#AN: Would you believe there was a bit of comedy in that debacle around Newcastle at any point? Yeah, me neither. This silly idea of the Prayer Book being a troll hung around, though, so I decided to lean into it for a touch of omake fun.

Loops Not Taken 3: The Wrong Spells

"I need a spell, dammit! No, I need ALL the spells!" Glaring petulantly at the book was apparently the final straw as writing she could only describe as "pointy" started appearing, welcoming her to the... Ultimate Grimoire of the True Godly Flame Emperor? Who? She flipped it back to verify the cover still had Brimir's mark.

It did.

But flipping a few pages further, it quickly became clear there were indeed spells. Many spells! Spells she was pretty sure she could use?

"Oh. Okay, great. Thanks. Now let's see here..."

She stopped on the first one that called to her.

"Darkness beyond Twilight, Crimson beyond blood that... no no no, on second thought, this feels all wrong."

She flipped to the next page.

"I wonder who this 'Archduke of Contracts' character is? Oh, hold up, this looks like a summoning. Where were you when I needed you a month ago!" she scoffed, suddenly annoyed again. "Next."

She flipped a few more pages.

"Dammit, this looks like a love song! What in the world is 'snow halation' supposed to mean anyway? And Moon Princess Halation needs some sort of silver... crystal? As a catalyst? What? Come on, give me something useful!"

A gust forced her to shield her eyes and conveniently flipped the pages to a new entry. It was eye-catching and seductively simple:

Make up some impressive-sounding nonsense then shout "Explosion".

"Okay, I think I can do that..." she took a deep breath.

Another.

She was trembling, mind racing. She swallowed thickly.

"Crimson-black blaze, king of myriad worlds," it was like a dam burst and the words of power spilled forth.

"Though I promulgate the laws of nature, I am the alias of destruction incarnate in accordance with the principles of creation.

"Let the hammer of eternity descend unto me!"

Artfully, she splayed a hand over one eye and threw the other out to her side so her cape would... get tangled on her shoulder. Whatever, it probably looked awesome anyway.

"EXPLOOOOSION!"

At that moment, something awoke in Louise.

"Ku ku kuu! No force can stand before the might of the Dark Haze Empress!"

Something really terrible.

CHUUNI END

#AN: I wanted to get this little sketch out partially because it amused me and partially because I want to assure everyone I'm still working on this. Next has better some hammering, but maybe in the next week or two?