A/N: THERE WILL BE A NEW PROFESSOR LAYTON GAME! I REPEAT, A NEW PROFESSOR LAYTON GAME! It'll be called Lady Layton.
I am so friggin' excited. I've basically written fanfiction for it… heh.
So… yeah. Sorry for vanishing off the face of the earth for a week? Week and a half? However long it was. Here we go!
…
Chapter Six: Regroup
I finally found somewhere to set up camp. Carefully setting Eric down, I pulled out the camping gear we had bought: A small, two-man tent, and a fire starter. The tent was easy enough to set up, and I quickly collected firewood, making a small fire to keep us warm and cook food.
I then turned to Eric.
"Well, let's see those ribs," I said, helping him sit up and pull his shirt off.
His right side was purple with deep bruising. I winced at how painful it looked, before focusing on his back. There were a few bruises, but after running my fingers along his spine, I realized the bruises was the extent of his back injuries. I checked a few other places first, before returning to his right side.
"Tell me when it hurts," I said. He nodded, and I carefully placed my hands on his side, gently running them over his ribs. The third one from the top was swollen, the skin hot to the touch. He hissed in pain as soon as my hand ran over it.
"There," he grunted. I nodded.
"Okay," I said softly, quickly checking everywhere else. Thankfully, it was just the one. I carefully felt the rib again, making sure nothing shifted to my touch, muttering apologies each time he made a painful noise.
"Just cracked," I sighed in relief, pulling my hands away and opening the first aid kit I had pulled from my bag. "Here, I have a disposable ice pack." I squeezed it until the chemicals inside activaed, and shook it. As soon as it started to feel cold in my hands, I gently laid it on his side, using a bandage to loosely tie it in place. I then pushed his bangs out of his eyes.
"How you feeling?" I asked.
"Still hurts…" he admitted in a low voice. "Especially to breath…" I nodded, pulling a bottle of ibuprofen from my bag.
"Pain killers. You need rest, and these will help," I explained at his questioning look. He let out a shallow sigh, but took the two pills I handed him, washing them down with a swig from our canteen. I carefully helped him lay back down and watched as the painkillers took effect, and he fell asleep.
A worried sigh escaped me as I pushed his bangs out of his eyes again, kissing his forehead. I knew, under normal circumstances, it would take about six weeks for him to heal.
We didn't have six weeks.
Another sigh escaped me, and I curled up next to Eric, watching him sleep.
…
"Flora?" Eric mumbled groggily, cutting into my light sleep. I was instantly alert.
"Hm?"
"Have you… you've still studied the cities, haven't you? Even after we decided to stop…" he asked. Guilt stabbed at my chest.
"Wh-what would give you that idea?" I asked, a little too quickly. He let out a week chuckled.
"Your knowledge on them, when we first got here," he said. I noticed his voice was a little clearer then earlier. The pain killers must still be working then.
"Yes…" I admitted. He looked up at me.
"And? What are your theories?" he asked. I chuckled.
"Well, we know Bronze housed the Chalice of Youth, and Silver has the Staff of Wisdom," I started. He nodded, lacing his fingers with mine. I smiled warmly at him in the dim light of the dying fire and the moon. "That makes Bronze Youth, and Silver Wisdom."
"And Gold?" he asked.
"Power. Youth, Wisdom, and Power. Each represent three of the things many people chase, or fight over," I explained.
"There's money too," Eric reminded me.
"Well, all three represent that, what with buildings made out of precious metals," I countered, and we both chuckled. I then shook my head.
"The only thing I can think is that these cities were created by the Azran. They date back to at least then, and are very sophisticated. And if a powerful Azran artifact is in the City of Gold, well… we have to get to it before Hertz," I explained.
"There's just one issue with that theory," Eric said sleepily.
"What's that?" I asked, softening my voice.
"The ruins on the stele into the City of Bronze? They weren't Azran…" Eric's voice drifted as he fell asleep, but I was awake for a few hours later, thinking over everything I've learned about the Azran these cities.
Why… he's right!
…
A/N: Okay, so… short chapter. I'll go ahead and post chapter seven then, heh. I owe you all that much…
And disposable icepacks are a real thing. I have about three in my hiking first aid kit, just in case!