"Look how thick the door is," Desmond commented as they looked at the locked chapel doors. "That's no chapel. It's a prison. And though this is an ancient ceremony, I find it hard to believe there's an ancient connection to the Azran in this."

"This isn't the time to think about the Azran, professor!" Emmy snapped sharply, causing Desmond to actually flinch a little. "What about that poor bride?!"

"She's right," Elaine agreed. "We can't just pretend we didn't see this. She'll die if we don't intervene."

"I understand how you both feel," Desmond said calmly. "But we should first consider our options before doing anything rash."

"But Professor Syca-."

"Everyone!" Aurora snapped, sounding a little angry. It was a bit surprising since while Aurora certainly wasn't as quiet as Johanna tended to be, raising her voice wasn't really like her. "I sense it. I can sense the force of the aura stone!" Calming down, Aurora continued on. "I sense it coming inside the chapel doors."

"Does this mean…" Desmond trailed off as he glanced back to the chapel before Aurora spoke again.

"There is more. There is another force inside this chapel. Something more powerful than the aura stone."

"Something related to the Azran?" Emmy questioned. Desmond was shaking his head in disbelief and judging from the chapel structure, Elaine could understand why. The architecture was and material looked different from any other Azran structure Elaine had seen, so this chapel and the force Aurora sensed inside couldn't be connected. Could they?

But at least knowing that the stone was inside, there could be no argument to not go inside. Though that didn't make it any clearer as to how they would do that. Though, asking a few other people about the ceremony, one thing was clear.

They were firm believers in the Dragonlord and they were just some dim-witted tourists who didn't know any better.

"Oh, embarrassing, they are!" said a dark haired, plump woman they stopped in the village to talk to about Romilda and Julien. "How dare they act like that! Their antics always were a disgrace to the whole village. Appaling!"

'I somehow think you wouldn't like my perverted mother, then,' Elaine thought as Emmy frowned and asked,

"Do you really think so?"

"Well, of course I do!" the woman exclaimed. "Who wouldn't?!"

'My mother?'

"Don't you think it's more appalling that you're carrying on with these outrages ceremonies?" Emmy questioned. The woman frowned at first. It almost seemed like something was on her mind before she narrowed her eyes at Emmy.

"Sticking your nose into village business, are you?" she snapped. "Want to know all about our customs?"

"I assure you, madam, we're simply-."

"Planning to write a big article about us, I bet." She cut across as the Professor tried to reason with her. "I've seen you journalist types before, always sniffing around…"

"We're not sniffing around for anything!" Emmy argued. "We just want to find out more about the chapel so we can go and rescue Romilda!"

"Be quiet, will you?! We will not talk of such things! Who do you think you are, strolling in here, trying to change our way of life?!"

"Madam, please. We only wish to gain a better understanding of what took place here in the village today," Professor Layon told her. The woman looked to the Professor, eyeing him with judging eyes before giving a single nod.

"… All right, all right. You've got honest eyes. I'll tell you what's going on.

"Romilda and Julien were engaged to be married, you see. They'd been going out for years."

"Oh no…" Emmy was frowning but the woman went on.

"A lovely couple, they were. I'm sure they'd have been very happy together, if it weren't for this ceremony business. This village lives in fear of the Dragonlord, you see. That's why we make the sacrifices. I know…" She hesitated. "The very idea of it is awful."

"And, where would we find Julien now?" Elaine asked.

"You'll probably find him near his windmill. I warn you now, though, the poor boy will be nigh on inconsolable." Professor Layton nodded.

"Many thanks for your assistance, Miss…?"

"Beatrix. Now, you better move along." She started shooing them away. "People will get suspicious if they see me talking to you."

Looking at all the windmills, they finally found Julien's. The poor man was sitting on the steps of his home when they found him. Absent-mindedly petting his dog's head as he sat in self-pity. It wasn't exactly encouraging to see him acting like this. And even speaking to him showed he had already given up.

"Aside she cast me into a darkness deep. No greater, clearer sign can e'er she show, for me she holds no will, no need, no love." It wasn't very encouraging to hear him say this, but they had to try at least.

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Emmy asked in concern.

"Oh… Ohhh…" He lowered his head low. "Oh, woe is me!"

"Poor Julien has just endured a genuinely harrowing experience, Emmy," Professor Layton told Emmy. He clearly seemed to have an understanding of the man's pain. "I doubt we'll be able to reason with him right away."

More time was needed for him no doubt. Perhaps they might be luckier with him later on after gathering more information. But they had to return to the chapel first to try and see if perhaps there was any way to get Romilda out.

Back at the chapel, they found Sage Sheppard outside and he actually looked a little downhearted. When they asked him about his low spirits, he had admitted that despite his role as sage, he was still human and wept like any other. Of course, Elaine couldn't really allow herself to feel sympathy for him. Even if it was hard to see him look so guilty. Though he still claimed he never locked any bride up in the chapel and that they all went inside willingly. A bit of a hard concept to swallow but considering how most people felt about this Dragonlord, there was a slight possibility. Though Romilda hadn't looked too happy from what Elaine recalled.

"I have a horrible feeling that someone is watching us," Aurora said after they finished talking with Sage Sheppard.

"It's okay, Aurora," Emmy assured. "You've got nothing to worry about while I'm around!"

"We'll only arose further suspicion if we start to act rashly. Let's collect a bit more information, then go and talk to Julien."

Talking to several people, they did manage to gather some information of interest. Because of holes developing around the chapel, they had to be filled in. That would make one wonder if there was a possibility of there being a tunnel leading to inside the chapel. If so, it would be rather helpful for them all. There was also something to strength the people's belief of brides turning into wind though. Whenever Sage Sheppard would open the doors of the chapel, all that could be found would be their weddings dresses, along with shoes and veil.

The Professor was perhaps the most optimistic since he pointed out they shouldn't give up hope until talking with a, 'fine lady'.

"There you are!" Beatrix exclaimed when she saw them.

"Beatrix!"

"Shh!" she hissed. "Keep your voice down, will you? Just thought you should know I went to see her, that stubborn little minx."

"'Her'?" Elaine repeated in a slightly wary tone. "You… You're not talking about Romilda, are you?"

"Honestly, pipe down, will you? Of course Romilda! Who else would I be talking about?!"

"The brides escape from the chapel after the ceremony, don't they, madam?" Professor Layton asked, and Beatrix looked shocked.

"What? How did you know that?"

"Well, as soon as I heard the brides' clothes were left behind, I started to wonder," he began explaining. "I thought perhaps someone would be waiting with a change of clothes for the brides, allowing them to escape."

"Oh! It's you, isn't it, Beatrix!" Emmy guessed. "You're the one who helps them!" Beatrix gave a small sigh of defeat. There was no use denying fact.

"Women here have been doing it for generations. It's the perfect way to leave the village. The men have no idea." Elaine had to admit this little conspiracy was intelligent. She briefly wondered what other women other than Beatrix were in on it, but decided the case of Romilda was much more important.

Though, apparently there was trouble there. Apparently Romilda was being incredibly stubborn and had no intentions to leave the chapel. Regardless of what happened to her. The idea that she may have had such a strong belief was very concerning. It only sounded worse when Beatrix pointed out that none of the other girls previous to Romilda acted like this. They were able to convince Beatrix though to tell them the secret route to the chapel, intending to bring Julien with them in hopes he might convince her to leave.

Julien however…

"Julien, you've got to help us rescue Romilda! Come on!" Emmy told him when they reached his windmill.

"You're here again? I thought I made it clear that all such efforts will accomplish naught!"

He was still depressed.

"We have new information," Professor Layton spoke up. "There is a tunnel that will lead us straight into the chapel. Its entrance is on the other side of the forest."

"Oui! So this is your chance to rescue your fair Romilda!" Elaine spoke up in encouragement.

"What?!" He looked up sharply. "Fair Romilda… Yes!" His eyes lit up, as a love struck grin came to his face. "Beloved Romilda, rescue you, I WILL!"

Seeing his spirits heightened, it was quite a sight. Though personally, Elaine doubted she would have been able to put up with Julien as a romantic interest. Sweet and nice as he was, he was a bit overly romantic for her taste.

The cave entrance Beatrix had talked to them about had been hidden by plants that were easy enough to pass. However, further inside they found the way blocked by boulders.

"What in the world…?" Desmond muttered.

"Alas, our trail is blocked by boulders great!" bemoaned Julien.

"I suppose the years must 'ave taken their toll and it collapsed after Beatrix came 'ere," Elaine guessed as she looked at all of the boulders. "We should probably start trying to get as much as we can out of the way."

"Let's get started then," Emmy agreed, just before Julien held up the spade he brought with him.

"Stand back, fair maids! I shall take care of this! With spade in hand, I'll clear the path of rocks!"

Elaine hadn't really expected him to be able to accomplish it, but he actually did. Though it did tire him out.

"Phew," he blew breath. "Moving boulders is no easy task…" He trailed off when faint sniffling could be heard. Or at least, the echoes of sniffling. The sounds of apologises towards Julien already identified the person as Romilda, and Julien seemed to forget about the tiredness he had been under.

"Sweet joy, 'tis true! Romilda, she still breathes!" He had already rushed ahead of them, leaving the others to chase behind into the chapel chamber.

The chamber itself was… surprising, to put it lightly. There were fans blowing at various speeds around the dome structure, propelling wind and from their design, undoubtedly of Azran origin. They must have been the cause of the strong, sudden winds here in Hoogland. At least, that was Elaine's theory.

"This is indeed an Azran construction. There's no doubt about it," Desmond said as he looked at the fans with observing eyes.

"Who'd have have thought there'd be something like this all the way down here?" Emmy wondered aloud. Julien however was still focused on only one person. The bride in white who stood near an alter that had small dragon head statue on it.

"Ohhh, Romilda!" Julien almost sounded like he was going to swoon as he ran towards his love. Romilda looked completely shocked to see him and questioned,

"Julien! What are you doing here?"

"Julien's come to rescue you, Romilda," Emmy explained hapilly.

"No!" She shuck her head swiftly. "You can't be here! You've got to go! I'm married to the Dragonlord now."

"Romilda, please," Elaine tried to reason. "We've come all this way to rescue you, let's 'urry and go!"

"I… I can't. I'm staying here."

Even with Julien's pleading and use of his common sense, Romilda refused to leave. Not because of a belief of this Dragonlord being happy with human offerings. But because she purposely intended to die here so that when they found her body, they would end this custom once and for all.

She… She was brave, Elaine had to give her that. Elaine probably would have taken the first chance out of here if she had one. Hell, if this was where she had first met Desmond as Descole and he kidnapped from here, she would have considered that to be the better fortune.

Thinking on this, Elaine almost didn't notice Julien attempt to destroy the dragon idol, only for the circle beneath it to start glowing in a familiar colour Elaine remembered from the dome where Aurora had formally introduced herself, before his spade flew up to a matching circle on the ceiling like it had been attracted by a magnet.

"What in the world…?"

"That symbol must be to drive away anyone who would try to 'arm the Azran," Elaine said as she looked up the circle in wonder. She would have to try and translate the ruins on it at some point if she could get Emmy to take a picture of it. "Plus it probably keeps them to show their efforts will be in vain."

"It all makes sense know," Professor Layton said as he looked around. "This alter, these ruins." The Professor approached the alter. Elaine and Desmond had already realised that the alter was some sort of switched controlling the fans and that at some point something happened to it to cause all of these strong winds.

The Professor managed to solve the puzzle of it quickly enough, though there had been a brief flash of light. When the light subsided, the fans could all be seen to be at the same, slow and peaceful speed. Harmony was restored as Aurora said, before taking the Azran egg that had been hidden inside the dragon head's now open mouth.

It led to a rather amusing thought between Romilda and Julien that the young girl was a messenger of the Dragonlord. But they were half right at least.