AN: Hello everyone! Welcome back to Iris after a whole YEAR of not updating.. I sincerely apologize for that. I had to focus on the hell that was Gr. 11, and I also just could not find inspiration! Then suddenly, I decided to continue my story a few days ago, and here is the product of my toils! Now if you don't care for details/responses to reviews, please feel free to skip ahead to the story!

Hello again! So, let me get to the nitty gritty. In this year-long hiatus, I have been able to replay Diabolical Box, and I will take the time now to again apologize for the multiple inconsistencies throughout my story! I am ashamed that I would forget such things, like the Herzen crest being a ram and Fredrich founding the Molentary Express! I plan on eventually going back into my older chapters and quickly revising those errors in the near future.

And now for something else important. I have decided that I will be changing the title to just "Iris", and I will also be changing the description! I'm not entirely sure if I have enough ideas for this story to go as far as I wanted to with it, ie: When Sophia leaves Anton, but I will take it as far as I can with what I have! I am also changing the rating from K+ to T, due to minor language. Well, I believe that is all I wanted to tell you guys! I really appreciate you coming back to my story after so long! Enjoy :)

Oh, and if you have reviewed this story before by the name of "Someone", please make sure to read my response to your last review down at the bottom! ^.^


I had just stepped out of the castle's side door, breathing a sigh of relief now that I was out of that place. A small pang of guilt thumped in my chest for choosing flight over fight, but I quickly buried it down. I'd once made the mistake of hanging around before, and I would never let it happen again. I shook my head back and forth a few times, pushing the memories away and putting what had just happened behind me. Father and Fredrich would eventually part ways to give each other a while simmer down in time for lunch. With a tad more confidence, I lifted my chin, swept a few stray golden locks behind my ear, and walked around the front of the castle.

I'd decided to visit the town today with my sudden amount of spare time. It would be a bright and sunny day; perfect conditions for the townsfolk to be walking the streets. I'd always made an effort to meet with Folsense's residents as often as possible, and try to pick up their names along the way. Plus, I wouldn't mind seeing what the market had for sale today. Before continuing down the pathway to town, I stopped at the fountain. It was such a grand fixture, with marble base and intricate decoration, spouting glittering blue water from sunrise to sunset. It was too bad, though, that such a thing was set in the dead-centre of literal mining hell. I looked into the pool of ripply water below, just then noticing the slight grimace that had appeared across my lips in the reflection.

"Hm."

Suddenly, I caught sight of an emerald butterfly, basking in the sun from its perch on the fountain's base. Its wings, accented with a sparkly onyx colour, flicked up and down. But that green... Why do I feel like I know that colour so well? Mid thought, the butterfly took flight, heading towards the rose bushes where the pathway to town fell under a canopy of trees.

"Oh." I said to myself, remembering that I was planning on going into town. With that, I placed my hands in my blazer pockets and strolled away from the castle in second to the butterfly.

I had only just passed the front gate to the castle when I heard the faint sounds of street music. A man who lived on the outside of town, Stuart, I believe, would play his piano accordion while he sat in the clock tower plaza. He would leave his hat next to him on the ground, upturned to welcome donations from passer-bys. I smiled at the sweet sound as it echoed over the forest.

I continued to walk past where the road forks into two paths; to the right, the mines, and to the left, Folsense. I followed the easy turn in the path, letting my feet lift and drop, carrying me towards the town I loved. Emerging from the forest, my loafers met the hard grey stone that was the West Courtyard - my first glimpse of Folsense in an entire month. I searched the area with my eyes, noticing the open doors of the grocer's shop and the smell of brewing coffee emitting from the cafe, a place that was always popular with the townspeople this time of morning. Other than their assortment of flavoured coffees, the cafe had a selection of breads and teas, as well. My favourite drink there was the Miracle Tea, a blend that surely lived up to its name. On my way home later, I'd have to stop by for a cup.

"Anton!" I heard a squeaky voice from behind me, then a quick tug on my pant leg.

"Hm?"

I turned around to find a little girl with a frilly dress and deep purple braids, her small hand retracting from its grip on my pants. "Oh... Marina, is it?" I mentally patted myself on the back for remembering her name, then crouched down to meet Marina's eye level. "What do you need?" I asked with a smile.

She bit her lip and tugged at the end of her pale yellow and orange dress nervously, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small bag of brightly coloured candies. "I need help sorting these candies." She murmured, looking from the candies up to me, "If you help me, I'll give you half!"

I chuckled, hair falling into my face. I smooth it out and flip it back again. "Of course I'll help you. But how about instead of sharing the candies with me, you just keep my half?"

Marina smiled, "Okay!" She knelt down onto the old stones of the courtyard, spreading out all of her treats. After telling me the sorting rules, we worked together to find the solution to her little puzzle. It was quite simple, but I played along until the last piece was sorted. "Thank you, Anton! You're the best!" Marina squealed, her bright eyes gazing up at me.

"It was no trouble, Marina." I replied with a smile, standing up straight again. "Now enjoy your treats."

We both waved goodbye to each other while I spun on my heel and continued back into town. As I walked, I found my head flying from left to right, almost as if I was watching a tennis match. There were so many new things around town; I couldn't help but marvel at the wonder. I noticed that multiple houses had been given a new coat of colourful paint, not to mention the marvelous twinkle lights that hung from the edges of every rooftop. With these improvements, Folsense must be a vision at nighttime.

It felt like mere seconds had passed by the time I realized that I was entering the clock tower plaza, directly in the middle of town. I stopped for a moment, and allowed myself to scan over the area. A few villagers, carrying heavy tables and baskets upon baskets of goods, waddled into the plaza and down into the promenade where there was a market held every morning. I moved my eyes to the far left corner of the plaza, finding none other than Stuart with his piano accordion, perched on a stool. I smiled and walked over to him just as he began to play a new tune. As I approached, I realized that this song was not one that I'd heard before. It was slow and felt almost sombre, but peaceful and calming. I stopped in front of Stuart and watched his old fingers slide over and press the keys so professionally.

"Good morning, Stuart." I said politely just as he finished his song. Stuart slowly raised his head, and squinted behind his round glasses.

"Ah, Mr. Herzen! I almost didn't recognize you!" He grinned up at me and squinted in the sunlight. "No wonder, your hair has gotten so long!"

I laughed nervously at the mention of my hair, running a hand from the front of my head to the back. I really needed to get this cut. "Ah, yes, it has...and please, call me Anton." Stuart smiled again with what teeth he had left in his mouth. "I was just wondering, Stuart, what was the song that you were just playing? I don't believe that I've heard it before." I asked him.

Stuart shifted on his stool, letting his accordion slowly fall into his lap. "So you noticed! You've always had a lovely musical ear, Anton; much more than your brother." He pushed his smudgy glasses farther up onto the bridge of his nose with a finger, "This is a new song that I just completed last night. I've named it 'Folsense' after this beautiful town we live in!"

"Well it was lovely, Stuart. I must be on my way now, but promise you'll play it for me again another time?" I fished into my pocket, pulled out some coins, and then dropped them into his hat on the ground.

Stuart nodded in appreciation. "Absolutely."

I left the plaza for the promenade just as Stuart began to play his new song again. I'd have to ask him for the sheet music next time I see him; that song was really beginning to latch onto me.

The market appeared to just have opened for the day's business. Townsfolk mingled and buzzed from booth to booth, arms full of purchased meats and vegetables from various vendors. I spied a modest fruit cart shaded by a striped umbrella, nestled right in the middle of the promenade. My stomach began to grumble just as I saw the assortment of apples the cart had for sale. I convinced myself that running around town on an empty stomach was probably not the best idea, so I headed right for the cart.

"Hello, Ms. Emma. Lovely morning, wouldn't you say?"

Ms. Emma, the middle-aged woman who owned the fruit cart, looked up from the thick book she was reading, her face lighting up when she saw me.

"Anton! It's been so long, it feels like I haven't seen you in ages!" She set the book aside, then jumped up to reach over the cart and grab my face, pulling me toward her. She kissed both of my cheeks before letting go, making me wobble backwards a step. Ms. Emma used to be mine and Fredrich's nanny years ago, but has since taken up manning her cart and helping her husband in his antique shop down the road.

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, blushing. "Yes, well we have been quite busy, dealing with Father's work and such..." I said to her, standing straight and clasping my hands behind my back. "Anyway, I came over here to purchase one of your delicious apples. I couldn't help but become hungry from just looking at them!"

Ms. Emma laughed lightly, "Oh Anton, you're a growing boy! Just take one, one the house!" She shook her head and waved a hand at me, dismissing the coins I was trying to offer her.

"No, Ms. Emma, I insist. Giving away free apples will not help your business!" I smiled, looking her kindly in the eye and setting the coins forcefully in her open palm. Ms. Emma beamed back at me, slowly closing her fingers over the coins.

"You're a very kind-hearted young-man, Anton. Thank you." She cooed, nodding once. I said goodbye to Ms. Emma, promising that I would visit more often. I said hello to a few more people that I recognized on my way out of the Promenade, and met a few more along the way. Before I rounded the corner towards Folsense's hotel, I took a hearty bite of my apple and went through the names and faces of those I had just been acquainted with.

Suddenly, I ran into someone who was turning into the Promenade. Our shoulders collided, forcing us both to step back to save us from falling over. I steadied myself, and looked up at the person in front of me to issue a sincere apology for my clumsiness. Although, I began to choke on my apple when I recognized the gleaming pair of green eyes that looked back at me.


Dear Someone:

Thanks so much for leaving such LENGTHY reviews, I love reading them, and I'm very glad that you are enjoying my story! Now in response to your last review:

1) Ahh! Autocorrect strikes again, the word on that sentence was supposed to be vulnerable, not "venerable" as it was written in the chapter. Terribly sorry about that ;-;
2) Actually, it has been said by the creator of Professor Layton that the games are all set in a fictional time period, therefore it is entirely possible for anything to exist within it!

As I said, thanks for reviewing, and I hope to hear from you again soon!