A/N: Hi everyone! Wow, it seems like it's been quite a bit since I've updated when going by my usual track record, huh?
Well, here it is, the next installment in the Flora Reinhold series, as I call it, the sequel to Flora Reinhold: The City of Bronze.
This chapter recaps two major events in the characters' lives from other stories I've written (Professor Layton and the Seer and Professor Layton and the Venrin Band). Seer is about the professor and Flora meeting Alfendi, and Venrin Band is an adventure that happened just seven months previous of this. That one is a Danny Phantom crossover, so I don't expect everyone to be interested, but there was a major change in Flora and Eric's relationship.
City of Silver is ten years after City of Bronze, so Flora and Eric are 24. Alfendi is 14.
Well, enough talk from me. Onward!
…
Chapter One: Bad News
Ten Years Ago
The professor and I stood in the small, almost dingy room of the Monte d'Or Orphanage, a young boy sitting on the bed. I had come to know him as Alfendi Smith, and he had been a large help in the professor's and I's last investigation. Through a series of unfortunate events, though, the young boy of only four years old had become an orphan. He was smart, though a little off balance, and both the professor and I wanted to help him.
"First and foremost, my boy, you are nothing like that man. Secondly, you saved my life," Professor Layton said in rebuttal to Alfendi's argument.
"I shot your shoulder," the boy replied, and I shivered, remembering how we found the professor, and glancing at the sling in which his left arm currently resided.
"A complete accident," the professor reminded him.
"But—" Alfendi tried again. His arguments felt half-hearted, as though he didn't want to argue, but felt he should. The professor cut him off.
"Alfendi," he started softly. "I will not force you to allow me to adopt you, but I would very much like to do so. And I can teach you, and give you space to allow your mind to grow," he offered. Alfendi studied the professor, really considering the options laid out before him. He closed his eyes for a moment, before a small smile crossed his face, and he opened his eyes again.
"Alright. Thank you… Father."
…
Seven Months Ago
I moved quietly around the kitchen of the house we were staying in, making a kettle of tea. We had found Luke, safe and sound, but one of the people helping us, Danny, had been taken within five minutes of finding Luke.
It wasn't fair.
"Hey… you okay?" an all too familiar voice asked from the entrance of the kitchen. Turning, I spotted the last person I wanted to talk to.
Eric Shiner.
Eric was confusing. I thought I had seen a different… more likable side of him in Seacreast, but it disappeared as soon as we returned to London. Now, he was in this small town, helping us with our investigation, and being irritatingly confident again.
Although… since he started helping, he was more like the Eric from Seacreast…
"I… yeah, I'm okay," I said, turning back to the kettle. I felt Eric move closer, until he was standing next to me.
"Luke is safe, and we'll find and save Danny, don't worry," he said in a cocky tone, a confident smirk playing across his face.
I couldn't handle it anymore. I snapped, and slammed the kettle down onto the stove. Thankfully, it was a metal one.
"Will you stop being so confident!? For just once!?" I demanded. Eric lurched back slightly from me, his eyes wide with shock, before he looked down. His confidence cracked.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't realize it annoyed you so much." I sighed, regretting my snap.
"No. I shouldn't get mad at you for your confidence. It's not fair. I just… sometimes, it's a little too much, you know? Especially when…" I trailed off, looking back at the kettle. Especially when the world seems to be falling apart. Especially when I don't know what to think of you.
Especially when I miss the Eric from Seacreast.
"Flora…" he sounded hesitant. As though he was about to divulge a deep secret of his. "I'm not really that confident…"
"What?" I asked, looking up at him in confusion. His eyes were lowered, his shoulders hunched slightly, his arms crossed. I recognized the look and body language anywhere. He was closing himself off slightly, for fear of his real self being judged.
He was… shy.
"I'm… acting so confident is how I get through being scared, or shy," Eric explained, leaning against the counter next to me, never lifting his eyes.
"What do you mean?" I asked softly.
"Well, growing up, I was always a step behind Luke, or in the shadow of my father. I've always been kind of scared that I wouldn't make a name for myself." He laughed slightly, a humorless sound. "Even now, Luke's discovered more about the Venrin in a week, with almost no sources or help, then I have in two months." He shook his head. "As for the shyness? I'm painfully shy. My confidence isn't my real personality…"
"What is?" I asked, again, my voice soft.
"Well…" Eric bit his lip, finally looking up at me. "I do love archeology, that part's not an act, and I have grown to love boxing, but… I also love animals, especially dogs. And reading… and cooking, heh." He rubbed the back of his head before looking away with a small blush, and I smiled.
This. This is the true Eric…
"I like dogs and cooking, too," I said softly. "And, obviously, reading and writing," I added, laughing. Have to if I got a degree in creative writing!
Eric smiled at me, and I looked down, my heart doing a back flip in my chest.
"What are you most scared of?" Eric suddenly asked, taking my hand. I gasped softly at the heat of his skin against mine, and the fire that seemed to spiral up my arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps under the sleeves of my pink blouse.
"Um… being alone…" I finally admitted. He nodded.
""I'm afraid that I'll never be successful," Eric admitted, and my heart went out to him.
"Oh… Eric, you'll be successful one day. You're still young though," I said, smiling warmly at him. He chuckled, studying my face.
"You… I…" he hesitated, seeming to be suffering from a bout of shyness. "I read your book, by the way. The Curious Village. It was really good. Very captivating," he said, talking about the book I recently had published. I changed a lot, but kept the core story the same as the adventure in which I first met the professor and Luke, publishing it as fiction.
"Um… thank you," I said, looking down at our joined hands. Silence filled the room for a moment.
"Flora… would you… when we get back to London… do you want to go out on a date with me?" Eric suddenly asked. I looked up again, my eyes widening in surprise. This was different from the other times he'd asked me. This time, it wasn't shameless flirting through a false confidence.
This time, it was sincere, from the heart.
"I…" I hesitated.
"Flora, my dear?" Professor Layton called, stepping into the kitchen. I never got to answer.
…
Six Months Ago
I bustled around the small kitchen, washing dishes and putting them away after tea with the professor, Alfendi, Luke and his girlfriend, Pearl Fey, and Eric. A small sigh found its way out of me.
"Those sandwiches were very tasty, Flora," a voice from behind said, causing me to jump and turn. Eric was standing in the doorway, watching me.
"Ah, Eric! Oh, um, thank you. Ever since… Alfendi told me my cooking could poison a nightshade plant, I've been actually learning recipes," I admitted, blushing. After all, Eric and Luke were close friend, so it wouldn't surprise me if Luke told him about my kitchen disasters, even if he never told me…
"Alfendi told you that? Weren't you living with the professor and all way before Alfendi came into the picture?" Eric asked, and I huffed, turning to the sink again.
"The professor and Luke were too nice," I said, before sighing. "But then, I guess a true gentleman never tells a lady that her cooking stinks," I said. Eric snorted at my working before coming closer to help with the dishes. Suddenly self conscious, I pushed a wayward curl of hair behind my ear, attempting to contain my blush. Ever since our conversation a month ago, I hadn't really been able to stop thinking about Eric. We were quiet for a few moments while we work.
If one of us doesn't say something, I'm going to go crazy!
"So, I bought your newest book," Eric suddenly said.
"Did you?" I was surprised. "But it was just released yesterday!" I laughed. Eric blushed with a shrug before taking the plate I just finished washing, drying it and putting it away.
"Yes, well… it just sounded so interesting!" he said with a grin. "I mean, The Diabolical Box? I can't wait to see what it's about," he said.
"You know… that and The Curious Village actually happened," I admitted. "Or, at least, they're very closely based off of true events."
"Really? Then I guess Rose is actually… you?" he asked. I blushed, only slightly surprise he got it right.
"Wh-what would give you that idea?" I demanded.
"Just a hunch," he replied with a wink. I huffed at him, rolled my eyes, and turned to put a glass away. Unfortunately, Eric reached for it at the same time, and we ran into each other, my falling into his chest.
"Whoa here, are you okay?" Eric asked, wrapping his arms around me to steady me. I looked up at his face, only to notice how close we were to each other.
"Um… y-yes…" I muttered. Eric blushed too, and I was trapped in his dark brown eyes, unable to look away.
"You… never actually answered my question from a month ago…" Eric suddenly muttered, not letting me go.
"I… I didn't? What question?" I asked, blushing because I already know what question.
"Flora… will you go out with me? On a date?" Eric asked. I bit my lip, partially wondering what the professor and Alfendi would think, before realizing I didn't particularly care.
"I… yes, Eric, I would love that, actually."
…
Present Time
"Rose sat a few seats behind her father and his assistant on the public bus, listening as the two discussed their latest mystery.
'It just seems impossible that we would receive a letter… from my future self!' Tony, the assistant, said, studying the letter in his hands.
'It is a bit hard to believe,' the man, Professor Gordon, agreed. 'If I didn't know better, my boy, I would say this was one elaborate joke,' the professor laughed.
'Definitely not after that time machine exploded last week… taking the scientist and Prime Minister with it…' Tony said solemnly, and the professor fell quiet, thinking about the accident.
Finally, the bus pulled up to a stop, and the professor and Tony stood. Rose quickly followed them off the bus and into a small ally way, where they came to a dead end in the form of a small, quant clock shop.
'Here we are. Once we step inside, this adventure will truly begin. Are you ready, my boy?' Professor Gordon asked, looking down at his assistant, who adjusted his red newsboy cap.
'Yes, Professor! Let's get started!'"
I lowered the book, looking up at my audience with a smile. "And that's all I'm going to read today. You can read the rest for yourself!" I said. Everyone clapped, and a line started to form in front of the table I sat at, in the back of my favorite bookstore.
"I can't believe it's only been six months since Diabolical Box was released! How'd you get them out so fast?" a woman asked. I smiled.
"I actually wrote these while I was in college, so the space between is just the editing and rewriting process," I explained, signing her book.
"Oh! Okay. Well, I can't wait to start reading Untold Future!" she said, hurrying off with the book. A warm glow flowed through me, filling me with confidence. I loved making readers happy with my work.
More people asked me questions as I wrote little notes in the front of their books before signing it. It was a lot of fun, and I was almost sad to see the line start dwindling.
"So, who should I make this out—Inspector Chelemy!" I gasped, looking up at the tall, broad figure who stepped up to my table.
"Miss. Flora. I need to talk to you," he said, and I could see that his mustache was turned down in a frown. I glanced around.
"Um…"
"It's important," the inspector pressed.
"Alright, hold on," I said, standing and tuning to the rest of the people waiting to meet me. "I'm going to take a fifteen minute break guys. I'll be right back!" I called, before following the inspector into the back of the store. He looked around, before sighing softly.
"Miss. Flora… I'm sure you remember Roma Hertz?" he asked. I frowned deeply at the name.
Roma Hertz. I met her about ten years ago, in Seacreast. She had been posing as a governess to the mayor's children, but in reality, she was an archeologist and a psychologist, in search for the City of Bronze, and the Chalice of Youth it contained.
However, after almost killing both me and Eric, she had been arrested, and the two of us decided to cease our search for the Cities of Silver and Gold. After all, it would be better for those two to disappear into the pages of history as myth.
"What about Hertz?" I asked?
"She escaped last night," the inspector said grimly. "And the Chalice of Youth is missing, too."
…
A/N: For those of you who read Seer and Venrin, sorry about the recaps. Those of you who didn't, hopefully this will make you want to!
Also, jail. Heretz being in jail was one of the main reasons for such a long time gap between the first one and this story.
Well, enjoy!