Magda opened the door to the famous mirror. Everyone was in a hurry to see it at last.
Luke expected it to be stored in a small room, but he was amazed to see such a beautiful room in such a small basement.
"-Finally!"
Victoria almost rushed headfirst into the room.
"-Miss Victoria!?
-Oh, excuse me, Professor, I'm as excited as a little flea.
-I can see that...
-It's just that all this time we've been hearing about that mirror!"
Layton preferred to smile at her, amused. The group approached the pedestal where the Mirror was placed. It was in the center of the huge room, prominently displayed on a velvet box.
"- Well, for such a coveted relic, it seems to me to be unprotected." thought Descole.
"-Let's just say that this pretentious Duke must have thought it impossible to steal it.
-But still, it's a big risk, which he preferred to take."
They admired the Mirror. The frame was pure gold and a multitude of precious stones strewn about. A peacock adorned the top of the mirror.
As for the glass itself, they looked at it only very briefly. It was different from the glasses that the usual mirrors had. This glass was... Colored?
Layton gently took the mirror in his hands and turned it over. It had a peacock in the middle followed by the same frame as the one in front.
"-It is simply beautiful...
-I agree, Layton. I have rarely seen an object like this.
-What do we do now, Professor? "
Layton continued to inspect the mirror, without much success. He rested it carefully and closed his eyes.
"-I suggest we explore the room, one never knows.
-Always have an eye for detail...
-It's primordial, Descole, don't tell me you don't agree."
They looked at each other amused and began to inspect the room. Victoria stood by the mirror, hesitant. The mirror she had searched so hard for months and months. It was right next to her.
She stood in front of it and stared at it with empty eyes.
What could she do? She knew what to do, of course.
With her two hands, she took it as discreetly as possible, sure of what she was going to do. A multitude of thoughts emerged in her mind. What if it didn't work? What if it was broken?
She shook her head and looked at herself through the relic, still lost in her thoughts. She didn't realize that her reflection was starting to go crazy.
This is when she saw. She opened her eyes, shocked by her vision. No...Impossible! She let out a cry of surprise and immediately put the mirror back down.
"-AH!"
Descole, Layton and Luke turned to her, startled by the scream. The young woman, gasping with a terrified expression.
"-Ms Victoria, are you all right?" Layton worried.
"-Everything's fine. Really very well."
She tried to appear as usual, despite the frightened expression that wouldn't go away. Descole had noticed that she had turned pale. Had she looked in the mirror?
Why did she look in the mirror? Why "it"? It was the last thing she wanted to see. But it wasn't her greatest wish...? After all, that mirror was supposed to grant the most coveted wishes, wasn't it?
"-Victoria, you're white, are you sure you're all right?" Asked Luke.
She just nodded and smiled.
"-I just had a hallucination. Probably just tired."
She cleared her throat.
"-You didn't see anything suspicious other than that object?
-Anything. This mirror seems to be the only interesting thing here."
A monstrous noise came from upstairs. It sounded like footsteps, running at full speed, screams and the sound of broken glass.
"-Professor, what's going on!?
-It looks like TARGENT is here...
-We have to get out of here! "
A shot was heard. It was near the spiral staircase, which they had taken earlier.
"-Professor!"
Luke was starting to panic. A gunshot, after all, is anything but reassuring.
"-Let's keep our cool, let's get out."
The three "friends" rushed out and started running down the stairs. Luke suddenly stopped:
"-Where's Miss Victoria!?"
Descole, who was right behind Luke, looked all around him. She wasn't with them.
"-Don't panic, I'm here, I'm sorry!"
She rushed over to them, out of breath.
"- Something caught my attention so I leaned in for a few seconds.
-As long as we are complete."
They finally arrived upstairs and were stunned. It was a mess. The servants were running around when a familiar voice came up.
"-Find me your stupid, all-knowing maid! You know what to expect if you don't!"
Descole and Victoria looked at each other.
"-Swallow!" They cried out to each other.
The said Swallow pointed a gun at the end of his nose. Descole instinctively drew his sword, while the others were ready to defend themselves.
"-Oh, for instance... Professor Layton, what a pleasure it is to finally meet you! You'll forgive the circumstances, however, but we're working, you see.
-Funny way of working..." Luke thought.
Victoria bit her lip and squeezed her purse against it.
"-You're looking for the mirror, aren't you, Swallow?" Asked Layton, as calmly as possible.
"-You're smart, although it was obvious. I'm sure you know where it is."
Layton smiled.
"-Let's say I thought I did indeed.
-What do you mean?"
He pretended to be stung.
"-I thought the mirror was here, but it wasn't.
-And where is it?"
Swallow was getting impatient.
"-Do you see the cave in the heights of the valley?
-I understand perfectly well, so we might as well cut this conversation short, Professor."
Her impatience had taken the bait. She motioned for her soldiers to leave.
"-If I find that he's not there, I'll be glad to come back here.
-So you're not going to silence us...?
-It would have been a great pleasure, if my boss didn't need you and your masked man."
Layton and Descole frowned. Why did the leader of TARGENT need them...? They'll linger on the question later.
"-We'll see each other again soon, Professor. I am sure we will."
With those words she readjusted her headgear and left with her colleagues for the cave. The band was more serene.
"-Hmm...
-Professor, we're in trouble...
-Hmm...
-What'll happen if they manage to get the Mirror?
-Hmm..."
Layton was thinking about what happened. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together one by one. Some of them fit together, some of them didn't. He was actually closer to the truth than he thought.
The crew made sure no one got hurt. Luckily, everyone was safe. The damage was only material.
Magda, frail and still distraught, came to Professor Layton...
"-Sir, I don't think this is the time, but there's something I forgot to tell you.
-Am I listening, Magda?
-Well...Just before his death, Miss Cornelia would have left one last letter, a farewell message.
-Who's in possession of the letter?
-That's the point. No one knows where it is. The Duke was convinced it was Isaac who had it, but after much checking it turned out he didn't. Sir, you seem very clever, so I'm sure you'll manage to find it."
She gave him a warm smile.
"-Magda, thank you, your information was very useful to me! I'll be sure to let you know the full story."
They too left the castle, a little upset. Victoria was gradually regaining her colours and Luke calmed down as he watched the sumptuous Bavarian landscape.
"-There you are!"
Celian! The small group was surprised, except for Layton.
"-For instance, Celian. How nice to see you.
-Whew! It's good to see you!
-Are you referring to TARGENT? " replied Victoria, glad to see him.
"Yep, I've heard the rumours, you know?
-Really, Celian?"
The archaeologist was very sceptical, which Celian noticed.
"-What's wrong with the top hat?
-Actually there is, and has been for some time.
-Professor, I'm not sure I understand..."
No one actually understood Layton, but that was a habit. No one could grasp his reasoning, fortunately he took a long time to explain it to people.
Layton, sure of himself, reached out his arm with his right index finger pointing at Celian.
"-The problem Celian is none other than YOU!"