Okay, people, I know the drill—Lois & Clark and the Professor Layton puzzle game series aren't mine. The puzzles I give in this crossover story are, however. Please consider playing the games (particularly the most recent, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future) before reading this, as it contains a spoiler of sorts. Enjoy!
Professor Hershel Layton reclined in his chair, reading another strange letter from a somewhat unknown source. The further on he read, the more concerned he became.
Dear Professor H. Layton;
I am sincerely eager to assist you in a certain matter, although you are not aware of what is happening at this time. I fear, though, that it might not be safe to give my full name—and you might not believe me were I to sign this. So for now, my initials alone must suffice. However, allow me to share a puzzle with you that will provide a clue as to part of what I am suggesting:
A type of fish and a city in North Korea are the first half of this,
While the latter half works aboard various sailing ships.
The answer is lost when one misplaces a pair of shoes,
But a husband and a wife together, never will they lose.
What is the common denominator? What is this thing?
A carefully given answer will make your heart sing!
I will reveal my identity to you by tomorrow—I doubt it will take you very long to solve the puzzle provided—and I will be bringing two of my friends with me to assist, and who will need your assistance as well. I fear that they have an enemy who has participated in an event during your time that affects them, as much as it does you.
Best regards,
H.G.W.
Layton looked over the puzzle that the author had given him again, marveling over the complexity of it, while saddened by the simplicity of the answer.
"A soul mate," Layton said aloud, though only the walls heard. Then he turned his head ever so slightly to look at the picture on his desk. Next to him in that picture was a young woman with a smile that even now took his breath away.
His own soul mate.
The one who died before he could ask her for forever.
"Claire," he whispered huskily. For a moment, he smiled at her picture. Then, slowly, the smile faded, remembering his final farewell to his soul mate, Claire Folly.
He had always taught his apprentice, the curious Luke Triton, "A true gentleman never shows his tears in public places." He remembered standing by her grave. There were many weeping openly, but his eyes remained dry through the entire graveside service. He offered her family his condolences. He comforted her friends, even though some of them were unofficially his enemies. Yet after all had left, he remained there. An hour passed, and he simply stood there.
Then reality hit him hard. Claire Folly—the love of his life, his reason to breathe, a maiden in a white lab coat—was gone.
She was dead, never to return.
She would never get to kiss him again.
She would never joke about the experiments that went wacky again.
She would never be there to encourage her true gentleman to be his best—ever again.
He would never get the chance to ask her for forever.
He fell to his knees by her grave. As rain started to fall, his own floodgates opened. For once, he did not want to be a gentleman. He did not want to be strong. He did not want to live. He allowed the tears to stream unhindered down his face
Outside of the cemetery, everything was silent. But in the graveyard, Hershel Layton screamed in agony.
Now, unlike eleven years ago, he wept silently for his soul mate, the puzzle the mysterious person had written all but forgotten on his desk.