Chapter 1: The School Year Begins

"Harumph. Listen up, Children. Listen up."

Principal Devon rapped his ruler against the desk, as he coughed into a handkerchief. He was a rather short man, with a bristly mustache and thick rimmed glasses. His head was strangely shaped. Something similar to an upside down yam. At the very top of it was a small, ill-fitting toupee of light red hair.

Principal Devon took a sip of water from a glass on the table and rapped his ruler against the desk again. A paper aeroplane soared past his head, but the room went silent.

"This is Mr. Triton, your new english teacher."

As he spoke, he began to write Luke's name on the board in chalk. The screeching sound of the chalk caused Luke to wince and the students to cover their ears.

"Ahem. Yes. Now then, I trust you'll treat him well. Mr. Triton, do you have anything to say?"

Luke snapped out of his daydreams and laughed nervously. Principal Devon was clearly unimpressed by the way he scowled and adjusted his glasses. Thinking it wise to change the subject, Luke picked up his briefcase and made his way to the desk.

"Right. My name's Luke Triton and I'll be your english teacher this year. With any luck, we'll be able to get through the year without any trouble."

A rather pudgy boy with a thick mop of hair covering his eyes and a blue and white striped shirt instantly interjected.

" 'Ang on a tick! Wot was that name again?"

Luke was taken aback. Placing his briefcase on the desk, he adjusted his top-hat.

"Well, it's Luke Triton and I'm-"

"No way! No soddin' way. There's no way this is that same Luke Triton that solved all 'em mysteries with Professor Layton all them years back."

Luke quickly regained his composure. In fact, he even began to chuckle.

"Actually, that's exactly who I am. You're talking to Professor Layton's apprentice himself, Luke Triton!"

The room instantly exploded into excited murmurs and whispers. Could this really be THAT Luke Triton? But wasn't he kind of like a celebrity? After all, Professor Layton DID save the world all those times...

"Come off it. You're just an 'ack adult who thinks he's summat special. You're not the real deal."

Luke grinned and puffed out his chest in pride.

"Oh, really? And what if I still say I am?"

"Then I'll demand you show us sum proof! That's 'ow it works, right?"

"And just what kind of proof do you want, Mr..."

"Biff. And I've already got a way you can prove yourself!"

Biff began to excitedly jump up and down on his seat.

"I've been stumped on this puzzle 'ere all night! It's been driving me bonkers, it 'as! Only the real apprentice of Professor Layton could solve this doozy!"

- - - - - - - Puzzle 002: New Door- - - - - - -

The other day, my friend came up to me with a challenge that he had come up with while watching his house getting renovated. While they were putting in new bathroom doors, he was hist by a flash of inspiration. Straight away, he rushed over to me to see if he could complete his challenge. All I had to do was rearrange the letters of "New Door" into any order I like to make one word. It seemed simple enough, but I just couldn't do it. There's absolutely no way to make new door into one word!

Luke closes his eyes as he ponders the puzzle.

"Hmm... Maybe it's... this?"

Luke's eyes instantly snap open as he reaches the answer.

"Another puzzle solved!"

Luke Triton walked up to the chalkboard and, gently so he didn't destroy his ears, began writing out the letters " R" on it.

"This puzzles actually pretty easy once you figure out what it's asking you to do. After all, the puzzles not asking you to rearrange the letters so that it spells a single word."

Biff almost fell of his chair in surprise.

"Eh! What are you talking about!? Of course it is! It clearly said to rearrange the letters to spell out one word!"

"Exactly!"

Luke pointed at Biff, chalk still in hand. He was waiting for just this moment. Secretly, Luke had always wanted to pull off a dramatic point as he explained a riddle to someone. But with the professor always around he almost never got the chance.

"The riddle was asking us to spell out 'One Word'."

Underneath the previous letters, Luke began to write out a completely new set. "O.N.E. W.O.R.D". This time, Biff really did fall out of his chair.

"Argh! I can't believe I missed something that simple!"

Almost instantly, a cold chuckle could be heard. A young girl in a black dress and wearing a smirk on her face, stood up. She had straight black hair that framed her face and a rather pale skin colour. Underneath her eyes were slightly dark bags.

"Hm. That's because you're a fool, Biff."

"Eh! Like you can talk, Violetta!"

"Of course I can. Quite naturally, in fact. Mainly because of these wonderful little things called vocal chords."

Violetta took a little bow after her words.

"Mr. Triton. A very nice display, but Biff is rather simple. And, frankly, that riddle was only worth a mere 20 or so picarats. If you would, sir, allow me to be the real test of your claims."

The class, once again, gasped. It seemed the strange girl, Violetta, was challenging the new teacher. Luke hid his surprise. After all, a gentleman must remain calm at all times.

"The real test of my claims?"
"Exactly, Mr. Triton. For, you see, it has become rather tiresome and boring to put up with the lies of teachers who wish to seem interesting. Hence, I propose you put your money where your mouth is and face me in a, hm... Gentleman and Gentlewoman's duel."

"A... Duel?"

Luke tried to hide the fact he was nervous. Luckily, the top-hat hid the sweat on his brow. Thank you, Professor. Violetta merely smiled again.

"That is correct. This will be a hypothetical fight to the death between the two parties. Or, as it is sometimes more commonly claimed, a 'Puzzle Battle'."

Luke grinned. He'd seen the Professor pull this type of thing off heaps of times. As long as he stayed quick-witted, he should be fine.

"Alright, then. I accept your challenge."

Luke tipped his hat, as a gentleman should. Violetta merely giggled maliciously.

"Good, good. Let's see just how sharp that wit of yours is, Mr. Triton."

- - - Puzzle Battle: Violetta! - - -

"This challenge will take the form of a 'hypothetical obstacle course'. You'll make your way through a series of dungeons and if you can make it to the end, you'll win and survive my challenge. But if you don't, certain death awaits you. Now then... Let's begin."

Upon the chalkboard, Violetta draws a stick figure Luke before three chambers. In one is a bomb, the other a swordsman and in the final one a set of three lions.

- -DUNGEON ONE!- -

At the first dungeon you come across, three doors await you. Behind the first is a bomb that will explode once you enter the room. In the second, is a swordsmaster who is set to execute you. And behind the third is a whole gang of lions who haven't eaten for three weeks! Now then, make your choice. Which door do you want to go through?

Luke places his hand under his chin in thought.

"Maybe the answer is..."

Luke grins and points at Violetta.

"Now I have it!"

"It's simple. I'll go through the third door. After all, if a lion hasn't eaten for three days it probably isn't very... You know, alive."

Violetta looked shocked! She hadn't expected Luke to make it through that. For a second, she grimaced but soon composed herself.

"Very good, Mr. Triton. But I haven't finished my test yet."

As she speaks, she begins drawing two new doors branching off from the lion one. One has a picture of a snake on it, and the other has a picture of a dog on it.

- -DUNGEON TWO!- -

At the second dungeon, you approach two doors. One leads to a pack of ravenous wolves and the other to a swarm of angry rattlesnakes. Once again, make your choice.

Luke places his hand on his top-hat in thought.

"I should probably choose..."

Luke let's go and points at Violetta, once again.

"I think I've got it!"

"I'm supposed to go for the room with the wolves, aren't I?"

Violetta's smile seemed a tad forced as she questioned Luke.

"Are you sure? What makes you say that?"

Luke began to stroke his chin, as he figured a gentleman would.

"Well, it's obvious. Unlike the snakes, who are angry, the wolves are just hungry. So, all I have to do is give them some food and I should be able to get through the dungeon safely enough."

"OBJECTION!"

Violetta pointed at Luke and slammed her table. Luke was, naturally, startled. Partly because he wasn't expecting her interruption, but also because he didn't expect a 14 year old girl to be using legalese.

"Mr. Triton, just where exactly are you getting this food from!? There's no wolf pellets just lying around!"

Luke took a deep breath and regained his composure.

"Well, there's no wolf pellets but I could probably just feed them a few of the lion carcasses from the previous dungeon. Especially since those have bones which the wolves will be preoccupied chewing."

Personally, even though it was just hypothetical, Luke felt sorry for the lions. It was pretty cruel, and ungentlemanly, to just throw away their body like that. Still, the sour look Violetta made at that moment made him feel much better.

"Fine. You worked that one out. But there's still one dungeon left!"

This time, Violetta merely drew one door branching off from the wolf door. This one was marked with a question mark.

- - FINAL DUNGEON! - -

This is the last dungeon, behind this door lies the end of the game. However! It is unknown just what is behind this door. It could be demons, monsters, murderers, vicious animals... Just because behind this door lasts the end, doesn't mean you'll survive. So, do you choose to open the door which might just lead to your doom? Or will you stay safely in the final dungeon? Remember, the way to win this puzzle battle is to survive. So, make your choice. Open the door, or leave it shut?

Luke calmly thinks the choices through.

"There's only one possible answer I CAN choose..."

Luke let's go and points at Violetta with dramatic force.

"I've solved the final puzzle!"

steadfastly, Luke places his hands on his desk. With a grin, he answers the question.

"Isn't it obvious?"

With a (probably overly) dramatic point, Luke declares his answer.

"I open that door and charge right through!"

Shock ripples through the class, as Violetta's smirk twitches.

"Even knowing it could lead to certain death you charge through that door?!"

Luke shakes his head and calmly smiles.

"I'm afraid, I already know that behind that door isn't certain death. Remember what you said at the start of this? I believe it went something like: "

'This challenge will take the form of a 'hypothetical obstacle course'. You'll make your way through a series of dungeons and if you can make it to the end, you'll win and survive my challenge. But if you don't, certain death awaits you. Now then... Let's begin.'

Violetta gasped and stepped backwards, slightly.

"Ah! I said..."

"Right. You said that if I make it to the end, I'll win and survive. And just now your own puzzle stated that behind that final door lied the end. In other words, my survival was guaranteed the second I opened that door."

Luke lifted the top-hat, slightly, so his eyes could be better seen as he drove the final nail in.

"And, besides, if I stayed in that room I'd eventually end up like the lions. Starved to death!"

Violetta's arms swung backwards as she backpedalled right into her own desk and tripped onto the floor. The rest of the class erupted into a mad chorus of cheers and applause.

"Well, now. Wot did I say? This fella's the real deal."

"Oh, shut up, Biff."

Luke was grinning from ear to ear. It had been ages since he had felt like this. After his journey's with the Professor there was much less puzzle solving and mysteries. It was actually pretty dull. But now he was solving puzzles once again, and it felt so familiar and comfortable. Sadly, all good things come to an end. As Principal Devon's ruler hit the desk, the applause died down and the room went quiet.

"Harumph. Well, well. That was certainly an eventful lesson. Though, I'd rather you stick to the curriculum, Mr. Triton."

Luke rubbed the back of his head as his face turned slightly red.

"Well, sir, it's only the first class and all..."

"Quite alright. Yes, quite alright. A few puzzles could be good outside of class time, actually. I might even test you myself later. Ho ho..."

Principal Devon began to stroke his chin thoughtfully.

"In any case, class is now over. Mr. Triton will see you all tomorrow. Class dismissed."

With an awkward shuffle, Principal Devon made his way out of the classroom followed by a torrent of students. Luke, instead, sat at his new desk and put his feet up. Things were looking up for the Professor's apprentice.

"Hm? What's this?"

Among the crowd of students, someone had slipped a black and purple letter onto his desk.

"Mr. Triton,
I have something to speak to you about of the utmost importance. Please come find our detective club in room 2AB after class today. The fate of the entire school depends on it. Only the apprentice of The Legendary Professor Layton can help us in this time of need. So please come and find us. We need your help, as soon as possible.

~The Gressenheller High Detective Agency~"

As Luke looked over the strange and puzzling letter, a shadowy figure sneered from outside his classroom door. This was going to be the beginning of the most terrifying case to occur at Gressenheller High.

-Chapter 1: Finished-