Professor Layton and the Living Dead
Chapter 4: The man in the shadows
"Let's go home Raymond. I have all the information I was looking for.", he said, sitting down in the back seat of the car. He had watched Layton for a while now, but something seemed off about the red-haired woman that was with him.
"Of course, master.", an old man said as he started to drive off. It was silent for a bit, before the older man spoke again.
"Something seems to be concerning you. Mind telling old Raymond?", Raymond asked, earning a grumble from the man in the back seat, who was clearly quite agitated.
"It doesn't make sense! It just doesn't add up at all! I have gone through every scenario in my head after that incident, and I came to the conclusion that no matter what, she would be gone!", the man huffed.
"I see. Sometimes, even the greatest minds are wrong.", Raymond tried to reassure him, without much luck it seems. The other man punched the window with the side of his fist.
"I do not make mistakes! Not about things that concern…..her….", The man's voice softened, it sounded almost melancholic.
"Everyone makes mistakes once in a while, master. There is no shame in that.", Raymond said, as calm as ever. "We just have to keep an eye on her, Descole"
Descole growled slightly. Raymond was right, they would just have to keep an eye on the situation.
'Maybe she is who we think it is, Jean.'
"Shut up.", Descole held his head. Why did he have to chime up now?
"Are you alright, Sir?", Raymond had a concerned tone of voice. Descole nodded. The car fell silent as Descole fell asleep.
As they arrived back home, Descole went to his bedroom immediately.
'You can't keep ignoring me, Jean!', the voice he had heard in the car was heard again. His head turned to the mirror in the corner of his room. It wasn't the masked man himself staring back. The man in the reflection was a well dressed gentleman, with slightly curly hair, a pair of glasses and a nice two rowed suit. Descole scoffed at him.
"What do you want, Sycamore?", Descole hissed at his reflection. The man in the mirror adjusted his glasses and sighed.
"I just want to talk, Jean. You can't keep pretending that I don't exist.", Sycamore said. Descole knew that Sycamore was right. Descole only existed because Sycamore created him, but he was his own peron and Sycamore had died the day he lost his family a second time.
"Well, I don't, so please leave me be, will you?", Descole growled.
"What if the woman that is with Layton is Scarlett?", Sycamore asked, making Descole stop in his tracks and look at the mirror again.
"It's impossible. But then again, Targent would be cruel enough to keep her alive to torture us.", Descole admitted.
"So what if it is possible? What if she is our Scarlett? What if…..what if she could love us again?", Sycamore looked to the ground, his voice soft as he rubbed his arm. Descole sighed as he sat down at his desk.
"She could never love us again, not if she knew what we have done.", Descole said.
"We never killed anybody.", Sycamore stated. He was right. Despite all the cruel things that Descole did, he never once took a life, at least, not that he knew off. Scarlett was a nurse, her father a medical doctor, a neurologist to be specific, they had made the Hippocratic oath. Scarlett had been adamant that he also was kind and helped those in need, and he did. Descole helped Whistler preserving the memories of his daughter, even if his main goal was rediscovering Ambrosia. Thinking about the "Eternal Kingdom", Descole picked up his pocket watch.
"You still have it?", Sycamore asked, a bit astounded.
"I promised to keep it safe. It is very precious to me.", Descole replied. As he opened it he ran his fingers over the word that was engraved in the lid: "Ambrosia"
"Have you ever heard of the Legend of the Eternal Kingdom of Ambrosia?", he asked. A woman with red hair looked at him in curiosity.
"The eternal Kingdom?", she wondered. He smiled at her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Yes, Scarlett. The eternal kingdom.", he answered. Scarlett shook her head and asked for him to tell her.
"There was a kingdom, ruled by a beautiful queen, who loved music. The people of Ambrosia loved their queen a lot and they lived in harmony. One day, the queen fell ill, and her people were devastated. They tried everything to find a cure, but it was too late. Before they could finish the cure, the elixir of eternal life, the queen passed. In their mourning, the people of Ambrosia drank the elixir themselves, vowing to sleep until their beloved queen would return.", he explained. Scarlett looked at him with wonder.
"If I ever find the elixir of eternal life,", he said. "I will share it with you."
"Why is that?", Scarlett was slightly confused. He smiled and looked at her with admiration in his eyes. He leaned towards her, placing a hand on her cheek.
"Because I want to be with you forever.", he said, giving her a small kiss, causing her to blush.
Descole's thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on his door.
"Come in.", he called out. The door opened and Raymond entered the room.
"I am truly sorry if I have disturbed you master, but we have visitors.", Raymond stated.
"Well, it's impolite to leave guests waiting.", Descole said getting up from his desk and following Raymond to the main hall.
"It's kind of gloomy in here. It reminds me of the tower I used to live in in St. Mystere.", Flora stated. The trio looked around the main hall, noticing a lot of priceless art and beautiful artefacts. Scarlett stood in front of a painting depicting a woman with bright red hair. She felt so drawn to it. However, the sound of footsteps brought her attention back to the staircase at the far end of the room. She walked over to Layton, who was looking to the top of the staircase.
"welcome to my castle, Professor.", a man said, dramatically throwing his arms to the side, causing his cape to flow.
"It has been quite a while, Descole.", Layton stated, tipping his head. Scarlett was curious. She walked over to the man as if nothing else mattered and reached out to touch his mask. Descole grabbed her arm before she could even touch it.
"I can#t let you do this, my dear."he let go of her arm and walked over to Layton. Scarlett felt weird. The voice of the man was familiar, she knew it somehow, but she had no idea from where.
"Is this a cruel joke you are trying to play on me, Layton?", Descole whispered to Layton, who simply replied: "Descole, this is a matter I require your help with."
Descole looked at Scarlett, then back at Layton and Flora.
"The great Professor Hershel Layton needs the help of Jean Descole to solve a mystery? That's very interesting.", Descole scoffed, before turning to Flora.
"You have a new assistant. What happened to the other brat?", he asked.
"Luke went to America, and I am not a brat. My name is Flora.", Flora said. Descole just shrugged, turned around and walked back to his room, up the staircase, but not before giving Raymond instructions to give each of his guests a room to stay in.
"Why would you give us rooms, Descole?", Layton was curious.
"I may be cruel, Layton, but I am not a jerk.", Descole replied and with that, he was gone.
"I think I have met this man before….", Scarlett said softly, as if it was meant just for her to hear.