Another gunshot rang out, followed by the clinking of metal above else clattered against the cold, hard floor.

It was her fault.

The young woman shrieked inhaled vigourously.

Bronev didn't move. His glazed eyes could see her blurred figure in front of him, a trail of red spilling out from her arm.

Descole looked away, even he had nothing left to say to his father now.

The older man grumbled to himself - if it had been just a little more to the left...

Emmy rushed forward to grab the fallen keystone. She tried to ignore Luke's innocent eyes that she could feel as if they were burning into her.

She reached down, and picked up the key with a swooping arm. As she straightened back up, she was confronted by the dread on her uncle's face. He hadn't moved an inch since the gun had gone off. He just stood there, hands now empty from where the magnetic field had seized his weapon.

"It was... her own fault..." Bronev said. The rise and fall of his chest had slowed to almost abnormal levels.

Layton looked over to Luke, who had shuffled towards Aurora. The young boy's eyes darted around the cave at the rocks above, never resting for too long. The professor could see from the cold air he was puffing out, that his breathing was rapid. No child should have ever had to see what he had done.

"You know who you're just like?"

The professor tensed up. Was he still talking to the lady?

"Bloom." He spat. "You think you're clever, but as soon as you're caught out..." Finally Bronev pulled back his arm that had held the gun, but the veins on his hand still stood out.

Bloom?

The woman's glossy eyes looked up at him, then to Emmy, but there was no sympathy from either of them.

Quickly, he took the keystone from Emmy. She could hear him muttering something about how no one threaten his leadership of Targent - but then, as he reached the top of the steps, he stopped. Bronev took off his glasses and stared.

What was he doing leaving this man - Descole - no. Sycamore... no, Hershel... to die? Surely the authorities would find out and-

Descole groaned and turned his head away.

Enemy or otherwise... he was still their son. Their pride and joy - Rachel's pride and joy.

All but the two victims watched with anxious eyes as Bronev turned the keystone in his hand. Layton could see now that calling him father was not in jest - the two men were similar; in more ways than one.

This, the Ambrosian Kingdom, the Garden of Healing - in a way, both of his sons had helped Targent get this far.

Amidst the quiet, Emmy cried out. "Uncle Leon, please you-!"

"Silence!" He snapped back. He had to do this. It was the only way to fulfil Rachel's dream, she would be so glad to know that her sons had both been part of it and-

Bronev raised his arm triumphantly, key in hand. As he did, the great doorway into the unknown opened.

"Come, girl! You will help us solve the final puzzle." He looked over to Emmy sternly before grabbing Aurora and walking her through the doorway. The other Targent members followed. "Don't think that you're going to get away with doing nothing either."

Alex looked as if she was about to retort, but she too followed along.

How can this be happening? Emmy thought. Layton was supposed to stop uncle Leon before anything bad happened!

Luke, who had tried to stop Aurora from being taken and was still in shock. The boy hadn't the energy to even bother resisting when Emmy lifted him up to take him with her.

Layton immediately moved forward.

"I'll leave him higher up, professor." Emmy said. She looked aside, blinking away the dampness in her eyes. "He will be safe from... this."

As Emmy and Luke disappeared through the gateway, Layton walked over to where Descole lay. From the occational sounds the man made, he could tell that he was still conscious.

"...I dont understand." He said, kneeling down.

Descole appeared to perk up slightly - if that was even possible in his position.

"Your aim was to unlock the legacy, but... you know what would happen if you did." Layton squinted his eyes, waiting for any sort of response. Descole was still breathing - barely - but more blood was seeping out from where he had tried to apply pressure to his wound.

There was not much that he could do to help. Perhaps leaving would be the best option... Layton thought. As he did-

"I didn't care."

Layton's eyes widened.

"I still don't care... what will happen." He said, "Look at me - I'm dead either way." His arm slipped off his body slowly and the edge of his cape pulled with it his mask. Layton could see the pained expression on his face for a short moment before the man's arm lurched immidiately to attempt to pull it back. Instead of doing so, Descole felt hand placed calmly on his arm.

Why..? He thought. He couldn't let Layton see him like this. He could only be Professor Sycamore or the faceless man named Descole - not both... at the same time. Why can't he just leave me die here alone? As I should do.

Layton looked at the other man carefully. What was there left to say to your dying enemy? "I-" Descole's expression remained vacant, but he continued. "I didn't realise Bronev was your-"

"Listen! Layton."

Descole's outburst took Layton aback.

"...There's something... important... that I need to tell you."


So you know how I said there would be about 25 chapters? And then on chapter 25 I said there would be two more? Well, let's just say we're now looking at about 30.