"W-We're too late," said Cara, as she picked up a wand from the floor of the tent.

Constantine recognised the wand to be Professor Croft's wand.

"We have to find him," said Constantine.

"B-But how?" asked Cara, still clutching her father's wand. "H-He doesn't have a tracer spell cast on him. Without the spell, trying to find him would impossible."

Cara's right, admitted Constantine. Without a tracer spell cast on the professor, it would be nigh impossible to find him. We wouldn't even know where to start looking.

"There might be someone who can help us to locate the professor," declared Haashid calmly.

Constantine looked at Haashid. "Who?" he asked, desperate for any sort of help in locating the professor.

"Yes, Haashid, who?" asked Cara desperately as well.

"He's an old friend of mine. He might be able to help us locate the professor."

'Where is this person?" asked Constantine.

"He's back in Cairo. In the ancient quarter of the city."

"Let's not waste any time then," voiced Cara. "Let's get back to Cairo and find this friend of yours, Uncle Haashid. Every second counts."

"Cara's right," Constantine said. "Every second counts."

"Let's get going then," said Haashid, nodding.

***

The ancient quarter of Cairo was a sight to behold. Many of Cairo's most ancient and culturally significant buildings and structures, some dating back to the time of the Pharaohs could be found here. Constantine was told by many that viewing Cairo's ancient quarter from the sky was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, Constantine could not bring himself to look down and marvel at its beauty due to his fear of heights. Haashid manoeuvred through Cairo's traffic skilfully before gently setting down his magic carpet on a narrow street next to a row of old houses which were packed closely together.

"We're here," said Haashid as he got off his magic carpet.

Constantine and Cara followed Haashid's lead and got off the magic carpet. The two followed Haashid as he walked up to one of the houses. Just as he was about to knock on the door, the door swung open. On the other side of the door was an elderly bald man with a neat beard wearing a purple and gold jellabiya. Constantine noted that the elderly man had large ears and that his lined face had a certain regal and noble look to it.

"Hello, Haashid," greeted the elderly man, not the slightest bit surprised to see the hefty man who was standing in front of him. It was like he knew Haashid would be coming.

"Hello, Aladdin, it has been a long time," said Haashid before hugging the elderly man. The two men hugged but for a brief moment, lasting only a few seconds.

"And who might these two young people be?" asked Aladdin, looking at both Constantine and Cara.

Haashid pointed to Constantine with his thumb. "This is Constantine." He proceeded to point at Cara who stood next to Constantine. "And this is Cara."

"A pleasure to meet you, sir," said both Constantine and Cara almost at the same time.

"A pleasure to meet you two as well.".

"I'm sorry, Aladdin, but this is not a social visit. We desperately need your help for an urgent matter," said Haashid solemnly.

"I thought as much. I sense much turbulence in each of your astral auras and in the air around you," stated Aladdin.

He's a shaman, muttered Constantine to himself. Only they have the ability to sense a person's astral aura. But is he able to help us find the professor?

"Astral auras? What's that?" asked Cara.

"It is a field of energy that surrounds every living being on this planet, no matter how small or big it is. And each and every one of us has an astral aura that is uniquely ours," informed Constantine in a tone he only used when he was teaching. Constantine looked at Aladdin. "That's how you knew we were approaching, right? You sensed our astral aura on the astral plane."

Aladdin smiled. "You're very right, young man. I sensed all three of your astral auras approaching while I meditated in the astral plane." Aladdin paused for a moment. "I'm surprised that you know about astral auras and the astral plane, young man. Not many people these days do anymore."

"I've come across it from time to time in my readings on," stated Constantine.

"It's good that not everyone has forgotten the spiritual aspect of the magic we use. Now, what sort of help do you need?"

"We need your help to find my father. H-He's been kidnapped."

"I see," said Aladdin, stroking his beard. "That is grave. Come, let's go inside."

The living room area which Aladdin had brought Constantine, Cara and Haashid into was simple, yet elegant. It was brightly lit by natural light which flooded the room through tall moorish windows which were open. The walls were lined with finely woven red and gold drapes, and the floor consisted of decorated ceramic tiles which were intricately made, and there was a large finely woven carpet located in the middle of the room. Constantine was surprised, that for a shaman, Aladdin didn't have any totem poles or statues of his animal guardian present in his living room. Maybe he has a shrine in another part of his house that's dedicated to his spirit animal. Or he has a totem pendant that he uses.

"Do you have anything that belongs to your father?" asked Aladdin, looking at Cara who sat in front of him on the carpeted floor. "It is necessary for the spell to locate him."

"I-I have his wand," said Cara, reaching into her back pocket, retrieving Professor Croft's finely made wand.

"Excellent," said Aladdin. "May I have it?"

Cara nodded and handed over her father's wand to Aladdin. The elderly man thanked Cara upon receiving the wand.

"This is a fine wand," remarked Aladdin as he held Professor Croft's wand in his wrinkled hands. "It has seen many adventures as well as misadventures. It has served its owner well."

"What are you going to do with it?" asked Cara, curious to know how her father's wand can help Aladdin find her father.

"I'm going to use the professor's latent magical aura stored within the wand to pinpoint his location on the map," explained Aladdin.

Aladdin lifted his arm. He then began to chant an incantation. Constantine did not understand what Aladdin was chanting, but he did recognise that the incantation being chanted by the elderly shaman was in the sing-song language the Elves only used. A glowing yellow ring with runic inscriptions formed around Aladdin's arm. He snapped his fingers and a map made out of papyrus materialised before the group in a flash of light.

He knows the Art, muttered Constantine to himself, seeing Aladdin conjure up a map without the use of a wand or even a staff. But how? I thought the Elves don't teach the Art to anyone but their kind anymore, not since it was discovered that only they can do the Art without suffering from the negative side-effects of the Strain. So how did Aladdin manage to learn it? More importantly, how is he coping with the damage the Strain causes to his body and mind?

"But how are you going to find him amongst the millions of magical auras present though?" asked Cara. "Won't it take a long time?"

Aladdin smiled. "Not when I have the help of the spirits to guide me. Shall we begin?"

Constantine, Cara and Haashid nodded, giving the elderly man the green light to proceed. Constantine prayed and hoped that Aladdin would be able to locate Professor Croft, because if he couldn't, there was no way they could find the professor, and Hitler would be one step closer to acquiring the Tome.

Aladdin closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath before releasing it slowly. "Spirits of Egypt, past and present," began Aladdin, his eyes still closed. "I beseech you for help. Reveal to me the location of this magical aura I present to you."

Professor Croft's wand, which was being held horizontally between Aladdin's arms started to glow a faint orange, as a runic circle formed around it. For a few moments, nothing happened. Then, a gentle cool breeze entered the room from the open windows. The map which Aladdin had conjured moments ago began to glow a faintly before runic circle formed around it. An orange glowing dot then materialised on the map. That must be where the professor is, thought Constantine, seeing the dot on the map. And most probably where the city of Abydos is located at. The dot which indicated where the professor was located at was not far from Cairo.

Aladdin opened his eyes. The elderly shaman lifted his right hand slowly. He chanted an incantation before waving his hand in front of Constantine, Cara and Haashid. Constantine looked down at the map which was in front of them and noticed that there were three additional glowing dots on the map, one green, one yellow and one violet. That must be us, thought Constantine, seeing the three glowing dots. I should really consider learning shamanic magic. It's so useful. Constantine began to stroke his chin. I wonder whether Aladdin would be willing to take me on as an apprentice. I should ask him. Once this entire episode is resolved.

"W-What did you just do?" asked Cara as she received her father's wand back from Aladdin.

"I drew a sample of each of your auras to serve as a reference to where each of you are located in relation to where your father is," explained Aladdin. He pointed to the three glowing dots. "Constantine is green, you are violet and Haashid is yellow."

Aladdin picked up the map and handed it over to Cara who graciously accepted it. "Go, find your father. Find him before it is too late."

"W-What do you mean by that?" asked Cara, concerned.

"The Spirits tell me he is injured."

"How badly?" asked Haashid.

Aladdin shook his head. "They cannot say for certain."

"There's no time to lose," remarked Constantine as he got to his feet. "We have to go. Now. Before it is too late."

Haashid and Cara nodded and got to their feet. The three thanked Aladdin for all his help before proceeding to the living room's exit. As he stepped out of Aladdin's living room, Constantine prayed and hoped that they were not too late.

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Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or questions, please leave a comment. I will make sure to get back to you as soon as possible. If you liked the story, please leave a like. 

Also, I would like to dedicate this chapter to skiamachy for constantly supporting me and my works. If you do have the time, please do check out her own work, Fink, which is written exceptionally well.