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

Chapter 30 Truthful Exposition

The professor reached his arm out to help Emmy cross the thick roots of the tree.

''Are you sure?'' he asked when she had jumped over while holding his hand.

''Positive.'' Emmy responded with her eyes turned down.

They carefully moved back to the front of the tree, where the princess had been waiting. She was happy to see Emmy return unharmed, but quickly noticed her sad expression. The others returned as well, completing the group.

''What did you find?'' she asked.

''Well...I found the clue we were supposed to use for the final part of the puzzle but…''

''But?''

''Someone has destroyed it. They used something to scratch out the message or song or whatever it was.''

They all hung their heads in defeat. This looked like it was the end of the line. The end of their exploration.

''I...have a suggestion.'' Asim suddenly said.

The group looked up at the guard.

''What is it Asim?'' the princess asked.

Asim looked at the princess with a serious expression and turned to the tree.

''You might not like it. It involves using your ability.''

''My...ability? How would that be of use in this situation? There is no one for me to retrieve memories from.''

''Not someone, but something.''

Everyone followed Asim's gaze to the tree.

''They say trees have memories. Who says your power would not apply to it.''

''That...sounds crazy enough to be true.'' Emmy chuckled. ''There is no harm in trying, right?''

''I have never received anything from a tree or any plants...but maybe I haven't tried hard enough.'' she thought out loud.

The princess took a few steps towards the tree and clutched her hands against one another. She had tried her powers on humans only and never had she imagined that plants would be included in the abilities reach. The rest waited in anticipation. She slowly reached out to touch the tree, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. When her fingers finally connected to the bark, a gentle wave of something unfamiliar flowed through her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt. Not like human emotions which she was familiar with, but something deeper and more ancient.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the feeling. To connect with the living being in front of her. It was almost like the tree was speaking to her. Telling her to keep going and search around. She felt an ache on her back, like something was softly scratching her skin. She opened her eyes and was surprised to not see the tree, but a view of the forest, and the temple , and the water, and the mice, and the staircase and so much more. It was like she had grown eyes all over her body.

She witnessed the passage of time fast and slow all at once. She felt her body grow. It was like she could tell stories of any century. It was breathtaking and suffocating all at once. She knew she had to ask. She had to ask for the place she needed to see. Before she could even open her mouth, the tree seemed to understand. She was transported somewhere, where shadows drew close. They searched and scavenged around for hints, clues and answers. She could see a young man hold a string that shone brightly in the room. He had found the necklace.

''Go back.'' she whispered.

On command, time rewinded back to the exact point where they started to enter the code she was looking for. The song of the gods. She listened and waited. The song was over. It was only a matter of time before she would return to her friend's side. Why was she still here? She tried to retract her hand from the bark, but could not feel her own body. The tree had taken over. She wanted to cry and scream. She wanted to struggle her way out of this prison. But she couldn't. Almost like she didn't exist anymore.

Asim.

If only she could see him. If only she could call out his name. A penetrating loneliness crushed her heart.

Asi...As...a name? Who am I calling for again?

A darkness fell over her, enclosing her in her own existence. In her own sorrow.

Something shook her arm. She didn't want to respond. She didn't want to see what the tree had in store for her anymore. The shaking continued. Somewhere far away, she heard a deep voice that called out a name.

Who is it?

Who was trying to make contact? An urge to open her eyes resurfaced. She had to know. She forced her way through what felt like a thick layer of slime. She pushed aside anything that blocked her path to the person calling to her.

Farah!

Is that my name?

''Farah please!''

An emotion that felt familiar. What was it?

''Wake up! Open your eyes. Please…''

''A...sim...''

Her eyes flew open and tears fell down her cheeks. In front of her stood Asim, his eyes wide with shock. Her hand that she had pressed against the tree had broken loose, pieces of bark encasing her fingers. The room had grown dark and the light from a nearby fire reflected on the guard's face in front of her.

''Is she awake?'' the princess heard Emmy call out from somewhere behind her.

Asim moved his hand up to her face and wiped one of the tears away without touching her skin. His eyes had softened and a sigh escaped his lips.

''She is. She finally is.''

He moved forward and pressed the small lady in front of him against his chest.

''We are not doing that again. Ever.''

Everything that had just happened felt like a dream. She had no idea what it looked like to the outsiders, but she could tell much time had passed.

''How long was I…?'' she asked.

''A couple of hours. The tree started encasing your hand just now and...you looked like you were in a lot of pain.'' he explained.

She placed her hands against his chest and moved back to look at his face.

''I'm okay...I'm happy to see you.''

She placed the fingers with the bark around them against his cheek. For the first time, she could not tell what he was feeling through her touch. She could however...when she looked into his eyes. He sighed and closed his eyes. They suddenly remembered they were not alone however and turned around to the group with a blush on their cheeks. Mahir and Adofo had averted their eyes in respect, both already aware of the little secret between the two. The professor, Emmy and Luke were standing close, all of them worried for the princess.

''Are you okay?'' Luke asked.

''I am, Luke. Thank you. I have discovered the song we needs to use to solve this puzzle.''

''You have?'' the professor asked.

''Yes. It is called the song of the gods. I have never heard it before in my life, but it was wonderful to listen to. Luke, I will instruct where the mice need to go. Could you please translate?''

''Will do princess.''

With the support of Asim, the princess turned around back to the tree. She inhaled a deep breath, worried that the tree still possessed some form of influence over her. She started pointing to every hole that needed to be filled up and even explained that some of the mice needed to be facing inside of the tree. The tone would change accordingly.

The cries from the rodents were ear deafening at first, but slowly turned into a magnificent harmony. When the final mouse was put in place, the group listened to the melody of the gods. Like the princess had said, it was something unfamiliar but beautiful to listen to. During the song, a soft glow emerged from the top of the tree. The glow travelled down the bark into the roots and around the party. Finally, it traced a symbol next to the five lines on the trunk.

''A G-clef. Of course. The right key to unlock the G.'' the professor mumbled.

Once the song was completed, the newly formed symbol clicked back and opened up a space inside. The space was small and contained a single item. The mice sprung loose from their holes and quickly scattered down the staircase. The professor moved towards the open spot in the tree and found nothing but a bust. Just like how the ring had been placed on a marble finger, the necklace used to be set on a marble bust. He looked around the object, hoping to find a trace of something else that would help them, but found nothing. The rest of the group moved in to check as well.

''So...that's it?'' Mahir asked.

''Nothing else…?'' Luke sighed.

''Doesn't look like it unfortunately. We have learned a lot today. We should be thankful for the experience.'' the professor said, trying hard to hide his own disappointment.

The group started to make their way back down the staircase, most of them tired and disheartened. The journey back would be long, which nobody looked forward to. The professor had started his descent, when he noticed that Mahir had still not given up.

''Mahir...I believe it is best if we leave it at this.''

Mahir didn't respond. He had stuck his face deep into the small opening in the tree, trying hard to find anything worth staying for, when he suddenly heard a soft click. He looked down to see that he had placed his weight on top of the bust. He increased the weight a little bit more and laughed triumphantly when a door suddenly opened on the side of the tree. The bust had been a trigger for a hidden room.

The professor could not believe his eyes. After all their hours spent in this temple, they had finally found something that was perhaps worth their trip. He turned around and called for his companions to return. The group quickly returned and high fived the guard for his accomplishment and stubbornness. They carefully made their way to the side of the tree over the roots and looked inside the new place they could enter. The room inside was almost completely hollowed out, making it an easy fit for the group. The inside didn't contain anything, besides a few drawings carved into the sides with text beneath them. Each picture depicted one of the relics.

''This is incredible.'' Luke said while looking around the room.

''I can't believe this. All this time this was hidden away in here.'' Emmy mumbled.

''Look at what the descriptions say.''- the professor said while standing in front of the symbol for the necklace. -''The Necklace of Compassion will stow upon the gift of kindness for a price. The holder of the relic will pass the gift on to their children and their children's children and so on. Their lineage will forever be blessed with the true meaning of compassion. The affected however, will never feel true love.''

''What a strange description.'' Adofo said.

''The Earring of Truth will stow upon the gift of truth for a price.'' Luke continued. ''The holder of the relic will hear the insider's perspective of a voice in radius. They will forever be blessed with the truth of the world. The affected however, will never feel more alone.''

''That's...so strange.'' the princess stood next to Luke.

''The Ring of Memories.''

The group turned around to Emmy, who had been standing in front of the drawing of the ring.

''What does it say my dear?'' the professor asked.

''The Ring of Memories will stow upon the gift of relief for a price. The holder of the relic will be able to forget the past, leaving behind the pain of the mind. They will forever be blessed with true forgiveness. The affected however, will never create another memory again.''

''What does that mean?'' the professor questioned.

''I understand what the warning of the necklace means...but I don't understand the others.'' the princess said.

''I think I know what it means.-'' Emmy turned around to the group. ''-Ever since I woke up from my sleep back in Nemhat, I have been noticing something strange.''

''What? Is it something bad?'' Luke asked.

''I think...I might be slowly losing my ability to see...and to hear, my sense of smell...all of my senses. I thought it was just a side effect at first but now...I think not being able to create another memory again might mean...that I won't be able to sense anything around me in any way or form.''

''What!? this can't be happening! This can't be real!'' Luke yelled frustrated.

''These are not gifts...they are curses.'' the princess placed her hand over her mouth.

The sense of dread grew in all of them at that moment.

A new truth has been discovered. Emmy's decision to pursue the Ring of Memories has taken her down a path which she didn't expect. Now to find out if they are able to break the curse…

Credit to my friend and also fanfiction writer Eucalie, who helped me set up the music puzzle! (Check out her fic A Family's Honor)