[center][img]https://images2.imgbox.com/58/e5/jrKhVDm8_o.png[/img]
[color=fff200]◉ ◉ ◉ ◉ ◉[/color]
[i][color=b99e6b]Level:[/color] 5
[color=b99e6b]EXP:[/color] 0 / 50
[color=b99e6b]Location:[/color] Frozen Highlands[/i][/center]

It was a shame he couldn't take the Laytonmobile far from Edinburgh. The chill of snowy north was something he could handle, but it meant that he had to rely on public transportation in a region lacking in such amenities.

He was lucky, then, to have happened across a band of travelers with room to spare.

The carriage Layton was in trundled along at a smooth pace, situated at the back of the caravan that so graciously took him onboard. He had to [url=https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AZGW46WbBoTGxiaXUCFY7V.jpg]share the space[/url] with the group's young ones - a negligible price for the kindness. The fleas' temperament reminded him of his apprentice, curious and full of energy, and there was a twang in his heart to follow. Luke... what had happened to the boy?

Hopefully he was merely living his life. The silence still worried him, however.

Layton turned his mind to other matters. He flipped the pages of his Puzzle Index, making sure to record several more he had encountered up to now. The one about the poodle and the apple pie was a particular favorite. The scenery outside changed gradually as the caravan made its way through some woods, past a [url=https://gamecritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ss_cf5ed0c38426b0b7d592fd7d5d9006043e2fa948.1920x1080.jpg]sleepy fishing town[/url], and further on. The view wasn't particularly inspiring, though Layton enjoyed the quaintness nonetheless.

At some point the carriage slowed to a halt, to the shouts of the lead driver. It didn't look as if they had stopped for rest, seeing how they were currently in quite a steep valley, so Layton left to see if something was wrong.

[color=b99e6b]"Is there a problem, Mooshka?"[/color] Professor Layton joined the front of the procession where the  [url=https://cdn.wikimg.net/en/hkwiki/images/0/08/Fleamaster_Mooshka.png]Fleamaster[/url] was engaged with the driver. As Layton anticipated, it seemed their path was cut off by a [url=https://i.imgur.com/mFkohhJ.png]frozen lake[/url], mired with rocks and fragile breaks in the ice.

"Ah, ah, Mister Layton!" Mooshka turned to address him. Much like the other fleas his height only reached the Professor's midsection. "A problem, yes, but not one a guest of ours should worry themselves with! Our caravan merely cannot move forward. My apologies, we will need to turn around and find a new path."

[color=b99e6b]"It does seem as though this lake blocks the way forward,"[/color] Layton remarked, surveying the area, [color=b99e6b]"though to retrace our steps would take quite a bit of time. Perhaps I can be of assistance?"[/color]

"Oh, no, I truly cannot ask that of you! Already you must contend with this delay to our destination..."

Layton shook his head and smiled. [color=b99e6b]"Think nothing of it. I'm only repaying your kindness. In fact, I believe I already see a safe path..."[/color]
[center][color=f26522][h3]PUZZLE 001[/h3][/color][i]- A Slippery Surface -[/i]
It's a simple matter, really. Using the stones to halt one's momentum, and taking care not to traverse broken sections of ice more than once, you can cross the lake in just a few minutes. It's trickier with the different carriages, but Professor Layton is able to guide the caravan across with no casualties.[/center]

"[i]Vavenda[/i]!" Once the fleas were all safely on the other side, Mooshka met with Layton once more. "That is, incredible! How truly fortunate we fleas are to have a guest like you!"

[color=b99e6b]"Anytime."[/color] Layton replied with a tip of his hat, [color=b99e6b]"offering help to others is what a gentleman does, after all."[/color]

And just like that the caravan returned to the road. Layton took his seat in the young fleas' carriage yet again, and started to add traversing the lake to the Index. Puzzles truly can be found anywhere.[hr][center][color=b99e6b]Word Count:[/color] 657
[color=b99e6b]EXP Gained:[/color] +1[/center]