Well, because the new Professor Layton game is out, I decided to work on this and update it. This is a LOOOOOOOOONG chapter.


"I still don't get it, Professor." Luke told his mentor, gingerly stepping on the aged wooden stair that led upward, "How can you get the roof as the answer of that riddle?"

"Luke, my boy." Layton began, "Think about the riddle. 'Where angels have landed, where my eyes cannot see'. Where was the voice?"

"Well sir … It sounded like it was …" Luke paused, the idea finally clicking in his mind, "The voice was inside the building! Meaning while it's inside the building …"

"Then it cannot be outside, good thinking Luke." Professor Layton smiled, turning to take a second flight of stairs upward. "So we're heading for the outside. But do you know why we are headed for the roof?"

Luke paused for a moment, rethinking the riddle in his mind. 'Where angels have landed' … that left Luke pondering, thinking so hard he stopped for a moment on the staircase, trying to think of why. Alas, Luke was left dumbfounded, turning to his mentor with a frown that just told him he didn't know. The Professor Laughed and beckoned Luke to follow.

"If you studied the building a bit harder Luke …" Layton said, finally stepping onto a platform that led to a door, "You would have noticed that the roof carries a certain item that the riddle refers to."

"Angels?" Luke asked thoughtlessly.

"Well, something like that." Layton chuckled, turning the doorknob and opening the door, letting in cold air from outside.

The Professor and his apprentice stepped out on the Roof, surrounded by large statues of victorious winged people, some looking over Paris as they hung partly off the roof. Layton took haste and started searching around the roof for any sign that their friend, 'O.G.' promised he would leave them. Luke followed in suit, searching high and low for anything that could be counted as something left behind from the opera ghost. After over five minutes of searching, though, Luke had grown tired, and decided to rest a bit, leaning on one of the statues. "I can't anything, professor …" Luke said, sighing, "Are you sure you're correct?"

"I'm not sure, Luke." Layton answered, his signature top-hat popping out from behind a statue, "But on the other hand, the opera ghost did not give any indication we were wrong."

"He gave no indication we were right either, he just stopped talking after you answered." Luke said, sighing, "Professor … do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Of course not, Luke." Layton said, creeping out from behind the Statue.

"Do you think this opera ghost is really a ghost …?" Luke said, his voice shaking, "N-not saying I'm scared or anything, o-or even believe in ghosts, I mean …"

"Luke, such a thing is preposterous!" Layton said, giving out a loud laugh (unlike the professor), "Ghosts do not exist, Luke, only in children's fairy tales. I sure our current 'client' just wants his identity to be kept confidential."

"If you say so, Professor …" Luke replied, getting off the statue he was leaning on. "He must have some way to speak to – Agh!"

"Luke! Is something wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing, professor …" Luke said, "It's just my sweater, somehow I got ink on it! I wonder how I never noticed until now …"

Layton approached Luke quickly, taking the sleeve the black ink stained, pinching it slightly between his fingers. Layton inhaled slightly as he found his fingers were now also covered with the black ink that was on Luke's sweater. "It's because it wasn't there until now, Luke. Tell me, where exactly were you leaning on this statue?"

Luke took a gander at the large, black statue that he was previously leaning on, and then laid a hand on the smooth stone. He dragged his hand downward until he hit the spot where his elbow made contact with the statue, finding that his fingers were now covered with the strange ink. "It was here professor! There's something here!"

Layton inspected the statue and laid his hand on the spot where Luke had, drawing it away as an idea formed in his mind. "Could it be …?" He thought, tracing where the inky spot was until it hit dry stone. With his finger, he traced out a small, rectangular shape. He dug his fingers behind the inky spot, peeling away a small envelope, all clear on the other side, the same skull-wax emblem as the first letter he received two weeks ago. He opened the envelope, revealing a small cardboard square cut-out, handing that to Luke, then received the letter, all written in French.

"I guess the riddle had two meanings, or I thought incorrectly and still got the right idea." Layton stated, turning to Luke, "Where his eyes cannot see must've actually meant the fact that no one could see this envelope hidden on the statue. That man's certainly a smart one alright."

"What does the letter say, Professor?" Luke asked, taking a peek at the letter.

"Hm, lets see …" Layton said softly, scanning the note and translating it …

'You must really be the one and only Professor Layton, having come this far. If that's the case, I trust you to protect the only thing left precious to me. While I still cannot explain in full detail, I sure my assistant, Madame Giry and the Vicomte de Chagny's Late son will give you more than enough information for your use. What you do with it is your choice. Be successful and I promise you a large sum of exchange for your patronage.

My assistant will be waiting for you near the entryway of the Opera house until sunset, Be sure to meet her there and she will guide you to your next destination …

Signed, O.G.'

"This is the Opera Ghost's writing alright. I can't see any tricks being pulled here." The Professor said, stuffing the letter back in its envelope. "We'll need to hurry, Luke, if we want to meet up with this 'Madame Giry.'"

"Hey Professor." Luke piped, turning the small cardboard cutout around in his hands, "What do you make of this?"

"It could have possibly been in there to protect the letter for the mass amount of ink." Layton replied, looking at the cardboard square. "Keep it, just in case. We may need it in the future."

"A little cardboard square having a use? I doubt it Professor." Luke sighed, putting the cardboard square in his little bag.

"Now come Luke." Layton said, looking out at the city, aglow with the orange light of the sun, "We must be quick, it is almost sunset …"

--

The Professor and his assistant made their way down to the entryway of the opera, and sure enough, an old lady was waiting for them there, staring off down the street, her eyes seemingly following an old car of sorts. Luke and Layton approached the woman with caution when Luke stopped in his tracks, his mind clicking again.

"Hey!" He yelled, "You're that old lady from before! Who are you any way?!"

"Luke, my boy, if you were to pay attention …" Layton stated, the old woman turning around, "This happens to be Madame Giry, am I correct?"

"You are correct, Monsieur." The old woman said, smiling softly, "I am glad you got here in time. We really do need your help. Only you can figure this out."

"You do realize I'm no detective, Madame …" Layton stated.

"Of course, I understand. But as of right now, you're the only one he can trust." Giry responded, a horse carriage arriving at her side. "Let us discuss things while we ride to our next destination …

--

Luke seated himself among the leather seat within the horse carriage, his mentor seated to the left of him, his eyes locked on Madame Giry. Once the horse started off with a jerk, Luke and Layton prepared to listen to a tale that Giry would tell them.

"You do know about the incident that happened decades ago, right?" Madame Giry asked, looking out the window, "Tell me, can you recall those involved?"

"Well, according the reports I read … several members of the Opera were affected. There was Andre and Firmin, both who was ruined by the incident … If I'm not mistaken, your mother was somehow involved too, am I correct?" Layton asked.

"Oui. Both she and I were indirectly involved with it, she more than I." Giry answered, staring sadly at the Professor. "But you are forgetting two major people who played an important role in this."

"One of which was the Vicomte de Chagny, I presume … but who was the other?"

"My best friend … Christine Daaé. May she rest in peace …" Madame Giry responded, her face lowered and her fists clenched.

"Ah yes …" Layton whispered softly, "Miss Daaé."

"Yes … it's quite apparent that after the incident, The Vicomte and Miss Daaé got married, as they originally planned."

"… And as for the phantom?" Layton asked, tipping his hat upwards, "Reports 'confirmed' him dead, but …"

"Yes … even after all that, the fire, everything, he remained alive."

"But how?" Luke asked as he tilted his head.

Madame Giry chuckled, smiling in one corner, "Just because you remain hidden doesn't mean you can't relocate yourself. Shadows move, Luke."

"Yes, but shadows don't normally move unless someone moves them." Layton remarked, "Something tells me your mother still remained involved with the phantom after the incident, am I correct?"

"You certainly can solve things easily, as you said." Giry replied, laughing out loud "Yes, my mother offered to help hide him until all the confusion was over. 5 months he hid with us, until he felt it was the right time to move back into his lair, despite the Opera house's condition."

"Years passed …" Giry continued, "And soon Christine found herself with a son, and I with a love of my own. I didn't hear hide nor hair of my mother's phantom friend for … quite a while, not even after my daughter was born. I thought … I thought he might have finally passed.

"But I was wrong. My mother was growing ill, and she and I both knew she would not last. Before she passed, she told me the truth. She told me that she still had contact with him, that as he grew older, she put it upon herself to make sure he remained well. And now, it was my obligation to do so. She passed down the duty of 'spokeswoman' to me, and I helped kept the phantom alive, even today. I know he will not last much longer – what keeps him alive even today, even I don't know …

"I knew with this came sacrifice, and as soon as Miss Daaé's son and my daughter got engaged, I knew that I could not keep this a secret, so … I …"

"You revealed to your son about the phantom." Layton whispered, finishing her sentence.

"Yes … I felt it was my duty to let him know as Christine's son, just for him to meet him at least once, for him to know the truth, I felt that that was all he needed. But …" Madame Giry's lips turned inward, her face reflected in the window.

"But …?" Layton asked once more.

Giry gave a heavy sigh, "His father was not happy with that. After learning the phantom was still alive, he threatened me and his own son to hold our tongues about this, or else the engagement was off."

"I see …" Layton said, tucking a hand under his face, "Does your daughter know about him?"

"No … I see no point on burdening her with this responsibility. He's not long for this world any way …" Giry answered.

"So, what's the problem, miss?" Luke asked.

"That … will be explained by my Son-in-law." Giry answered as the carriage pulled up in front of a large house.

--

"Madame Giry!" A man yelled as soon as the trio entered the house, "It's so wonderful to see you again!"

"Please, Edouard!" Giry said happily, embracing the tall, blond man with her small arms, "You know you have every right to call me 'mother'. You are married to my daughter after all!"

"Oh, very sorry, 'mother'" Edouard said, chuckling, "I was not expecting you until later, I was surprised!"

"Edouard …" Giry said, side-stepping to reveal Layton and Luke standing behind her. "This is the renowned Professor Hershel Layton, and his assistant, Luke."

"Oh! A pleasure meeting you, Professor!" Edouard said, vigorously shaking his hand, "You are just in time, my wife is in the kitchen preparing dinner …"

"Oh, I'm sorry to disappoint, Edouard …" Layton chuckled, "But I'm afraid we won't be here long, just to …"

"Oui. I understand …" Edouard said, smiling sadly. "Come in, sit down, I shall explain everything. I trust my mother-in-law here informed you on everything?"

"Most everything." Madame Giry replied, "All that's left is for you to inform them on the recent troubles,"

"Yes, yes, I thought so." Edouard said, extending an arm to the living area, "Come in, have a seat. Mother, will you prepare some tea for our guests? I assure you, you won't get in the way of Avril."

"Of course. I have not seen my daughter in ages any way." Giry said, walking towards the kitchen area.

Layton and Luke made themselves comfortable in the living area, four nice, red leather seats all surrounding a coffee table in the middle. Edouard and Layton sat opposite of each other, with Luke sitting in between them. Edouard sat in his chair, putting his elbows on his legs and making his hands interlock finger with each other, using that as a hammock to rest his head.

"So …" Layton began, "I hear you once met the Phantom himself."

"Yes …" Edouard replied, "Be advised, though, that the 'phantom' is not a subject that we openly talk about in a daily basis. My father disapproves of it so much."

"Oh? And why is that?" Layton asked.

"My father thought it was a cause for most of my mother's mental stress. Even when I was young, just saying the word 'phantom' was enough to get me sent to the corner of my room. But … too tell you the truth …"

"Yes?"

"I think my father was just being too paranoid. In fact, while he was away, my mother would tell me stories about this 'angel of music'. She told me stories about the phantom, about her days in the Opera. But to think the phantom was still alive …"

"Hm, yes …" Layton nodded understandingly, "Must've came as a surprise to you."

"Yes, but now I am thankful for meeting him. Ever since then, I trusted my mother more than I did my father. Might sound harsh but …" Edouard trailed off, looking at a framed picture of his beloved mother on the far wall.

"I understand." Layton said, staring at the same picture. "You must've loved her so much."

"We all did, god bless her." Edouard sighed, "She was an angel herself. She was sweet and caring, not to mention an excellent soprano. We were all saddened when she passed, especially my daughter."

"Speaking of whom …" Layton interrupted, leaning forward, "There is something concerning her, is there?"

"Yes … It actually all started a little while ago …" Edouard began, "Cecilia, my daughter, loved her grandmother so much. Despite the fact she could not see her."

"Excuse me?" Luke piped up, "What do you mean?"

"Cecilia was born blind." Edouard said "She was never able to see me or her mother, or the rest of her family and friends. But it was something we all got use to, and while she may be blind, she knows us all just by listening to our voices."

"Remarkable!" Layton said, astonished, "To have such sensitive hearing, that must be quite a talent she has there!"

"Yes. Despite her blindness, she grew up as a normal girl with normal friends. Cecilia was our pride and joy, and we were glad to have her. We're even happier now knowing that she's engaged." Edouard remarked proudly. "And to such a fine man too."

"Oh, congratulations!" Luke announced.

"Yes … but as much as I hate to change the subject, we must get back to the matter at hand." Edouard said, his happy face replaced with a grim one. "I'm afraid my daughter may be in danger."

"Why do you say that?" Layton asked.

Edouard breathed in, closing his eyes. "My mother died not too long ago, just after my daughter got engaged. She was so saddened that for the first few months afterward, she would not come out of her room … then one day …"

"One day?" Luke asked.

"One day, she came out, happy as can be. She told me the 'angel of music' has visited her, that her mother sent her the 'angel of music'." Edouard said, smiling sadly once more. "I thought nothing of it at first, I was just happy she was happy again, using the stories my mother told her as a means for inspiration again. But after a few months, with her still talking about the Angel of music, I got suspicious. So much so … I found evidence that she may have some one following her …"

"Evidence?" Layton asked.

"Often at night, I here a voice I don't recognize. She sometimes steps out into the Fourier and seems to speak with no one in particular." Edouard paused for a moment to reach into his pocket, "And finally … one night in her room, I found this."

Edouard revealed to Layton and Luke a small, red rose, still not blossomed. Around its stem, there was a black velvet bow tied around, careful to skip the thorns. Layton carefully took the rose and examined it, noticing a small note signed 'your angel' hanging from a thread from the rose.

"Who ever this angel is, Edouard, he must not know that Cecilia is blind." Layton remarked, taking the small note in his hand "If she cannot see you, there's no way she can see this …"

"That's true professor …" Luke said, studying the rose, "So who could this man be?"

"Whoever he is, please, try to find out quickly. If my father finds out, he could call of her engagement with her fiancé." Edouard pleaded, Looking at Layton straight in his eye, "Plus, when my daughter finally revealed this openly to me, she looked frightened … I'm afraid this man may take Cecilia away from me …"

"So this is what the Phantom was talking about …?" Luke asked.

"Yes. As soon as she told me, I told Madame Giry who then passed word onto the Phantom. Without saying, he felt insulted."

"I would imagine so." Layton said, chuckling "Well, it seems we have most of the information we need. But before we depart, we would like to speak to your daughter."

"Yes, of course." Edouard said, "Her room is right upstairs. Be sure to speak first before making physical contact with her."

"Will do." The Professor said. "Come Luke … let us visit Cecilia."


What did I tell ya? LOOOOOOOOOOONG.