arianna grabbed the hilt with both hands and pulled. No good— it was stuck.

Arianna moved on to the larger brown-sheathed sword in the middle.

“Arianna, what are you doing?” Flora exclaimed, dashing to her side. Katia followed.

“LAYTOOOON!” (You knew things were serious when a villain screamed like that.) 

“Causing— a distraction!” Arianna grunted. The brown-sheathed sword wouldn’t budge either.

Puffing, Arianna pushed her hair out of her face. Her hair…

Katia protested, “You can’t hurt Anton!”

“—Sophia belongs to me!” Anton bellowed below them. “You can’t have her!” (Oh, so it was perfectly fine if Anton hurt the professor…)

“I won’t!” Arianna snapped. She ripped the blue bow clip out of her hair. The clip was silver and sharp— rather like a knife.

Arianna turned her head towards the sound of the sword-fight.

Anton had backed the professor up another flight of stairs.

Arianna, Flora and Katia ran after them.

When the three of them reached the top of the stairs, Arianna growled, “Anton Herzen!”

Anton threw a glare over his shoulder.

Clutching the bow in her hand, so that only the clip was visible, Arianna pointed her ‘blade’ at Katia’s neck. Katia tensed beside her.

“Sophia…!” Anton gasped, facing them fully. Fear flashed through his faint green eyes.

“If you don’t want to see your dear Sophia harmed,” Arianna called, “then you’ll leave the professor alone.”

“Arianna— don’t!” the professor shouted from behind Anton. Flora— pale and petrified— looked from the professor to Arianna.

It was an empty threat— Of course Arianna wouldn’t hurt Katia!— but Anton didn’t know that. He really believed Katia was his beloved Sophia, who had left him waiting for so long…

“Drop your sword,” Arianna ordered. She poked the clip against Katia’s throat.

In reality, Arianna must have looked about as intimidating as a child playing pirates. Katia was taller than Arianna in her high-heeled shoes. Not to mention, Katia could easily walk back down the stairs if she wanted to…

But Anton thought the threat was real. (It was wrong, extorting someone like this— Descole and Emmy had done this— even if it was working…)

Anton’s grip on his sword had loosened. If the professor was quick, he could disarm Anton…

“Please, just stop,” Katia whispered. She was staring at Anton— clearly addressing him— but Anton’s face twitched with fury.

Fist tightening around his sword’s hilt, he roared at Arianna, “GET AWAY FROM HER!”

He raised his sword. Arianna squeaked and dropped the bow clip. It didn’t matter. Anton was already charging at her like an oncoming train. The professor hurtled after him.

Katia shielded Arianna with her body, shouting, “Grandfather— NO!”

Someone fell to the floor. Anton grunted with pain.

Arianna peeked out from behind Katia. Flora straightened up beside Anton. Had she tripped Anton over with her leg?

Arianna sent Flora a grateful smile.

While Anton was sprawled across his hands and knees, the professor grabbed his sword.

“W-what’s happened to me?” Anton panted, struggling to sit up. He looked tired and confused and sad. Despite everything, Arianna felt a twinge of pity for him.

Katia knelt next to Anton. “Grandfather,” she repeated gently. “You don’t understand…”

Anton wasn’t a monster. He had created the whole ‘vampire’ facade to scare off those who wished to steal the Herzen fortune. He had just wanted to protect his home and his family’s legacy.

As Katia explained that his youth and his surroundings were an illusion, Arianna’s pity bloomed into sympathy. Anton… wasn’t in the best frame of mind, to put it delicately.

The professor took over from there, detailing how the miners in Folsense had unknowingly hit a vein of hallucinogenic gas while they were digging for gold.

Folsense wasn’t cursed— not literally … but everyone in town had been affected by the gas, including Arianna, the professor and Flora from the moment they arrived. Their impressions of Folsense were formed by the fifty-year-old photos they had seen at the train station.

The station, the town, Herzen Castle… None of it existed anymore. The residents they had spoken to were little more than ghosts of the past.

Anton had been trapped here, alone and grief-stricken, for fifty years.

Was it any wonder that he had lashed out at Professor Layton? Hadn’t Arianna done the same thing when the professor first spoke to her? When Luke tried to comfort her after her papa’s death?

As if Arianna couldn’t relate to the troubled duke enough, Anton then revealed that Sophia— Katia’s grandmother— had ‘left him for another’.

“You’ve got it all wrong, Grandfather…”

Katia clarified that Sophia had never betrayed him. Sophia had just left without informing Anton she was carrying their child— Katia’s mother. (This was more convoluted than the professor’s family history!)

According to Katia, Sophia had kept the baby a secret to avoid causing Anton more pain.

“How could she…?” Arianna murmured. Katia raised an eyebrow at her. Arianna shuffled down the stairs before she could offend Katia, or set Anton off again.

Halfway down the staircase, Arianna sat and crossed her arms over her chest.

How could Sophia leave without telling Anton the truth? How was it ‘less painful’ for him to be kept in the dark, convinced he was cursed and unloved? While he was already suffering from his disease…

Someone perched on the step above Arianna’s.  

Flora whispered, “Can I…?” When Arianna nodded, Flora sat beside her, pressing her shoulder against Arianna’s.

“It wasn’t right… how she left him,” Flora said falteringly. Her fingers brushed beneath her collarbone. “But it sounds like she was desperate, and— and she made a rash decision to protect their child.”

Like how Flora’s father had isolated her in a robot village when he was on death’s doorstep?

Sophia had felt the need to escape from Folsense with her baby— that part, at least, was justifiable.

What was Catherine’s excuse? Could she not handle raising a sickly child? Did her hatred for Papa outweigh her love for Arianna and Tony? Were they all just hindering her ambitions—?

Arianna and Flora leapt up when Anton erupted behind them.

“I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR LIES…!”

In his rage, Anton had cut the chains holding the huge chandelier above the ballroom. The chandelier had fallen through the floor below. Now, the whole castle was collapsing faster than Flora’s tower.

This isn’t Anton’s fault, Arianna reminded herself as all five of them fled through the crumbling hallways.

Arianna shot a glance back at Anton; he was struggling to run alongside Katia…

Something— A piece of debris?— caused Arianna to trip. The ground rushed up to meet her. She threw her hands out, scraping the skin off her palms and her knees. The pain made her whimper.

(Why hadn’t she tried to roll like the professor always did?)

“Arianna!”

Flora and the professor were instantly by her side.

The professor bent down and lifted Arianna onto his back.

There wasn’t time for Arianna to be embarrassed. She clung to the professor’s back as he and Flora rushed after Katia and Anton, who were waiting for them up ahead.

One positive arose from Anton ruining his home; all of the debris fell into the mine beneath the castle, sealing off the gas.

When the fumes dispersed, the dust settled, and the lights of Folsense faded away, Anton’s true form was revealed.

He had just been a frail, confused old man that whole time.

Horrified by his own appearance, Anton fell to his knees at the edge of the forest.

Arianna, filled with shame, climbed down from the professor’s back. She clenched her teeth as her hands and knees stung.

The professor tried to examine her very minor injuries as the sun began to rise, but Arianna moved away from him. (He was the one who had almost had his head sliced off!)

Sighing, the professor adjusted his damaged top hat. Anton had left a cut right above the red ribbon. It looked like the hat had grown a mouth.

The professor didn’t show any resentment towards Anton, though. He simply went to return the Elysian Box to him.

Like Folsense, the box was never actually cursed. The professor suspected that traces of the hallucinogenic gas could be found within the box. Anyone who had opened it would be subjected to the fumes. Those expecting death would fulfil their own grim predictions.

(So, did that mean there was hope for Dr. Schrader…?)

Anton assured them that the box was far from ordinary, however; it contained a hidden message meant only for Sophia.

Even if the box hadn’t been stolen and it had reached Sophia, would she have bothered reading Anton’s words?

Arianna’s fingers curled painfully as if she was clutching an invisible pencil.

In the months following Catherine’s departure, Arianna had written dozens of letters:

‘Dear Mummy, please come home soon. Tony and I miss you terribly…’

‘Dear Mum, I’m feeling a bit better now that the shock has worn off. Papa said we have the best doctors on hand…’

‘To Mum, Papa doesn’t want me to take my piano exam— he thinks it will be too stressful. If you were here, you could hear me play, and you could persuade him…”

‘Dear Mrs Catherine Barde, I am writing to you from Misthallery’s police office. We have searched your entire manor, but we couldn’t find any of your personal belongings. Have you taken everything with you? We have reason to believe your belongings have been stolen. Please respond so that we may investigate…’

‘Hi Mum, I understand that you and Papa have gotten a divorce, but why couldn’t you stay in Misthallery? There’s the hotel…’

‘Mum, I can’t believe you didn’t turn up for Tony’s birthday! Papa said half of the presents were off you, but I’m not sure…’

‘ Where are you? ’

Papa had promised he would send the letters as soon as he found out Catherine’s new address. Arianna had never received a reply, however…

“The sun rises when you and I meet, and when the wind blows, you will know my heart,” Anton rasped. His voice had lost its imposing tone, but it still hooked Arianna’s attention.

Anton handed the Elysian Box to Flora. Flora inspected the box, echoing Anton’s riddle.

After a few minutes, Flora shook her head and offered Katia the box. “D-do you want to try…?”

“You can do it,” Katia said, smiling at her.

Flora blushed and almost dropped the box. She caught it upside down.

“Oh…!” she gasped when she saw the base of the box. There were three golden figures— a man, a woman and a sun.

Flora adjusted them so that the couple were facing each other and the sun rose between them.

The man and the woman must have represented Anton and Sophia… Still, Arianna couldn’t help imagining herself and Luke in their places, separated by the sea.

Flora sighed, “Now what—?”

The figures shuddered and something clicked inside the box. A secret compartment popped open, containing two folded sheets of paper.

Slowly, Anton read the letters. He exclaimed, “This isn’t the letter I wrote! This is Sophia’s handwriting…!”

Though the illusion had lifted from Folsense, the Herzen Museum hadn’t deteriorated as much as the other buildings in town.

The lanterns had been extinguished outside the museum’s front gates, the fountain had dried up, and there were no lights on inside, but other than that, the establishment itself was still intact. There were no signs that anyone had broken in, unlike at the antique shop or the hotel.

The professor suggested that this may have been due to Mr. Beluga’s maintenance work...

“UNKO, LOOK!” Sammy Thunder hollered as he saw Arianna, Flora and the professor approaching the museum with Katia and Anton.

“Samuel! What are you raving abou…?” Mr. Beluga trailed off when, for the first time in fifty years, he laid eyes on his older brother.

“Freddie…!” Anton choked out. “Y-you came back?”

“Of course I did!” Beluga scoffed, before he dropped his cane and reached out to Anton.

“You haven’t grown at all!” Anton sobbed with laughter. He crouched down and enveloped Fredrich in a hug, patting his back.

Fredrich’s response was muffled, but it sounded like, “ Missed you…”

Sammy sniffed and rubbed his nose. He beamed at Arianna, Flora and the professor.

“You brought the two bros back together!”

“W-we couldn’t have done it without Katia,” Flora said, gesturing to Katia.

Sammy gave Katia a thumbs-up. “I guess this makes us… cousins?” His thumb wobbled slightly. “Uh… Unko’s not technically my uncle— he just married my mom and then they broke up— but we can still be family, right?”

“Right!” Katia returned his thumbs-up with a grin.

“If he thinks that’s odd, they should meet our family,” Arianna muttered.

A former ‘Calamity Witch’ and her costume-obsessed brother. Their adopted wannabe chef sister from a robot village. Their part-time adopted brother who ran the Black Market. Their best friend who could talk to animals. And the puzzle-solving archaeology professor who had given them all a home.

The professor chuckled at Arianna, but he gasped as he remembered her scraped hands and knees.

“Goodness, we need to do something about that… Mr. Thunder!” he called, hurrying over to Sammy. “Would you happen to have a First Aid Kit anywhere?”

“Sure do! It’s back on the train— I think…”

Arianna sighed. Her hands and knees were still sore, but not as bad as earlier. Her injuries would look even more severe if the professor insisted on bandaging her up…

Katia said sombrely, “I’m sorry you got hurt.”

“It’s not your fault!” Arianna snorted.

Katia clutched her beaded necklace. “Yes, but, I… Grandfather became distraught when I told him that Sophia was dead, and then he destroyed the castle…”

“He seems much better now,” Flora pointed out. Katia turned to Anton, who was still catching up with Fredrich.

“Well…” Arianna coughed. “I’m sorry too.”

Katia looked back at her in surprise. “ For what?”

For misjudging you… For assuming you had run away from your family when really, you were reuniting them.

“For— for pretending to threaten you,” Arianna stammered. “That really upset Anton!”

“You were just trying to help your father,” Katia dismissed.

“My…?” Arianna glanced at the professor as he helped Sammy with a puzzle.

It was true that Arianna saw the professor as her father now, even though her and Tonys’ adoption wasn’t ‘official’. There hadn’t been any need to make it official; Third Eye Jakes had altered Papa’s will without considering who would take custody of Arianna and Tony.

All Jakes had cared about was Papa’s fortune and his land, which he had thrust upon Clark. Clark had been thrilled when the professor offered to take in Arianna and Tony.

Arianna and Tony had been happy living with the professor… until Catherine came back into the picture.

Arianna sighed, “Yes...”

Katia hummed. “Will you be returning to Dropstone soon?”

Arianna nodded. “We need to get back for Luke.” And Tony, and Catherine…

“Can I ask you a favour—?”

“Anything!” Flora chimed.

Katia appeared taken aback by Flora’s enthusiasm, but she went on, “Please can you deliver a message to my father, James Anderson?” (With relatives called ‘Katia’,  ‘Anton’ and ‘Fredrich’, Arianna hadn’t expected Mr. Anderson to have such a regular name!)

“Tell him…” Katia bit her lip for a second, before she said, “Tell him I’m here with Grandfather— that I’m safe— and I’d love for him to join us in Folsense.”

Arianna promised, “We’ll pass on the message.”

…As soon as they had found Luke.

Fortunately, the Molentary Express appeared just as they had left it at Folsense Station.

Inspector Chelmey and Constable Barton were waiting there… without Don Paolo. Was he still lurking somewhere in Folsense or had he gotten further away?

“He can’t hide forever!” Flora huffed as they did a quick sweep of the train.

In the dining car, Flora checked under all of the tables. It seemed that she had overcome her fears of facing Don Paolo.

An evil scientist paled in comparison to a vampire…

Arianna smiled and took a seat at the window. The professor sat next to her, placing the First Aid Kit on the table.

“I’m fine,” Arianna said.

The professor frowned. Arianna rolled her eyes, but she held her hands out to him.

He cleaned her cuts with some alcohol wipes. ( Ow…)

“ Sorry,” he murmured. He pulled out a piece of a gauze and measured it against her left palm.

“Aren’t there any plasters?” Arianna protested.

The professor shook his head. Arianna groaned. (Catherine was going to love this…)

The professor placed the gauze on her palm and secured it with some surgical tape. He did the same for her other hand.

“Thanks,” Arianna grumbled.

The professor glanced under the table. “Do you want me to dress you knees as well—?”

“How’s it going, passengers?” Sammy Thunder sauntered into the dining car. Arianna lifted her bandaged hands.

Sammy whistled. “That’s nasty…”

“It looks worse than it is,” Arianna said flatly.

“Oh, right…” Sammy grimaced. “Sorry we’re all out of band-aids… I used them up last time I was practicing the guitar—“

“You can play the guitar?” Flora popped up from under a table.

“Yeah! Born to rock, girl!” He spun his microphone through the air and pointed it at Flora. “I’ve been working on some tunes if you wanna listen…?”

Starry-eyed, Flora bobbed her head. Arianna and the professor exchanged a wary look.

As Sammy Thunder burst into song, Arianna was tempted to wrap a bandage around her ears.

As soon as they could see rooftops above the trees, Arianna rushed out to the carriage hallway. The professor and Flora were right behind her.

Thankfully, they didn’t have to queue behind any other passengers to reach the carriage doors.

There was, however, a crowd of people at Dropstone station, most likely waiting to welcome Katia home.

Arianna’s heart skipped a beat when she spotted Tony with Catherine on the platform. And was that Luke’s parents behind them—?

The train jerked to a halt. Arianna stumbled. Flora steadied her.

The carriage doors opened. Arianna leapt out of the train.

“Arianna!” Tony tackled her.

She gave him a quick hug. “I’m sorry— we need to—“

“Where have you been?” Catherine thundered towards them. Her hair was thrown up in a chaotic bun and her clothes looked rumpled.

Flora and the professor emerged behind Arianna.

The professor began, “Hello, we—“

“You were gone for the whole night!” Catherine growled, baring her teeth like the bulldog they had encountered in Folsense. “We had to stay in a B&B…!”

Arianna had expected her to be panicked and angry… but nowhere near this passionate. She had never seen Catherine like this. It was frightening and comforting in a strange way.

Arianna hung on to Tony. But then she thought of Luke.

Luke, alone... Luke, hurt…

She released Tony, using him as a barrier against Catherine. Arianna ran across the platform— past Catherine, past the bemused Clark and Brenda Triton, past the crowd— and into the village.

Catherine was furious. Luke’s parents must have so many questions. Arianna would leave the professor and Flora to explain everything to them.

Don Paolo had boasted that he had locked Luke in a barn. Please, let that be true… 

There hadn’t been any barns around the plaza, obviously…

Arianna recalled that there was a farm up by the village shop. It was a bit out in the open for Don Paolo, but Arianna had no idea where else to start.

Her knees were burning by the time she made it to the farm.

With a pained grunt, she hauled herself over the wall encircling the field. She staggered towards a wooden barn surrounded by cowpats.

The barn’s doors were unlocked. (Had Luke already managed to break out…?)

“Luke?” she shouted, looking up and down the straw-strewn pens. The cows raised their heads from their troughs and mooed at her.

“Have you seen my friend?” She couldn’t speak cow— she hadn’t even been able to understand Loosha— but she was desperate. “He’s a boy about my age— quite short, brown-haired and wearing blue?”

Unperturbed, the cows continued eating their breakfast.

Arianna panted, “P-please …!”

He’s my dearest friend and I love him. I haven’t always acted like it, but he always forgives me anyway, and I don’t know what I would do if I lost him…

“Excuse me, Miss?”

She turned to see Constable Barton bumbling through the barn’s doorway.

“I might be able to help you,” he said, saluting.

“Really?” Arianna’s eyes widened, but then suspicion sharpened her judgement. (Why would Constable Barton leave Inspector Chelmey’s side?)

Frowning, Arianna said, “We haven’t officially met, have we?”

He blinked his beady eyes at her. “I’m Rob— I mean, Constable Barton, Inspector Chelmey’s aide,” he claimed. “We met on the Molentary Express yesterday, in the dining car? Y-you were hiding under my table…” He fumbled through the pockets of his uniform. “I would show you my badge but I, um, lost it on the train—“

“That’s right— I remember!” Arianna sighed. “I’m sorry… I was just worried you were Don Paolo in disguise.”

“Can’t be too careful…” Barton gestured for her to follow him outside the barn. “I might know where he took your friend.”

Barton led Arianna back through the plaza and through the field where the livestock competition had been held. All of the tents, banners and balloons had already been taken down— you wouldn’t believe there was a festival here yesterday! The only remnants were the wooden stage and the stalls, which had yet to be removed.

Past the completion field, there appeared to be more farmland.

“Inspector Chelmey asked me to interview the local farmers— to get their opinions on Mr. Anderson,” Barton said as they stumbled over a cattle-grind. “I swear I saw Luke coming back this way…”

Arianna hummed when she saw a wooden signpost directing them to ‘Clabber’s Dairy’…

“Clabber,” Arianna read. Wasn’t that the name of one of the farmers from the competition? He had gotten into an argument with another contestant about which cow was his.

Luke had talked to the cows themselves and resolved the issue. Still, Clabber had lost the competition…

Arianna doubted it would put a dent in Clabber’s business; he owned several large sheds for milking cattle and plenty of farmhands to assist him.

Arianna and Barton questioned the staff, but none of them had seen Luke.

These sheds were too busy. Don Paolo couldn’t have left Luke in any of them…

Just as Arianna’s was hope beginning to wither, Barton called, “M-Miss Layton?”

She ran out of a milking shed. Barton waved her over to a red barn, better preserved that the other buildings.

“I-is he…?” Arianna whispered. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. She swallowed as horrible images assaulted her mind.

Luke’s lifeless body, dumped in the barn…

“He’s alright,” Barton assured her. “I’ve checked.”

Arianna released a breath she’d been holding since they’d learned Luke was missing. “Thank you! Can I see him?”

A pretty brown cow (Behemooth? Or was it Mootilda?) mooed at Arianna as she crept into the barn. The cow padded over to a haystack, where a small figure in blue was dozing.

“Luke…” Arianna whimpered. She couldn’t help it; she went to kiss him on the cheek as his eyes drifted open.

“A-Arianna?” he mumbled. His face reddened when he realised how close she was. “ What…?”

Arianna stepped back. She offered him a hand down from the haystack.

Sluggishly, Luke sat up. He reached for her bandaged hand. “Are you… hurt?” he managed to say.

Arianna shook her head, smiling. Luke had been kidnapped, probably drugged, and locked in a barn, but all he cared about was her.

Luke slipped off the haystack. She caught him around his chest— at least, she tried to— and the two of them staggered back against the cow.

“W-what’s going on?” Luke repeated. “Where’re the professor, Flora ‘n Tony…?” He lowered his head, hiding his eyes under his cap. “And your mum?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Arianna held on to him tightly. “I want to be with you—“

Luke glanced up.

“—A-and the professor, Flora and Tony,” Arianna amended. “I’m staying in London, whether Catherine likes it or not.”

They had defeated giant robots, masked villains and a criminal organisation with the professor. Arianna had just stood up to a ‘vampire’ in order to save him.

Compared to that, Catherine didn’t seem so unconquerable.

It wouldn’t be a simple, quick solution for the question of Arianna and Tonys’ guardianship. Catherine now had a promising income and a stable career lined up. She wanted to whisk them off to Florida, far away from the tragedies in their family’s past.

She could argue that Professor Layton’s adventures were putting her children at risk and that he didn’t have time to raise them properly.

Blood would always be thicker than water in some people’s eyes…

“I’ll help you!” Luke vowed, hugging Arianna back. “Mum and Dad will too—“

“Your parents!” Arianna gasped as she remembered. “They’re here in Dropstone…”

She and Luke trudged back to the plaza hand in hand, with Barton trailing behind them.

The chances that Don Paolo would reappear were slim, but Arianna still kept a sharp eye out and a strong grip on Luke.

(If anyone tried to snatch him again, she would have Crow send Gale to hunt them down… No, the entire golem army!)

Luke sheepishly explained that he had wandered off on his own after speaking to Arianna at the competition. Feeling sentimental, he had gone back to see the fountain erected when Dropstone was first founded.

Sophia must have been the ‘first settler’ referenced in the fountain’s inscription. She had made so many sacrifices for Dropstone and her child… at the cost of leaving Anton. Yes, she had sought out the Elysian Box and written a response to Anton’s letter, but that had taken her decades!

Why couldn’t she return to Folsense with a rescue team? Or if she felt it was still too dangerous, why couldn’t she send a group of police officers and doctors? Why had Sophia left the task to her teenage granddaughter fifty years later?

Maybe Sophia had grown content with her peaceful life in the village, where she was beloved by all. Maybe she had spent every moment racked with guilt over Anton. Maybe she was just selfish. Sophia was dead, so she couldn’t defend herself.

Arianna wasn’t sure if she could forgive Sophia, had she been in Anton’s shoes…

It was good to be open-hearted— for oneself, most of all— but other people still had realise when they were in the wrong. (Emmy had understood that…)

Arianna definitely wouldn’t be forgiving Don Paolo any time soon.

“Then someone grabbed me from behind,” Luke continued. He shook his head like he was still feeling dizzy. “Everything’s blank after that…”

“That’s when Don Paolo switched places with you,” Arianna grumbled.

She brought Luke up to speed with all that had happened since they had left him in Dropstone.

By the time she was done, they had reached the plaza.

“Luke!” There was a cry of relief. Brenda rushed towards them.

“Mum!” Luke released Arianna’s hand and flew into his mum’s arms.

Clark came to hug both of them. He smiled at Arianna and Barton over Luke’s head. “Thank you for finding him,” Clark said.

Barton saluted and trooped off to locate Inspector Chelmey.

“What are you two doing here?” Luke asked his parents innocently.

“Arianna’s— Miss Yulan called us,” Clark explained. (Just as Arianna had suspected…) Clark looked over his shoulder as Catherine stomped across the plaza. Tony, Flora and the professor shuffled after her.

“I’m glad he’s alright,” Catherine said, nodding in Luke’s direction. Then she turned to Arianna. Catherine’s dark eyes widened, like a startled deer. “You’re injured?!”

“It’s nothing…!” Arianna crossed her hands behind her back, but Catherine had already seen the bandages.

“What happened? How did you get hurt? Where on Earth did you go?”

The professor intervened, “Please, allow me to explain—“

“Please do!” Catherine rounded on him. “Explain how you lost Luke without even noticing, and how you let my daughter get hurt!”

“Hey…!” Luke was about to argue, but Arianna stormed up to Catherine.

“This isn’t the professor’s fault!” Arianna raised her fists, ignoring the dull pain in her hands. “I just… fell over! That’s all!”

She wasn’t that feeble little witch girl anymore. If the professor’s adventures had proved anything, it was that she was capable. She had met so many people, ventured far beyond Misthallery, and solved countless puzzles. None of that would have been possible without the professor.

“That’s not all it is,” Catherine corrected her. “This isn’t an… an isolated incident!” Catherine pointed to Tony, who was half-hidden behind Flora. “Tony’s terrified of heights, because a villain kidnapped him. That same villain— the professor’s childhood friend— hasn’t served any time in prison!” (Had Tony told her that…?)

“Is this true, Hershel?” Clark asked, frowning.

The professor hesitated for a moment. Then he nodded sombrely.

“It’s… it’s not as simple as that!” Arianna objected. She stared at Clark and Brenda, begging them to understand. “His friend— Randall— was manipulated by Jean Descole.”

Clark and Brenda glanced at each other.

“Oh, great,” Catherine scoffed. “Another villain! So, is this ‘Descole’ behind bars?”

(There were some rare occasions where Arianna may have agreed with Catherine, if Catherine hadn’t attacked the professor…)

“No,” the professor admitted in a mumble.

“Excuse me!” Flora piped up. “The professor took down a criminal organisation! Scotland Yard couldn’t even do that on their own!”

“A criminal organisation…” Catherine repeated, unimpressed. She shook her head. “Weren’t some of the children with  him at that time—?”

“Arianna wasn’t, if I remember correctly,” Brenda interrupted. Catherine blinked at her. Brenda hummed. “She was meeting you for the first time in four years… or was it five ?”

“ Five,”  Luke hissed. Clark shushed him.

Catherine hadn’t expected either of the Tritons to confront her. She coughed, “You… you don’t understand—“

“I understand that Hershel took Arianna and Tony in when they had no one else,” Brenda said, striding towards Catherine. “After their father died… After they were left alone and they weren’t able to reach out to anyone.”

“Why— why didn’t you help them, then?” Catherine challenged.

Brenda smiled mirthlessly. “I should have, before Descole locked me under my own house and threatened my family. It happens…” She took a deep breath, as though she was keeping that trauma at bay. She sighed, “If it wasn’t for Hershel, we might never have escaped.”

Clark stood beside Brenda and squeezed her hand. “Hershel may not be the most… observant parent,” Clark began awkwardly. “I’ll be having a word later about Luke—“

Luke groaned. “ Dad!”

”— Nevertheless,  he’s done so much for Arianna and Tony, despite the busy life he leads. If they were ever in harm’s way, he would risk life and limb to protect them.”

“And me!” Luke said at the same time as Flora.

The professor tipped his hat over his eyes. “Thank you…”

“So… so that’s it?” Catherine said. She pursed her lips at Clark and Brenda. “You’re not at all concerned that he left your son behind—?”

“At least he came back,” Tony uttered.

Catherine gaped at Tony as if he had just struck her. Bravado lost, Catherine’s mouth and hands began to quiver.

She spluttered, “I… I would have come back… if your father hadn’t blamed me…”

“For what?” Arianna huffed.

It was always about blame with Catherine. Why couldn’t she just own up to her mistakes?

But Catherine had already receded into her shell. Clutching her arms against her chest, she drifted back to the station.

“How’s this?”

Flora placed the professor’s hat on the table. She had spent the past thirty minutes stitching up the slash Anton had made— which was no easy task while the train was moving.

As the professor studied his hat, Flora stood at the end of the table, tapping her fingers together.

Even though Flora had used black thread (purchased from Dropstone), the stitches were still noticeable if you squinted…

“Splendid,” the professor said warmly. “Thank you, dear.”

He returned the hat to his head. Arianna nodded with approval next to him, though she wished he would leave it off.

For half an hour, they had gotten a glimpse of his light brown hair— and he had seemed much shorter. (The hat definitely added a few inches!)

He was no less a gentleman without his hat, but he was less… formal. Usually, Arianna felt as if the professor existed on  a level above polite society. There was, however, an ordinary person buried beneath those layers of etiquette and composure.

It was like seeing Crow when the Black Raven mask slipped, or Flora when she had removed her disguise in St. Mystere.

This hidden side of the professor became more apparent in Clark and Brendas’ presence.

“It looks as good as new!” Brenda tittered from across the table. “But you’ll have to be careful from now on, Hershel. I’d leave that hat at home if you’re planning any more… exciting outings.”

The professor had told Brenda and Clark the truth about Folsense after swearing them both to secrecy.

Clark now understood that Don Paolo was at fault for Luke’s disappearance— not the professor. Still, Clark had given the professor a lecture about paying more attention to their children than the investigation.

Clark had volunteered to drive the Tritons’ car home by himself. This would allow him to clear his head and to grieve for Dr. Schrader.

Meanwhile, Brenda had accompanied the rest of them on the Molentary Express. She would act as a witness and a peacekeeper in case Catherine reared her head again.

So far, that hadn’t been necessary. Catherine had locked herself in her room in the sixth carriage since they had boarded the train…

“I do have a spare hat in my office,” the professor informed Brenda.

“It’s identical to the one he’s wearing!” Flora giggled, sitting beside Brenda on the settee.

“Of course…” Brenda sighed wistfully. She rested her elbow on the table with her cheek in her hand. “I’ve got a hat that’s quite similar too—“

“We’re back!”

The door rolled aside. Tony and Luke had returned from the dining car.

“We took Remi back to the chef,” Luke said. “And he gave us these macaroons to say thanks!” Luke set a plate of colourful biscuits on the table.

Arianna tried a red macaroon. Flora went for a blue one.

“That’s generous of him,” the professor said.

“Who’s Remi?” Brenda wondered. She wrapped three macaroons in a napkin— probably for Clark.

“He’s a hamster,” Luke explained. “We helped him get back into shape!”

Brenda laughed. “I shouldn’t be surprised…”

“We also ran into Inspector Chelmey,” Tony said, grinning. “Look at what he gave us…”

He held up a mask— of Luke’s face. Brenda gasped.

Arianna nearly choked on her macaroon. “Eugh!” she spluttered. “Throw that away!”

“No! It could come in handy…” Tony stretched the mask over his head. “I wonder how it was made?”

“You do realise Don Paolo was wearing that, don’t you?” (Arianna didn’t even want to imagine where he had been…)

“Yes, but…” Tony pointed at Arianna dramatically. In a passable impression of Luke’s voice, Tony declared, “He’s no match for Professah Layton’s apprentice!”

Luke sighed and pulled a newspaper out of his satchel. “Chelmey wanted us to give you this, Professor—“

“Chelmey wanted us to give you this, Professah!”

“Flora, can you sew Tony’s mouth shut?” Arianna requested.

“Alright, alright— I’m done!” At last, Tony took off the awful mask. He grabbed a yellow macaroon and squashed himself onto the settee alongside Flora.

Luke glanced from Arianna to the space next to her. Was he worried there wouldn’t be enough room? Luke definitely had gotten taller, but not as tall as her yet.

Smiling at him, Arianna patted the settee with her hand. (Her palms had stopped stinging now…)

Luke shyly sat beside her. She rested her head against his shoulder.

“Look at this article!” the professor exclaimed.

Luke leapt up. Arianna pouted at him, but then she laughed. 

The professor put the newspaper on the table and everyone leant in to read it. On the front page was a photo of Dr. Schrader waving from a hospital bed.

“Dr. Schrader is alive!” Brenda said jubilantly. “Oh… I wonder if Clark has seen the news? He’ll be so relieved!”

The professor hummed. “We’ll all have to visit Andrew as soon as we return.”

Speaking of visits… Arianna looked towards the door.

Would Catherine still try to visit Arianna and Tony? Or had she given up after their altercation in Dropstone?

What had she meant when she said Papa had ‘blamed’ her? Blamed her for what? Abandoning them? Their divorce? Money problems?

It could have been anything… Papa had never told Arianna and Tony. Maybe he had thought they were too young to know. Papa had always sheltered them in that way— especially Arianna with her illness.

There was one clear difference between Papa and Professor Layton. The professor cared for Arianna, but he had never treated her as if she was made of glass.

He was the best thing that could have happened for Arianna and Tony.

The professor was chatting to Luke about having to cancel the symposium he’d had scheduled for tomorrow.

“One must always show gratitude to one’s teachers,” the professor recited, touching his newly-repaired top hat. “After all—“

“That’s what a gentleman does!” his kids chorused.

Chapter Text

Arianna hadn’t expected to see Crow waiting for them at Paddington Station, but there he was, accompanied by Badger and another person dressed as the Black Raven.  Going by the Raven’s height and their poorly-hidden ear-pieces, it was probably Gale. The people on the platform gave them a wide berth.

“Look— it’s Crow and Badger!” Brenda peered out of their carriage window. “But who’s that with them…?”

“That’s Gale,” Flora said, waving to the gang. “They’re an Azran golem—“

“And a Black Raven,” Luke added.

“Oh! Um, wow…” Brenda gasped. “Well, let’s go meet them!”

When they all emerged from the train, Crow marched up to them like an angry mother hen.

Ignoring the professor’s greeting, Crow thrust a piece of paper (the note he had given Gale) into Arianna’s face.

“Why didn’t you take Gale with you like I asked?”

“Hello, we’re fine,”  Luke said sarcastically.

Crow kept glowering at Arianna.

Arianna rolled her eyes. “I didn’t want to alarm my mother.” 

Gale wilted as though they were trying to make themselves smaller. Badger patted Gale’s arm sympathetically. Brenda had been gaping at Gale, but she suddenly averted her gaze.

“It’s not you, Gale,” Arianna said, with an apologetic wince. (Even without Gale there, Catherine had still flown off the handle.) “My mother just—“

“Where is she, then?” Crow demanded, casting his gaze up and down the train. “The queen mother…”

Tony muttered, “Already gone.” Flora squeezed his shoulder.

The instant the train had stopped, Catherine had slipped away without so much as a goodbye.

Arianna should have felt relieved— she and Tony could stay with Professor Layton for another day. But that didn’t mean Catherine had given up completely…

Arianna rubbed her eyes.

Crow must have noticed her bandaged hands, along with the professor’s stitched-up hat.

Crow covered his mouth with his scarf.

“Uh… That’s a shame. I’m— I mean, it’s good you all made it back. I don’t have a key to the prof’s house…”

Grinning, Badger whispered, “He’s been worryin’ about you non-stop.”

Gale nodded in agreement.

“I have not…!”

The professor hummed with amusement.

“Why don’t you three go on ahead of us to the house?” He pulled a silver key ring out of his pocket, detached his house key, and passed it to Crow. “Apologies, but I’m afraid we won’t all fit in the car…”

“Really…?” Crow accepted the key as if it was a priceless treasure. “I mean— sure! Let’s go, guys…”

“Professor, can I have a house key?” Flora requested.

“And me!”

“You don’t even live with us, Luke!”

As Flora and Luke bickered, with the hapless professor between them, Arianna hurried across the platform after Crow. “Wait, Crow! I have something for you too…”

Crow looked surprised, but even more pleased. “A souvenir from wherever-you’ve-been?”

Arianna made a show of fumbling through her handbag. She presented Crow with the photo of Folsense’s rubbish pile. Badger and Gale snickered as they caught sight of it. (Arianna assumed the vrrr-ing noise Gale made was some kind of snicker.)

“You would feel right at home here…’ ” Crow squinted as he read Arianna’s writing. He glared up at Arianna. “What’s that meant to mean, you mouldy old witch?!”

Much to Flora’s glee and Crow’s chagrin, the professor gave them each their own key to the house a week later. (At last, Rosa was relieved of her door-answering duties.)

Arianna had never had her own key before— well, not one she would use.

There had been a cupboard full of keys at Barde Manor, but Arianna rarely touched them.

She and Tony had closed off several rooms after Papa’s death, including his bedroom, his study, the parlour on the third floor (Catherine’s former retreat), the guest rooms and the cellar.

Some entryways, like the upper tower and sky passage, had already been fitted with puzzle locks. (Of course Luke had solved those when he broke in with the professor and Emmy!)

Tony had kept the keys to the front and back doors. Fearing for Arianna’s safety, he’d always locked up before going out.

Arianna had seldom left the house— aside from visiting Loosha with Tony— hence, her lack of a key.

So, receiving her own key from the professor was somewhat of a novelty. It may have seemed silly— She was nearly fourteen!— but it made her feel more trustworthy and mature… and certain that she was home. (Catherine certainly hadn’t thought to give Arianna a key to her flat.)

The professor also had keys for his parents’ house, his car and his university office. He kept them all on a silver key ring.

Arianna, determined not to lose her key, bought a key ring of her own and stowed it in the zip-up pocket of her school bag.

Whenever she used her key, she would immediately return it to her bag. Every evening and every morning, she would double check it was still in there.

But then, that Friday after school, she couldn’t find it.

Bug-eyed, Arianna drained the contents of her bag on their front doorstep— books, lunchbox, purse…

No key.

Arianna sighed and knocked on the door, expecting Rosa to be there. No answer.

Was Rosa cleaning at the university today?

Arianna groaned.

Of course this would be the day Tony stayed over a friend’s house. Of course Flora had chosen this weekend to visit St. Mystere. Of course the professor was working late at Gressenheller. Of course Luke had gone fishing with his family. Of course Crow had jetted off to goodness-knows-where with Gale. Of course.

As she shoved everything back into her bag, Arianna suddenly realised how cold it had gotten. She shivered.

It was going to turn dark soon— the last thing she wanted was to be stuck outside. She couldn’t just sit waiting on the doorstep. What if Don Paolo was skulking around?

Arianna glanced at their neighbour’s house on the right. Surely Mrs. Cecílie would be in?

Mrs. Cecílie was an elderly Czech woman who was quite hard of hearing. This had probably worked in her favour, as she wasn’t disturbed by Crow and Ariannas’ raucous arguments when they first moved in.

She would often give them ‘donations’— homemade cakes, hand-me-down clothes from her grandkids, and toys she had picked up from charity shops.

Once, when the professor went to thank her, she’d said it was all for the ‘sirotci’. Even now, she seemed to be under the impression that Professor Layton had opened an orphanage.

Desperately praying Mrs. Cecílie was in, Arianna dashed next door.

With each ring of the doorbell, Arianna felt her panic rising. Finally, on the fifth ring, the front door opened, releasing the smell of baked goods from within. (Arianna hoped her stomach wouldn’t rumble too loudly.)

A plump elderly woman in a striped woollen jumper dress peered out at Arianna. She adjusted her tortoiseshell glasses. “ Hello?”

“H-hi…” Arianna gasped. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I… I lost my key, and there’s— no one’s there to let me in our house…!”

Tony, at just eleven-years-old, would never be so irresponsible. Flora was used to carrying a key to her tower— she wouldn’t forget! Crow was so independent— he came and went whenever he pleased…

“Uklidni se…” Mrs. Cecílie said, shushing Arianna. “Do you want to come in? You can call Professor Layton on my phone?”

Arianna nodded gratefully.

Mrs. Cecílie held the door open for her. Arianna was about to rush inside, but then she took a small step back. “Can… can we have some cake, please?”

“Yes, of course!” was the accommodating reply.

Thank goodness… Arianna sighed as she followed the old lady inside. It didn’t appear that Don Paolo had broken in and disguised himself as Mrs. Cecílie.

Still, Arianna wasn’t entirely convinced until Mrs. Cecílie brought out two slices of cake, and ate some for herself.

“It’s bábovka,” she told Arianna, smacking sugar off her lips. “Freshly baked! Now, here’s the phone…”

She directed Arianna to an ancient-looking red phone— one where you had to rotate the number pad to dial out— and Arianna called the professor’s university office. Predictably, the only answer Arianna received was from his answering machine. (“Hello, this is Professor Hershel Layton. Apologies, I’m not currently able to take your call. Please leave your name and number, and I will respond as soon as I can… Erm, Emmy, how do I stop this—? ”)

Arianna tried her grandparents next. Grandma Lucille, thankfully, was home. Lucille frantically asked where Arianna was, and said she would send Grandpa Roland over immediately.

Half an hour later, Roland came to collect Arianna. He opened his arms to her and Arianna accepted the hug, if only to hide her tears of relief.

“There, there,” he murmured, patting her on the back. “I told Lucille you’d be alright… She’s been ringing everyone, trying to get hold of Hershel…“

“W-where was he?” Arianna wondered, wiping her nose discreetly. Mrs. Cecílie pressed a handkerchief into her hand.

“He got held back during a… private tutoring session, according to Dean Delmona,” Roland snorted. “The Dean then gave Hershel his own lecture on the Precedence of Family, along with several puzzles from his granddaughter.”

Arianna concealed a smile behind the handkerchief. It shouldn’t have been humorous, but it was, in a way. All this just because she had misplaced her key…

Arianna thanked Mrs. Cecílie for her help. Mrs. Cecílie supplied her with a dozen more ‘donations’ to take home: The rest of the bábovka cake (which tasted of coffee), a sleeveless brown jacket for ‘that ragamuffin Crow-boy’, a pack of playing cards, some water colour paints, a box of jigsaw puzzles, and a book containing sheet music for nursery rhymes.

“That one is for you,” Mrs. Cecílie informed Arianna, “to practice your flute.”

Maybe Mrs. Cecílie wasn’t as deaf as they had assumed…

Grandpa Roland had a spare key to the professor’s house, so he was able to let them in. He offered the key Arianna, but she refused to take it. (What if there was another ‘emergency’ like this in future?)

Her key must have been somewhere around the house…

Arianna was still searching by the time the professor got home.

He apologised profusely for his lateness, and Arianna apologised for losing her key in the first place.

“Don’t worry about it!” Grandpa Roland chuckled. He stroked his beard. “If I recall, someone kept losing his key back when he was in university—“

“Fortunately, Clark was always there to let me in,” the professor said quickly. “ Anyway, I should call Ma to let her know I’m back…”

“Ah, yes…” Grandpa Roland cleared his throat. “You’ll want to give Arianna’s mother a call too.”

“Why? ” Arianna exclaimed at the same second as the professor.

“Lucille might have roped her in when she was trying to find you, Hershel…”

For the first time since she had met him, Arianna heard the professor let out a groan.

Flora returned from St. Mystere armed with books.

Hardbacks from Reinhold Manor, given to her by Lady Dahlia, Matthew and the rest of the family. Manuscripts from Baron Reinhold’s secret room behind the portrait of Flora. Texts from the town hall, the inn and other notable establishments around St. Mystere.

Bruno had even salvaged some of the paper remains from Flora’s ruined tower.

(Flora swore she would extract vengeance on Don Paolo if he ever crossed her again... for her village’s sake, of course. And for Luke’s. But Arianna suspected it was mostly for the books’!)

“I thought we could use them for our research on the Golden Connection ,” Flora explained as Professor Layton heaved a tower of books— taller than his hat— into the house.

Arianna blinked. “Oh, that…”

Amidst all of the drama with Catherine, Arianna had completely forgotten about their personal research project.

She and Flora had visited the library back in Misthallery, where they had read about some of the legends surrounding the Golden Garden. After that, though, the subject had slipped Arianna’s mind like eels escaping from a net.

“We can combine all this with your books from Misthallery!” Flora babbled.

“My… books,” Arianna repeated. Ah, right— at the library, they had agreed to gather information on their respective hometowns and exchange notes at a later date.

“I… um, I lent all of my books to Luke,” Arianna lied.

“Can you ask him to bring them back? Then we can take them to the library tomorrow!” The library might as well have been Disneyland, for how Flora talked about it.

“Which library?” Arianna wondered.

Since the incident with Arianna’s lost key, Catherine had been on their backs like a buzzard.

She hadn’t tried to meet with Arianna and Tony, but she had been calling every single day to check on them. She had their home phone number, the professor’s office number and his parents’ number. (Poor Grandma Lucille wished she had never contacted Catherine.)

When no one answered, Catherine would leave anxious voicemail messages. She wanted to know exactly where Arianna and Tony were at all times. They weren’t ‘allowed’ to travel too far on their own, aside from going to school.

Tony, who had roamed around Misthallery from the age of eight, found this particularly irritating.

If Catherine couldn’t be with them, then she would make their lives as stifling as possible. (Where was all this concern back when Arianna and Tony were living alone in Misthallery?) Did she intend to keep this up when she was in Florida— in a different time zone?

“Uh… Gressenheller Library?” Flora ventured. “Is that okay?”

Arianna nodded. They would just be one building away from Professor Layton’s office. Catherine had nothing to complain about.

Besides, Flora would turn feral if anyone provoked them in the library.

Arianna, not wanting to upset Flora, phoned Luke and asked if Clark had any books on the Golden Garden. Thankfully, he did, and Luke came to deliver them that same day.

“Not more books,” Tony moaned as Luke dumped a stack on their table.

“We need them,” Arianna said, inspecting a green book with ‘Geology’ in the title.

“You have plenty!” Tony pouted. “Flora’s books are already blocking the upstairs hallway!”

“You’re one to talk!” Arianna retorted. “When was the last time you tidied up your toys?” (The professor had almost tripped over a tiny red car the other night.)

“Hmph…” Tony flounced out of the room. There was an “Ouch!” as he slipped going upstairs.

Arianna rolled her eyes at him. (It wasn’t as if Tony had a whole bedroom to himself…) She smiled at Luke, though. “Thank you, Luke. I’ll return these to your father as soon as—“

“Don’t bother,” Luke cut in. “Dad’s been meaning to get rid of them… He never wants to read about the Golden Garden again.”

“Oh…” Arianna said, surprised. Then she remembered why Clark had gathered so much knowledge on the Golden Garden to begin with. “Right.”

Luke crossed his arms. He gazed around the front room, which had only gotten more cluttered since Arianna and Tony had first arrived.

By the front door, there was a white shelf with pegs for coats, bags and hats, and a packed shoe rack underneath.

On the other side of the doorway was a cork noticeboard. Pinned to the board were postcards, important letters, and yellow post-it notes. (‘Please keep an eye out for my key,’ Arianna had written on one.)

Used teacups and books had a habit of turning up on the professor’s desk. Beneath the desk was a pile of board games.

A patchwork blanket made by Flora was draped over the olive armchair.

In the redwood cabinet, Crow’s Black Raven medals were fighting for space with Tony’s craft projects, including a clay figurine of the professor.

Family photos covered most of the walls and surfaces, along with mementoes from their past adventures.

“Dad… Dad’s got an interview,” Luke revealed.

“That’s good,” Arianna replied. She wasn’t entirely sure what Clark’s role entailed at Gressenheller— Archaeology? Carbon dating? Teaching?— but he seemed to be doing well for himself.

Luke frowned and Arianna added, “… Isn’t it?”

“It’s for a job at a museum…” Luke covered his face with his hands. “…in America.”

Arianna groaned. (At least Luke hadn’t kept it from her...) “Why does everyone want to go to America?”

Why would anyone want to be on the same continent at Catherine?

“He and Mum have been thinking about it for a while, apparently,” Luke muttered. “Ever since… since what happened to us in Misthallery…”

Arianna remembered the expression on Brenda’s face when she’d described being trapped under her own home. (At least Arianna had been able to move around Barde Manor…)

“I understand,” Arianna said, “but don’t they know Descole is in another country now?” And he was somewhat reformed?

“It’s not just that,” Luke went on. “They brought it up again after we got back from Dropstone—“

“Is this because of what Catherine said to them?”

Clark had been upset by Luke’s kidnapping, yes, but hadn’t he and Brenda defended the professor against Catherine?

Once, Brenda had said that Arianna and Tony could call them if they ever needed anything. How were the Tritons meant to help if they were overseas? 

Surely, Luke’s parents wouldn’t force Luke to leave with them— to leave his friends and his life in London— if he didn’t want to. They weren’t like Catherine…

They would never abandon Luke, though.

“They’re just scared...” Luke shrugged a bit too causally.

“And you…?” Arianna whispered. “Are you scared?”

“Of what?” Luke puffed air out his cheeks.

Arianna sighed. While Luke was honest about most topics, sharing his own fears was not one of them. She could almost hear his thoughts now: ‘The professor’s Number One Apprentice isn’t scared!’

He wanted to keep a stiff upper lip, just like the professor, but even the professor would say it was natural to be afraid in the face of danger…

Flora was a fairly open book about her loneliness and her anxieties. Tony would rave to the heavens about how much he hated heights.

Luke, though… He would rather find a quiet place to cry than risk burdening others with his troubles.

Arianna was going to have to tempt it out of him. “ Don Paolo—?”

“As if!” Luke scoffed. “We’ve beaten far worse than him— Descole, Targent… the Azran…”

Luke’s voice became heavier with each word. He suddenly looked very tired, as if all the air had been sucked out of him. Turning away from Arianna, he swabbed at his eyes.

“It sounds like… you need a rest,” Arianna murmured.

She realised, then, that Luke had been present for all of the professor’s cases: Misthallery, Ambroisa, Monte d’Or, the Azran expedition, St. Mystere, the Molentary Express…

Arianna, Tony and Crow had each missed at least one adventure. But not Luke. He had followed the professor everywhere, without fail.

Luke had helped defeat every villain, survived every diabolical plan, battled robots, explored perilous ruins, made friends, lost friends, experienced betrayal…

Emmy had threatened Luke’s life.

Luke had sacrificed his life to stop the Azran Legacy.

In St. Mystere, he had almost fallen to his death.

And then, to top it all off, Don Paolo had kidnapped him in Dropstone.

Was it any wonder that Luke was burned out? It was a miracle he’d lasted this long!

If he had told his parents the full extent of his ordeals, they would be terrified— and rightfully so.

Descole, Targent, the Azran, Don Paolo…

As soon as the professor toppled one enemy, there was another waiting right behind them. Each was willing to hurt the professor and anyone close to him.

Arianna knew, just as Clark had said, that the professor would do all that he could to protect them.

But what if all he could do still wasn’t enough? Especially when it came to protecting five children, who were weak, naive, reckless, cocky and selfless…

Arianna led Luke over to the olive armchair and sat him down. She covered Luke with Flora’s blanket, ignoring his complaints.

“You need to rest,” Arianna repeated.

“I can’t—!”

“I will call your father and tell him you’re staying here .” Arianna pressed down on Luke’s shoulders beneath the blanket. “No adventures. No danger. Nothing to worry about.”

She doubted she could convince Clark to remain in London, but she could reassure him that Luke was safe.

Luke easily could have shaken her off, but he sank into the chair. He murmured, “Maybe not now—“

“Or later,” Arianna told him.

Back in Misthallery, Arianna had spent each day fearing the next day would be her last. This had eventually given way to acceptance and apathy.

After her father’s death, without him there to comfort her, she had become bitter and cruel.

She wouldn’t let that happen to Luke.

“You’re not an oracle,” she reminded Luke, removing his cap and placing it on the arm of the chair.

“I wish I was, sometimes…” Luke finally closed his eyes and laid his head back. “I just feel like… like there’s nothing we can do…” He shuddered under the blanket.

We’re all so small, when you think about it.

Arianna hesitated, before reaching out to brush the side of his head. When Luke didn’t move, she pressed her hand against his cheek.

“In just a few short years,” Arianna said, “we’ll be adults.”

Luke blinked at her.

“We’ll make our own decisions. No one will be able to push us around anymore. We’ll go whenever we want— live wherever we want— with whoever we choose.”

Arianna would inherit her father’s full fortune when she came of age. She intended to give the majority of that wealth back to Misthallery. The rest of it, however, she would save for her family.

Catherine would have no power over her and Tony.

“In London?” Luke sniffed hopefully.

Arianna nodded. “With the professor, Flora, and Tony, and your parents, if they wish.”

The corner of Luke’s mouth twitched. “What about Crow…?” 

She was not sharing a bathroom with Crow again. “He can stay in the attic.”

“I like the attic…”

“Well, then, Crow can stay in the garden shed!”

Luke chuckled softly and closed his eyes again. “Deal?”

“Deal.”

Arianna let him sleep.

Gressenheller Library was much grander than the one in Misthallery.

If you wanted to borrow a book in Misthallery, you would most likely have to wait months on end for someone to return it. ( Good luck finding anything written on the Golden Garden while Descole’s in town!)

The newspaper archives were unhelpfully sparse from the time Levin Jakes was chief constable.

At Gressenheller, there were archives dating back hundreds of years, with newspaper reels and journal collections.

The well-stocked shelves were nearly twice as tall as Arianna. All of the books were meticulously organised, but navigating your way around still felt like a maze.

The large antique clock hanging over the library actually worked, which was nice for a change.

Arianna kept looking at the clock as Flora trawled through one of her father’s leather bound diaries. (It looked far more grandiose than the professor’s journal.)

The two of them were sat at a desk in a secluded corner of the library. They didn’t want any students to stumble across the secrets of St. Mystere or the Golden Garden.

As was often the case, Arianna’s thoughts coursed towards Luke.

She had left him under Tony’s watchful eye. At most, Tony might just ask Luke to sit back and judge a fashion show.

Luke didn’t need to worry about handling the professor’s letters, or making tea, or tidying up…

Arianna had rung Clark the day before to thank him for the books and to inform him that Luke was feeling under the weather. “It’s fine if Luke stays here, though!” she had stressed. She wasn’t sure if Clark had caught the double meaning, but she hadn’t felt brave enough to elaborate.

Though Clark had never spoken a harsh word to Arianna, she had heard him berating Luke, the Black Ravens and even Professor Layton in the past.

Arianna didn’t want to argue with Clark or Brenda the way she did with Catherine.

Maybe she could sabotage Clark’s interview, somehow? Crow might be able to help with that—

“Look at this!”

Flora shoved the diary in front of Arianna.

She pointed to a faded yellow picture on the page. It was an intricate ink drawing of an apple tree with names inside each apple.

“A… family tree?” Arianna guessed.

“My family tree,” Flora breathed.

Her fingers traced over the names of her ancestors. She followed them down to Augustus and Viola Reinhold.

Tears filled Flora’s eyes, but she blinked them away.

Arianna noticed that all of the names had faint lines through them, except for Flora’s at the base of the tree.

Flora’s voice was squeaky as she asked, “Do you— recognise any of them?”

“Hm…” Arianna studied the family tree closely. (Many of the names looked German…)

Rarely had Arianna’s father mentioned his family. His parents were both deceased, and the entirety of their inheritance had gone to him. This led Arianna to believe he had been an only child… or if he had siblings, they were estranged.

The more Arianna learned about her father, the more plausible this seemed.

Catherine had relatives somewhere around Britain, but she appeared to have cut all ties with them. (One trait Arianna’s parents had in common…)

After their father’s demise, Arianna and Tony had tried reaching out to Catherine’s relations. There had been no response. Either the addresses Catherine had left were outdated or their pleas for help had gone ignored.

None of the Reinhold names stood out to Arianna.

Arianna shook her head.

Flora smiled sombrely. “Never mind…”

Hoping to rally her spirits, Arianna said, “We could still be distantly related. I’ve never even met some of my relatives…”

“I’ve always known,” Flora murmured. “My family line ends with me.”

Arianna stared at Flora. The silence in the library suddenly felt too heavy, matched only by the weight in Arianna’s stomach. She was thrown back to that moment when the doctors had diagnosed her illness.

“What…” Arianna stammered. “What do you mean ?”

Flora hadn’t inherited either of her parents’ illnesses… Had she? No— she was healthy! Perfectly healthy!

She was going to grow up with Arianna and the rest of them. They were meant to be siblings…!

“I’m sorry!” Arianna gasped. She almost knocked Flora out of her seat as she hugged her. “Sorry I didn’t pay more attention…!”

This was why Flora was so obsessed with the Golden Connection. Arianna hadn’t even considered it.

There was still time. With regular trips to the Golden Garden, Flora could be healed like Arianna. Flora had only just stepped out into the world. She couldn’t die…

“Oh!” Flora exclaimed. She returned Arianna’s hug. “It’s nothing to worry about…”

“W-what?” Arianna pulled back from Flora to gape at her.

“I just don’t want to have children.”

“You aren’t…” Arianna swallowed. “That’s— that’s okay, then.”  She wondered if Flora’s decision was linked to her parents’ deaths, or to her lonely upbringing. Arianna didn’t question it, though. Flora was going to live, however she chose to. That was all that mattered.

“What about you?” Flora wondered as Arianna dropped back into her seat with a sigh. “Do you want kids?”

“Maybe…” Arianna shrugged. Before her recovery, maybe hadn’t even been an option. Now she was quite happy just to wait and see what the future held.

“Maybe… with Luke?” Flora raised her eyebrows.

“Shush!” Arianna buried her burning face in a book.

Flora giggled. “If you do, I’ll get to be their cool auntie!”

Arianna’s chuckle escaped from behind the book cover. “ Of course…”

Flora would be a wonderful, doting aunt. She was already an amazing, devoted older sister.

They might not have made any breakthroughs on the Golden Connection, but Arianna had never felt more connected to Flora.

“Hi! You must be Arianna, Tony, and Professor Layton — of course !” The social worker shook each of their hands in turn. “My name is Akia Turner…”

Arianna felt sorry for Akia. They looked fairly young— maybe in their early thirties— with a short afro and a kind, open face. Their cream jumper and orange wide leg trousers, though smart, suggested they preferred comfort over appearance.

Akia had just been assigned the most bizarre case of a family dispute, if the bulky file on their desk was any indication. Surely there had never been a situation quite like Arianna and Tonys’…

An eight-year-old girl gets diagnosed with an incurable disease. Her mother leaves without a word. Two years later, her disreputable father dies under suspicious circumstances.

Grief-stricken, the girl and her brother shut everyone out of their lives. Rumours arise that the girl is cursed and controlling the spectre that ravages her hometown.

The girl’s friend writes to an archaeology professor for help.

The good professor reveals that the girl is, in fact, not cursed, and the spectre is just a friendly manatee.

The manatee succumbs to her battle wounds (inflicted by the professor’s brother), but with her last breath, she uncovers an ancient garden than heals the girl.

The professor decides to take in the orphaned girl and her brother… and temporarily, another boy (though, it turns out his mother is alive and well)…

Together, they go on adventures, solve puzzles, and ultimately grow into a stronger family unit.

Then, out of nowhere, the girl’s absent mother returns. She wants to take her children away, depriving them of the true guardian and stable home they have found.

The girl and her brother refuse.

“Please, take a seat.” Akia gestured to the cushioned chairs in front of their desk. “We’ll just have to wait for Catherine…”

Of course, Arianna thought. Catherine was fashionably late as usual. For once, Arianna was glad ; this would reflect badly on Catherine. If she couldn’t turn up for a meeting at a time and place she had requested, how could she be expected to keep up with Arianna and Tony?

(Yes, the professor sometimes missed his departmental meetings, but Arianna and Tony were his main priority.)

Tony had his crafts club. Both of them enjoyed travelling and visiting their friends— people who actually cared about them.

If Catherine wanted to have any impact in their lives, she would have to start making a proper effort…

Akia’s office door was nudged open. Catherine poked her head inside. Her chestnut-coloured hair was cut shorter— closer to Arianna’s hair length.

“H-hi! Sorry I’m late…”

“That’s alright,” Akia said patiently as Catherine came in, clutching a takeaway coffee cup. Arianna and Tony exchanged a flat look.

The professor asked Catherine how she was doing. Catherine muttered, “Fine, thanks,” but she didn’t ask him in return.

After another minute of faffing about, Catherine took the seat next to Tony (much to Tony’s dismay).

The professor and Catherine were positioned with Arianna and Tony between them. Familial resemblance might aid in Catherine’s favour, but the professor had integrity and experience on his side. Not to mention, Arianna and Tonys’ affection.

“Okay!” Akia said brightly. “Again, my name is Akia Turner, and I’m the social worker who has been given your case to assess.”

Their fingers brushed over the file on their desk. “I’ve read up on your family history— as much of the information that we could gather, anyway.”

How much easier could this have been if Descole and Levin Jakes had never interfered? If children’s social services had been involved from the start?

On one hand, Arianna felt some discomfort knowing strangers from the council had been prying into her family’s past; their dirty laundry aired for the world to see.

But, on the other, it was… a relief. No more secrets. 

Akia, at least, seemed to have their well-being at heart.

“I’d like to hear the full story from Arianna and Tony first,” Akia said, smiling at the two of them. “If you’d rather, I can ask Professor Layton and Catherine to leave the room…”

“No, it’s fine,” Arianna said. She had nothing to hide from the professor, and she wanted to hit Catherine with the full weight of her inaction. Of her neglect.

So what if the professor had fumbled in his journey to become a responsible parent? Catherine had fled as soon as times got hard. Had she even considered how much harder it was for Arianna?

Arianna shot Catherine the most scathing glare she could muster. The Calamity Witch herself would have shrank in fear.

Catherine’s shoulders were shaking, but she straightened her back.

Arianna glanced at Tony, who nodded.

With a deep breath, Arianna began, “Our mother left… ”

When Arianna was eight, her father had pulled her out of full-time education.

The journey from Misthallery to school had been much too strenuous for her. And the other children could be so boisterous— imagine if they knocked Arianna over in the playground!

Her father had deemed she would be safer studying at home, where it was warm, and comfortable, and there was medical assistance on hand if she required it.

Arianna had several tutors who would come to teach her at the manor. (Miss Salyu, her music tutor, was the best.)

As Arianna’s illness worsened, however, their visits became less and less frequent.

Tony had been enjoying school, but after their father’s death, he’d stopped going as well.

Arianna insisted that, at the very least, Tony should borrow books from the library to keep up his learning.

“What about your learning?” Tony had asked.

Arianna hadn’t answered. Was there any point if she wasn’t going to grow up, go to university or have a career?

Then, the professor had entered their lives, and Arianna had learned so much from him.

The professor didn’t have time to homeschool Arianna and Tony. So, when they had settled in London, he’d sent them to nearby schools— comprehensive for Arianna and primary for Tony.

This was the best decision the professor could have made.

Finally, Arianna could resume her studies. She was surrounded by children— Friends!— her own age. (Luke went to a different school, but Flora joined the same one as Arianna, a few years above her.)

Arianna didn’t feel like she was holding Tony back anymore. She knew she had a future…

That wasn’t to say she had every turn of her life mapped out. She wasn’t even sure which subjects she wanted to take for her GCSEs!

English, Maths and Science were compulsory, but there was an option to study the three sciences in more depth. Biology was Arianna’s favourite. She already knew a lot about animals (well, lake-dwellers) and the human body.

Learning about cells, microbes and plant life was more complicated, but still interesting to Arianna.

She found Chemistry fun with their lab experiments. (What would Arianna’s father think now, if he saw her using a Bunsen burner?)

Physics was more difficult for her— probably due to all the Maths involved— but luckily, she had the professor for guidance.

A wistful expression had overtaken his features the first time Arianna had shown him her Physics homework.

As much as he claimed he was ‘no expert on the subject’, Arianna’s answers were usually correct with his assistance.

This impressed Arianna’s teachers immensely. They couldn’t wait to meet the great Professor Layton at parents’ evening!

…Unfortunately, the professor might not  be able to attend. Tony’s school’s parents’ evening happened to fall on the same day. (Flora’s year had it on a different day, thankfully.)

Tony had already been denied several school events because of Arianna. It would only be fair if the professor went with him. (Besides, the professor had made a binding pinkie swear to see Tony’s latest art project.)

The professor would have to rearrange to meet with Arianna’s teachers… on top of his already hectic schedule.

Who else could attend with Arianna?

Grandma Lucille and Grandpa Roland had gone away to visit Roland’s brother, Great Uncle Douglas. Rosa was spending some time off with her own children. (Sometimes, Arianna forgot that Rosa had a life outside of their family.) Clark and Brenda were preoccupied with ‘something’…

The professor suggested inviting Akia. Akia needed to observe their family outside the office, anyway. It seemed like a good way to kill two birds with one stone. Akia promised to take plenty of notes for the professor.

Arianna was content with this arrangement… until Catherine decided to poke her nose in. She called the school and cajoled them into giving her permission. Clearly, Miss Yulan is Arianna’s dedicated mother— why shouldn’t she attend?

(At this point, Arianna might have preferred her disastrous excuse for an uncle over Catherine…)

Akia rebuked Catherine for going behind their backs, but allowed her to join them as long as she behaved. There was to be no mention of Arianna’s past or their current family conflict.

So far, Arianna’s classmates had been under the impression that she was a completely normal girl— not an orphaned invalid or a former calamity witch— and she was determined to keep it that way.

In the school hall, Arianna did attract some curious looks as she was accompanied by her mother and the social worker, but she imagined it would have been more obvious if she was with Professor Layton.

Arianna’s teachers, who had been expecting the professor, masked their disappointment with saccharine smiles. “ Oh, hello! You must be Arianna’s mother— Mrs Layton, is it…?

Catherine would shake her head and offer them a tight-lipped smile of her own.

Akia kept lifting their notepad in front of their face, holding back laughter.

Most of Arianna’s teachers were impressed with her progress— though, she could speak up a bit more in class.

The music teacher, Mr Tomoshiura, insisted Arianna should join the school orchestra.

“Are you still having piano lessons?” Catherine wondered as they walked away from Mr Tomoshiura’s table. Catherine pulled out a packet of mints and popped one into her mouth.

Arianna shook her head. The professor had taught Arianna how to play a couple of pieces— including A Song of the Sea — but she hadn’t had any proper lessons since her father passed away.

“It might be worth picking them up again,” Akia said, jotting down a note. “Playing an instrument is a fantastic skill to put on your CV… and it’s just fun.”

Catherine swallowed her mint and inquired, “Is that something you’d want to pursue in future— music?”

Arianna shrugged. For now, she was happy just to keep music as a hobby. She had to be in the right mood to play either the piano or the flute. Sometimes it made her feel too sad…

They visited the History table next and spoke to Mrs Hanes. She was very invested in Arianna’s future as well. “Do you plan on studying archaeology, like your father?”

Before Arianna could respond, Catherine coughed out a laugh. “Oh, no, no! Arianna would rather go into the field of Science…”

“Archaeology is scientific,” Akia muttered.

As tempting as it was to defy Catherine, Arianna didn’t want to go into archaeology. She had seen enough ancient ruins to last a lifetime.

If Arianna had to choose a career right now, she would say marine biology. She wanted to protect endangered species like Loosha and their habitats.

(Then maybe, one day, when technology improved… No, that was just a pipe dream.)

The Science department were delighted when Arianna informed them of her choice. They advised that she would have to achieve excellent grades in all three sciences, English, and Maths, along with Geography, Computer Studies and possibly Foreign Languages…. No pressure, then!

“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Akia assured Arianna as they exited the school. “You’ve still got plenty of time to decide what you want to do.”

Did she, though?

Arianna frowned at Catherine, who was rummaging around in her purse. If Catherine had her way, Arianna would have to start looking into American colleges…

“This is for you…” Catherine found whatever she had been searching for. “It’s just to say… well done for working so hard in school.” She opened her hand and offered Arianna a key ring with a small blue charm attached to it. The charm was shaped like Loosha.

Arianna swallowed. She accepted the gift, holding it against her heart. “Where did you get this?” Arianna breathed.

“M-Misthallery’s market— I visited a while back…”

“Can I see?” Akia asked.

“I… I bought one for Tony as well—!” Catherine sputtered as Akia inspected the key ring. “It’s not meant to be a— a bribe or anything…!”

“We know,” Akia said, smiling. “It’s just a nice gift.”

“Thank you,” Arianna mumbled. (She had never mentioned Loosha in front of Catherine…)

Catherine also gave them Tony’s key ring before saying goodbye. Akia took Arianna home.

Tony was ecstatic when he saw the Loosha key ring.

Overall, his parents’ evening had been a success too. His teachers had just reminded him to tidy up whenever he was finished with his work.

The professor said he was very proud of Tony— and Arianna, after reading Akia’s report.

Flora had attempted to bake them a celebratory chocolate cake, but it had emerged from the oven looking very flat. It turned out Flora had used baking soda as opposed to baking powder, which would have made the cake rise.

“Never mind,” the professor chuckled. He cut the flat chocolate cake with a knife. “We’ll simply have brownies instead!”

As the professor proposed a puzzle about sharing the brownie slices, Arianna couldn’t help picturing Catherine, sitting alone in her quiet flat.

“I think I’ve finally got to the bottom of this mystery,” the professor announced. His shadow was projected against a brick wall by a pink light behind him. “Oh— thank you, Gale.”

Gale’s mid-section had lit up as if they were about to fire a laser. Arianna knew Gale would never do that with the rest of them so nearby, especially not in an enclosed room like this.

They were standing on a high platform, surrounded by giant metal rods, wheels and cogs.

“It’s like the clock tower in St. Mystere,” Flora gasped, “but even bigger!”

Crow scoffed. “What did you expect, country girl?” 

Arianna had almost missed Crow’s snide comments—

She stepped on his toe.

— Almost.

“Oww! Shove off, witch…!” Crow pushed Arianna away.

“Will you two stop?” Tony complained, clinging to Flora’s arm. “Someone could fall…”

“You weren’t even meant to be here,” Arianna muttered to Crow.

Crow, hoping to borrow something from the professor earlier, had turned up at their house with Gale. They had given Mrs Cecílie quite a fright. The professor had to reassure her that Gale was not a ‘Mimozemšťan!’

When Crow heard about the letter the professor had received, he’d decided to join them on the case, “just like old times”.

It might have had something to do with the reward the Mayor of London had offered…

“Does Mumsie know you’re here?” Crow countered, fixing his sleeveless brown jacket.

What Catherine didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, and Akia had said it was fine for them to visit Big Ben.

Anyway, so far the stakes seemed to be lower in this mystery. (Arianna wouldn’t even call it an adventure…) They were still in London, with the professor, and Scotland Yard was heavily involved.

The only notable absence was Luke, who had gone for a Sunday roast with his parents. Honestly, Arianna was relieved Luke was skipping out on one mystery. He needed a break!

Either the professor didn’t hear Crow’s question, or he chose not to acknowledge it. “Our villain escaped through this room…”

“How?” Tony gasped. “And can we leave the same way?”

“We will soon,” the professor promised. He inspected a green door bolted into the brick wall.

“But it seems impossible,” Flora pondered. “How could someone silence the bell, when the bell’s still here?”

The professor suggested, “What about the bell’s sound?”

Crow egged him on. “Get to the point , Prof— oi!” Arianna had elbowed him. One did not simply rush the professor during his deductions.

The professor approached Arianna and pointed at her feet. “Excuse me, Arianna…”

Looking down, with the help of Gale’s light, Arianna realised she was standing on a tile. “Is that— a sun…?”

She stepped off the red sun tile, disturbing some dust, and the professor knelt down to pick it up.

“The clue to this room was written at the tower entrance—“

“‘ When the stars and planets align, you will see your way,’ ” Arianna recited.

Why would there be a riddle like that in Big Ben’s tower? Had it always been here, or had the perpetrator set it up?

Nodding, the professor slotted the sun tile onto a chain on the green door.

He returned to the floor and retrieved another tile— this one was in the form of a yellow crescent moon.

Belatedly, Arianna noticed that there were large painted depictions of a red sun, a yellow moon, and blue star underneath where each tile had been. She and the others had missed that… but not Professor Layton.

He attached the moon and the star tiles to the door as well. It reminded Arianna of a shape-sorting game Tony had played with as a baby.

The professor expounded, “People have long watched the stars and planets move together…”

Gale made an excited chirp, hopped on the spot, and pointed upwards.

“Yeah,” Crow said. “Some humans have been to outer space. That’s where aliens live…”

Flora grinned at Gale. “Maybe you could fly up there, Gale! You wouldn’t need a spacesuit, would you?”

“Would you be able to break through the atmosphere, though?” Crow hummed.

“The views would be amazing,” Arianna said. Imagine being that close to the moon, the stars, and the other planets…

The professor called, “Speaking of views—“

“People would pay good money for photos of space,” Crow considered. “We’ll send Gale up there with a camera—“

“Look!” Tony cried.

They had been so engrossed in Gale’s hypothetical trip to space that they hadn’t noticed the tiles rotating or the door sliding open.

Gale’s laser glow dimmed as daylight flooded the room.

Everyone except Tony rushed out to see the view. First out was Gale, who flew through the doorway.

Arianna, Flora and Crow stopped at the threshold, awestruck.

The professor stepped out behind them. He clutched the brim of his hat as the wind picked up. (That was his spare, undamaged hat that he couldn’t afford to lose!)

“Now this is a swanky view—!” Crow’s whoop of glee was swallowed by the bongs of Big Ben.

“It’s even higher than my tower!” Flora laughed euphorically. “Oh, hello…!”

A flock of white doves had taken flight from the eaves of the clock tower. If Luke was here, he probably would have waved to them…

I’ll just have to bring him back another time, Arianna thought, beaming.

“Tony, you have to see this!” Flora shouted over her shoulder.

“N-no, thank you! I’m perfectly fine in here!”

Crow yelled, “You don’t know what you’re missing!”

Arianna doubted their experience could compare to Gale’s. The four of them watched as Gale soared over the river, the buildings and the rest of the cityscape below.

There were several people suspected of silencing Big Ben’s bell...

Tony pointed at the old lady as soon as he saw her on the bridge.  “Mask!”

“And that outfit...” Flora tutted. “It looks like something thrown together in five minutes—“

“LAYTON! YOU AND YOUR BRATS WILL PAY FOR THIS...!”

“Look at this!” Catherine threw a week-old copy of The London Times onto Akia’s desk.

Akia read the headline aloud. “Prof. Layton magically cleared ‘mystery fog’ of London ’…” Akia smiled slightly. “Well done, Professor!”

“Er, thank you…” the professor muttered.

Catherine pointed at the front page photo, obscuring the professor’s face with her fingertip. “No! Not ‘well done’! If you read the whole article, you’ll see that he was up against a criminal mastermind!”

(If Catherine had bothered to check the back pages, she also would have seen the reports of ‘alien robot’ sightings over London.)

Tony snorted. “Don Paolo’s hardly a ‘mastermind’… We saw right through his disguise!”

“He kidnapped your friend, Luke,” Catherine reminded them. “A twelve-year-old boy…”

“Thirteen,” Arianna coughed.

“That’s still a child! And Don Paolo could still be at large!” Catherine’s gaze flicked to the small office window.

“Oookay….” From the sound of it, Akia was suppressing a sigh. “Catherine does raise a valid point.”

Akia frowned at the professor, though it was a pained expression. “Professor, you didn’t tell me you would be visiting Big Ben as part of a case… I thought it was just a family outing?”

“Most of his ‘family outings’ involve criminals,” Catherine grumbled.

“Sorry, Catherine, but I was talking to the professor…”

“I apologise for omitting the reason behind our… outing,” the professor sighed. “While I was on the phone to you, our friends turned up on our doorstep and gave our elderly neighbour a scare. It was all quite chaotic—“

“That’s no excuse!” Catherine snapped. “When I arranged something without social services’ input— which I see now was wrong — I was, as Akia put it, ‘going behind your backs’!”

She gestured to the professor, who looked like he wanted to hide under his hat.

“But when he does anything underhanded, you praise him! H-how is that fair…?”

The professor, Tony, and Arianna stared at Catherine in silence. Even Akia was speechless.

“I’m… not fit to parent Arianna and Tony,” Catherine confessed.

For a moment, she covered her mouth with her hand, shaking her head. When she lowered her palm, she was glaring at Professor Layton. “But neither are you, Professor. O-or even if you are, you keep exposing them to your adventures and your enemies—“

“We choose to go with the professor!” Tony asserted. “Even when he’d rather leave us behind…”

“Leave you behind,” Catherine echoed. She shot to her feet and strode towards the door. “You two need to be with someone who won’t leave you again. I’ll make sure of that, if it’s the last thing I do.” She surged out of the room.

“I’m sorry…” Akia’s voice broke through the quiet. They ran a hand through their afro. “I shouldn’t have…” They sighed. “You three should go now— please. I’ll take care of this.”

Arianna, Tony and the professor filed out of the office. They didn’t encounter Catherine in the corridor, but they still returned to the Laytonmobile without a word.

“There’s nothing she can do… is there, Professor?” Tony mumbled on the drive home.

Arianna met the professor’s gaze in the rear view mirror. He glanced away, lost for an answer.

Chapter Text

“Professor,” Tony whispered, “that man is wearing a fake moustache—“

Arianna tapped his foot under the table with her shoe. “ Tony.”

“What—?”

“You can’t just say that,” Arianna hissed.

She stole a glance at the grey-haired scientist— Dr. Alain Stahngun— standing on the podium next to the ‘world’s first working time machine’.

Professor Layton hummed softly in response.

When the Professor had received his invite to the presentation, he had seemed… dubious… but he had agreed to attend, on the condition that his children could accompany him.

He was reluctant to leave any of them alone while Catherine and social services were breathing down his neck.

Grandma had dragged Grandpa off to John O'Groats (‘A dismal town in northeast Scotland!’ as Roland had described it) for the week. Rosa was too busy with her cleaning shifts to babysit… and Luke’s parents had taken him to get his passport checked, for reasons Arianna didn’t want to dwell on at this moment in time.

So, the Professor had brought Arianna, Tony and Flora along to the ‘educational’, social worker-approved time machine presentation.

They were lucky Crow, Gale and the rest of the Ravens hadn’t asked to come too. Crow had claimed Gale was lying low amid the rumours of ‘alien robots’ descending upon London.

As much as Arianna felt for Gale, the last thing they needed was for the event to devolve into pandemonium.

Catherine was at the end of her tether with Professor Layton. She was pushing for Arianna and Tony to be taken away from him and placed into foster care. (If Catherine couldn’t keep them, then neither could he!)

Of course, Catherine couldn’t get her way just like that, but social services had decided to monitor their family even more closely. The Professor was on thin ice and they couldn’t afford to have any more slip ups.

If Dr. Stahngun’s time machine was for real, Arianna wondered if it could send them to a utopian future where her family were all together, Luke could stay in London, and Catherine was no longer an issue.

“It does look quite fake,” Flora concurred with Tony. She squinted at Dr. Stahngun as he droned on about artificially distorting the flow of time with a magnetic field and a ‘Soola’ coil. (How could Flora and Tony even see his face, with their table being so far back?)

“Thank you, Flora,” Tony purred.

“Shush!” Arianna said through her teeth. “You’re going to get us thrown out…”

She pointed to the red-suited guard perched on the time machine’s stage. He was peering across the exhibition terrace.

Tony sank in his seat. Flora sat up a little straighter.

The Professor glanced at the guard. “I wouldn’t worry,” the Professor murmured. “He seems to be looking for someone who snuck into the event uninvited—“

“An intruder?” Flora said, intrigued.

Arianna groaned. “Whyyy?”

Why couldn’t they have one day out without something going awry? And why did it always have to involve the Professor?

“Professor, no…” Arianna groaned even more as he got up and went to assist the guard.

Inspector Chelmey and Barton were right there— a few tables closer to the stage! They could have gone to help if they weren’t so busy stuffing their faces with pork chops!

The Professor chatted to the guard for a minute. Then he scanned the tables, lingering on one with a red table cloth, and whispered something to the guard.

The gate crasher— a person disguised with an orange hat, dark glasses, and a long green overcoat— shook in their seat as the guard marched towards them.

Arianna watched as the intruder was escorted out of the exhibition terrace.

“Let me guess…” Arianna huffed as the Professor returned to their table. “Don Paolo?”

Flora frowned, gripping her fork like a trident. Tony craned his head as he tried to get a good look at the intruder’s retreating form.

The Professor sighed, “I believe—“

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…!” a presenter suddenly blared from the stage, capturing everyone’s attention. “THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN AN EVENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTABLY GO DOWN IN SCIENTIFIC HISTORY…”

The presenter re-introduced Dr. Alain Stahngun, much to the excitement of the audience.

“Definitely fake,” Tony muttered.

Dr. Stahngun proceeded to welcome the prime minister, Bill Hawks, onstage.

Arianna had never been interested in politics— she counted it among the boring topics adults often talked about— but she recognised the name Bill Hawks.

Her father had supported Hawks’ party when he was alive. Back then, Arianna hadn’t understood that her father meant political parties; she’d just thought it was the prime minister’s birthday.

Bill Hawks was… plain-looking; average height, with square-shaped glasses, thinning light brown hair, and a brown suit.

When he addressed the crowd in a clear and triumphant voice, however, Arianna could see why people would vote for him.

He spoke of how this was a monumental day for the human race, and how they had conquered every frontier apart from time … But that was about to change. The spectators applauded.

Before the demonstration could begin, Dr. Stahngun asked for the prime minister’s assistance. After a moment of hesitation, Bill Hawks agreed.

The walls of time machine fell open like a metallic flower. Bill Hawks stepped inside.

Dr. Stahngun pulled a lever. His time machine whirred and hissed.

Three bulbs lit up on the side of the machine. Above the machine, a giant golden clock started to tick.

The doors lifted and closed tight. Hawks was sealed inside.

Flora was watching with a gaping mouth. Tony’s attention was still fixed on Dr. Stahngun.

Stahngun pulled a second lever. Hairs rose on the back of Arianna’s neck— out of agitation, or exhilaration, or maybe both.

Some might say time travel was impossible… but Arianna had experienced many impossibilities in her fourteen years.

She had befriended a giant lake creature— the last of her kind. She had survived her ‘terminal’ illness. She had witnessed the powers and creations of the Azran civilisation…

She had visited a village inhabited by robots, and the phantom town of Folsense…

But this… Time travel… This was something else.

Steam (Or was it smoke?) billowed from the top of the machine. The whirring increased, as if the contraption was about to take off. It reminded Arianna of the airship Bostonius.

(She wondered what Desmond Sycamore— another questionable ‘scientist’— would make of the time machine…)

The Professor tensed beside her. Arianna glanced at him, and then back at the machine. Her eyes widened.

Smoke (That was definitely smoke!) had started escaping from all corners of the machine. The doors were surging with electricity.

Flora gasped, “That can’t be—“

The time machine exploded.

Flora dived under their table with Tony. Arianna— scared the Professor might run  towards the blast — grabbed hold of his arm. (They had almost lost him to an explosion on Ambrosia…)

Dr. Stahngun and his assistants were swallowed by a cloud of smoke and debris. The giant clock face crashed into a fountain.

“Something’s gone very wrong,” the Professor uttered.

When the dust settled, Arianna was able to make out the base of the time machine, with its broken walls, and the sparking box of levers.

Dr. Stahngun, Bill Hawks and the other scientists were nowhere to be seen.

The audience was hysterical. One woman kept screaming for them to “Find Bill!”

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND REFRAIN FROM PANICKING…!”

Arianna winced at the presenter’s frantic announcement. Flora and Tony poked their heads up from under the table.

“My word…” the Professor breathed.

What concerned Arianna most wasn’t the fear in his eyes— it was the realisation.

She could almost see the cogs turning in his mind. How and why had this happened? How could he fix this?

Arianna swallowed. She tightened her grip on the Professor’s arm.

Even with the security guards swarming around— who would surely search for the prime minister— Professor Layton wasn’t going to let this go.

’Dear Arianna, Tony and Luke (and Crow, if he happens to be there),

First and foremost, Flora is with me. We have not left London.

Flora brought to my attention a letter addressed to me. At this moment in time, I’m not sure if its contents or its author are authentic, but I must investigate.

Apologies for leaving you all on such short notice. Please stay at the university with Rosa, Clark and Brenda.

Do not attempt to follow me. (That includes Crow, if he is reading this.)

If Flora and I are not back by seven o’clock this evening, then you should contact the police.

Stay at Gressenheller.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Hershel Layton’

“He left us…” Arianna clenched the Professor’s hastily-written note in her hands. “Again.”

She, Tony and Luke had gone to the aquarium for two hours.

They had gotten the direct bus there and back— which they were definitely old enough to do, despite Catherine’s fears— because the Professor’s car was in the garage for its MOT. ( This was no fault of the Professor’s — it was good that he had remembered!)

Arianna had expected the Professor and Flora to be waiting for them back at Gressenheller.

The three of them had returned, however, to find an empty office with a piece of paper left on the Professor’s desk.

“He took Flora with him…” Luke sounded more envious than irritated.

Arianna pressed her lips together. (She would not snap at Luke. He wasn’t the one she was angry at.)

She couldn’t believe this— no, actually, she could. This was so typical of the Professor.

Of all the times for him to run off on an investigation… without even telling them in person!

Wasn’t he concerned that a social worker might show up to check on them?

How would Arianna and Tony explain his absence? Yes, he had told them to stay at Gressenheller, but had he asked the Tritons and Rosa if they were free to babysit? Probably not!

More worryingly— the Professor had instructed them to call the police if he and Flora weren’t back this evening!

The Professor had willingly gone to meet this letter-writer— with Flora— knowing full-well they could be wandering into a trap. (Set by Don Paolo, Targent, or another of his numerous enemies!)

Arianna knew the Professor was smarter than that, but she also knew he could get tunnel-vision when it came to solving a mystery, or assisting someone in need.

That same determination had driven him to stop the spectre in Misthallery, and to help Luke, Arianna, and Tony.

But things were different now. The Professor was their parent. They were a family…

Weren’t they?

The office door opened with a click. Arianna wasn’t sure why her heart jittered— it was just Tony, of course.

“Clark, Brenda and Rosa are all here,” Tony confirmed.

“That’s good!” Social services wouldn’t think the Professor had abandoned them completely.

“Should we tell them?” Luke wondered.

“No…”

How would Clark react to the news? After their adventure in Dropstone— after Luke had been kidnapped— Clark had given the professor quite an earful. Since then, he seemed to be avoiding the Professor…

Would Clark go as far as calling social services if he heard the Professor had left them again?

Luke was frowning. Arianna clarified, “…Not yet. There’s no point in alarming them if the Professor is just going to come back later.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Tony whispered.

“If he doesn’t… Then we’ll tell the others, and call the police, like he said.”

Arianna didn’t want to consider what would happen after that…

That day still haunted her, even now. People banging on the manor doors… The police, bringing Arianna to the lake… where they were covering her father’s body—

Sighing, Arianna looked at the clock on the professor’s desk. It was early afternoon…

Well, she wasn’t going to waste time staring out the window while she waited for Professor Layton.

“For now,” Arianna added, “we can try to find out why he left and who he was meant to be meeting.”

They started by doing a full sweep of the professor’s office.

His trunk— usually left by the bookshelf— was missing. The professor must have anticipated this wouldn’t be a quick trip.

Though the professor’s latest journal may have been in his trunk, Tony found his previous journal in one of his desk drawers.

In his last entry, the professor had detailed the events of the ‘disastrous time-machine demonstration’ and how it felt ‘eerily familiar’…

Familiar to what, exactly? A previous case…? Was the professor referring to Descole and Don Paolos’ deadly inventions?

Arianna was about to suggest this, when Luke pointed out another line from the journal:

‘Arianna and Tonys’ mother, Catherine, slipped into the demonstration uninvited. Had I realised sooner, I would have asked her to join our table…’

Arianna gave Tony a sidelong glance. “You noticed Dr. Stahngun was wearing a fake moustache, but you didn’t recognise our mother?”

“Who said I didn’t recognise her?”

“Tony…!”

Luke broke through their bickering. “Maybe the professor’s current investigation is linked to the time machine demonstration?” There was a note of desperation in Luke’s voice; he didn’t want to be left out.

“That would make sense,” Arianna agreed,  acknowledging Luke’s point with a nod.

Could the enigmatic letter-writer have attended the demonstration with them? Someone interested in time travel, or someone intending to foil Dr. Stahngun’s efforts?

Stahngun himself was a potential suspect, especially with his fake moustache…

Had the time machine presentation been a setup— like a certain masked diva’s ‘opera’— in order to take out the prime minister?

Maybe Stahngun had written the letter, demanding a ransom for the prime minister’s return…

But why send the letter to Professor Layton? (The professor only earned about £40,000 a year!) It would make more sense to send it to Parliament, or to the prime minister’s wife.

What if Stahngun needed the professor’s help finding the prime minister?

The time machine might have actually worked and thrown Bill Hawks through time before it exploded. Now, he could be lost— trapped in another time period— or worse…

Or maybe the letter-writer was a complete and utter stranger.

Arianna looked at Luke when he spoke again.

“Was the letter delivered to the professor’s office? We could ask around the university— see if anyone saw the… deliver-er? Delivery-person.”

“Good idea!” Arianna smiled. “Why don’t you and Tony ask around, while I stay here and make some calls…”

The professor hadn’t mentioned anything about them calling in reinforcements.

While Tony and Luke hurried out to search for any eyewitnesses, Arianna picked up the professor’s office phone.

Crow was her first contact. (The professor had forbidden Crow from following him, but he had forgotten about Gale.)

Maureen, Crow’s mother, was the one who answered. She spent a few minutes trying to catch up with Arianna— asking how she was and what she had been up to and “Did Arianna know about the new choir group in Misthallery?” — but she must have noticed the shortness in Arianna’s tone.

Eventually, Maureen informed Arianna about Crow’s whereabouts; Crow had jetted off to the Azran Sanctuary with Gale for some ‘big development’… Right when Arianna needed them. (Crow really was just like the professor in that regard!)

What was this ‘big development’? Was it Desmond Sycamore’s doing? Had he built something at the sanctuary? Did he really have to drag Crow and Gale out…?

Arianna quashed that itch of irritation she felt for Desmond. Desmond was far away at the Sanctuary and he had no part in the professor’s latest disappearance. (He’d better not, anyway…!)

Arianna huffed. Maureen heard her and asked if everything was okay.

“Yes,” Arianna said. “I just…” Miss Crow. “…Wanted to see him.”

Crow would know what to do in this predicament. He’d have a plan. He wouldn’t care about breaking the rules or going behind the professor’s back…

The last time Arianna had tried that, it was a complete disaster.

Maureen seemed to detect Arianna’s unsaid words. “Me too, love. He’ll be back before you know it… In the meantime, I’m around if you need anything, or I’m sure the rest of Tom’s gang would be with you in a flash!”

“Thank you,” Arianna said sincerely. (It was nice of her to offer, but Misthallery was a couple of hours away.) “Can I ask— how do you… deal with Crow, when he leaves at the last minute?“

There was an odd silence from Maureen. Then she sighed wistfully. “Honestly, I worry about him a lot… but I know he’s doing what he thinks is best. There’s no stopping him— but I’ll be still here, whenever he decides to come home. Sometimes, that’s all you can do… If that makes sense?”

Arianna tried to match the warmth in Maureen’s voice. “I think it does—“

The office door slammed open.

“Arianna!” Tony was tugging on her arm. “Arianna…!”

Arianna almost dropped the phone. “What—?”

“Catherine’s here!”

Of course she was. Arianna kicked the professor’s desk with frustration, earning herself a sore foot.

Holding back a curse, Arianna said goodbye to Maureen and hung up the phone.

Not a moment later, Catherine crept into the professor’s office— uninvited, yet again.

“Hello, Arianna… Is the professor free—?”

“You’re not meant to be here!” Arianna burst out.

“You snuck in to the time machine presentation uninvited!” Tony added.

“I… I…” Catherine’s mouth flapped open and shut several times. She looked like some of the fish they had seen at the aquarium. With a sigh, she admitted, “Alright… Yes, I was there. I was worried about you— and my instincts were right!”

Arianna snorted. “Social services won’t be impressed…”

“No, they weren’t…” Catherine wrapped her arms around herself. “That’s why I’m here— I… I was hoping the professor could vouch for me. If he does, I’ll do the same for him.”

Arianna and Tony glanced at each other.

“He’s not here right now,” Arianna said carefully. “You’ll have to come back later—“

“Where is he? Doesn’t he have classes to teach?”

“He booked the day off to spend time with Flora,” Tony retorted. “Ask Dean Delmona if you don’t believe us!” (Tony sounded so sure of himself— he must have spoken to Dean Delmona.)

“I will,” Catherine said seriously. “Where is the Dean’s office, please…?”

Dean Delmona’s office was somewhere on the floor above them. Tony gave Catherine directions to an entirely different building across campus.

After Catherine had wandered off, Arianna shot Tony a wary glance.

“When did you get so devious?” (Evidently, Crow had rubbed off on him…)

“Maybe everyone else’s just gullible,” Tony said, smirking. Suddenly, his eyes widened at the window behind Arianna. “Is that… a parrot?”

Arianna scoffed, “Like I’d fall for that—!” She was silenced by a “Sqrrrrawk!” and a tap at the glass. Arianna turned. There was, indeed, a green and yellow parrot sitting on the windowsill.

“Oh, sure!” Tony pointed at the parrot, which was now perched on Flora’s shoulder. “She’s allowed a parrot, but when I ask to adopt a penguin, it’s a no!”

“His name is Scout,” Flora huffed. “And I didn’t just ‘adopt’ him—“

“Where did he come from?” Arianna asked pointedly.

Flora muttered, “It’s more like when—“

“What?”

“I- I met him by the river,” Flora babbled, “in London— but not our London…!”

“Our London!” Scout repeated.

Arianna raised an eyebrow. Her relief at Flora and the professors’ safe return was giving way to frustration. Neither of them would divulge exactly where they had been, who they had been with, or what they had been up to.

The professor had offered up an apology for leaving Arianna, Tony and Luke—almost repeating word for word what he’d put in his letter— but it sounded stale and rushed…

“Has someone been reading my journals?” the professor exclaimed as he rooted through his desk.

“Yes,” Arianna admitted, hoping she would be rewarded with some honesty in return.“We were trying to find out where on Earth you two had gone—“

“Professor,” Tony interrupted, “why didn’t you say anything about Catherine at the time machine presentation?”

“She’s here, by the way!” Luke piped up. (He’d spotted Catherine stalking through the corridors earlier.) “She wanted to talk to you…”

The professor sighed with just a hint of vexation. “I’m afraid that will have to wait—“

“Wait for what?” Arianna demanded. The professor didn’t answer. Arianna turned her frown towards Flora— who was usually such an open book.

“Um…” Flora fidgeted. She licked her lips. “We met the… the person who wrote the letter—“

“Who was it?” Luke said.

Flora stared at him for a moment. Then she glanced at the professor. “Professor?” she called pleadingly.

Arianna saw the professor slip something into his coat. He said distractedly, “I promise I will explain everything to you all later—“

“You can explain right now!” Arianna snapped.

The others were stunned into silence. Flora lifted one hand to her mouth and one to Scout’s beak. Tony gripped the back of his head. Gritting his teeth, Luke glanced from Arianna to the professor.

Arianna was rather startled herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she had spoken to the professor like that…

Maybe when he’d found out about Catherine, or when he’d defended Desmond Sycamore’s choice to stay with Aurora? On both occasions, Arianna’s anger hadn’t really been directed at him…

Arianna had made excuses for him when he raced off on the Molentary Express; his panic at Dr Schrader’s presumed death, his assumption that Arianna and Tony would be with Catherine for the day, his problems with communicating that he had confided in Arianna about…

Hadn’t they moved past this? How could he still not trust them— Trust her?— after everything they had been through together?

Finally, the professor looked at Arianna— acknowledged her.

“I’m sorry,” the professor intoned. (Arianna believed he meant it, this time.) “I wouldn’t leave you without good reason—“

“W-why was Flora allowed to join you?” Luke asked.

Flora dropped her hand from her mouth— ready to defend herself— but then the professor explained, “That was before I realised the full extent of what we are dealing with, and the danger…” He shifted whatever he was hiding in his coat, clutching it against his chest.

“Tell us what the danger is, then!” Arianna persisted. “Even if we can’t help you, isn’t it better that we know? Please, Professor…!”

Please don’t risk your life again, Arianna thought, holding his gaze. Please, we can’t lose you too…

The professor could read it from the pained expression on her face.

He released an uneven breath. His fingers were twitching at the edge of his coat. His top hat— the one with the stitches— had become slightly askew while he was rummaging through his desk.

This past week— the time machine explosion, the letter, his current investigation— had truly unnerved him in a way Arianna had never seen.

“… No. Not this time,” the professor said with finality. “All four of you are to remain here.”

All four of them protested, particularly Flora, who pointed out that she was already involved.

Regardless, the professor trudged towards the door. Arianna blocked his path.

The professor sighed, “Arianna—“

“Why not this time? This case? What could possibly be worse than Targent and the Azran?”

He tried to step around her. Tony and Luke placed themselves on either side of Arianna— forming a barrier with her.

The professor turned to the window (Was he planning to climb out?!) but Flora had that exit covered.

Surrounded, the professor conceded, “This case… I believe it’s linked to something I… tried to investigate in the past…”

“Like Akbadain?” Tony said. Flora sent him a confused look.

“That was an accident,” the professor stressed, shaking his head. “Though this case may have… started as an accident, it was purposely covered up with censorship and— and force…”

Like in Misthallery, Arianna recalled. Like our father’s death…

Were there corrupt police involved in this case too? Or was a masked perpetrator pulling the strings?

“W-what do you mean by force, Professor?” Luke whispered.

“Nothing I could bear to expose any of you to,” the professor replied. He fixed his hat and looked at each of them in turn. “I need to leave now, but I’ll be back—“

“Do you promise?” Tony said.

The professor nodded. That was all it took to shift Tony and Luke.

Putting his hands on Arianna’s shoulders, the professor gently moved her aside as well.

The professor opened his office door… and almost walked into Catherine, along with a very agitated Clark.

“You’re back,” Catherine huffed, as if she had never been late a day in her life.

Clark explained, “I… bumped into Miss Yulan in the research lab…” Judging by his strained tone of voice, it sounded more like Catherine had cornered him and dragged him across campus.

“I was looking for the Dean’s office,” Catherine said, aiming a betrayed glare at Tony, behind the professor. “But never mind that! Professor, please can we—“

“My apologies— I’m currently in the middle of something,” the professor interrupted, trying to push past her. “Clark, can you watch the children for a while longer—?”

“Not another case, I hope!” Catherine gasped.

“I must agree with Miss Yulan,” Clark said, reluctantly. He frowned. “Hershel… what’s happening with you?”

The professor paused for a moment. Arianna wondered if Clark might be able to talk some sense into him…

But then the professor uttered, “The institute explosion.”

Clark’s face clouded with shock, followed by comprehension. “Of… of course— Brenda and I will stay with them… But, whatever you’re doing, please, be careful.”

“What?” Catherine spluttered. (Arianna heard her own desperation in her mother’s voice.) “What are you doing?”

“Thank you, Clark.”

With that, the professor dashed off through the corridor, still clutching his coat like it contained a priceless treasure.

Arianna slammed the office door, much to Catherine and Clarks’ dismay.

“Explain, now!” Arianna ordered, pointing at Flora.

Ironically, there was no time to absorb Flora’s time-travelling revelation. The four of them escaped out the window and the legged it to the bus stop outside Gressenheller.

The letter had asked Professor Layton to visit a clock shop on Midland Road. Flora had revealed that the professor would need to return to this location in order to travel back to ‘Future London’.

They planned to ambush the professor on his way back to the clock shop.

Two buses came and went as they waited in the alleyway that led to Midland Road.

“Look!” Tony pointed as several passengers emerged from one bus. “Is that—?”

“The professor?” Luke said hopefully.

“No— it’s Akia!”

Luke pulled a face. “Your social worker?”

Their former social worker…

Akia had been relieved of the Barde siblings’ case for being too ‘lenient’ with Professor Layton.

What was Akia doing here? Had Catherine informed social services about the professor’s disappearing act?

Had Akia been sent out the retrieve Arianna and Tony? But then, how would Akia— and Catherine— know where to find them?

Akia was hovering by the bus shelter, hugging a red satchel as if their life depended on it. They kept glancing around; it didn’t look like they were out on a hunt, but rather, waiting for someone.

An expression of (seemingly genuine) surprise crossed Akia’s face as Arianna approached them.

“Oh! Hi, Arianna, Tony and— it’s Flora, right? And this is your… friend?” Akia motioned to Luke.

“I’m Luke— Professor Layton’s apprentice!”

“Sorry! I wasn’t sure if the professor had adopted another kid… Where is he, anyway?” Akia lowered their voice and held up their satchel. “I think I found what he was after…”

Arianna exchanged a glance with Flora, but Flora appeared just as confused as her.

“That’s great!” Tony improvised, beaming at Akia. “He sent us to collect it!”

Akia fell for it. (Why would an innocent eleven-year-old boy like Tony ever lie?) With a nod, Akia pulled an old green file out of their satchel.

Before Akia could pass Tony the file, Luke pondered doubtfully, “Why are you helping the professor?”

Akia hesitated, holding back the file. “I’m not… allowed to, technically,” Akia admitted. “But I owe it to the professor…”

Turning to the bus shelter timetable, Akia said seriously, “Years ago, Professor Layton saved my life…”

“Really?” Flora gasped.

Akia looked back at them with a sheepish smile. “…Or at least— that’s what it felt like at the time! I was running late for a job interview… I was meant to get the bus, but the bus timetable was a complete puzzle—“

“It is,” Flora agreed.

“—Luckily, I ran into a kind gentleman with a top hat who solved it for me.”

Luke’s frown lifted. “Oh, right…”

Akia made another furtive glance around the road before passing the old file to Tony.

“Please, tell the professor to be careful with this,” Akia whispered. “Whatever information is on this file— on that child — I trust that he will use it with good reason.”

“Thank you, Akia,” Arianna breathed.

“No worries! Well, I’d best be going…” Akia shouldered their satchel and hurried off down the street, whistling. Arianna hoped they wouldn’t get in trouble!

When Akia was out of sight, Arianna and the others gathered around the file.

Tony was about to open it, but Arianna thought it was best to wait. (She wouldn’t want just anyone snooping through her personal files!)

Why had the professor requested a— probably confidential — file from social services? And what child had Akia been referring to?

The giant clock hands stopped whirling. The back of the shop stopped shaking. Arianna stopped clenching her teeth and clinging to the professor.

(She was still upset with him— and he with them for swiping Akia’s file— but he had been closest to her when the shop owner told them to hang on!)

It felt as if they had just survived an earthquake, but when Arianna blearily looked around, the shop had barely changed. All of the clocks were still in tact…

Her travelling companions were another matter.

Inspector Chelmey— who had followed the professor here from Scotland Yard— seemed alert as ever, but Barton was stumbling around like a bowling pin.

Luke was groaning and clutching his stomach.

Tony was white as a sheet and shivering. The only thing keeping him upright was Flora. She patted him on the back, promising it was over now.

Flora, evidently, had experienced this before with the professor.

The shopkeeper told them, “You’d best be getting back to Luke!”

“Ugh… How do you know my name?” Luke asked.

The professor was keen to leave them at a hotel not far from the clock shop, but Arianna, Tony and Luke demanded a full explanation from him. Realising there was no escape this time, the professor confirmed that they had, indeed, travelled ten years into the future.

Arianna could accept they had landed in a perilous, technologically-advanced version of the London she knew. She only had to look around to notice the giant cogs, the trailing wires and the steaming pipes in the streets, along with the grey-uniformed goons lingering on every corner.

But Arianna refused to believe that Professor Hershel Layton ruled over these thugs and the city with an iron fist.

And Luke— Future Luke!— was the one who had written to the professor (their professor) asking for his help in saving London.

What, if anything, could drive Future Luke and Layton apart? What made Future London’s citizens cower at the sight of a top hat? What had pushed Future Layton to this point; consorting with criminals, harbouring the person (Dr. Alain Stahngun) responsible for Bill Hawks’ disappearance, and obsessed with changing the past?

There was so much tragedy in the professor’s past, but he had never shown signs of this… obsession before. He had never craved power or riches before. He had always kept moving forward, much to Arianna’s amazement.

Had the professor reached his breaking point during the last ten years?

Hadn’t Future Arianna, Tony and Flora been there to support him— even if Luke had not?

(Was it all due to this institute explosion…?)

Arianna still struggled to believe it, right up until she met Future Luke face to face.

The first thing Arianna saw, as the five of them trekked up to the park observatory, was a dark blue cap.

It belonged to a brown-haired young man, presumably twenty-three years old (though, he could have been younger), who was leaning against the railing in the park observatory with his arms crossed.

To compliment the cap, he was wearing a blue tie and a light blue suit jacket… along with short brown trousers (Not really shorts!) and blue knee socks.

He stood to attention as they all trooped in. Arianna noticed how he was taller than her, though he was still slightly smaller than the professor. (That was reassuring, somehow.)

“Eh?” the man exclaimed, at the same time as their Luke.

Luke pointed at the man. “H-he’s the future me?” The professor nodded.

The man took a moment to collect himself, before he confirmed, “Hello, Younger Me… and Tony, and Arianna.” His hand went to his tie, but then he touched the end of his cap instead. “Do forgive me; I wasn’t expecting to see you three here…”

“No, I’m sure you weren’t,” Arianna replied, with a telling glance at the professor.

“It’s good to see you all, anyway,” the man said softly. “Are you… well?” He held his hand out to her.

Arianna stared at it. What had she been expecting? A handshake? A hug…? A kiss— certainly not!

She didn’t know this man— this older, cryptic version of Luke— and when had he last seen the older version of Arianna?

When Arianna made no move, he lowered his hand.

As the professor explained how he and Flora had picked up their travelling companions— including Chelmey and Barton— back in the present, (Or was it the past now?) Arianna glanced at Tony. Tony shook his head to her.

The man wasn’t wearing a mask?

Surely Flora and the professor would have realised if he was a robot… and Future London didn’t feel anything like the illusionary town of Folsense.

Was this really Future London? Was that honestly Future Luke? And had the Future Layton truly lost his mind?

Chapter Text

It wasn’t all that surprising to find a black-market bazaar in this shady Future London, but the sight of a figure in a blue cap made Arianna freeze.

“C- Crow?”

Tony and Luke also stopped to stare at the man working in the store, which was more like a hole in between two dilapidated buildings. The only features distinguishing it as a market establishment were the blue tarp above the opening and the antiques out on display.

On the shadowed road ahead of them, Flora, the Professor and Future Luke (She refused to call him ‘Big Luke’!) looked back. Arianna heard Future Luke let out an impatient sigh, but she wasn’t discouraged.

She entered the store, calling, “Hello…?”

The man glanced up from behind a counter to greet her. “Are ya lost, Miss?”

Studying him up close, Arianna realised she’d been mistaken. This man looked old enough to be Crow’s grandfather, with his greying hazel hair, wrinkles, thick brows, droopy eyes— and she couldn’t imagine Crow growing a moustache in a million years!

“P-please excuse me,” Arianna stammered, “I thought you were— someone else…”

“I get that a lot,” the man chuckled throatily. He gestured around his store. “See anythin’ you like?”

Flustered, Arianna pointed at a wrist watch on the counter. The watch face depicted the Union Jack flag.

A hand closed around Arianna’s arm and hauled her out of the store.

“We don’t have time for this,” Future Luke huffed.

Scout circled above their heads, singing, “Time! Tiiiime…!” (It really was uncanny how well he could mimic Future Luke’s voice!)

Arianna protested, “I thought he might be Future Crow!”

Disappointment held her in a vice, kind of like Future Luke’s grip. Arianna yanked her arm away from him.

“You can’t go around asking people if they’re from the future,” he hissed, as though Arianna was four rather than fourteen. He shooed Scout away when the parrot tried to land on his shoulder. “This is their present—“

“Well, do you know where Future Crow is?” Arianna challenged, glaring at him.

Future Luke glared right back.

It was jarring… Tony had confirmed he wasn’t wearing a mask, but how could such a contemptuous expression exist on Future’s Luke’s face? On Luke’s face?

Even when Arianna and Luke argued (her Luke), he had never regarded her with so much scorn, enmity, and… something else…

Then, hearing footsteps behind them, Future Luke’s gaze darted around.

Flora and the Professor were coming over to find out what the commotion was about.

Tony had gone to check out the store for himself. Little Luke had accompanied Tony, but his head was turned in Arianna’s direction. He was concerned for Arianna— like he usually was and he always would be.

“I don’t…” Future Luke released a sigh when the Professor and Flora were a few steps behind him. “Forgive me, but I have no idea where Crow is—“

“How could you not?” Arianna breathed.

For all his wanderlust, Crow had always come back home.

Surely Future Crow would have kept in contact with Future Luke— especially after the Professor’s (apparent) fall from grace. Crow had stuck by Emmy and Desmond despite their betrayals, hadn’t he?

Crow wouldn’t give up on the Professor, unless… unless Crow was…

Arianna shook her head. No— Crow was too stubborn to die. Future Luke must have just lost track of him.

Arianna whispered, “What about me, Tony and Flora?” Surely Luke couldn’t have forgotten them…

“The three of you moved to America so you would be… safe,” Future Luke muttered. “I went with you originally, but then— “

“That can’t be right!” Arianna objected. She glanced at the Professor, who averted his gaze, and at Flora, who gave her a sympathetic look. “We can’t— we wouldn’t just leave the Professor— even if he… “

What if Future Layton hadn’t sent them away, but Arianna and the others had been taken from him?

What if he really had become a monster?

“He won’t,” Future Luke said firmly, “if we put a stop to him now.”

With that, Future Luke turned and strode towards Chinatown, his eyes set on the Towering Pagoda looming in the distance.

The Professor watched him for a second, before he followed.

Arianna had hoped the Professor would say something to comfort her, but no…

Flora, at least, held back with Arianna. “I asked him the same questions— about the future versions of us,” Flora intoned. She frowned. “Future Luke must find it hard to discuss…”

That certainly sounded like Luke— he had been known to bottle up his worries before— but something still felt off.

That cold glint in the corner of Future Luke’s eye… His complacent tone of voice… His seeming lack of care for his family and friends’ whereabouts…

“That’s not our Luke,” Arianna whispered.

“He’s not,” Flora agreed with a sigh. “It’s like he said in the plaza with the statue—“

She was interrupted by Tony and Luke emerging from the market store. Tony showed them the Union Jack watch he had apparently traded for his beige-coloured scarf.

“I haggled for it,” Tony said proudly.

Flora clicked her tongue. “Oh, Tony… Your mo— I mean, Catherine— really liked that scarf on you!”

“Too bad!”

Arianna shook her head. The last thing she needed right now was to fret over what Catherine might be doing back in the present…

(Had Cathrine alerted every social worker in London that her children were missing? Had she led an angry mob to the Professor’s front doorstep? Had she gone to the press with a scathing story about him?)

“Could you give her that watch as a souvenir?” Luke suggested drolly. He smiled at Arianna.

Arianna snorted, imagining Catherine’s reaction if she received a souvenir from the dystopian future where Professor Layton was an evil overlord.

As much as she disapproved of the Professor, even Catherine would say that sounded utterly ridiculous.

Future Luke was not impressed when Tony begged to explore Chinatown’s toy shop, and he was even less impressed when Little Luke nipped in to the noodle bar next door.

Flora pointed out, much more eloquently than Arianna would have done, that they couldn’t face Future Layton on an empty stomach. Arianna tried not to appear too smug as the Professor agreed and they followed Little Luke inside.

The aroma of seasonings, spices and sauces made Arianna’s mouth water.

When the restaurant owner saw all six of them, she was astonished, but this soon dissolved into delight at having so many customers.

She led them to a large round table— right behind a Family thug, but he barely took any notice of them.

Still, Future Luke kept a watchful eye on the thug as they sat down.

“It’s nice to actually visit a restaurant,” Flora chirped as the Professor chatted to the owner. “I’ve never had Chinese before!”

Arianna told her, “We’ve had a Chinese takeaway…”

The Professor had brought home a takeaway once and it was the best thing Arianna had ever tasted. Her father had detested Chinese food— claiming it was far too ‘unhealthy’, especially for Arianna — but she’d felt perfectly fine afterwards, if a bit full.

She couldn’t wait to try the meals at this restaurant!

The menus were passed around the table and everyone placed their orders:

Pork noodle soup for Luke and the Professor; chicken noodle soup for Tony; seafood fried rice for Future Luke; crispy duck pancakes for Arianna; and a helping of all of the above for Flora, who simply couldn’t decide.

They also ordered dishes of dim sum, a bag of prawn crackers and cups of tea for them to share… along with chopsticks.

“There are forks you can use instead,” Future Luke pointed out as the rest of them struggled with the chopsticks.

“We’re fine!” Tony said, just as he got a small noodle stuck under his nose.

Flora giggled at him. “Whatever you say, Don Paolo!”

Arianna covered her mouth. Little Luke almost choked on his noodles. The Professor smiled.

“How DARE you LAUGH at ME?” Tony boomed. He spun his chopsticks around in his fingers like little propellers. “You’ll all PAY FOR THIS! Nyeh heh heh…!”

Flora, Arianna and Luke exploded with laughter.

Future Luke bit his lip and looked away. “Th-that’s enough— someone might hear you…”

They all seemed to brighten up after their meal— even Future Luke, who offered to pay for everything. (He was the only one carrying money from this time period, anyway…)

As Future Luke went up to the till, Arianna gazed around the table. Flora was asking the Professor if they could pick up a Chinese recipe book, while Luke and Tony fought a thumb war for the last prawn cracker.

This might be one of the last times we’re all together… for a long time , Arianna realised sadly.

She leapt up from her seat when Future Luke called them from the doorway.

If they didn’t fix this awful future— and whoever had caused it— it might be the very last time, ever.

The ruler of the Towering Pagoda was currently not home.

While Arianna and her companions were trying to track him down, they encountered a man agonising over a graffitied wall.

The man told them about his plans to paint a fancy mural on the wall— though, he would need a bit of help…

Flora raised her hand. “We can help! Right, guys?”

“Right!” Tony seconded.

Arianna exchanged an uncertain glance with Luke.

“We’re going to lose the other Layton at this rate,” Future Luke grumbled to the Professor.

That cinched it for Arianna. “We’ll all help,” she said resolutely.

They guarded the wall until the man— Slate, his name was— returned with cans of paint and paintbrushes, which he handed out to everyone.

Future Luke accepted his paintbrush with a frown.

“A true gentleman should do his part to help the community,” the Professor lectured, as Slate sketched a rough outline for the mural.

“Of course, Professor,” Future Luke agreed, grudgingly. “I’m just concerned that our target will escape—“

“This is important too,” Flora insisted. “We’re making the future a brighter and better place!”

“That’s the spirit!” Slate said as he stepped back from the wall. “Alright— the outline is done. We can add some colour now…”

Arianna chose a can of cherry-red paint. She noticed Flora had gone with sky blue. They beamed at each other and readied their paintbrushes.

“Now you’ve got me right where you want me. I’m getting out of h-h-here!” The jittery man— who had introduced himself as Edgar to Arianna— bolted down the street, as far away from Professor Layton as he could get.

“Whatever did I do to get on that fellow’s bad side?” the Professor wondered.

“I’m sure it’s nothing you’ve done,” Arianna muttered with a frown.

While the Professor could come across as… reserved sometimes, he was about as intimidating as Loosha had been. Both of them would only fight back if they or their loved ones were threatened.

Back in Misthallery, when Arianna was rumoured to be a witch, the mere mention of her name would have sparked a reaction similar to Edgar’s.

Tony had exacerbated the townspeople’s fears by leaving ‘witch’s marks’ for anyone who spoke ill of Arianna. At least Tony had tried to defend Arianna, in a childish, misguided way…

Had someone, likewise, spread lies about Professor Layton here in Future London?

Was Future Layton too despondent to care— as Arianna had been?

In this time, Future Arianna, Tony and Flora had all seemingly left him, while Future Luke was working against him…

Maybe Future Layton actually believed the rumours he’d heard, even if he himself had done little to warrant this reputation. (A similar thing had happened before he’d moved away from Stansbury, hadn’t it?)

But who would want to soil Professor Layton’s good name—?

“Catherine,” Arianna uttered aloud.

Tony, who had been peering into the pet shop window with Luke, spun around wildly. “Where?”

“She’s not here either,” Future Luke sighed. This seemed to reassure Tony, but Arianna was irritated.

“I know she’s not! I just thought…” Huffing, Arianna folded her arms. “Never mind!”

Future Luke smirked. “Alright, then… Let’s pay Rudolph another visit.”

He started heading back to Chinatown’s plaza with the Professor. Tony followed them, dragging Luke away from the pet shop.

Flora had been speaking to a lady with glasses, but she fell into step next too Arianna, both of them bringing up the rear.

“Did I hear you say Catherine was here?” Flora asked.

Glowering at the back of Future Luke’s navy blue cap, Arianna grumbled, “ No… ”

Flora hummed. “It’s not impossible … The Professor saw this woman earlier—“

“What woman?” Arianna stopped walking, as did Flora. They were just outside the bookshop they had visited previously.

“A woman with ginger hair— more brown than yours— and she was wearing a light blue jacket,” Flora recalled. “I didn’t recognise her, but the Professor froze the first time she passed us— and he ran after her the second time!”

A true gentleman would not run after a lady without good reason.

Arianna wondered, “Who could she be?”

“H-he didn’t say…” Flora scrunched up the skirt of her dress. “It was quite shocking, seeing him react like that—“

“Like he was on edge?”