Luke Triton and the Great Farewell

The era of adventure was finally coming to a close.

Luke Triton was moving.

He kicked his small legs sadly, clutching the edge of the metal trolley seat tightly. The professor sat next to him, watching the other passengers with slight interest. The professor was always watching, ever vigilant. There were puzzles everywhere, he had taught Luke. There were puzzles hidden in plain sight all around him—he only had to look.

Luke grit his teeth. A true gentleman doesn't cry. The professor had taught him that, too. He hunched in his seat, pulling his hat low over his eyes.

"Something troubling you?" A hand on his shoulders—the professor's hand.

"Nothing," Luke choked.

The professor regarded him with light concern. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Luke said, regaining control of his voice. "I'm fine, professor. Really."

Layton frowned. "Are you sure, my boy? You seem rather upset." The professor tipped the boy's hat up with the back of his hand.

"Just…just a little down, professor." He quickly looked out the window, hoping the professor wouldn't see his face.

"Ah. I have a feeling I know what this is about." The professor leaned back and watched the scenery whiz past. "Feeling a little trepidation at the thought of moving to a new place? I know it'll be scary meeting all those new people, but you've never had that trouble before."

"No," Luke thought. "I'm upset because it means leaving you." He turned back and rested his head on the professor's arm.

"You and your father will have fun," Layton promised. "Think of it as a new adventure."

"Doesn't…doesn't it mean anything to you?" Luke burst suddenly. "Does it not make a difference to you?"

"What? What do you mean, my boy?"

"I have to move and you don't even care!"

"You wound me," Layton said gravely. "I care very much. I'm losing my number one apprentice, you know."

"You say that, but do you mean it?" Luke snapped. "Was I even a help to you all those times? Was I dragging you down? Is that why you're letting me…letting me…" He trailed off, voice broken by sobs.

Layton wrapped his arm around the child in a rare show of intimate affection. "You were a great help to me. I would never have gotten through had it not been for you."

"That's a lie."

"It is not. You keep an old man's life interesting, Luke. I would have died of boredom long ago."

"That's stupid. People can't die of boredom."

"Of course they can. You've made these years so much fun…I hate to think of what life would have been like if you weren't around."

"You would've been fine."

The professor shook his head. "You know, after Claire died…I thought I would never be fine again. I was wrong. When I first met you, I knew you would be the one to pull me from the depression her abrupt departure had left me in. You were such a smart child, figuring out things so quickly, taking in everything I taught you… Quite a few times, you surprised me by parroting back a few things I hadn't even known you had heard. After that, I made sure to be careful what I talked about around you—I didn't want you to pick up anything your parents wouldn't approve of." He chuckled.

"Was it…was it really that sad?" Luke asked.

He smiled sadly. "Yes. I was very sad, Luke. But you helped me in ways I can't even put into words." He patted the boy on the head. "So, you see, I regret this as much as you do…perhaps even more."

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"I wanted to be brave for you, Luke. I thought if I was brave for you, you wouldn't worry…. Adults aren't always as brave as they want you to think."

They sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, Luke spoke up. "I don't want to leave, professor."

"I don't want you to leave, either."

"Maybe—maybe if you talk to my dad, he'll—"

"I can't do that, Luke." He shook his head. "I can't overstep my boundaries."

"Why?"

"The world is full of complicated rules, my boy. Were that it was so simple…"

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't be losing me. As long as we're alive, we'll never lose each other." He sighed. "This is how the situation differs from Claire. I can never see her again. But I can see you again, and it gives me hope."

"We'll…we'll always be friends, won't we, professor?" Luke questioned.

"Yes, Luke. Distance can't hurt a bond like the one we share."

"Professor?"

"Yes, Luke?"

"Make…make sure to write to me a lot, okay? And…and call sometimes. And visit me."

"Of course. I will write every day." He smiled. "You must also make sure that when you get a little bit older, you come visit me, as well."

"I will, professor!"

"We're here." The professor stood, offering his hand to the boy. "Are you ready to see your new home?"

Luke took the professor's hand nervously. "Y-yes, professor."

"You must be brave, Luke," Layton said. "As must I."

"Yes."

With that, they stepped out of the bus and into their new era.

Layton sighed, readying himself for a new year of classes. Every year was a fresh start, a new beginning. A time to prove to himself and everyone else that he was the gentleman he truly was.

The professor pushed the doors open, proceeding to his desk. He wrote his name clearly on the blackboard, as he had done every year since he had started teaching. "Alright. Now, before we begin, I think we should have everyone introduce themselves. Does everyone agree?"

There was an apathetic murmur of consent.

"Okay. I'll start—I am Hershel Layton, your professor of archaeology for the year. I hope we have a good year together. Now, who's next? Ah, you in, the…in the blue…cap…" The professor trailed off, staring at the front row of his classroom.

"Luke Triton, sir," replied the youth with a flashing smile. "Let's have a good year, professor."

It was the start of a new era of adventure…