✎ Puzzle 001

[vengefulyears]

[Action for Mac Anu]

[Hugging his grimoire to his chest, Clive wanders aimlessly about the unfamiliar city, taking in all the sights. Although he is rather overwhelmed by the unexpected change in location (and attire), he has to admit that this is a very beautiful city. He's never seen anything like it in his entire life.]

It beats being stuck in a prison cell, at least...

[He lets out a sigh and looks around for a bench to sit on; carrying this giant book around gets tiring really quickly. Once he's seated, he sets his grimoire down beside him and digs out a strange device from his pouch. Whatever it's supposed to be, he's rather impressed with the sleek design. Clive spends a few minutes just examining the object before he presses his index finger on the "Touch me!" message on the screen. To his surprise, the screen actually changes to show some sort of menu. It seems that touching the corresponding icons also takes him to different screens.]

What a fascinating little piece of technology. I never would have even imagined that it was possible to build such a device.

[Until he figures out what he should do next, Clive is perfectly content with just sitting here and messing around with the Relic. Touch screen technology hasn't been invented yet in his world, so he'll be entertained by it for quite a while. Anyone is free to bother him, of course.]

[Text]

[Once he discovers the public board feature, he decides to post a very simple message, which... actually takes him some time to type out because what are touch screen keyboards.]

Could someone explain to me what's going on here?

Comments

[eightofseven]

It is, isn't it? While I have seen others like it, this was the first I have had the opportunity to use.

[What the, where did this guy come from.]

[vengefulyears]

[Clive is somewhat startled by the boy's sudden appearance, but he supposes he can let it slide. He looks up from the screen to make eye contact with his new conversational partner.]

There are other devices like these?

[eightofseven]

Yes. And there are many that are quite unlike them.

[vengefulyears]

Well, obviously.

[He has a feeling that this line of conversation isn't really going to get anywhere useful, so he's going to change the subject now.]

So, how long have you been here?

[eightofseven]

I am... ill-suited to keeping track of time, but I am certain I have been here for at least one hundred and twenty five human "days".

[It's actually closer to 136.]

[vengefulyears]

...Right.

[Oh boy, we've got a strange one here. But Clive won't inquire about his unusual nature right now. What's most important is that he find out what the hell is going on here, and if this boy really has been here for as long as he said, then he should know something, right?]

Can you tell me anything important that a newcomer should know about this place, then? Like how and why we were brought here, for instance?

[eightofseven]

Regrettably, I have an answer to neither. I am curious as to the method, however. I will be sure to let you know if I discover something.

[apropergent]

[A little further down the street comes the sound of a familiar voice and a sight of a... not so familiar top hat? It would appear that even the Professor is vulnerable to the wardrobe change]

-a small trade. I don't really know what I would do with all these small fishes anyhow.

[blue was a rather popular colour in The World... Or maybe he was just distracted by the NPC he was speaking with]

[vengefulyears]

[Hearing that extremely familiar voice causes Clive's head to snap up and look in the direction it came from. That is definitely not the outfit that the professor normally wears, but Clive can still distinguish him very easily.

A smile quickly spreads across his face; it's very comforting to see a familiar face in a place like this, though he doesn't want to interrupt Layton's conversation with the NPC, so he waits until the other man is done with his business before he picks his grimoire up and springs up from the bench, rushing over to Layton.]

Professor! When did you get here?

[apropergent]

[at the sound of someone calling him, Hershel turns to look-]

Clive!? [And he jogs over to meet Clive halfway] It's been a month since I first arrived here. But what of you? I never expected to see you here as well. Are you all right, my boy?

[vengefulyears]

[And just like that, the smile is replaced with a bewildered expression.]

A month? But I just woke up here a couple hours ago, and I saw you right before I came here...

[Poor Clive is even more confused than ever now. He wasn't unconscious for all that time, was he...?]

[apropergent]

[oh well then- wait, I beg your pardon?]

A couple of hours? That- [a pause, before he reaches up to grab the brim of his hat] Good heavens, not this time travel business again.

[vengefulyears]

[Great, even Layton is clueless. Clive lets out a sigh.]

Well, considering the level of technology in this city, I wouldn't be too surprised if time travel was involved somehow. But how exactly were we brought here? The last thing I remember before waking up here is being arrested and escorted to the police car. It just doesn't make any sense...

[resipiscence]

Oh, I don't know.

[ aaand there's a voice coming from above you. from the branches of a tree, actually, if you have to be specific. the boy with the long hair smiles down, perched with his legs dangling. ] I'd say this would be another sort of prison.

[vengefulyears]

[Clive looks up at the boy above him, giving him a slight smile of his own.]

Yes, you're probably right about that. Though so far I'd have to say that I much prefer this prison.

[He has no idea what the hell is going on yet, but he supposes it won't be so bad once he has some time to adjust.]

[resipiscence]

[ and here, he tilts his head, as though thinking about this. ] You could be right. I've never been in a prison, but I'd imagine the food here is much better.

And, of course, you can see the sky.

[vengefulyears]

[He chuckles a bit.]

I haven't actually been to prison yet, but that's where I would be right now if I hadn't ended up here. However, I know enough about it to know that this is a far more pleasant place.

[resipiscence]

[ ahhh that's interesting. like a twist of fate. ] It's one cage for another, but I wouldn't deny this is a better outcome.

I'm Aphrodi, by the way. Who're you?

[vengefulyears]

[Well, it's reassuring to hear someone agreeing with him, at least. Maybe this place really won't be so bad.]

I'm Clive. It's a pleasure to meet you, Aphrodi.

text;

[isolates]

are you new??

this is the world. its like an mmorpg but you cant leave

idk if you have any more specific questions i can try helping

text;

[vengefulyears]

Yes, I just arrived here not too long ago.

What's an mmorpg?

text;

[isolates]

[Omg noob.]

massively multiplayer online role playing game. are you one of those people who come from worlds that dont have computers and games and stuff??

text;

[vengefulyears]

[shush 8(]

We do have computers, though probably not the type of games that you're referring to.

text;

[isolates]

well there are games called rpgs where you control a certain character and make them go on adventures or fight monsters or save the world. only except of controlling a character youre actually inside the game and no one really knows why were here.

the game mechanics are still the same though. you can go to fields and dungeons to fight monsters to earn levels and items. the higher level you are, the stronger you are.

text;

[vengefulyears]

I see. That actually sounds pretty fun. Perhaps this place will grow on me. It certainly beats where I'm supposed to be headed right now, anyway.