Sorry to have taken so long to update. It was the end of the school and I had to move back home. Plus the fact I had a lot of artworks to do for client, I hadn't much time to put into the story. I finally got some time to work on it and it's finally done. It's the longest chapter I did so far and I hope you guys will like it. =P

I'll do my best to keep my promise and try to update each week. But for now, enjoy the reading. ~

And don't forget, reviews are really appreciated and I'll try to answer every questions I can.

Chapitre 3 - Where is the professor?

3 Days ago

London, England

The sunrise was covering London with orange hues of light. The city got in motion as soon as the first ray of light touched the streets. For most of its visitors, London is a beautiful city with many fabulous places to see, as the Big Ben, London's museum or even Gressenheller University.

People waking up, shops opening, filling the streets with life. There's a lots of interesting persons of all kind to meet all around this grand city. Most of them seem to definitely share the same passion: puzzles. Wherever you decided to go, there's always a chance that you will stumble on someone in need of help to solve a puzzle, someone just proposing you a puzzle or even a exchange of service or informations against solving a good puzzle.

There's one particular person that is well know in this city. His name is Hershel Layton. He is an archeologist and a professor at Gressenheller University who's mostly known for his puzzles solving skills and his assistance in solving many complicated cases with Scotland Yard.

Before, the professor could be see often in his office, working on diverse class paperworks and discoveries, all day long and until late at night. It often happened that he fell asleep on his couch, without realising it, only wanting at first to rest a bit. That brought most of his students to think that he was living there and didn't actually have a house.

Even if he was working at the university, Professor Layton was often away in expeditions or solving mysteries, and this, sometime for several months. This was alway so sudden that the university had to find a teacher at the last minute to replace him.

Layton's home

The whole house was silence, except for the faint ticking sound coming from the grandfather clock in the livingroom.

The sunrise started filling every inch of it's interior, warming up every rooms into a welcoming place. Every living souls inhabiting that home was fast asleep in their own warm cocoon.

Luke

The sunlight traverse through the thin curtain, tingling Luke's skin, teasing him. He pull the blanket over his head, grumbling at the sunrise that bothering him, trying to force him out of his comfortable nest.

His breath was slow and calm. It was like if a warm cocoon was surrounding him. How well he was right now… it's like nothing would ever be able to pull him out of here… except, of course, only one particular person.

The Professor.

Luke sighed, knowing really well that the professor had to wake up early today to prepare a test for his students. And this, it meant that he would have to get up early as well when the man came knocking at his door.

He moved a bit under his blanket, cuddling the soft surface of his pillow and enjoying the short time he still had.

It just took him some minutes before he fell back into slumber.

Time passed before Luke was woken up again by soft knocks on his bedroom's door.

It must be the Professor.

Luke grumble, not feeling like getting out of his bed. Maybe if he didn't get up yet, he could win some more minutes of resting.

Not even one minute, because there was no answer from Luke, more knocks could be heard again.

Luke sighed defeat, it seemed like the Professor wanted him up right now. But something was strange. These knocks were strange. Usually, Professor Layton's knocks were a bit louder and filled with more confidence. These ones were softer, slower in intervals and seemed strangely shy, like if the person on the other side was afraid to bother him.

He poked his head out of his blanket, curious despite his eyes' protest at the contact of the light.

"I'm getting up Professor…"

He heard a low and shy voice on the other side in reply, but he couldn't make out what was said.

Luke looked at the door, confused, "uh?", this was not sounding like the Professor.

He pushed his blankets aside and set his feets on the cold floor. He placed his hand over his mouth and let escape a big yawn. He was dressed in a adorable blue striped pajamas and he had messy chestnut colored hair. He had a tired look plastered all over his face and he was clearly still half asleep. A good warm cup of tea would be most welcome.

He dragged his feets on the floor to his bedroom's door, curious to see what was going on.

He opened the door, but to his surprise, it wasn't the Professor. It was a young lady named Flora, the third resident of this house. Flora was Professor Hershel Layton's protégé, and because of this, she ended up living along with him and his young apprentice, Luke.

She was dressed in her usual coral dress with a red sash and white sleeves, red at it's end and trimming that goes down to her knees. She also wore gray almost-knee-high boots and had her hair tied back in a ponytail with a red ribbon. She had big black eyes and bright rosy cheeks.

"Uh? Flora?", Luke exclaim surprise. This would explain why the knocks were sounding so different. "Why isn't it the professor that woke me up?"

The petite lady reply shyly, "I'm not sure." When she noticed his puzzled expression, urging her to give him a better explanation, she continued, "I woke up this morning and the Professor wasn't in the livingroom nor in the kitchen. I found this curious and I went knocking on his room's door, in case he had forgotten to set up the alarm on his clock. He wouldn't want to arrive late at the university for this important day after all.", Luke notice Flora's worried look, "But I didn't get a single answer from him…"

"Maybe the professor decided to let us rest and went earlier at the university. He didn't leave a note?"

She shook her head, "I looked everywhere and didn't found a single note. It makes me worry. It's why I decided to come wake you up. It's unusual from the Professor."

Luke frowned. It was indeed unusual from him. He would know that they would be both worried if he would got out without telling one of them.

It only happened once that he forgot to tell them. Let's say that Layton had learned very well from it. When he came back home late, it ended in a group hug with him and worry and angry complaints from them for he had made them so worried all day.

"Let's go check the Professor's room first. Maybe he didn't hear you.", Luke suggested, calming Flora's worries.

They both walked to Layton's door and Luke gave strong knocks on it. Like this, he would be sure that he heard them well...if he was here of course.

Some seconds passed and there was no answer, nor sound coming from the other side.

"um…", Luke temptatively open the bedroom's door, despite Flora's complain about the fact 'sneaking into someone else bedroom without their permission wasn't really gentlemen like'.

His head poked out on the other side of the door and he noticed that the professor's bed was empty and well made. It actually seemed untouched, as if nobody had been here the whole night.

"It's strange… it's like if he hadn't come back yesterday.", Luke finally confirmed to Flora.

She gasp, "Oh no..! M-Maybe something happened to him last night on the way home!"

Luke turned to face Flora, "You're worrying too much Flora. It's the Professor after all! I'm sure he's fine!", Luke said with a hint of pride in his mentor, "And don't forget that he told us that he would get back home late. After all, he had much things to work on and finish yesterday. Maybe he has fallen asleep on the couch in his office. It wouldn't be the first time.", he proposed with an unsure tone. It didn't seem to really succeed in reassuring her.

"B-But…! Why didn't he call us yet then? His class is about to start in 30 minutes. He should be up by now." It seemed that Luke's explanation just made her even more anxious about the situation.

"H-Hmm…", he now took a thinking pose, sharing the same worried look then her. "M-Maybe he woke up late and didn't find the time to call us. He had a test to gave to his students today after all."

When he noticed that she was still really worried, he sighed defeat,"Let's take a look at his office, maybe he's here and he hadn't heard us?", Luke suggested, unsure.

Both him and Flora headed for the door, but inside of him, he felt that he knew already that he wasn't there. When they both stopped in front of the door, Luke opened it without knowing, and...oh, surprise… no one was here.

"Hm… the professor is definitely not at home I guess.", He looked back at Flora who had tears in her eyes.

Flora always got quite anxious when she was separated from the Professor and didn't know where he was and in what kind of situation he got himself into again. Luke sighed. It seemed he had no choice but to go at the university with her if he wanted her to finally be reassured. She should be fine again by seeing him well and truly there teaching at his student. Better than both worry the whole day.

"Let me change my cloths and we will take the bus to the university.", Luke finally continue.

"T-Thank you Luke…", she reply sheepish, "It would be more reassuring if I see that everything is fine with him."

He nodded, understanding well what she meant. When she headed back downstair, Luke rushed to his room to get rid of his pajama and put on his trademark outfit. It would be better if they could catch him before his class. So, better hurry.

It didn't take long for him to join Flora downstair. He wore a white collar shirt, blue sweater, viridian shorts with brown failing suspenders, white socks, brown Mary Jane shoes and a flat blue cap. Let's not forgot his large brown leather satchel that he always brought with him and that contained a lot of useful things like his notebook.

"We can go Flora, I'm ready!"

She nodded happily and they went to the nearest bus stop.

In the bus on the way to the nearest bus stop to the university, Luke stomach growled loudly. He placed his hands on his stomach with a discomforted grunt. He suddenly regretted the fact he hadn't eaten a breakfast before doing anything else.

"Maybe we should have eaten something before searching for the Professor…", Luke lamented.

Flora clapped her hands together, remembering something important " Oh! I had totally forgotten!", she took out a warped sandwich, "I made sandwiches while waiting for you. I was expecting you to be hungry on the way.", she chirped happily.

Now Luke suddenly regretted sharing his discomfort about the lack of breakfast. The first thing you learned about Flora was her terrible cooking skills, and everyone knew well that it was better to avoid tasting anything she made. Unless you wanna end up with a stomachache, food poisoning or just taste something really terrible. The only problem about this, is the fact that she is actually quite sensible about comments about her cooking skills and foods. So, unfortunately, both Luke and Layton had often ended up stuck eating it anyway or hiding it when she wasn't looking.

"Oh...hm, t-thanks Flora.", he forced a smile.

He looked at his sandwich with a unsure look. Maybe he could eat it really quickly. Like this, he won't have to taste it for long. He was just afraid of how it would actually end up after doing so. What was in it anyway? It smell like peanut butter mixed with fish. He took a deep breath, lifted it up to his face and was about to take a bite into it, when he notice that Flora was looking outside at the scrolling landscape.

He quickly shoved the inedible sandwich in his satchel and tried to take back a natural pose when she looked back at him, like he had done nothing.

"Wow… you already finished eating you sandwich? You must be really hungry! I bet you loved it! Do you want another one?", she proposed him, a bit guilty to have dragged him outside before he could eat anything.

"N-No! It fine!", he replied a bit too quickly and got a confuse look from Flora, "This was delicious and I think I'm quite full after the first one", he said ashamed, trying not to get suspicions from her.

She smiled, "I'm glad to hear that, Luke!", She looked back happily outside.

Luke sighed. It was a close one. He should be more careful with his reply.

After some minutes of bus ride, they finally reached their destination.

"Alright! The university is right that way!", he said happily, showing to the direction they had to go and holding his cap with the others hand.

They walked to to their destination in no time. They should be able to catch Layton before his class.

When they entered the tall building, they saw a few students here and there. Most of them must be already in class. Normally, peoples would wonder why there was kids hanging around in a university, but Professor Hershel Layton was someone well known. So it was the same with anyone that frequented him.

On the way to his office, they poked their heads in his class door's window and notice that he was still not in class. All his students were already sitting in their respective place, waiting for their teacher to arrive.

"He's still not here?", Flora asked, even if she already knew the answer.

"Seems not.", Luke confirm, while they continued on their way to their principale destination.

They finally reached a door ornate with a top hat emblem with a "L" in its middle. Luke knocked on it and he heard some footsteps. Luke smiled, it seemed the Professor was here all along. They won't have to worry anymore.

The door opened and his smile dropped when realised that it wasn't him at all. It was Rosa Grimes, the cleaning lady in charge of Gressenheller University's offices. Luke had often seen her in the professor's office cleaning his room, collecting his mail or even making tea for him. It was one of his good friend.

"Oh!", she exclaimed, surprised to see them both, "Luke, Flora! What brings you here? Isn't the Professor giving a class right now?", she asked, curious.

"The Professor wasn't in class. We thought he was still in his office getting ready."

"I didn't see him this morning yet. I was sure he was already in class or went directly to it from home."

Both Luke and Flora worried look came back.

"He wasn't at home this morning. We were sure he had fallen asleep in his office.", Luke explain to her.

"Oh my… where did he go again? It isn't like him to disappear like this without warning both of you or Dean Delmona to find another teacher to replace him.", she said, sharing their worry.

"Where is the Professor?", she said, terribly worried.

Luke wanted to help Flora get better, but it just ended up getting worse. He needed to find him. He shouldn't be that far.

Luke pondered, searching for any other location he could be often seen at. Wait! He knew exactly where! How didn't he think about it yet.

He looked at Flora with a big smile, "I think I know where he is!"

She look at him, puzzled, "Where?"

"Maybe he is at Scotland Yard!"

She clapped her hand together, "Of course!"

Rosa smiled to the two, "What are you both waiting then. Go get to him and tell him to stop missing his class."

"Will do! Bye miss Rosa!"

Rosa waved to them and they both rushed back to the bus stop to head at their new destination.

It didn't take long to arrive at Scotland Yard and luckily for them, the bus stop was right in front of it. So they didn't have long to walk to reach it.

Inside, they spotted Clamp Grosky, a very athletic and energetic Inspector, along with Chelmey, a gruff and grumpy Inspector.

They were exactly the persons Luke was hoping to fall on.

"Excuse me", Luke said politely, getting their attention, "Is their possibility that the Professor is here?"

Chelmey grumbled, probably because Luke had interrupted their conversation, "Do you see him here?"

"H-Hum… no… but have you seen him this morning by chance?"

"No, he hasn't come here this morning!", Grosky boomed with much energy like usual.

"Why are you two searching for him anyway? You're always along with him usually.", Chelmey finished for Grosky, now starting to be curious.

"He hadn't come home yesterday and he wasn't at the university this morning, even if he had an important class."

"He didn't leave any notes nor call home", Flora added.

The two inspector look at each others puzzled. This doesn't sound normal coming from him.

"I'll look around the city if I couldn't spot him!", he then rushed outside in no time, not even giving anyone time to reply to this.

Chelmey sigh, "It's indeed not normal from him.", he crossed his arms, thoughtful, "We will keep an eye open, in case we see him around… if he's still not back this afternoon, let's us know.", he frowned, "We will have to search for him if it's the case."

"T-Thank you Inspector", Flora said.

Luke look outside by the nearest window, pondering, "Where are you, Professor?"

olivetree: Does he still have a broken leg?

Me: Yes, I believe they made him some kind of Traction Splint to help him to heal and walk.

Guest: Is Gramma Elizabeth meant to be Riddleton? Or is the name just a coincidence?

Me: I guess it only a coincidence. Elizabeth is a character that I created specialy for this story. =3

Everyone else: Thank you so much for your reviews! Some had inspired me and gaved me some ideas for the story and I'm always eager to post a new chapter and see everyone comments and review about it. =3

I don't own the characters from the Professor Layton game series. Professor Layton is the property of Level-5, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.