LMJ Rewrite
Yay, new update! Here's the catch: I know back in the prologue that I intended to upload all three parts of a new chapter back to back in the same day. This time, however, is going to be different. I will be posting one part at a time over the next three weeks.
With that, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review! :D
-Chapter Two: Professor Layton and the The Relic Stones, Part One-
It was on a sunny afternoon that -while on their bikes- Katrielle led Ernest and Sherl (who rode along in Kat's front basket) to a neighbourhood she was well acquainted with.
As they rode down a quiet tree-lined street, distinct from Chancer Lane with more row houses than obvious apartment buildings, some of which housed various businesses on the ground floor, Ernest couldn't help but get distracted from riding as he took in his surroundings. A sudden wobble would bring him back to his senses, and focus once more on the street ahead.
They stopped in front of one of those row houses with a ground floor bakery, which had closed shop for the day.
"Four o' clock on the dot!" Kat said mostly to herself, smiling as she glanced at her watch.
The pair parked their bikes at a designated spot in front of the shop, out of the way of foot traffic, and approached the entrance leading to the residential part of the house, where Kat rang the doorbell twice, in case whoever was home didn't hear her the first time.
The door opened less than a minute later, having been answered by a young girl of seven, with brown hair done up in French braids, and big green eyes. She wore a light green hoodie, pink tracksuit bottoms, and white socks.
"Auntie Kat!" The girl exclaimed upon seeing the older of the two.
"Hi, Chloe. Is your mum home?" asked Kat.
The girl called Chloe nodded, and motioned the visitors to come in. "Mum! Auntie Kat's here!" She called as they ascended the stairs that led to the living room. "And she's got her a boyfriend with her!"
"Eh-" Ernest blushed at the remark.
They heard a woman chuckle in response. "Thank you, dear." She said as she knelt to the child's level. "Why don't you go play with your brother while Auntie and I have a chat?"
"Okay, mum." And with those words, Chloe scurried up another flight of stairs to look for her brother, leaving just the adults.
"Hello. I hope we haven't caught you at a bad time, Flora." Kat greeted her big sister, who was only roughly about as tall as she was. She had let her brown hair down, since she was done working for the day, yet still wore her work clothes, consisting of a pink tinted button up blouse, black jeans, and pink shoes with soles off-white from regular wear.
"Not at all, Kat. It is what we agreed upon." Flora replied, a bittersweet look in her dark eyes, as she recalled what their chat was going to be about. "Why don't you three sit down while I get the tea."
While the sisters had begun a conversation about people and things he wasn't familiar with, Ernest glanced around the room, the photos and framed newspaper articles which decorated the exposed brick walls grabbing the attention of his curiosity.
A good number of the photographs, and most of the newspaper articles featured the same top-hat wearing gentleman, who Ernest recognised as Katrielle's enigmatic father, while the others included a red-haired man with a rather...prominent profile, Ernest couldn't help but think, and a few of Flora with who he guessed were some of her friends. They were all clearly taken and printed years ago, the uni-fresher concluded; after all, some of the articles listed the Professor's age at the time to be anywhere from 34 to 49.
He must be at least sixty by now, then. Ernest remarked to himself as he looked on intently at an article dating back more than twenty years prior, with the headline "Layton Solves Mystery Of Lake District's Three!" written in big bold letters.
"Admiring the artwork?" Flora asked the boy as she returned to the living room, gently setting three cups of tea, some biscuits, and a dish of water for Sherl on the tea table in front of them.
"Oh, yes." Ernest answered her, nodding.
"That one was the first where he willingly let me accompany him." Flora stated in regards to the framed article Ernest was just staring at before. "I'll have to share that story with you two sometime. But until then."
And she joined them, seated in the armchair adjacent to the trio on the sofa.
"You said you wished to discuss Father's disappearance." The older of the two sisters said bluntly.
"I'm ready to hear whatever you have to say on the matter." Kat replied sincerely.
"Very well." Flora answered, following a heavy sigh. "Try to understand this isn't an easy topic for me. I will try to recount as much as I can."
"I know what you mean." Kat gazed sadly at her cup, trying to reminisce a more fond memory of their father.
Ernest gently placed a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.
With a deep breath, Flora began her recount.
It all began on a frigid January morning. We were each getting started with our day, when there came an unexpected knock at the door.
"Who could that be, this early?" The Professor got up from his seat to answer it.
Alfendi and I watched from the table, as he returned inside with a distressed Luke, who was holding a bundle in his arms. The teen was trying to convey something to his former mentor in spite of his obviously heavy emotions.
As the professor led him to the parlour, the two of us quietly got up from our chairs, and tiptoed close enough to the threshold to listen in.
"...I couldn't save her mother." Luke spoke, clearly trying to choke back tears. "The ship's doctor had already boarded a life boat. And the clinic was a wreck when I went in to fetch supplies."
"At least you and the little one were able to get to safety." The professor replied in a gentle and cautious tone.
Nothing was spoken between them for a few minutes, though I could hear Luke sobbing. When I finally peeked into the room, Father held Luke in a firm embrace, while rubbing his back. I returned to the kitchen long enough to fill a glass with cool water, bringing it to Luke, who seemed to calm down a little upon seeing me.
It was here I saw for myself that the bundle in his arms was a tiny baby, clearly no more than a few days old.
"Aw! Who's this?" I asked, kneeling down to get a closer look.
"This is the baby I delivered on the ship I was originally on for my trip to London before it sank." Luke explained after a shaky breath and a swallow. "Her mother died shortly after giving birth to her."
"Oh my goodness..." was the only thing I could utter in response, as I was otherwise stunned.
"I've been her guardian since then." He continued, his eyes on the small bundle once more. "Another ship spotted our life boat and rescued us. We both received medical attention." He gently placed his free hand on the drawstring bag next to him. "When we reached London, they sent us off with some supplies for the baby. Formula, bottles, disposable nappies, things of that nature."
A peek inside the bag revealed there was indeed enough for the baby to get by for a few days.
"Does she have a name?" Alfendi asked, tracing the newborn's thin copper hair with his finger. He surprised me when he spoke, as I hadn't even heard him enter the room.
Luke shook his head. "Not yet. I was given paperwork to fill out -I think the birth certificate is there, too- but I haven't got around to looking at any of it." he paused in realisation when something else crossed his mind. "And what to do when I get home? Winter break ends soon!"
"Luke." Professor spoke to get his attention. "You've been through so much in such a short amount of time. Why don't you spend a few days here with us? I'll phone your parents, and let them know you're safe. We'll figure out the rest from there."
"Thank you." Luke replied, nodding, freeing one hand long enough to accept the glass.
Over those next few days, we had all gotten used to having a baby around. Although Alfendi had some difficulty adjusting at first, particularly whenever the newborn awoke during the night, her cries waking him up in the process.
It was during the third day that I found Father and Luke in the study, going over some of the paperwork Luke mentioned previously.
"How are things in here?" I asked, strutting up to the desk where they were both seated.
"Just tying up some loose ends before I head home tomorrow." Luke explained.
"You and the baby?" said I, assuming the newborn would be fostered by the Tritons.
"Well, about that." Luke remarked, before letting the Professor speak.
"I decided I would be her foster father." He explained. "At least long enough for her birth father to decide whether he wants to raise her himself. I will be making inquiries in the mean time."
"That. Makes. No. Sense!" Alfendi shouted from the parlour, before joining us in the study. "You're already raising two children, and you work full time! And what about all those people that will need your help later? A helpless little baby is the last thing you need in your life, Dad!"
In spite of his son's ranting, the Professor was unfazed, excusing himself and getting up from his seat whenever the baby's cooing became audible from upstairs.
He came back down less than three minutes later, with the little one loosely wrapped in a soft blanket in his arms.
"I completely understand your concerns, Alfendi." He finally responded, kneeling to his son's level. "I'll have a chat with Grandma and Grandpa later today as to whether they can watch Katrielle at least few days a week."
"'Kat-tree-elle?'" Alfendi repeated, an eyebrow raised.
Father nodded, confirming. "It's what I've decided to call her. She didn't have a name before, and well, we can't just keep calling her 'the baby'. She needed a real name." His eyes shifted from the baby to Al. "And she'll need a good big brother to look up to, as well."
"I suppose you're right." Alfendi sighed, tracing the baby's hair with his finger again, which she seemed to enjoy now, if her gurgling was of any indication.
I still don't know where he picked the name Katrielle from, but that's what we have all called you ever since.