[Puzzle 004]

[hisapprentice]

[A dejected little boy young gentleman in blue sits in the library today at a table, journal open off to the side. In front of him is a book with a red cover, full of intermediate-level puzzles and riddles. There's a piece of paper beside it, on which he solves most of them - if they require paper.

There are a few interesting ones copied down into the journal, for reference later.

YYHLYEYT?
6L=12 6S=18 6LS=?
Meanwhile...

After a while, Luke sighs in a most ungentlemanly way.]

I wish I knew why this book feels so important. [the sound of ruffling pages] Maybe if Professor Layton were here he-

[Luke cuts himself off almost sharply, closing the puzzle book and doodling a few little pictures of fish and mice instead. One of the little mice wears a tall top hat.]

I wish I could go home.

Comments

written;

[hisapprentice]

I did one already, you know. One I made up all on my own!

written;

[endgames]

The thing with the shapes, right? That was a good one.

written;

[hisapprentice]

You saw it? Why didn't you solve it, too?

written;

[endgames]

I did. [He just didn't say as much over the network, at the time.] It was B. I got to it late, though, so I just did it on my own time.

[...semi-true. There were other draining things going on for him that day, so really he just wasn't on the journals much.]

written;

[hisapprentice]

You even remember the letter! I guess you did solve it.

...Do you know any?

written;

[endgames]

Puzzles? Sure. I can give you one to solve, if you want. It sounds like a good trade.

written;

[hisapprentice]

Really? Great! I'm ready.

written;

[endgames]

3 7 10 11 12

What do these numbers have in common?

written;

[hisapprentice]

[Ooh numbers! Luke turns to a new page and starts writing things down, frowning to concentrate.]

written;

[endgames]

[Shikamaru checks back in on the journal every now and then to check his progress, grinning when Luke starts writing the numbers out as words instead. He's on the right track.]

Figured it out?

written; 1/2

[hisapprentice]

three seven ten eleven twelve

written;

[hisapprentice]

That's an awful lot of letter Es!

written;

[endgames]

You're good at this. Maybe I should've given you something tougher.

written;

[hisapprentice]

[The sheer amount of puzzles he has solved might break your brain, Shikamaru.]

Thanks! I've had a lot of practice.

written;

[endgames]

[It'd certainly leave him envious. Throw in a shogi board and some clouds to watch, and it's like how he always pictured retirement at 30 would be.]

I'd say so. Hobby?

written;

[hisapprentice]

[R-Retired at thirty...

The handwriting here is a little slow.]

Professor Layton is an expert at puzzles and a true gentleman, and I'm his apprentice.

written;

[endgames]

[He's since learned thirty isn't really that old, even for ninja. Getting past the age of twelve probably helped.]

...you're going to solve puzzles for a living when you grow up?

[Oh and some stuff about being a gentleman, too. That's kind of funny, actually - it's reflected in the great care he took with his words there.]

written;

[hisapprentice]

No, probably not. Just for fun! ...I'm learning from him how to be a gentleman, really.

[And puzzles. And adventure.]

He doesn't solve puzzles for a living either. He's a professor of archaeology.

written;

[endgames]

[Aww. Not as cool as puzzles.]

Huh. That's neat too, I guess. [There's a pause, and then he continues.] He's that Layton guy you mentioned?

written;

[hisapprentice]

[Luke doesn't think so either. Layton's kind of a nerd about archaeology.]

That's right.

Are you stalling for more time to solve my puzzle?

written;

[endgames]

[He was mostly just curious, but he can recognize the subject change.]

Hey, I said I wouldn't spoil it.