Chivalrous
Chapter 8: The Book of Eibon
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater or any of the characters involved except for Lucas and Mira
Death summoned two chairs for Lucas and Mira and signaled for them to sit.
They did so, and Death sighed as he rubbed his large hand over the bridge of where his nose would be.
"Where to start… Well, the book of Eibon was made by, well, Eibon. A powerful Sorcerer who used to be part of my elite guard a few hundred years ago. He filled it with all kinds of demon tools he'd made and now, well. There's been a problem."
"What kind of problem, sir?" Lucas asked.
"Kidd went looking for the book, and he found it. But now, it's trapped him. We need to send someone in to get him."
"And you… want to send us?" Mira asked.
"Not just you two, there's a group: Spartoi. It's comprised of other students; partners who have worked together to achieve the rank of Death Scythe. As part of your addition to the group, you'll participate in its first mission."
The two looked at each other, Lucas' confusion, and Mira's curiosity reflected in their eyes, but so did a silent message.
They both looked back to Death and Lucas spoke next: "What do you need us to do?"
A few days later
Spartoi was standing outside a large magic circle, Erika had been captured and brought in to help stabilize the magical connection to the book, and Ox was there to help coordinate the group's progress through it.
Spartoi itself, consisted of Soul, Maka, Black Star, Tsubaki, Kilik, Fire, Lightning, Liz, Patty, Lucas, and Mira. This was the team being sent in to retrieve Kidd.
"Are you ready?" Ox asked the group as Erika worked to stabilize the connection.
The group looked at each other before Maka turned back to him and answered: "As we'll ever be I guess."
Ox nodded and then turned to Erika and some of the others who were helping.
"We'll be sending them in now, are you guys ready?" he asked.
Erika nodded, without breaking the chanting she'd been doing since she started to work on the book.
Ox turned back to the group and nodded to his left, Blair the cat was sitting nearby, licking one of her paws.
"We'll be sending Blair with you, to act as an anchor for our communications. We'll work on things out here, she'll work on things in there. Got it?"
Spartoi nodded.
"Good, then we'll be sending you in now. Be ready."
The group checked themselves over, making sure they were prepared and all of their equipment was in place.
"Sending Spartoi into the book in 3…2…1…"
In a flash, the book flew open and slammed onto the floor again. Spartoi's bodies began to twist and blur as they were sucked into the book. Once they were gone, the book flipped itself closed again, and Ox sighed with relief.
"Well, that part's over," he said to himself, "Now they just have to make sure they survive…"
Inside the Book of Eibon
Spartoi's vision cleared, and they found themselves in an empty, white void. Strange icons floated in massive lines above them but were the only distinguishing trait of the place.
"Where are we?" Lucas asked.
"Beats me," Soul answered.
"You know when I was little. I always wanted to go into my books like this… but now, it feels so weird," Maka said.
"Oh ho, an avid reader hm?" A voice echoed from all around them.
The group was instantly on the alert, looking back and forth in the void for the source of the voice.
"Show yourself!" Black Star shouted.
"Calm yourself Brat, I'm right here," A figure said as it appeared, matching the voice from earlier.
It was a small creature, with an elongated triangle for a head, with a cog protruding from the top, and a hook design coming down from the top into the middle with two small slashes beside it, a dot in the crux of the hook served as an 'eye'.
"What… are you?" Mira asked.
"Nothing much, The Index, The Codex, The Table of Contents. I go by many names," It said.
"The Table of Contents, so a guide to the book?" Mira asked.
"Yes, exactly… but first, you there, girl, you said you liked books?" It asked, turning to Maka.
"We don't have time for that, we need to find Kidd! Can you take us to him?" Black Star asked.
"Ah, you see the other Brat… Death's Brat. Yes, he's here," The Table of Contents said.
"Great! Where is he? Take us to him!" Black Star commanded.
"Calm yourself Brat, Death's Brat is deep within the Book of Eibon. You see, there are seven chapters in this book, and your friend is buried deep in the seventh one. You'll have to progress through each chapter before you can make it to him," it explained.
"So. Can you guide us through these chapters?" Lucas asked.
"Of course, that is my role as the Table of Contents," It answered.
"Great, then let's get going!"
The Table of Contents' head turned slightly as it considered his request. "Very well, I will guide you. That is my role after all. But I should warn you, that each chapter delves into the reader's psyche, and produces its own kind of madness."
"Madness?" Maka asked.
"Yes, so the question becomes if you can maintain your sanity long enough to reach chapter seven. And whether you'll still be sane enough to bring your friend back out," The Table of Contents answered.
The members of Spartoi looked at each other nervously, but before they could do anything else The Table of Contents lifted a small appendage, and the strange symbols that were floating in the air spun together to form a portal.
"If you still wish to save your friend, step this way…" It said, indicating the portal.
Everyone had watched the symbols form the portal, and now they looked back at each other, Lucas inhaled deeply before stepping forward, Mira was half a pace behind him.
The two entered the portal and were shortly followed by the members of Spartoi. As the last stepped through the Table of Contents remained behind for a moment.
"We shall see if you have what it takes to survive in the Book of Eibon," it said, before entering the portal and disappearing.