Luke Triton and the Great Farewell –Finale—

"Are you sure about this, Luke?" The professor looked down at the boy, concerned.

"I am certain." Luke nodded, steeling himself.

"We could always wait for a later time, if you wish to deliberate a while longer…"

"No, professor. It has to be now."

"I see. Well…is there any sort of…ceremony…you'd like?"

"No. It's fine like this." Luke sighed. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"Here's to not being arrested."

"Wait—arrested?"

"Cheers." Luke tossed the match into the stream of gasoline.

"You never said anything about getting arrested, Luke. Are you sure this is safe?"

"Oh, yes." Luke nodded. "I worked out all the calculations ages ago. The fire won't touch the other houses, I made sure of that. It's confined to this property." He paused. "I suggest we move back a bit, however."

"Quite right, my boy." The professor adjusted his hat nervously. "Did you double check the—"

"My calculations are always accurate, professor." Luke smiled. "As you always say, 'every puzzle has an answer'."

"Are you really sure this is what you want? It seems rather…excessive."

"I own the property now. It is my decision to do with it what I will." He chuckled. "I opted for a fresh start."

"Is this legal? You mentioned getting arrested."

"I'm sure it's fine, as long as we don't try to cash in on the insurance." Luke shrugged.

"You didn't even check into it?" Layton stared wildly at his student, who merely smiled innocently back at him. "Goodness, Luke. You'll be the end of me."

"We'll see about that," Luke replied. "I'm afraid you still have quite a few years left with me first, however."

They watched the flames curl around the house, devouring the empty building. Long after the last embers had burned out, they stood at the now vacant lot.

"Content?" Layton asked, brushing stray ashes from his clothes.

"Very." Luke regarded the charred remains with deep satisfaction. "A very fitting end to this place, I believe."

"You could have just sold the property."

"No, it had to be like this. Now I just have to burn down the boarding school and—"

"Luke! I tolerated your destruction when it was your own house, but really…! Arson has its limits!"

"It was a joke, professor."

Layton groaned. "It's been so long, I had forgotten you were a master of deadpan humour."

"I'm pretty certain that in the past, it wasn't intentional humour," Luke replied. "I was a child, after all…"

"Even so. It will take me a while to differentiate between the two. Give me a month."

"I suppose I will have to work harder, then." Luke tapped his lip thoughtfully, mimicking the professor's thinking stance. "It would be a shame to allow you such an easy victory…"

"How cruel. You've become quite the sadist."

Luke grinned. "You have no idea, professor."

"I sincerely hope that was another joke."

"See? You're already catching on. I will have to try harder."

"I look forward to it, my boy."

"As do I, professor."

It was the end of an era of suffering…

…and the beginning of a new era of adventure.