Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Professor Layton franchise.

Chapter 29 Musical Resolvement

Thankfully, the mice were willing to help the group out with the puzzle. This meant that one part had been solved.

''Alright, now, for the next part, I assume we need to think about what else the god Thoth brought into this world. Last time, Emmy figured out this was the compass in the cave. The compass led us to the stars, which was the pattern we were looking for to open the doors with the fireflies.''

''Sounds like you should have been there to understand.'' the princess mumbled, slightly confused by the professor's explanation.

''Er...well yes it does make more sense with the visual aid,'' the professor chuckled. ''But I believe you might be able to help us princess.''

''Oh?''

''You are probably well educated in this area, could you please tell us what inventions the god has brought into the world?''

The princess walked up to the tree and thought hard about the answer. The professor was right. Ever since she was a little girl, she had been thoroughly educated by private teachers about the nations, politics, religion, history and all things helpful for her to one day rule.

''From the top of my head, he was realised as the creator god when his power and influence grew in our world. He was credited in releasing the compass, as you mentioned before, but also writing, medicine, magic and the Egyptian's civil and religious practises.''

''Hm.'' the professor hummed.

None of those seemed to fit in the puzzle presented before them.

''Oh!'' the princess cried out. ''I just remembered. Usually this is credited to the god Hathor, but another thing Thoth is associated with is the creation of music!''

''That's it!'' the professor snapped his fingers. ''How could I have been so blind. The five lines on the tree are a music sheet.''

The group turned back to the tree and saw what the professor meant.

''I believe we are supposed to create a song of sorts. The mice might serve as the notes. They probably fit perfectly into those small holes. Luke could you instruct one of them to enter a hole?''

''Sure!'' Luke said with a smile.

He bowed his head down to the mouse in his hand and squeaked the instructions.

''The next question is, what song?'' the princess sighed.

The mouse in Luke's hand gave the boy a small nodd, understanding his duty. The professor wondered what he would do without the boy in this situation. Maybe the fireflies and mice were originally supposed to be forced into place, but he didn't really want to think about that. Luke lowered his hand to the ground, so the creature could run up to the trunk. The princess moved closer to Asim when she saw the mouse move around on the floor, still slightly anxious around the rodents.

The mouse maneuvered its way up the trunk towards the holes, where he waited for a moment to go in. It looked like the mouse wasn't sure where to enter exactly, but eventually picked a hole anyway. Once he was fully in, he turned around so his head was facing the crowd. The creature seemed to vibrate for a moment, before suddenly crying out. The sound was loud and rather obnoxious. Everyone placed their hands over their ears in response.

''Sounds like a F-note.'' the princess yelled over the noise.

''You can tell?'' Luke asked.

''Yes, one of the things I learned growing up was the importance of music. My father thought it was an important part of my teachings.''

''Luke, could you please ask your friend if he could get out of the hole?'' Emmy screamed.

''Oh, right!''

Luke moved towards the mouse and asked for it to stop ''singing'' and get out. The mouse thankfully did as asked and moved back to ground to await further instructions. The group sighed in relief.

''Alright,-'' the professor adjusted his tophat. ''-Now that we have confirmed the first part of the puzzle, the next part will still need some investigation. As the princess said before, we have no idea what the melody is. Let us look around to see if we can find any clue through the room.''

The group nodded and started their investigation. Part of the group, including Mahir, Asim, Emmy and Adofo walked back downstairs to see if they could find anything near the water or the entrance. The professor, Luke and the princess stayed on top. They hoped to find something in the tree, on the ground, on the walls or perhaps even on the ceiling.

The group that left to check downstairs, quickly decided to create a system that would lower one of them into the water to check it out. Adofo being the strongest, held onto Mahir who lowered himself against the wall. Emmy climbed over his back down to the water, while Asim held onto Adofo to keep him steady. Once Emmy had jumped down and landed safely in the water, Adofo pulled Mahir back up.

''I'll go check the other side behind the tree.'' Emmy called out.

The professor watched on top of the stairs, worried about his companion.

''She'll be fine Ustaaz.'' the princess said while placing a hand on his shoulder.

''I know...I just...don't want to lose her again.''

''That is understandable.''

''I don't think there is anything else around here that could help us professor.'' Luke sighed while climbing down from one of the roots.

''Let's hope Emmy finds something.'' the princess said.

In the meantime, Emmy slowly made her way through the water. She was about knee deep into it and felt a current pull her towards the other side.

''Where does this lead?'' she said to herself.

She glanced back to the bridge where she was lowered down from and noticed the professor, Luke and the princess had joined the others to watch her.

Can't let them down now.

The room was rather large, making it pretty difficult to get to the other side through the water. She was glad she had a proper amount of stamina to get her there.

Good thing I worked out I guess.

She chuckled at her own thoughts and continued on strong. She noticed how the current seemed to pull at her legs even stronger, the closer she got to the back of the tree. When she finally rounded to the back, she was surprised to see the water run out of the building. From the back, it had probably become a waterfall.

''This building is so intricately designed. Where does the water come from?'' she mumbled.

No time to dwell though. She hoped the current wouldn't be strong enough to pull her along out of the building. She was out of breath when she finally reached the top of the waterfall and peered through the crack outside. The back of the temple showed a beautiful lake that seemed to attract the wildlife of the jungle.

''Luke would love this.'' she whispered and smiled, remembering how he told her he loved animals .

She turned back to the structure in the middle of the room. The back of the staircase was completely flat. On top, the tree blossomed magnificently. Several vines cascaded down the wall, making it possible for a person to climb to the top. Emmy squinted to see if she could see anything, when she suddenly caught something interesting. On the back of the tree, something seemed to be scribbled. She couldn't make out what exactly was written down, since it was too far away.

''Guess I'll have to climb.'' she sighed.

She moved to the wall and grabbed one of the vines. She pulled on it a few times to check its security.

''Alright, here goes nothing.''

She started pulling herself up, wrapping her feet around the vine expertly to lessen the strain on her arms. Thankfully, the vine seemed to be able to hold her. She was about halfway done, when she stopped climbing for a break. She wiped the sweat of her brow and looked down. She hoped that if she would fall, the water would at least lessen the damage. After a few seconds, she continued.

It had been a few minutes since they last heard or saw Emmy. The professor had started to worry. He had wondered how it was possible for there to be a current in the water. From what they could tell, the ring of water around the tree should be stagnant.

Maybe the water is able to leave the building at some point.

If that were the case, Emmy might have possibly already found it. But what if she got trapped? What if she had left the building by accident and couldn't find a way back in? What if she…His train of thought got stopped by a small hand on his arm. He looked to his side to see Luke stare at him with a frown.

''I have a theory.'' he said.

The professor raised his eyebrows and waited for the boy to explain.

''Professor, the vegetation inside this room had been able to flourish due to the access to water and sunlight. The giant tree on top of the staircase is a great example for this. Not uncommon in ruins like these are vines and moss growth on the walls.''

Luke pointed to the outer walls, where several vines and moss had indeed grown tightly to the bricks.

''What if Emmy is able to climb to the back of the tree. It would be a great place to hide the final clue to the puzzle.''

''Ah!'' the professor exclaimed.

His apprentice was rather brilliant.

''Let's check the tree! We might be able to help Emmy get to the other side without her having to climb all the way back down.'' Luke suggested.

''Splendid work my boy!'' the professor beamed. ''Let's go.''

They quickly moved up the stairs and climbed the roots of the tree to the other side as far as they could. The professor, Asim and Mahir had taken the left side, while Adofo and Luke took the other. The princess waited patiently on the other side, pouting slightly since nobody would allow her to climb the roots as well. Once the professor had reached a place where he could see the opposite side of the room, he witnessed his former assistant climb to the top, just like Luke had predicted.

''Emmy!'' he called out.

Emmy could hear the professor call out her name and looked up. She could see the gentleman on top of one of the roots waving at her. Her motivation to get to the top instantly increased.

''Be careful Emmy!''

Emmy looked up again and saw Luke on the other side. She smiled widely at them and waved back. She continued the climb until she had finally reached the top. She sat down on one of the roots, exhausted. The professor, Luke and the rest couldn't reach her, so they waited patiently for her to recover and tell her findings. When she had felt like she had regained her strength, she got back up and turned around to face the tree. Now she could finally see what the final clue was. The final clue to solving the riddle.

''What did you find Emmy?'' Luke yelled from the right side.

''Are you alright my dear?'' The professor called from the left side.

''I think...this was the clue.'' Emmy mumbled.

''What was that?'' Luke said.

''The clue,'' Emmy couldn't believe her eyes. ''It was erased by someone.''

Welp that aint helpful. What will they do now?