The group led by Laufey made their way through the city and into the construction part of town. There were some buildings being torn down and replaced with new ones. Only two condemned buildings remained. They stopped in front of one of them.
"Is this where Haru-san has been hiding all this time?" Gakushuu asked, looking around.
"By my tracking spell, this is indeed where he is… odd?" Laufey looked at the compass in a weird way.
"What's the matter Laufey-obaachan?" Koukin asked.
"It seems there is something else here too. I'm reading another." She said.
"Like what?" Goei asked.
"I'm not entirely sure. It could be… no… oh dear ancestors please no!" She gasped.
"What is it, Laufey?" Ignir asked.
"We have to get inside NOW! We need to find Haru!" She said.
"Wait what's going on?" Ukitsu asked.
"There's no time to explain!"
Laufey went up to the locked gate. She reared her hand back and thrust her palm forward at the gate. A gust of wind slammed into the gate knocking it clear of its hinges. The other minus Ignir were stunned that the gust came from nowhere and broke open the gate.
"Where… did that wind come from?" Ryomou asked softly.
"No time for questions, everyone inside now!" Laufey ordered.
"She's right, we'll explain everything once Haru is safe with us." Ignir said.
The others just looked at each other but agreed and followed them. As they went up to the door, Saji did a strong kick and busted it open.
"Ladies first." He bowed.
Following Laufey into the building and down the stairs to the basement. Though dimly lit, they were still able to see the room.
"Haru-kun, are you in here?" Hakufu shouted but got no answer.
"Quick spread out and find him, he has to be here." Koukin said.
They looked around the room but found nothing. Haru wasn't in the room at all.
"Shit he isn't here, I thought that thing would lead us to him?" Ryomou asked Laufey.
"It did, this is where he should be. But I fear we may be too late." She said in a sorrowful voice.
"What do you mean Laufey-obaachan?" Goei asked.
"My tracking spell detected another, an aura of evil and great power."
"You mean one of them got to the young master?" Ignir said fearfully.
"It seems so."
"Who got him?" Gakushuu asked.
"Hey guys, I found something!" Hakufu shouted on the other end of the room.
The group ran up to Hakufu and gasped as they saw spikes made of ice coming from the ground. Hakufu slowly went up to the ice spikes and slowly reached out to it but a hand grabbed her wrist suddenly before she could touch it.
"Don't touch it! This is no mere ice, this was made by a demonic creature. And the same demonic creature that made this may also have taken Haru." Ignir said, pushing Hakufu away from it.
"A demonic creature? Ok, just what the fuck is going on here?" Ryomou asked.
"Yes, all this doesn't make sense. How does this connect with Haru-san?" Gakushuu asked.
"I'm afraid you all have entered a world that you once thought were mere myths and legends. Stories of old that once scared you as children have now entered your life again." Laufey said.
"We don't understand, please tell us a straight answer." Goei asked.
"We can't say much now but what we can tell you is this, the war you and your ancestors have fought for more than 1800 years and all you've seen in this world, you haven't seen anything yet." Ignir said.
"Enough of this! Where's Haru-kun? And who took him?" Hakufu asked.
"You said he was taken, taken where?" Saji asked.
"I don't know. The tracking spell can't find Haru. It seems they cloaked his presents to me, I can't locate him… but maybe I don't need to locate him." Laufey said, going up to the ice.
"What do you mean Laufey-obaachan?" Ukitsu asked.
"I'm unable to find the child, but if the one who made this ice here is still with Haru. Then all I need is to make a new tracking spell and find that one and we should find Haru. The ice is brimming with power, I should be able to use a small portion of it and make the tracking spell. Just give me a moment."
Laufey swiped her hand near the ice and another blast of wind sliced a small share of the ice and landed next to her. She kneels next to it and begins another chant.
"Erekess wer powers di suaco vur xarzith, lead ve ekess batobot svabolen scorns nomeno treskri. Dronilnr ve ekess wer ir batobot ui malsvir vur tepohaic thric truth di mitne zyak si nomag svent coi nomeno kear."
(Translation: Through the powers of wind and ice, lead me to that which scorns this world. Bring me to the one that is evil and has no truth of light so I may slay it this day.)
Again she said in the unknown language as the ice melted and turned into vapor. It hung in the air till it rushed in the compass. It shook for a moment before it stopped.
"Ok, I have the location. May the ancestors above please let the child be ok."
"We need to hurry, whoever has Haru may be harming him already. Lead the way Laufey." Ignir helped her up.
The others rushed outside but Koukin stopped as he saw that Ignir wasn't following them. He turned to see him standing near the ice.
"Ignir-ojjisan, what are you doing?" Koukin asked.
"Just go, I'll catch up soon. I need to deal with something first. Just get to Haru, that's all it matters." Ignir said.
Koukin nodded and ran outside to the others. Ignir turned back to the ice with a stern face. His fist balled up in anger.
"I had failed them once and made myself believe the child was gone from us. But I won't fail the child, not while I still breathe and the Mana of the Mother Dragon still flows through me!" Ignir said as his hands were surrounded in red flames.
He thrust both his hands forward and a ball of fire shot out and shattered the ice and melted it. Once he made sure the ice was completely gone he ran outside where the others were waiting for him.
"I see you took care of it?" Laufey said.
"Yes, so let's go."
"Please allow me." Gakushuu picked up both Laufey and Ignir and put them on his shoulder.
"Since we are in a hurry let me carry you two so we can get to Haru-san faster, no offence to you two."
"None taken, and thank you kindly Gakushuu. Please go this way." Laufey pointed the directions.
"Ok so let's—GAH!" Koukin stumbled a bit as Goei jumped on his back.
"Aunt Goei, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" Koukin demanded.
"I think it's sweet of Gaku-chan for giving them a ride so I thought my nephew would be just as sweet and let his dear aunt give her a piggy back ride." Goei said playfully.
"But you're younger than them so you can run as fast as us… um… no offense to you two." Koukin said nervously.
"None taken." They said.
"That's so kind of you to say that but I'm in a kimono and won't be able to run, unless I undress. That would certainly give me the momentum to run as fast as you guys." She said devilishly moving a part of her kimono a bit showing some skin.
"No, no, no, no! I give you a piggy back ride just please don't take off your cloths" Koukin said waving his hands at her.
"Enough of this nonsense, we need to move now! Everyone this way!" Laufey pointed in the direction where they needed to go.
And so the group ran in hopes of finding Haru.