Back to present, next morning, Koumakan. Áviya woke up. She got out of the bed and got dressed.
"[English]I like this mansion. Usually I have to kill every human in general vicinity to be able to sleep without being disturbed."
"So, are you oneechan's newest servant? "
"No," said Áviya. Then she processed who she was looking at and tried to hide.
Flandre smiled and closed her right fist. When nothing extraordinary happened, she looked at it surprised. Apparently this had scared her a little. She grabbed Laevateinn with both hand and swung the giant sword at Áviya.
Sakuya held her wrist.
"Young mistress, she is a guest."
"But she doesn't have the 'eye'! "
"Young milady, I'm assure you that there is no reasons for you to be scared of me," said Áviya. She plucked one of her hairs and touched Laevateinn with it. The hair was annihilated. "Interesting. This sword can destroy purely material objects. What principle does work on? "
"Patchy says that it is made out of destruction itself! " said Flandre cheerfully.
"I believe she didn't put that quite like this..." said Sakuya.
"Speaking about her, how can I get to the library at this library at this hour? " said Áviya. "Or at three o'clock in the morning, maybe," she added.
"Follow me," said Sakuya. "Wouldn't you like to have breakfast first? "
Áviya chuckled. "When I'm hungry, I just move some bacteria into my stomach. Eating is mostly a waste of time."
"As you wish. This way, please."
"What's so special about three o'clock in the morning? " asked Flandre, who was floating a little behind Áviya.
"It's a traditional time to apply chloroform to warehouse guards." said Áviya.
Sakuya pushed open large doors. "Lady Patchouli, Áviya is here to see you."
Áviya entered without waiting for invitation. "So, where is the equipment that is supposed to make me fly? "
"It isn't that complicated," said Patchouli. "Just look up."
Áviya looked and gasped. "This library is really large. I can't even see the ceiling. This means it's at least... What the hell?! " she yelled falling down the hole that opened under feet.
"You were supposed to float." said Patchouli.
Áviya climbed out of the hole. "How?! It's kinda hard to float near this enormous rock," she said, pointing down.
"What rock? " asked Flandre.
"She means the Earth," said Patchouli. "I noticed that you are interacting with elemental energy in a manner similar to Ragna's but since she is able to float, I thought that this wouldn't be a problem. It seems that you are unable to fly under your own power."
"Can't you make a magical implant for this purpose? "
"Your brain can't interact with elemental energy. You will have control it manually."
"We can implant them into my back near the lumbar region of my vertebral column and connect some spare nerves to them! " said Áviya enthusiastically.
"Then they will have to deform together with the surrounding tissues."
"What if they are implanted into bones? The sternum and the upper part of scapula isn't covered in muscles. Let me look up appropriate nerves." Áviya pulled a laptop from her backpack and turned it on. Noticing curious looks, she said, "May I not explain what this is? I would have to tell about almost everything invented in twentieth century." She clicked a few times. "Strange. Lately, every computer with unoccupied Ethernet port had connection to Internet. Well, I guess that was set up by Anima"
"Who is Anima? " asked Patchouli.
"She is information-based extragalactic being who enveloped the whole Earth and therefore achieved limited omnipotence and omniscience. However, because of some factors, namely, a certain gap youkai, she can't influence Gensoukyou directly."
"I will look into this. Now, what about that nerves? "
"There probably aren't any. It was rather stupid to assume that human body has nerves that aren't used. I might sacrifice some afferent neurons, but they obviously kinda work in opposite direction."
"There might be another way," said Patchouli. "Can you control bacteria subconsciously? "
Áviya laughed. "I like how you think. We will need three thin hollow tube divided into five section and controlled by pH inside each section."
"You think you will be able to control such a complicated system? "
"Adaptation is going to take some time, but I don't think that it will harder than playing violin."
"You can play violin? "
"Of course, not. I don't have absolute pitch."
"So, what material will it be? Gold? You seem to be too arrogant for any other metals."
"Gold?! It's too heavy and soft and also useless. Titanium is much lighter and stronger, biologically inactive and resistant to corrosion. Though, I'm not sure how resistant it is to basic solution. Can you enchant it against corrosion? "
"Obviously," said Patchouli. "Would your like to order anything else? "
"Oh, sorry, Patchouli. I'm just haven't adjusted to interacting with youkai yet. I didn't mean to demand anything from you."
"Good, because you're already going to owe me about 500 gram of titanium. Now, if you don't have any objections, I'm going to start the procedure."
A few hours later the operation was nearly finished. Áviya was finishing restoring integrity of her skin. Then she put her clothes back on.
"I'm ready for activation," she said.
Patchouli waved her hand and Áviya tripped. Then she stood up and slowly floated into random direction, then into another one.
"This will take some practice," said Áviya with a grin.
"I have bred a strain that functions like the switch," declared Áviya an hour later. "They exhibit a hysteresis in reaction to my signals to them. Look, now I am under influence of gravity." She hopped a few times. "And now... ." She suddenly shot upward and disappeared from view.
"I've found the ceiling! " came her voice from above. "Actually, I was supposed to just float but I accidentally accelerated in vertical direction," she added. "I'm coming down! "
A second later, Áviya showed up descending at a steep angle. Just before she crashed into bookshelf, she inelastically bounced from elastic membrane that appeared suddenly before her and came to rest about twenty centimeters from it. She looked around and found herself in a giant bubble.
"Come on! " she demanded. "Where is the conservation of energy? "
"Do you prefer to bounce there without control? " asked Patchouli.
"No, but I can't adapt without negative reinforcement. Maybe some spikes would be useful."
"Metal spikes will overload the bubble and crystal spiked will disrupt it. Besides, do you want more holes in your body? "
"Yes, this would be inconvenient... ," said Áviya, thoughtfully. "But electricity is Wood, right? "
"Yes. Do you seriously want to bounce inside electrified bubble? Are you masochistic or what? "
"No, I'm just sadistic toward my human body."
"Okay, have fun."
Electric sparks appeared on the surface of the bubble. Áviya started to move. After each collision her insane laughter became louder and louder.
"You're crazy," said Patchouli. "I'm seriously considering not letting your out when you're finished."
"Would you prefer me to scream? " asked Áviya.
"No."
"Me too."
Elsewhere:
"Please, Youmu-san. I need someone to help me overcome my fear of spiders."
End of elsewhere
