01 Picarat [Parchment : Text]

[professorgent]

[A line spreads across the page as Layton tests his quill. A blotch follows as he taps the page.]

Curious. Yes, very curious. Perhaps the effects of that town haven't quite worn off...

Excuse me, I seem to have gotten off-track.

I hope you'll forgive me for writing out this post, to anyone who might be reading. It is a little impersonal but I've never

Comments

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[memorizethefire]

[Axel's trying out all the ways to do this-- have almost readable chicken scratch back] Magic isn't that preposterous. Used to be able to do a lot of it myself.

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[professorgent]

[Layton's isn't much better, actually. Long days of research have whittled his handwriting to a somewhat quick scrawl.] Well, anything is possible. Within reason, of course. I just don't readily accept that there is a way to achieve such phenomena so unscientifically. But, as I read these books more thoroughly, there may be a method to this metaphorical madness.

Have you, sir? Do you mind if I inquire as to how? And, if isn't too presumptuous of me to ask, used to?

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[memorizethefire]

It's not working here, how I used to do it. I don't know, but the power just flows differently here. I don't feel as in-tune with it as I have in all the other worlds.

It's kinda scientific, you can study it. I knew some guys who used to too.

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[professorgent]

Ah, I see. [Then a jolt of ink. What did he write?] Other worlds? You aren't proposing we are in some alternate universe, are you, sir? I've heard such theories but--

Excuse me. I'm rambling, aren't I? And I haven't even asked for your name. Forgive me for that oversight.

Oh, I intend to. A gentleman never leaves such a mystery unsolved. Are these men you write of here, too?

[text]

[ashowman]

I'm afraid I can't help, but it's possible our headmaster will provide us with a bit more information. If I'm expected to defend something-I need to know what from.

[text]

[professorgent]

That's quite alright. It seems that all those 'magicdrafted' here come with very little information on the circumstances.

Yes, I would like to speak with the Headmaster personally and see if he cannot divulge more information. This letter is awfully vague.

I'm sure we'll know soon enough. This seems to be the heart of the mystery of why we were taken in the first place.

[text]

[ashowman]

That's obvious enough-they want us to defend something-defend the school. But they didn't say what from so I'm thinking it's not going to be an extremely easy task.

But I'm keeping my communication device on just in case we receive new instruction.

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[professorgent]

Yes, that is true. I am concerned about the mystery of that part and why it was intentionally left vague. I do believe your reasoning is right but I wonder if there is more to it.

That seems wise. We shall see, I suppose.

Excuse me, I haven't asked for your name yet, have I?

[buildyourworld]

This communication device appears to be quite primitive in design and technology, however, it's security is quite admirable. [That's to say, he has been attempting to crack and hack the device to gather information, to no avails.] As with the castle itself. [He's still in his uniform and has went exploring the moment he figures out they are free to move around. He finds his current situation strange and out of the ordinary.]

[professorgent]

Primitive? We have nothing like it back in London, save for the video feature. That does remind me quite a bit of the telly. [1920s, yep.]

Is it? I'll have to take your word for it. I'm no technology expert. But as for the castle, I do have some archeological expertise. It's built magnificently well. I do wish to explore it further.

[buildyourworld]

Yes. The construction is simple enough to imitate with the correct materials and skills. However, there seems to be some kind of protection placed over it that I can't quite understand. [Magic, so to speak.]

[An archeologist? Noting that this person's expertise may comes in useful, he makes a mental note to keep an eye on him. He needs to explore the castle more thoroughly soon, to figure out if they are able to leave or if there's any sort of device in place that will allows him a trip home. He's still not quite buying the whole magicdrafted claim yet.] Will you be able to identify structural anomaly?

[professorgent]

I see. Oh, yes. Those would be the spells the headmaster set in place, I believe. You aren't the only one. I don't think anyone is meant to disturb them.

Certainly. I doubt that a castle of this age, even with proper upkeep, would be in complete good condition. It will take time to find such anomalies though. Weeks, I presume. [And with all this magic and his teaching, Layton is unsure if even that is possible.] If I do find anything amiss, shall I let you know?

video;

[alkahestry]

Magic isn't that strange of concept is it, Professor? Ancient civilizations may have found such scientific theories and experiments magical at first because they couldn't grasp the truth behind them. Perhaps the two are not that different, where I come from we have Alchemy and through the laws of Equivilant Exchange we can take something and change it into something else.

[Even if it didn't quite work the same way here, magical laws were wonky and Alphonse was still attempting to understand it all. Still he didn't see why it was that hard to believe, however, he would admit that technology from this world was a bit strange.]

... and what do you mean puzzle? Is it hard?

video; what is this tl;dr

[professorgent]

[Layton nods, taking in Alphone's words with a bemused smile.] That is an astute observation you make on ancient civilizations. The magics of the past become the inventions for tomorrow. Now, I hope you don't mind if I ramble

Re: video; give me all your tl'dr

[alkahestry]

No I don't mind at all...

[After all, like his Brother, he was always devouring whatever new knowledge he found interesting at an alarming rate. Learning was a process he would never get sick of. So he listens to Layton talk with a curious look and nods here and there to show that he's keeping up just fine.]

No and to be honest from what I've investigated, this world is similar to one that my Brother found himself in, only this world seems to be slightly more advanced as if we were propelled into the future. Where I come from such technologies don't quite exist, rather we rely on Alchemy and the laws of Equivalent Exchange, which basically states that: In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed. It is supported by The Law of Conservation of Mass and The Law of Natural Providence, but regarding that last one...

[His voice trails off thoughtfully for a brief second.]You see most people forget that most everything is made up other elements, and it's possible to deconstruct an item

video; also totally copying a puzzle from Curious Village

[professorgent]

I've had the same experience. I've had someone try to explain to me the concept of technology from their own world and it went completely over my head and another boy I spoke to stated he was nearly ninety years ahead of my time. Truly curious.

[Layton listens to Alphonse's explanation intently, with a hand on his chin in contemplation.]

My, that is a remarkable science and certainly has much more utility than what passed for alchemy in my own world. I don't mean to diminish a scientist's work at all, but most attempts at alchemy in my history were glorified experiments in mercury poisoning.

I am especially interested in the example you brought up. We have yet to devise a machine that can split particles neatly, but in your own world, can you achieve these processes just through your body?

[Layton smiles cheerfully.]

Wonderful. I have one just in mind. [And the communicator switches to parchment as the professor writes down the puzzle.]

Here are two shapes, one large and one small. Each is made up of little triangles. Dipping