Chapter 25: Index Guides
I wonder if we can really call the last mission a victory? We managed to complete the objective when Kim translated the information during the ride back. We also got more than expected. Black*Star's group also managed to capture the Mizune sisters and Erika, and Medusa was forced to leave behind even more for the follow-up groups to find thanks to the third party. The investigations unit are rubbing their hands together in glee. But on the other hand Crona and Medusa got away. Spartoi has been split in the middle over what to do next time we find Crona. Most of us want to bring Crona back alive because we're friends. The rest of us feel Crona has to face the consequences. I'm not sure what I believe... A hero would do anything to save their friend, but how could a hero turn their back on all the victims their friend hurt?
Tsugumi and Maka had made their way back to their lockers after class. The day had been normal, despite the fact that they would be gathering with the rest of Spartoi for a mission soon. As Tsugumi was closing her locker, Soul Eater opened his own locker to her left. "God damn it!" Soul Eater said. Tsugumi turned to see a wave of letters falling onto the floor. She giggled as Soul Eater's face scrunched up. She never understood why he was so popular with girls but his reaction was hilarious.
"I'm surprised. I didn't think your popularity could get any higher Soul Eater." Maka said. She had an eyebrow raised. Soul Eater sighed and kneeled down to pick up one of the letters.
"It's not funny." Soul Eater said. He waved the letter at Maka's direction. "I've been bombarded by partner requests ever since I became a Death Scythe! Why would I even be interested in switching partners now?"
"I tried to warn you." Tsugumi said shaking her head. "There's no shortage of lone meister hoping to take advantage of a powerful weapon to up their level. They're going to have to be told you won't leave Ao." For Tsugumi it had been a nightmare to keep Maka from seeing just how many requests she'd gotten...
"Don't you go lecturing me on being direct," Soul Eater said snorting. "It took you the better part of a year to shake off Meme and Anya." Tsugumi's face flushed. She had tried to tell them directly! Meme and Anya were just a bit more hard headed than most...
"Come to think of it... Why didn't I get any partner requests?" Maka said rubbing her chin. "I made a Death Scythe. You'd think some weapons would want to partner up with a powerful meister and cruise through DWMA."
"That's because you're don't have any sex appeal." Soul Eater said. As Maka glared at him as his partner came up from behind him. Ao's fist slammed into the back of his head. Soul Eater cried out and covered his lump with both hands.
"Soul Eater you know that's not true." Ao said smiling at the two girls. "Maka-chan and Tsugumi-chan are super cute. I'm pretty sure no one dared ask Maka after what Black*Star did to the first person he found sneaking around her locker."
"He did what?" Maka said, her eye twitching.
"You didn't know? I mean... Is that you're dad's coming over?" Ao said pointing behind the two girls. Tsugumi broke into full on laughter, clutching her sides as Maka whirled around. Ao grabbed Soul Eater by the scruff and ran in the opposite direction. Tsugumi swore she'd help Ao avoid Maka's revenge for this. She'd needed a laugh.
It took a while for Maka to calm down afterwards, but soon enough both girls made their way down into the schools labyrinth. Inside one of the larger rooms a magic circle was drawn on the floor. "It's about time you two got here. Everyone else has already gathered." Ox said pushing up his glasses.
"My bad," Tsugumi said rubbing the back of her neck. She knew Ox had been working hard helping to calculate the spell but she couldn't help it. It had taken a while for her to stop laughing at Maka.
"Now that we're all here let's start the last minute briefing." Stein said. The two girls made their way over to stand with the rest of Spartoi. "For Operation Salvage you mission is to find and eliminate the imposter Eibon, AKA Noah. You will all be using this magic circle to enter The Book of Eibon, thanks to the remnant pages DWMA has found. The rest of the book is in Noah's possession, so when you exit the book he should be on the other side."
"We've managed to find a way for you to communicate with the school from inside." Ox said. He held out his hand to Blair in cat form. "Blair will be acting as your transceiver, so have her contact us if you need too."
"I'll take good care of you guys," Blair said looking up at them. Tsugumi felt a part of her heart melt at Blair's smug look. She really needed to get a magical animal for a pet.
"I will be leading a group attacking Noah from the outside. We'll see you on the other side." Stein said. Tsugumi felt her skin tingle as the magic in the room began to rise. Tsugumi turned her head and saw that Kim, along with Erika and two witches she didn't recognise were already sitting down around the circle. Magical energy and numeric script filled the room as the witches began casting the spell.
"The points of calculations are all clear!" Ox said. He was checking off a list as he watched the spell.
"Everybody line up in front of the book." Kim said. The group of Spartoi students all walked over to the glowing remnant pages in the middle of the magic circle. They each put a hand over the book. Tsugumi was wedged in between Maka and Black*Star.
"Commencing dive," Erika said. Tsugumi swallowed as she felt the magic creeping up her body. Looking down she could see her legs had already vanished. And then the world was nothing but light.
The Interior of the Book of Eibon – The Introduction
Tsugumi blinked and rubbed her watering eyes. At first she'd thought the light had blinded her but looking again she realised they were in a lit space without gravity. All around her trails of black writing swirled around. Floating around her were the other members of Spartoi. "Well it looks like everyone made it..." Tsugumi said.
"What a terribly unsymmetrical place." Death the Kid while scrunching his nose. "Someone needs to tidy up this book!" Tsugumi face palmed as Liz started to distract her meister. They'd just entered and everyone was already losing focus of their mission.
"This is the inside of a book..?" Maka said looking around with wide eyes. "I always wanted to go inside my books when I was reading them... Or so I thought... I never thought that day would come."
"Oh-ho... So, you like books?" A voice said. Tsugumi's head swerved around but she couldn't find who was talking. There weren't any unfamiliar souls in the area either.
"Who's there?" Soul Eater said. He and everyone else were also looking around for the speaker.
"The Index, the Table of Contents, the Directory, call me what you will." The voice said. A small body began to float towards them. It had a small form wrapped in paper. Tsugumi squinted trying to read what was written on the paper, but it seemed to be witches writing.
"You're the Index of this book?" Maka said looking down at Index. Tsugumi wondered why such a convenient thing had turned up already. She'd expected making their way through a hostile book would be more violent and based on trial and error.
"Squidzactly so... That is exactly so." Index said. The dot painted in the centre of its face looking right at Maka. "Now then little girl... What kind of books does milady like?"
"Something like The Dark Side of the Moon by Rhoda Donseini?" Maka said rubbing her chin. Index cooed at Maka. Tsugumi didn't like how intent Index was looking at her partner. Maka always attracted the worst kinds of attention from suspicious people.
"How wonderful... It has been a long time since someone who appreciates literature made their way into this book." Index said.
"If you're the Index, then guide us through here post haste." Anya said. Her arms crossed as she looked down her nose at Index. Tsugumi sighed, there was no dealing with Anya when she stood on her own authority.
"By through here you mean the Book of Eibon yes?" Index said. It tilted its pointed head to the side. "This book is broken into seven chapters. If you want to leave you must get through to the last one's depths. But you cannot reach it by simply skimming through."
"We've already prepared ourselves." Kilik said. Tsugumi wondered what Index meant by saying they couldn't skim. What would the chapters do to them?
"We came here for a mission." Tsubaki said. Others in the group nodded in agreement but Tsugumi wasn't sure... She doubted Index's sincerity. Wouldn't Noah be aware of Index if he controlled the book? This could be a trap.
"Yeah, we can't go home like losers!" Patty said. They hadn't even tried to move around in the book alone yet. Maybe Index's help was unnecessary... Tsugumi bit her lip to prevent herself from speaking up. It would be better to keep her eyes open than let on to her suspicions.
"I see... Very well, I will perform my role as Index." Index said. It began speaking in a strange tongue. The writing surrounding them came together to created a portal. "Follow where I lead thee." Index floated in front of the portal as everyone stared at it. Though they didn't have much choice, Tsugumi wondered why everyone was accepting a polite strangers help without question. Reluctantly, she followed Maka through the portal into the first chapter.
