Hershel is 35, Desmond is 39.
I've heard Henry Ledore possesses the Mask of Order. He probably found it amongst the treasure of Akbadain— which I failed to notice eighteen years ago, being so concerned for my grieving brother— and used this new fortune to construct the booming city of Monte d'Or. (With a bit of help from some rivalling business owners.) Not only that, but the Ascots' former servant boy took Angela's hand in marriage. I could care less about their trivial love triangle, as long as it fuels Randall's hatred for Henry.
From our ledge on the desert outskirts, Randall glares down at the city, its neon lights reflecting the fury, hurt and betrayal in his eyes. "You were right... All those years that I struggled without my memories, Henry and Angela were living here in luxury, scrounging off my life's work. How could they!" He takes a step forward like he's going to march straight down there and spit in Henry's face.
I halt him with a sharp tug of the white wings I'm trying to fix to his back. "Hold still." The wings are of my own design; they give the impression of a vengeful archangel while serving a similar function to a hang glider. An essential part of the Randall's costume, combined with a pristine suit, a top hat and the Mask of Chaos. It's enough to unnerve even the calmest of gentlemen.
"Are you done yet?" (I thought he would have learned to have some patience by now...)
"...There." I stand up. "Now it's time to test them out."
Randall hesitates. "Wait! Are you sure this is safe, and sane?" ...Says the one who swaggered into some deadly ruins at the insightful age of seventeen.
"Are you scared?"
"Kind of..." He fiddles with his feathery appendages. "I don't have the best experience with heights. Remember?"
Disregarding his pointed scorn, I grumble, "You are not going to fall. My mechanical wings won't let you down."
With that, I shove him off the ledge. At first, he plummets to the bed of sand below, his scream swallowed by the city noise. Then, however, his wings catch the wind and he shoots up like a flying red squirrel. "I-I'M FLYING! WOOHOO!" (Amateur.) Laughing wildly, he wheels around several times before landing ungracefully beside me. "That was amazing!" There's a glimmer of the rambunctious teen he once was.
Despite myself, I smirk. "You should never doubt my genius." I straighten out his wings and we stare at Monte d'Or again. Prepare yourselves, Mr and Mrs Ledore. The Masked Gentleman's show is about to begin.
Of course, it only takes a few weeks for Layton to get wind of the dark miracles plaguing Monte d'Or. I'm not at all surprised (or that worried). Though, given Angela's grudge for the Layton name, I'd thought she'd take longer to contact him.
Henry has shown no sign of wielding the Mask of Order yet, so the miracles must go on. All my doing, obviously: People transforming into horses, paintings springing to life, visitors vanishing in an explosion... and now, petrifaction.
I believe Layton is present at the boulevard when several citizens are seemingly turned to stone and the Masked Gentleman appears. Does it strike fear into his heart, seeing the Mask of Chaos again? The very item that led to his childhood friend's 'demise' and ultimately destroyed our brotherly bond...
As per Angela's request, Layton and Co investigate the Masked Gentleman, working alongside the Monte d'Orian police force. They reside at the Camel's Hump Hotel, owned by none other than Alphonse Dalston. Too bad I won't be able to stay there.
The next evening, Randall— that dunce— decides to invite Dalston to the plaza along with the Ledores. I scowl from my vantage point above the art gallery. While it may create discord between the key players in Monte d'Or, I'd rather leave Dalston out of the loop. (This has nothing to do with old friendships.) Henry must believe the Mask of Chaos's magic is to blame for these deeds, not Dalston!
However, Henry fails to show up during the levitation miracle. Randall is too busy flirting with Angela to notice— it's no wonder she's so suspicious— but he suggests the Mask of Order is brought forward tomorrow night, at Tingly Town.
Henry does eventually appear... not with the Mask of Order, but with the authorities to arrest Dalston. I try not to feel guilty, because it should throw them off the true Masked Gentleman's trail for now.
As promised, the following miracle happens at the local amusement park. Henry and Angela actually join Layton's gang this time— still missing the Mask of Order. Well, I for one am sick of waiting. (There's a chance Targent may already be in Monte d'Or and if they beat me to it...)
After the Masked Gentleman makes the fair-goers 'disappear', he snatches Angela and flies her up to Tingly Tower. Henry bursts into the tower after them, bellowing for Angela through the darkness. I think it's time to make my switch, unbeknownst to Randall.
When Layton and the others find Angela seemingly unharmed, if a bit shaken, the Masked Gentleman warns that this is only a small taste of anguish compared to his final act. Then he bids us a fond farewell and takes off. (What a ham.)
Back at the fairground, Layton gasps at the visitors who seem to have reappeared. "What on earth?!" He and his assistants are dumbstruck; I resist the urge to smirk. They ponder over what it all means and dread what is to come tomorrow.
Layton says, "Henry, you should tell us everything... anything that you know. Do you really have no idea who the man under the mask might be? Is there no one you've made enemies with?"
"I have no idea who would be capable of this. Why has this monster gone so far? Perhaps... perhaps we should give him the Mask of Order, for the city..."
Everyone is exhausted. Parting ways with the professor, Luke and Emmy, we head back to the Ledores' Mansion. I almost tear Henry's study apart searching for that damn mask.
Where is it? Where is it?
"Henry?" Angela enters; her expression one of concern.
I look up from the desk. "I assumed you had gone to bed... Sorry to have disturbed you."
"No, it's quite alright. I understand if you're anxious..." She casts a dubious glance around the (now disarranged) room before shaking her head. "Things have been so stressful. Not just the Masked Gentleman's antics, but Hershel's return, discussing Randall, quarrelling with Dalston—"
"It wasn't my intentions to condemn him so," I mutter, meaning it. "I just feel like I've run out of options. If only I had the Mask of Order..."
Angela comes to place her hand over mine. "I know," she says gently. "You care so much for this city, so much for Randall, that you're willing to do anything. But we mustn't surrender to the Masked Gentleman's demands yet."
"Thank you, Angela." I force a faint smile, which she mirrors. Playing the part of a perfect husband, I lift my hand to cup her cheek. She appears pleasantly surprised by the warm gesture. However, when I guide her face to my lips, she recoils as if my touch burns her.
She gasps, "What are you doing?"
"Was that out of term?" I blink, honestly oblivious.
"For us— for you, yes it was!"
Have I misjudged the sort of relationship the Ledores have? I sigh, "My apologies. I'm extremely tired and need to relax."
"There are plenty of other activities you can do to 'relax'," Angela huffs, flushing. "Like cleaning this study for a start."
"In case you've forgotten, I have bigger priorities right now," I reply coolly. "Like saving this city. You could at least try to help me by locating the Mask of Order—"
"It's always about some mask or another, isn't it? You've become obsessed with it like... so unlike yourself!" she snaps. (Always the theatrics with her.) "You spent hours in here pouring over it...!"
I narrow my eyes at her. "What did you do with the mask?" When she presses her lips together in a thin line, I stand up and advance towards her. "Tell me where it is, Angela."
She backs into a corner, still shaking her head. "No..."
Just as I reach for her, I hear the door open and someone orders, "Keep away from her, you cad!" I turn and Angela shoves past me, racing to the side of an old lady in a wheelchair wielding a very sharp pair of sewing scissors.
"Mrs Ascot," Angela warns, "Stay back, he isn't himself!"
Randall's mother frowns. "You mean that's not our Henry. I know that boy like he's my own son... Angela dear, you're not injured, are you? Please call the police so they can arrest this man and we will the find real Henry—"
"I wouldn't recommend it," I sneer. "Unless you want him to end up like your son."
At this, Mrs Ascot hesitates, but Angela assures her, "Randall is alive— he's here, I'm sure of it." To me, she growls, "And if you dare to harm Henry, you will never see that mask."
"We're at a stalemate, then." I smile. "Though, you really should fetch the mask before the Masked Gentleman's last miracle. Or it will be too late for everyone in Monte d'Or."
It seems fitting that the final miracle should occur at the Reunion Inn, the first establishment built before the city bloomed. I arrive there several hours early to interrogate Henry, locked in one of the hotel rooms, but even under duress, he claims to have no idea where the mask is. Next, I check his office for research and any artefacts he may have brought back from the ruins. Some of the items I discover are clear indicators that Henry never stopped searching for Randall. (Hopefully, Randall won't step foot in this room.) Such dedication for someone he considers a brother...
I'm about to investigate some records when a pack of pests come snooping into the office. It's the hotel manager, Mordaunt with Layton, Emmy and Luke behind him. Earlier, Layton did stop by the Ledores' Mansion to inquire about the Tingly Town miracle... and why Angela and Mrs Ascot were staying at Château Dalston. (Apparently, Layton cleared Dalston's name.) Angela hasn't told him anything, has she? Layton doesn't look suspicious...
I school my features into Henry's signature frown. "Mordaunt, I'd rather you requested my permission before inviting guests into my office."
"Please, don't blame Mr Mordaunt," Layton insists. "I just wanted to ensure the Masked Gentleman hadn't been in here."
"...Very well, allow me to help you."
I keep a close eye on Layton as he scans the office, procuring an old journal and a photograph of Randall and Henry. Their examination seemingly fruitless, my brother leaves to search elsewhere...
...Just in time for the blackout.
I next meet Layton in the Grand Hall. Having rescued Luke from a high wire, the professor is now facing the Masked Gentleman. Angela and Mourdant have also joined them. Angela glares at me... until Randall removes his mask. I feign shock, but Layton is unfazed.
Randall recounts how he survived, washed up in Craggy Dale, and regained his memories eighteen years later thanks to the only friend who came to find him.
I interrupt before he can reveal who that 'friend' was. "So, you became the Masked Gentleman to ruin our lives and everything I've accomplished. To think that I once respected you—"
Angela cries over my taunting, "Don't listen to him, Randall!"
"It was YOU who ruined ME!" Randall snarls back at me. "You'll how it feels to have all that you've 'accomplished' destroyed! Now that the final act of my revenge is at hand..."
This 'final act' involves him cackling from above the Reunion Inn and summoning an avalanche of sand to bury the city. "Watch closely, Henry! Watch as your precious city sinks into oblivion!"
This is the moment I've been waiting for. Layton insists that we head to the city monument. (He'd better be leading us to the Mask of Order.) I demand, "Why are we here? Only the Mask of Order can counteract the Mask of Chaos..." I shoot Angela a look, but Layton assures me the mask is in a safe place and that we will now solve the true puzzle of Akbadain.
"The true puzzle...?" I breathe.
All along, the actual heart of Akbadain has been lying under our noses. And, even more infuriating, Layton claims to have found the 'real' Mask of Chaos in the Reunion Inn archives, where Angela hid it. She's gone after Randall with Dalston, so Layton requires my help.
"So, it was here all along," I realise as we enter the chamber below the monument (the true final chamber of the ruins).
"And to solve this room's puzzle, we need both masks..."
My eyes widen as Layton takes out the Mask of Chaos and pulls it apart. The other half of the artefact is in fact the Mask of Order. They are one and the same.
'Only the bearers of Chaos and Order may reveal our legacy. It is always the two halves that make the whole.'
Standing on the stone dais, I place Chaos on one pedestal while Layton positions Order on the opposite side. He nods to me. Together, my brother and I solve the final puzzle of Akbadain. This triggers the mechanism that will save Monte d'Or... and more importantly, unlock the secret of Akbadain.
Chaos and Order...
Sorrow and Joy...
Descole and Layton.
The allegory is not lost on me.
[[Translations: Mordy (US)= Mordaunt (UK)]]