Professor Layton and Luke opening the Elysian Box (as seen on the Diabolical/Pandora's Box cover)
The Elysian Box, in Europe and Australia also known as Pandora's Box, was a valuable artifact that featured prominently in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. Sculpted out of gold from the Folsense Gold Mine, the box is said to kill everyone who opens it. Because of this gruesome reputation, it became known as Pandora's Box. The Goat Emblem of the Herzen family appears on its lid. The box also makes a cameo in Dr. Andrew Schrader's house in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva.
Plot
The Elysian Box Upclose
The professor's old friend, Dr. Andrew Schrader, writes to Layton claiming that he has come into possesion of the box. He believes he so close to solving the mystery, but he cannot contain his curiousity, and that he plans to open the box before finishing his research, and that if anything happens to him, he wants Layton to finish his work. Layton and Luke, worried, drive to Dr. Schrader's flat, only to find him dead on the floor and the box gone.
They decide to take a trip on The Molentary Express, finding a ticket in Schrader's pocket. Here, they meet up with Flora, and arrive at a little village called Dropstone, which is celebrating it's 50th anniversary. As they explore the village, Layton furthers his investigation, believing that this town is deeply connected to the Elysian Box. After a lot of searching, they talk with Mr. Anderson, the most influential man in Dropstone, and discover that his late mother-in-law, Sophia, had founded the village, and had also searched for the box as well, but had failed.
The trio board the train, and sneak into the deluxe care of the train. Here, Layton and crew are drugged into sleep by the train conductor, Sammy Thunder. As they sleep, their carriage secretly switches track, and heads with another train to the ghost town of Folsense.
As they search the large city, more clues and mysteries begin to emerge. After searching the mines to the north, Layton is confronted by Barton, a bobby of Inspector Chelmey. He tells them to go back to the hotel in order to discuss the murder of Dr. Schrader. In the hotel, they discover that Flora is really Don Paolo in disguise. In Don's haste to escape, he accidentally drops the box. Layton quickly notices and so does Mr. Beluga. Beluga tells Layton that it belongs to him, but Krantz says otherwise. Since Beluga left Folsense oh so long ago, changing his name and forgetting the past, he is no longer to the Herzen Family's treasure, the Elysian Box. Layton and Luke bring the box to their room and open it, only to find it...empty. Layton realizes a deeper mystery. and the two proceed to Herzen Castle.
Anton, explaining the Elysian Box.
After searching more, they head up to Herzen Castle, despite the people's warnings about a vampire who
The duel with Anton.
lives there. Instead of a vampire, they discover the Duke of Folsense, a young man called Anton, who appears not to have aged in the last 50 years. Anton gives them a warm welcome and allows them to stay the night. Afterward, the two are knocked unconscious and Anton ties them up in the cellar. Layton and Luke easily free themselves, and find that the castle is built over an excavation pit emmiting a strange fume.
They find Katia, daughter of Mr. Anderson, and she implores for them to leave the castle. But Anton catches them sneaking out. On sight of Katia, Anton becomes bewildered, since she is almost identical to his sweetheart Sophia, who left him years ago. Anton challenges Layton to a swordfight, but quickly deteriorates on doing so. With help from Katia, Layton explains the mystery to Anton.
The Mystery Unfolds
50 years ago, the thriving mining town of Folsense was struck by a deadly disease caused by the fumes in the mines. Most of the town's people evacuated, including Anton's fiancee, Sophia. Sophia had left because she was a few weeks pregnant with Anton's daughter, and wanted to protect her. Anton thought she had left to be with another man due to her saying "there's someone else who needs me even more than you.". Alone, and affected by the gas, Anton countinued to imagine the town in its former glory, The Folsense of Fifty years ago. Katia is Anton's granddaugter, and she had come to Folsense on her dead grandmother's wishes; to meet Anton, and bring him home to Dropstone.
Anton refuses to hear the truth; Sophia's death was too much for him. He starts swinging madly at anything, almost killing Layton, in his sight with his sword, and in doing so, drops a truly massive chandlier. It causes the castle to collapse when it falls with great force. They all manage to escape.
The Elysian Box in the Ending Credits.
The Elysian Box about to open.
The debris of the castle plugs the hole in which the fumes were coming from, and the illusion of Folsense dissapears, revealing a long-abandoned, neglected town. Anton now shows his true aged form and is happy to have delight in life again: Katia. Anton explains that he had the box made as a gift for Sophia when they were together, and sent with a letter inside when she left.
"The Sun rises when you and I meet and when the wind blows, you will know my heart."
-The words to open the Elysian Box
Anton then shows Luke how to open the box in a special way, and reveals a letter from Sophia, written before her death. In the letter, Sophia explains why she had left and that she wishes for Anton to be with their granddaughter. Anton, tears in his eyes, asks if Sophia is listening, then asks that she forgive him for keeping her waiting a little while longer, as he has to get to know Katia first. In the end, the most powerful message from the box was not one of terror; one of love.
Spoilers end here