𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙮𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙝

"So, where're we headed?" Aarya asked.
"You don't have a plan?" Sting's jaw dropped.

"It's cool, I thought this out in my head," [Y/N] said, "we go to the mayor's house, first. Or should I say, his son, Takeshi?"

"I remember that prick," Sting growled.
"Yeah, we all do," Lilith grimaced, "well, it does make sense. Let's go and see if he knows anything of this - I'm willing to bet he does."

[Y/N] led the way, Kuschel (in her human form) close to her side, and Rogue not too far behind. Aarya, Sting, Lilith, Lector and Frosch followed suit.

[Y/N] walked right up to the door of Cedar Watannabe and his son, Takeshi Watannabe - the mayor and his son. The house looked the same as it had done six months ago.

She was about to bang on the door, but paused.
"What is it?" Aarya said.
"Something's wrong," [Y/N] replied, "the air, it tastes off."

"The air probably always tastes off here..." Rogue added, shoulder-to-shoulder with his girlfriend. She pushed the door and, just as she had expected, it was unlocked and opened.

"That's creepy," Sting said.

[Y/N] stepped in cautiously, glancing around and scenting the air for danger.
"Kuschel, stay outside... we don't know if it's safe just yet," she said. Kuschel nodded and stepped aside from the doorway. Lilith waited outside with her, alongside Lector and Frosch.

The living room was ransacked - the already damaged, faded red chaise lounge that was missing a leg was upturned, stuffing ripped out of it. The stack of spell books that had been its temporary leg were scattered beneath it. Logs and cinders from the ancient fireplace were scattered across the floor, and the bookshelves home to a multitude of illegible spell books were tipped over, books askew across the floor.

"Woah," Aarya commented.

"Takeshi?" Sting shouted up the stairs, "Mr. Mayor?"

There was no reply. The blond furrowed his brow and went upstairs.
"Hey, Sting, wait up!" Aarya exclaimed. The Fire Devil Slayer was quick to follow him. Lilith glanced at [Y/N] and shrugged.

"It seems like they aren't here," the Ice-Make Mage said.
"There's no traces of Vivienne and Novalee, either," the Sound Dragon Slayer gritted her teeth, "there's gotta be some kinda clue!"
"We'll find them," Rogue reassured her, "and whoever took them."

Sting and Aarya jogged back downstairs.
"Nothing worth mentioning up there," Sting said.
"Yeah, except for the fact this whole place's trashed," Aarya added.

"Where else can we go?" Lilith frowned, "this can't be it, surely?"
"Primula," Rogue suddenly said, "that bar we went to to scope out that man - Slothe. Bar Primula."

"Good thinking," Aarya nodded, "c'mon, let's haul ass."
"Ready when you are," [Y/N] agreed.

All eight left the house of the mayor.

"It's a good opportunity to relax, eh?" Sting grinned.
"Seriously?" Lilith irked.
"I deserve a rest! You don't know how horrible train journeys are, even with motion sickness pills," he replied, "besides, it'd look odd if we all walked into a bar, and none of us ordered."

"He makes a point," Rogue said, leading the way down the slightly familiar alleyway. Bar Primula still had the retro neon light to show what establishment it was, yet now only the 'Prim' in Primula lit up.

"Looks like they need a new light," Aarya said.
"No shit, Aarya," Lilith snorted.

"Alright. Everyone, act natural," [Y/N] said, "and make your guild marks as inconspicuous as possible."