Chapter Text
“Professor, didn’t you happen to see a phone box near? I need to make a phone call”
“I’m not quite sure but Luke would know more about that than me.” The top-hatted man said, smiling at the kid.
“There’s one near the hotel. Do you need to call anyone, Emmy?”
“I need to talk to a friend I was supposed to see tomorrow. And since I’m here...”
“You can go back to London if you need” Layton was quickly cut off by her assistant
“And miss this out? No way! I’m your assistant, this is my job” She claimed
Layton smiled lightly “Alright”
Misthallery was quite a peculiar place. The whole specter affair made it seem even more bizarre. How could a small fairytale-like town hide a gigantic shade that destroyed whole buildings?
Shortly after arriving to the hotel, Emmy got into the phone box and dialed a number. It beeped for two times, then someone picked up.
“Hey, sorry for telling you so late but I can’t go tomorrow. I got that job I told you about and-”
“Really? That’s cool, congratulations!” The voice over the phone answered. “You’re working for that guy on the newspaper. Right?”
“It's not just a guy from the newspaper.” Emmy said, smiling softly “And thank you”
“I know I know…” She giggled “Professor Hershel Layton, Gressenheller college, you told me... So, where are you now?”
“Misthallery, a little town covered in mist. You’d love it.”
“It sounds really nice. What’s doing an archaeologist and her assistant in there though? Some neat fossils?”
“Well…” Emmy scratched her neck “There’s a big specter destroying the city so the mayor, who is a friend of the professor, asked him for help. Now we’re investigating with the mayor’s kid, Luke. Who can kind of predict where will it appear”
The voice snorted “You’re joking, right?”
“I am not. We’ll see it tonight.”
“What?! Emmy Altava I hope you’re being careful.”
“You know I always am.”
“Yeah, right” Emmy heard another voice on the background “I have to hang up now, my break is over. You’ll to tell me how did it go once you’re back, right? If you're telling the truth that is.” She said with a cunning tone in the last sentence.
“I’ll tell you over some food, deal? And I am not lying.”
“Right right, deal. Okay now I really have to hang up, my boss will get mad at me. Bye.”
Then a soft click and the conversation was over. Emmy sighed and hung up as well, it was her first day at her job and she still was trying to process what happened. “Better go back to the professor and Luke...” She said to herself.
It was one of that slow days when little to nothing occurs aside from the usual scheduled classes already finished a couple of hours ago. It was pouring heavily, the raindrops tapped against the windows glass, making a somehow rhythmic sound. On top of the table, two steaming cups of tea were fresh served. Alongside with a couple of biscuits Luke insisted to buy the day before.
A rainy afternoon with tea and biscuits what's better than that?
“It’s been raining the whole day, professor. Do think it’ll stop soon?”
“Well I can’t say for sure, my boy… But I hope it does. I know a young man that always gets his shoes and socks wet because he likes skipping puddles.”
“Hey! That was maybe one or two times.” Luke said, covering the bottom half of his face with his teacup.
“Well, Luke, a gentlem-”
“Excuse me-”
Both turned their gaze to the halfway open door to see a bulky figure holding a closed umbrella on her left hand. She recoiled a little, startled by the sudden eyes on her.
“I’m looking for Emmy Altava, she told me that she would be he-”
Her explanation was cut off by the aforementioned woman lightly slapping her back with a wide smile.
“Finally, you’re here! I thought you weren't coming” She said, resting an arm on her hip.
“The bus was slow today, It’s not my fault it’s raining so much. Where were you?”
“The professor sent me to pick up- Oh! Professor, Luke, this is a friend of mine, Alix” Emmy patted the woman’s shoulder. “I couldn’t hang out with her last time and...”
Luke quickly made the connection and jumped up, pointing at the woman “You’re the phone call girl!” He exclaimed.
Alix smiled at the nickname Luke gave her “And you’re the kiddo Emmy told me about! Luke, right?”
Emmy pushed Alix inside of the room “Don’t just stay here on the door, come in.”
“I don’t like inviting myself, you know…" She whispered "Anyways, I’m Alix”
When both women were inside the office, Alix noticed Layton, who didn’t say a word due to everyone talking, he didn’t want to be rude. He got up and offered a hand.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m Hershel Layton and I teach archaeology here, in Gressenheller.”
Alix accepted the handshake “The pleasure is mine. Emmy also told me about you, no worries, only good things.” She said with a wink
“Would you like joining us for tea?” The professor offered “We just made a fresh pot.”
“Oh! Of course, it’s pretty cold outside. I really appreciate it.”
They both sat down, Emmy first and Alix second. Luke quickly fetched two more teacups and served some tea for them. Once everything was set, Alix took a first tentative sip, smiling afterwards. Luke sat by her side, eyeing her.
“So...” He started “Where do you come from?”
Layton was about to scold him when Alix answered “Right now from my home. I couldn't just barge in here with my work uniform”
Emmy giggled a little, earning a disgruntled look from the young boy.
"Where do you work?" Layton asked, putting a hand on Luke's shoulder to calm him down.
"Oh, It's nothing big. I'm the cook in a small restaurant…"
"Don't sell yourself short, she's amazing, Professor" Emmy said, making Alix blush lightly.
"C'mon, it's not that… I mean…" She stuttered “Weren’t we going to talk about that specter thing, Emmy?”
Layton putted his teacup down on the table “Did you tell Alix about Misthallery?” He asked Emmy with his signature gentle smile “There’s no problem, of course.” He shifted his gaze to the other woman “But I would prefer if you don’t tell anyone about it, at least for a couple months, Alix.” He requested, still worried about Ariana Barde’s fragile health.
“Of course, my lips are sealed, I swear”
The man with the top hat seemed to relax slightly “Alright then, who would like to start the story?”