Professor Layton and the Living Dead
Chapter 5: Family Reunion
Layton, Flora and Scarlett said their good byes to the Alister Family and drove back to Gressenheller university to discuss the next steps. Scarlett was looking at the picture of the man she had gotten from her mother, running her fingers over the face. She knew the face, but somehow she hadn't had a name for it. Layton looked at it for a second before chuckling.
"That's a pretty picture. Do you know who he is?", Layton wondered. Scarlett shook her head.
"I think, I knew him, and we had a connection, but I don't recall his name or what connection we have. I don't even recall his name.", Scarlett stated honestly. Flora chimed up, saying that it was Scarlett's boyfriend.
"I see.", Layton said and fell silent. The trio arrive at Gressenheller and made their way to Layton's office. A few students greeted the professor as they walked by. Flora, Scarlett and Layton walked into his office and started figuring out what to do next.
"You seem to know the man on this photo, Professor. Please tell me who he is.", Scarlett requesed.
"Well, it is a bit complicated. That man is Desmond Sycamore, an archaeologist and also my brother. I haven't seen him in years.", Layton stated. Flora, as optimistic as ever, suggested that they should visit him and sk for help.
"That is easier said than done, Flora, my dear. He hasn't been Professor Sycamore for a long time. The name he now goes by is Jean Descole.", Layton explained. He looked a bit worried, not knowing where he would find Descole concerned him, but Flora had a point. He would need his help to unlock the memories of Scarlett.
"Well, from what I know about him, he most likely lives in a castle some way away.", Layton thought out loud to himself. Suddenly, he got an idea.
"Get everything we need, we will be finding his residence.", Layton said, causing the two women to be a bit confused but oblige.
"Where are we going, Professor?", Flora asked, as they sat back in the Laytonmobile, driving through the British country side.
"Well, we are going to visit Descole of course.", Layton replied. Flora and Scarlett looked at him confused. Did he know where to go?
"So you know where he lives?", Scarlett asked, getting a nod from Layton.
"Have you really figured it out, Professor?", Flora sounded excited. Layton adjusted his hat with a smile. It had taken a moment for him to figure it out, but he had found some clues to where he could have been hiding all this time.
"I have found an article about a castle in the British countryside for sale. From what I know of Descole, he likes theatrics. Also I knew that if he were to purchase something like that, he would like to stay anonymous. If my intuition serves me right, then we will meet him in the castle.", Layton explained as they drove through London and the countryside.
"Can you tell me more about him? You seem to know a lot about him.", Flora asked.
"I'll tell you once we are there.", Layton replied. Scarlett kept quietly looking out the window. She was thinking about that 'Jean Descole'. Who was he? And how did Professor Layton know him?
"You have a brother?", Scarlett was surprised. He sighed and nodded.
"I haven't seen him in years. I wish I could talk to him again.", he replied. Scarlett pulled him into a hug.
"Is that why you want to call a son 'Theodore'?", she asked. Theodore was a nice name, a name that sounded very smart, a name that would be honourable to have for his son.
"Yes. If I can't be there for my brother, I at least want to be there for my son.", he said, sounding excited about the prospect of one day having a son.
"If we ever have a son, I would be honoured to call him by the name of your brother.", Scarlett said, placing a hand on his cheek. He smiled at her and leaned into her touch.
Layton, Flora and Scarlett arrived at a small agricultural town, a castle in the distance was seen.
"Oh, this town reminds me of Dropstone, Professor.", Flora stated, tugging at Layton's jacket.
"Indeed Flora.", Layton agreed. Scarlett was confused s to what they were talking about, but she was happy for them regardless. The trio made their way to the castle, talking to some of the locals.
"The man in the castle? Nobody has really seen him. Only his butler visits town.", a woman stated. Layton thanked the woman and they walked up to the castle entrance.
As they entered, the main hall was spotless. Everywhere were nice artefacts and paintings hung on the wall. The paintings seemed relatively new, and they all shared one feature: a red haired woman, just like Scarlett was. While Flora stayed near Layton, Scarlett couldn't help it, but walk up to one of the paintings.
"Please do not touch the art, Miss Scarlett. We wouldn't want to ruin the paintings, now.", Layton reminded her as he himself started looking around. Scarlett replied with a simple 'okay', before just staring at the painting. Looking at the painting, something seemed very familiar about the woman in the painting. Before she could reach out to the artwork, footsteps caught her attention.
"Welcome to my castle, Professor.", a man said, dramatically throwing his arms to the side, causing his cape to flow.
"It's been quite a while, Descole.", Layton stated, tipping his hat. Scarlett was curious, she walked over to the man as if nothing else mattered and reached out to touch his mask. Before Layton could tell her not to, Descole grabbed her arm.
"I can't let you do this, my dear.", Descole let go of her arm and walked over to Layton, who noticed that he looked mad.
"Is this a cruel joke you are trying to play on me, Layton?", Descole whispered to Layton through his teeth.
"This is a matter that I require your help with, Descole.", Layton replied. Descole looked at Scarlett, who seemed to try to figure out what she did wrong, before turning his attention back to Layton and Flora, who he seemed to notice just now.
"You have a new assistant. What happened to the other brat?", he asked. Flora felt offended by being called a brat and she let him know.
"Luke went to America, and I am not a brat. My name is Flora.", she stated. Descole smiled as the words of Layton set in.
"So, Professor Hershel Layton needs the help of Jean Descole in this mystery? That's quite interesting. Well, Raymond, please prepare rooms for our guests.", Descole stated and walked back up the stairs he had gotten down from. Raymond, his butler, bowed to him.
"It is very nice of Descole to provide rooms for us.", Flora said. "Can I share a room with you, Professor?"
"I am afraid, that's not possible, young Miss Flora.", Raymond stated, as he showed everyone their rooms. As they walked through the hallways, there were more of the paintings of the red haired woman. What was the significance of this woman? And why was this woman the only subject of the portraits? Layton would ask Descole about it, once they were alone and could talk like they had when Descole was Desmond Sycamore and they searched for the Azran Legacy. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he had missed him.