High Inquisitor Darklaw

"Did you all just come here to stand around speculatin? If so, there's a quiet cell in the dungeon which has just become vacant... You can speculate all you want in there."

- Darklaw/The Great Witch.

Hig Inquisitor Darklaw (true name: Eve Belduke), also known as Darklaw, is one of the main antagonists in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. She was the High Inquisitor of Labyrinthia, where she worked to rid the town of witches. She was also the only person normally able to meet directly with the town's "creator", the mysterious Story Teller.

Backstory
Eve was the daughter of Newton Belduke, and was the childhood friend of Espella Cantabella. After a terrible fire killed the entire population of their town, she was forced to change her name to Darklaw in order to hide the truth about the incident from Cantabella, and aid her friend's father, Arthur Cantabella (the Story Teller), in fabricating a new town called Labyrinthia to seal Espellas memories, as she thought she was responsible for the fire, while actually it was Eve's fault.

When her father committed suicide because of the lie behind the town she wanted revenge against the Storyteller, so she decided to lure Professor Layton to Labytrinthia to reveal the truth about Labyrinthia.

Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney
Darklaw was first seen as the Great Witch as she and a fellow group of witches were chasing Carmini Accidenti while driving in his car with Espella. In front of them were two statues that the Great Witch brought to life, causing them to crash into a tree. As the Great Witch was about to capture Espella, Scotland Yard arrived at the scene, making her and the witches flee.

Later, after Espella met Professor Layton at his office, the Great Witch appeared and flew away with Espella. Luke asked the professor what that was. Professor replied by telling Luke that it was a witch.

While investigating the tower bridge, they see a cloaked figure who disappeared after they noticed it. There, they found Espella and rescued her. But as soon as they did, the witches appeared. The professor then came up with an idea. As Espella and Professor Layton ran from the witches, they were stopped by the Great Witch as she appeared in front of them. The Great Witch removed Espella's cloak from her, but was shocked to see that it was actually Luke in disguise as the real one escaped on a moving boat. Furious, she warned Professor Layton and Luke about the dangers that they put themselves in, involving Espella, telling them that they've walked into the "middle of the story." She then disappeared. Professor Layton and Luke planned on meeting Espella at the port to give her back the book that she had with her. As soon as they did, however, the book started to open by itself, revealing a page, containing a picture of Professor Layton and Luke. The book then teleported the two of them inside of it.

Darklaw was seen later at a courthouse in London, disguised as a teacher from a school called Owl Coot University, where she met Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey for Espella's trial about the freighter she was on. As Ace Attorney cleared Espella of her name, Darklaw congratulated him and left with Espella. After they left, Maya noticed that Espella dropped her book and decided to look at it. Just then, the book started to flip its pages on its own, revealing a page about Phoenix Wright and Maya, thus teleporting them inside the book as well.

During the parade of Labrynthia, Darklaw was giving the storyteller's recently written story to its residence, where she noticed Professor Layton and Luke among the crowd. The story that she handed out stated that a girl will be trialed for using witchcraft to burn two men alive. Darklaw sent a flower selling girl named Kira to frame Espella Cantabella, who was walking home until she ran into the crooks, Muggs and Robbs. This was Kira's chance to frame Espella by saying the spell "Ignaize", burning the two men, thus framing Espella. However, during her trial, Phoenix Wright revealed to the court that it was Kira who was attending as a witness. As punishment, Kira was sent to the flames.

After the trial, Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright went to the Inquisitor's hall, where they saw Darklaw having a conversation with Inquisitor Barnham, ordering him to question Espella in the dungeons. After Inquisitor Barnham left, Professor Layton asked Darklaw why Espella is being held prisoner. Darklaw revealed to them that Espella is actually the Great Witch Bezella, a legendary witch who burnt down the town years ago, making her the source of all witches. However, Darklaw refused to reveal any more information about it as she told them to find the answer for themselves.

Later that night, Luke and Maya went to search for Espella's cat, Eve. While searching, they ran into Darklaw, patrolling the bell tower, which involved an incident that happen a while ago. She explained to them about an alchemist murdered three months ago, whose death was unsolved. Upon seeing Maya Fey, this inspired Darklaw to frame her for being a witch.

The next morning, Maya Fey and Phoenix Wright went to investigate at the alchemist's house. There, they met his butler, a young man named Jean Greyel, who welcomed them to his estate. While Phoenix was searching in the basement, Professor Layton appeared before Maya, alerting her about the arrival of a witch. However, they were too late to stop it as Darklaw appeared before them, disguised as the Great Witch who turned the Professor into a gold statue. As Luke arrived, a witch staff appeared at Maya's feet, thus accusing her of being a witch.

As Maya's trial began, Luke was one of the witnesses seen at the stand, angered at Maya for believing what she has done. During the trial, it was revealed that it was Jean Greyel, who is actually a girl that placed the witch staff at the crime scene, thus framing Maya.

Greyel revealed to everyone that she grew up with a poor family, who wanted to save them by turning a leaf gold, but accidentally turned her pet goat instead. She ran away and fell into a lake. She was later rescued by Newtown Belduke and decided to stay with him as a boy. Although she wasn't accused of turning the professor into gold, she was still accused for framing Maya and had to be executed for it. However, Espella volunteered to take her place as she revealed to everyone that she is Bezella, making the court attendants seize her. However, as they freed Maya from the death chamber and placed Espella in it, Maya interfered and freed Espella. Espella escaped through a secret tunnel with Luke as Phoenix tried to save Maya, but was too late to stop it, resulting in Maya's death.

At the Storyteller's palace, Darklaw was seen having a discussion with him, who entrusted her to take care of Espella. Once she appeared outside, she mentioned that advent of a "new story", which Inquisitor Barnham overheard, causing him to investigate further by following Darklaw.

The next morning, while Luke and Wright were in the marketplace, an explosion occurred there. As they investigate, Phoenix found a little bell, which made a Shade appear and take it. The Shade tripped over Luke and as it turned towards Phoenix Wright, it was revealed to be Kira. After discovering how Kira somehow survived, Phoenix Wright and Luke went to investigate at the witches court, along with Espella. There, they discovered that the chamber actually led to an underground tunnel, where they found a horse wagon that led them to Eldwitch woods, a place where the Shades resided.

Meanwhile, at Eldwitch Woods, it was revealed that Maya was still alive and was being chased by a group of Shades. She was nearly captured by them until Professor Layton saved her, who also appeared to be alive. They then fled to the village's outskirts. After Maya revealed what happened to the Professor at her trial, the Shades appeared before them and were about to capture them, until the Great Witch came and dismissed the Shades. Professor Layton recognized her from London and was suspicious about her identity. The Great Witch decided to let them stay in Eldwitch Woods to uncover the mystery before disappearing.

In the Great Witch's room, an incident occurred, involving the Great Witch's disappearance, whom the Shades believed an outsider had attacked her. Professor Layton assumed that the culprit who attacked her must still be in the room, disguised as a Shade. They began to question the Shades present there and discovered that the culprit in disguise was none other than Inquisitor Barnham. However, he didn't kill the Great Witch as he encountered her, meaning that she somehow escaped. As Professor Layton and Maya searched the room, they found a hidden passage way behind her throne. The Shades believed that they were the ones who were responsible for her disappearance and urged them to return her to them at once. Inquisitor Barnham withdrew his sword and used it to cut the chandelier above them, scaring the Shades away. He then returned to Labrynthia to protect the Storyteller as Maya and Layton go through the hidden passageway.

There, the passageway led them to an underground, ancient ruin, where they hear the Great Witch's voice, telling them that the answer lies in the ruins, although she revealed to them that she is not Bezella. Soon after, Espella, Luke, and Phoenix Wright later discovered the ruins, where they found Maya and Professor Layton. As they made their way through the ruins, they discovered a pedestal with inscriptions. It stated that the ancient culture worshipped the bell, known as the Bell of Ruin, but the bell was believed that it brought an evil entity, which brought calamity upon the natives. So the bell was sealed away and given a warning, not to be rung.

As Espella found out about this, she began to have a vision of her past, which Darklaw revealed to her as she was speaking to her in her mind. After witnessing that tragic event, Espella abandoned the ruins.

When Professor Layton, Maya, Luke, and Phoenix Wright were looking for her, she was seen at the bell tower's belfry, facing the storyteller and all Labrynthians. She summoned a fire dragon before the group of the people, which killed her own father as he mysteriously decided to give up on his life. After Espella was apprehended by the knights, Inquisitor Barnham ordered them to treat her with care as believed that she was accused, not guilty of being Bezella. However, High Inquisitor Darklaw butted in, telling Inquisitor Barnham that she will be taking his place in court. Outraged, Inquisitor Barnham revealed to Darklaw that he followed her to Eldwitch woods, where he discovered that she was disguised as the Great Witch. Darklaw was impressed but asked him if he has any information about it. Although robbed of consciousness, he didn't have any proof that it was her. Because of that, Darklaw took what he said as treason and ordered the vigilantes to arrest him.

As the final trial began, Maya had to be disguised as a vigilante after what happened to her in the last trial, while Professor Layton and Luke went to the Storyteller's palace to look for clues. As they begin to question Espella, she testified that her pet cat, Eve, followed her to the bell tower, during that incident. However, Phoenix referred to the footprints sketch, there were no paw prints of Eve on it, meaning Espella has no recollection of tonight's incident. Espella became confused after realizing this and fainted.

The judge was about to adjourn the court until tomorrow, until the captain of the vigilantes objected as he and the other vigilantes, who guarded the bell tower, claimed they saw what happened. During their testimony, the vigilantes stated that the footprints they saw on the steps looked different than the ones in the sketch, meaning that there was another witch around the time. Inquisitor Darklaw pointed out that Espella was the only one in the bell tower as she revealed her pendent to the court. Phoenix, however, had proof that it wasn't Espella by showing the court a robe that he found at the bell tower. Phoenix recognize the shape of the pendent on a mechanism at the bell tower, believing it was the key to access it. Darklaw allowed them to use it on the belltower, but warned them that they only have one chance. Phoenix tried it but saw nothing happen.

Back at the courthouse, Espella regained consciousness as the court is about to determine her fate. Just then, Phoenix Wright interrupted as he pointed out that Espella already has her pendent on person showing that there are two pendants needed to access the belfry. The used both pendants on the mechanism, which activated and summoned a series of stairs, leading up to the bell. Once they make it up there, they find the Bell of Ruin and a person hiding behind it. The mysterious figure showed itself to be Kira.

During Kira's testimony at the court, she revealed that she was ordered to kill the storyteller but was attacked by someone. She managed to rip something off her attacker, which Phoenix revealed it to be the other pendant. The court believed the attacker used the spell Fainfol to knock her out, but Phoenix revealed that it was something other than magic as he looked into the Grand Grimoir and saw that the spell is effective the second after it's heard. Meaning that if Kira did hear the incantation, she wouldn't be able to rip something off her attacker. Wright believed it was sleeping medicine that knocked Kira out as she stated that her attacker covered her mouth. Kira also stated that the person attacked in front of her, meaning that Kira was actually covering up for someone. Phoenix managed to figure it out by pointing out Darklaw as Kira's attacker to the court. Wright looked back to the previous trial when Inquisitor Barnham said that the only person who has access to Newton Belduke's concoctions was Darklaw.

Phoenix wanted the judge to call Inquisitor Darklaw to the witness stand, but the only problem was that the trial can't continue unless someone takes her place. Luckily, Professor Layton appeared, but was standing on the opposite side of the courtroom and claiming that Espella is Bezella.

As Darklaw testified, she said she went up the bell tower and saw Kira wearing the cloak of invisibility, the same cloak Phoenix Wright found earlier that only residence of Eldwitch woods can see. As they press on, Kira stopped standing up for Darklaw, ever since she abandoned her and the Shades, and revealed to the court that she saw Darklaw carry Espella to the bell tower with the invisible cloak over her. Darklaw admitted that she carried Espella up the stair along with her pet cat and had a fight with Kira, confirming that the pendant was hers.

Darklaw revealed to the court that she is not only a Shade, but also their leader, the Great Witch. She explained to them that Shades are people who were sent to the flames and reside outside of Labrynthia in Eldwitch Woods. Phoenix exposed the that trick of the chamber, shocking all Labrynthians. At first, they didn't believe in it, but then, Maya appeared from her disguise, proving her existence. Kira explained that if she could kill the storyteller, she would return to her old life. Darklaw stated that Shades have one purpose in the town and that was to make magic look real as she revealed that magic doesn't actually exist in their town. The Shades were the one responsible for framing Espella for burning Robbs and Muggs, which they later turned them into Shades. They were also the ones who kidnapped the professor and replacing him with a golden statue. In order to alert them, the Shades used small bells, the same kind of bell that Wright found at the marketplace. Furthermore, Phoenix Wright looked back in Kira's testimony, saying that Darklaw was the Great Witch but abandoned her role after she believed she assassinated the storyteller. In other words, she was not the one who ordered Kira to kill him. The true person who told Kira to kill the storyteller was none other than the storyteller himself. Darklaw killed him because she believe he didn't care about Labrynthia anymore. Professor Layton pointed out that Bezella was absent from the story and only appeared in the Legendary Fire. Even though nobody saw what happened during that time, Professor Layton indicated traces of the fire around the town. However, he then proved that there was one person who remembered that incident and it was Espella. Espella admitted that she destroyed the town and was Bezella. After hearing that, Darklaw believed her role was fulfilled, causing her to vanish from the court room. After she left, Professor Layton wished to call one more witness to the stand. That person was none other than the town's creator, the storyteller, alive before them in person.

As they interrogate him, they learned that he is the president of Lebrelum Inc, a pharmaceutical company that is known for developing an anesthetic, and that Labrynthia is a research facily that is hidden from the world. The people there gave up on their lives and signed a contract with Cantabella, which he hypnotized them with anesthetic ink that he wrote, during the parades. He also explained that a tragic event happened ten years ago to the town, which no residence has any recollection of, except for Espella, whom she believed she saw a fire dragon attack the village. Because of this, she was summoned back to the witness stand and had to describe the dragon. She drew a picture of it on a piece of paper. As Phoenix saw it, he concluded that it wasn't a magical creature that Espella saw as he pointed out that it's still at the belfry. The court checked there and found a fretwork of a dragon that matched the drawing of Espella's. As they return to the courtroom, Professor Layton stated that when Espella woke up, she saw the town burning through that same fretwork, making her believe it was a fire dragon. He and Phoenix Wright also reminded everyone that two pendants were acquired, which Espella had one of them, meaning another person was with her, who also witnessed the terrifying event. Espella thought it was her cat who was with her, but Professor Layton showed everyone a photo that he found at the storyteller's palace. In that photo was a young Espella and another girl, both wearing a pendant. After seeing the photo, Espella started to have trauma as she struggled to remember the other girl. As the judge asked Phoenix, he pointed out that it was Darklaw, who suddenly reappeared in court, next to Layton. Darklaw revealed to the court that Eve is actually her real name. Curious about how the fire started, the storyteller testified that pure silver contaminated the water, which makes anyone fall unconscious after hearing pure metal being struck.

Professor Layton asked the storyteller his story of the incident, making him tell everyone that he was good friends with Belduke, who helped him acquire the bell and build the tower for it. They both created the pendants and gave them to their wives, revealing that Eve is the daughter of Newton Belduke. Eve explained to them that the bell tower was covered in a giant blanket and was burnt after lightening storm struck it. Newton witnessed this and committed suicide, making Eve plot her revenge. However, Professor Layton wanted to hear Eve's side of the story, making her testify in court again. In her testimony, she said there was a mechanism for ringing the bell that a child could operate. As she later explained the incident in her point of view, Espella began to panic and flee towards the bell tower.

Espella was seen at the belfry, believing she doesn't deserve to live anymore. Before she could do anything, Professor Layton told her to be brave as the truth hasn't been figured out yet. Phoenix Wright pointed out that Espella said she fell unconscious next to the fretwork, the second after the bell rang. If that's the case, the contraption for ringing it should be near the fretwork. Espella went to search for the contraption and found it on the other side of the fretwork. This means that Eve was the one who rang the bell. Professor Layton explained to her that their memories were altered to protect their minds. After knowing the truth and releasing what she's done, Eve donned the robe of invisibility and fled. Espella was then seen standing on top of the roof, saying that it doesn't matter if Eve rang the bell or not. Espella jumped off and was about to kill herself, until a hand mysteriously appeared, revealing it to be Eve. Eve held onto the handrail as she was saving Espella, but the handrail started to break. As they fall, something mysterious held them in the air. Professor Layton learned from the storyteller that there is an illusion responsible for hiding the secret of Labrynthia, which could only be broken by a certain "spell". He and Wright decipher it, which revealed several machinery around them. Luke was seen, driving in one them that was carrying Eve and Espella.

Feeling sorry for her past action, Eve apologized to Espella and the storyteller. The storyteller, however, knew that Eve rang the bell all along as he hid it from her for her own good. Eve thought her father cared about the town more than his daughter, which made her leave him. But the storyteller revealed that Newton always thought about her as the town was also built for her. Eve thanked Professor Layton, because she was the one who brought him to Labrynthia as part of her plans. However, she never planned to bring Phoenix Wright as he involved himself with Espella's first trial in London. As Professor Layton, Phoenix Wright, Maya, and Luke prepared to leave Labrynthia, Eve was seen at the bell tower, alongside with Eve the cat.