The next day, Cecilia headed down to backstage to get ready for dress rehearsal.

All of her excitement for this has been ruined, because of what happened yesterday with that dreadful old man.

"Hey Cece!" a voice calls out.

Cecilia looks around to see Tilly. She's a small muscular woman, brown eyes. Long strawberry blonde hair, pulled back in a messy bun. and wears a t-shirt, jeans, and trainers.

"Hi Tilly", Cecilia greeted, "how's life?"

Tilly grinned at her, "Oh ye know, same as always", she said while patting her on the shoulder, "and want about you?"

"Oh, you know same as always", Cecilia said.

Tilly wraps her arm around Cecilia's neck, "Ye know, I and the others notice that you've been acting off as of late. Is everything ok?"

Cecilia nodded, "Yeah, everything is ok".

"Ye sure?" she asked, "if someone needs a good beating, I can help ye out!"

Cecilia shook her head, "No, but thanks for the offer".

Tilly laughed, "Alright lassie", she said while unwrapping her arm off her neck, "but you know my offer is always on the table!"

Cecilia chuckled, "I figure that much".

Tilly gives a quick wave and walks off.

"Hey, Cecilia!" a familiar voice call.

She looks up and sees Elias in front of her. He's a tall lanky fella, big round gray eyes, medium length messy wavy black hair. Wears a pair of loose overalls that barely fit his lanky frame and long sleeves shirt under the overalls.

Cecilia smiled warmly at him, "Hello Elias," she sweetly said, "how are you?"

"Doing good!" he said with a big grin, "I came here to tell you something, but I forgot! Give me a moment to remember."

Cecilia giggles, "It's ok, take your time".

Elias is in deep thought for about a few seconds, then he snapped his fingers, "Ah, I remember now! There a visitor for you!"

Cecilia perks up, "Oh? Who is it?"

"Professor Layton", he said, "don't know why he'd ask for you."

Cecilia internally panics, "Can you tell him I'm busy?"

Elias tilted his head, "Why? We're not busy. The costume designers won't come in a couple of hours".

Cecilia fidgeted with her necklace, "Just…" Cecilia thought for a moment, "tell him I'm out or something"

Elias messed with his hair, "Alright, I'll do it", he said, "I don't know why you don't want to talk to him, but I'll do it for you".

Cecilia smiled, "Thank you Elias", she said.

Cecilia walked to the exit, hoping nobody notices. She goes and sits under her usual tree.

'Hopefully, he won't look for me here', Cecilia though to herself.

Cecilia takes a book from her bag and starts reading.

In traced in her book, she didn't hear the footsteps coming towards her.

"Excuse me", a calm soothing voice rings out, "are you Miss Cecilia Deadmen?"

Cecilia signed and closed the book, "Unfortunately", she said, "and you must Professor Layton I presume?"

"You presume right", he said, "may I sit next to you?"

Cecilia shrugs. "Might as well", she said.

Professor Layton sits next to her under the tree. Cecilia doesn't look him in the eye.

"I come to talk to you about- "

Cecilia cuts him off, "If you come here to convict me to switch subject I swear I will throw myself off the London Bridge!"

Professor Layton went silence for a moment, "No, that wasn't what I intend to say".

"Then what do you intend to say Professor Layton?" she asked.

"I come to say two things", he said, "First, I want to apologize for what those professors did to you."

Cecilia finally looks at him confused, "Wait, what?" she said, "why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything!"

"That's what I'm apologizing you about", he said, "It didn't come to my attention until yesterday that some of my fellow colleagues were doing this to a student. I apologize for not noticing such horrid behavior from the professors."

Cecilia looks at him bewilder on what he said, "Um…apology accepted, I guess?" she said, "what the second thing you want to tell me?"

Professor Layton smiled at her, "I want to tell you a story about one of my former students", he said, "her name is Janice Quatlane".

Cecilia looks surprised, "Wait, are we talking about Janice Quatlane the famous opera singer? She was one of your former students?"

Professor Layton nods, "That's correct", he said.

Now her curiosity got the best of her. "Why was she in your archeology class?"

"Her parent are well-known archeologists, and pushed her to go into archeology," he said.

"Oh", she said, "so, how did she get out of your class?"

"Her low grade and she didn't seem interested in learning anything", he said, "So, I pull her aside one day and asked her about her lack of motivation in my class. She told me that she was never was interested in this subject and she wanted to pursue music. So, I pulled some strings and got her into some music courses. Janice was a lot happier and more motivated than she ever was in my class."

"This is a nice story and all, but why are you telling me this?" she asks.

Professor Layton smiled, "The lesson in the story is it doesn't matter what others tell you what you should do and what not to do. You should follow your own path, even if it doesn't work out, you can always go a different path."

Cecilia thought for a moment, "Yeah your right Professor", she said, "thank you. I really need that".

"You're welcome", he said.

Professor Layton got up from the ground, he extends his hand to her to help her up. Cecilia took his hand and was pull up from the ground.

"I better get back to the others", she said, "or they'll send a search party for me".

Professor Layton chuckled, "Perhaps you should".

Cecilia was about to head back, but a question crosses her mind that she had to ask. "How did you know about the harassments?"

"Flora told me". He said, "she was very distressed about you being treated as such, and didn't know what to do".

Cecilia tilted her head. "How do you know Flora?" she asks.

"I'm her legal guardian", he said.

"Oh", she said, "can you give her my thanks?"

"Perhaps you can give her your thanks yourself?" he said

"Perhaps I should", she said, "Hope we meet again in better circumstances Professor."

Professor Layton chuckled, "As do I Cecilia".

Cecilia gave him a quick smile, before running back to where she belongs.

*0*

Dress rehearsal ends with some hiccups, but other than it's was a success overall.

Cecilia got out of her costume and waits backstage for Flora.

A few minutes later, Flora comes in. "Hi, Cecilia!", she said.

"Hi, Flora!" Cecilia said.

"You were really great out there!" Flora gleefully said, "and the dress looks so beautiful on you. It brings out your eye color".

Cecilia laughs nervously "Thanks," she said, "so, I met with an interesting person today".

Flora tilts her head, "Oh? Who was it?"

"Professor Layton", she said, "your legal guardian".

"Oh", Flora said, "What did he say?"

"He was going to take care of the harassment problem and he gave me some good advice,", Cecilia said.

She smiled, "That's good!"

Cecilia rummaged through her bag "I want to show you my thanks!"

Flora waved her hand in dismissal, "Oh no, you don't have to do that!"

Cecilia pulls out a little deer plushie from her bag. The deer was mostly white with brown spots all over its body, little black button eyes. On top of the head of the deer had a brown and white swirl on top of her head that's remising of Flora's cinnamon bun-like hair. On the back of the deer's head is a red bow similar to her own.

Cecilia handed Flora the little deer, "This is for you!"

Flora took the deer, "Awwww", she said in awe, "it's so cute!

"It's a Piebald deer", she said, "because you reminded me of a piebald deer".

Flora tilts her head, "Why?"

Cecilia smiled, "Piebald are rare in the wild", she said, "and you're a rare person to find in this world."

Flora hugged the little deer, "Thank you! I'll treasure it!"

Cecilia beamed, "You're welcome!" she said, "want to wander around campus for a while?"

Flora nodded, "Sure!

Both of the girls headed out to the back door, and to a clear sunny day.

"So", Flora said, "if I remind you of a Piebald Deer, what does the Professor remind you of?"

Cecilia pause for a moment, "A European Badger".

Flora giggled, "A badger?" she said through her giggles.

"A European Badger", Cecilia corrected, "I have my reasons for that".

"Do tell", Flora said.

"Well", Cecilia said, "ok here are the reasons…."

Cecilia goes into a long explanation why the Professor reminds her of European Badger while Flora listened eagerly to Cecilia's every word. They wander around campus with no destination in mind.

Fin